What is really routing reflecting?

[Norm S]

For a couple of reasons, lately I have been giving some thought to exactly how units should rout and whether rule designers use the term appropriately or whether a different term is needed to describe what a routing unit is actually doing in that system.

Plus what way is fair to your opponent when moving ‘routing’ units.

Anyway, I have put some thoughts down on the blog, where of course there is an opportunity for the reader to add their view.

LINK

https://battlefieldswarriors.blogspot.com/2023/04/when-is-rout-really-rout.html

[Jim Webster]

I tend to feel that rout should be the end, after one move of movement to see if they sweep anybody away, they perhaps should just be removed.
The rubber routers, (a nice term) perhaps have ‘fall back out of control’ but then get a chance to ‘reorganise’ and come back.

https://jimssfnovelsandwargamerules.wordpress.com/

[Guy Farrish]

I’m pretty sure I agree with Jim here.

‘Rout’ implies not just a falling back or retirement to regroup and reorganise but an indisciplined and uncontrolled flight to the rear. Stopping and turning such a mob around may be impossible, even with the use of bayonets, swords or fire, with Napoleon in the way. (If you can, it probably wasn’t a rout in the first place.)

On the other hand many rule sets use the word to reflect everything from a tactical pull back to a complete broken flight.

Volley & Bayonet has a routing unit moving one move directly backwards away from the enemy it is in combat with and disordering any friendly unit contacted and routing them if they are already disordered.  However they then stop and look gormless, but ready to be rallied without test if a senior officer arrives. They remain permanently disordered but can then return to the fray. As this takes a couple of turns and each turn is an hour it isn’t quite as ‘rubbery’ as it may seem at first.  A routed unit also immediately loses a strength point so while theoretically it could keep bouncing back it is unlikely to do so very often, given that units seldom exceed 4 strength points. Also there aren’t that many senior officers wandering around – given the need to keep units in command radius if you want them to do anything useful.

I would quibble with the terminology but admire the effect in V&B.

(I tried to post on your blog but didn’t get as far as the ‘press the button four times’ I’m afraid – it didn’t recognise my google log in and I didn’t want to be ‘anonymous’).

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