Tactician card - reaction charge

An additional tactician card I think would be interesting

[strike]Reaction Charge[/strike] Opportunity Charge

You may play when opponent has moved an infantry unit within two spaces of a cavalry unit. Advance your cavalry unit one space adjacent to the moving unit. its movement is halted for the turn and the cavalry unit attacks immediately before moving other units. Terrain restrictions still apply and the cavalry may not advance if it would not be allowed to attack due to terrain restrictions.

Do you have a historical example to consider?

Typically I was a hard-core wargamer with my favorite series being clash of arms titles of the La Bataille series. Age, space and kids made me look for much smaller games. Tactical wargames of the era often include reaction charge where cavalry can respond to local enemy movements in such a fashion with "reaction zones". This seems a simple thing to add for flavor in tactical deck. For reference, refer to rulebook for any title in the La Bataille series, widely felt to be the definitive tactical napoleonic games. La Bataille de Mont St Jean for example.

Notice that I included this idea in the variant folder and under tactical card deck because I only think this would be useful as a flavor card in the tactician deck and would not want anything like this to dominate the game. The tactical deck seems a great way to add more flavor and the cards included in it certainly seem to do that.

And speaking of this, if command and colors Napoleonic's has whetted anyones appetite for the era, and you want an intense experience, clash of arms Games are excellent. The La Bataille d'Auerstadt is probably one of the most playable in the system because of its small size and counter mix. The biggest challenge aside from learning the detailed system would be finding copies of the game however. I was fortunate in that I bought first editions and reprint Editions as they came out

I'm aware of the wargame mechanic, though my view is that there reaction movement was designed to counter enemy cavalry. Essentially to overcome the IGO UGO game mechanics.

However, I can't think off the top of my head of any particular instance when cavalry reacted to enemy infantry by engaging in melee. So a historical example would be helpful. In particular, how did the infantry react? Square up, stop and volley?

I think there are game mechanics that would get effected by a reaction charge on infantry. Squares in particular.
The Charge if charged card already provides reaction to cavalry, and First strike is a general reaction.

I probably should have called this an 'opportunity charge' instead...I think I mixed up my terms.

I'm not suggesting the cavalry is looking to do something outside of its usual role, I'm suggesting that the cavalry is 'harassing' the advancing infantry formations with a hasty opportunity charge. In game terms, the movement of the cavalry with this card halts the advancing infantry. Original intent was that at that point, the infantry could stand or form square and then conduct combat between these two units with the cavalry unit as the attacker prior to finishing the original players turn. Considering if the cav unit should even get a +1 die since its a limited local charge.

I'm pretty sure this would be a very common situation on the battlefield...cavalry taking action on the spur of the moment when the opportunity presents itself.

Why would you want to even use such a card? In the case that opponent is playing a force march and you want to halt an infantry unit before it gets that second hex, or in the event that you want to 'pin' the opponent in place before it gets a better attack on one of your units in the proximity. I could see this being useful at times of crisis.

In the upcoming original players combat phase, they could certainly choose to attack the cavalry unit assuming its still there, but if the cav unit has put it into an untimely square, could screw up the original players plan.

this definitely plays a role that first strike does not, because it forces the advancing infantry to confront the cav unit

You may scan and print out your tactican cards for sure (as i did also),
so it´s possible, to create additional unofficial fanmade cards and add them to your
deck for your games (same we have it already with fanmade unit types, Labels and rules)

Here is a empty template

www.ccnapoleonics.net/index.php?option=c...=1156&Itemid=56#2854

thats outstanding! thanks

what font do the official tactician cards use?

Tarheel wrote: I probably should have called this an 'opportunity charge' instead...I think I mixed up my terms.

I'm not suggesting the cavalry is looking to do something outside of its usual role, I'm suggesting that the cavalry is 'harassing' the advancing infantry formations with a hasty opportunity charge.

In my view, this is outside the usual role of cavalry.
The role of cavalry can be divided by type.

Light Cavalry had a primary role of scouting, and driving off enemy scouts (screening). Light Cavalry were therefore only really interested in enemy cavalry, and infantry were beneath them. If engaged by infantry, they drew back. On occasion they were ordered to engage the enemy infantry or guns as a mass charge (e.g Somosierra), but they weren't designed for this role. More typically they were held back for the pursuit of routing infantry.

Heavy Cavalry were shock cavalry, and operated en mass, and in specific charge attacks. They were considered a decisive arm of attack, and cavalry leaders who got engaged in minor skirmishing were not well regarded. Good Heavy cavalry was highly disciplined, conducted well formed charges, and reformed at command. English cavalry was infamous for it's poor discipline in this regard. However, Heavy Cavalry was in decline due to the increasing power of firearms (and incidentally had a similar problem against long bows in the 100 Years War).

In both cases, I just don't see cavalry used for 'harassing' infantry. Heavy cavalry was far too valuable, and Light Cavalry weren't much use. Cavalry was primarily concerned with enemy cavalry, and from time to time capturing gun positions (Raevski Redoubt). Light Cavalry was far more useful scouting, screening, and in pursuit. By the time the US Civil War came round, Light cavalry were the only cavalry (and often used dismounted), and by WW1 cavalry couldn't withstand the firepower.

thanks for the input and you have Interesting and good points.

I still think the idea behind it fits some other napoleonic tactical game systems.

I think the idea has merit and could make exciting moments in gameplay though so will create a card to use as a personal variant and share for those who want to try it.