A jedi mind trick for gauging distance at game-start.

How to beat those cowardly High Elves?

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Barondesade
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A jedi mind trick for gauging distance at game-start.

Post by Barondesade »

I've never heard anyone mention this, so while it may not be super-exciting, I thought that I would bring it up.

It seems to me that many games open in the same way. On each side, infantry units rush towards each other. To me, the moment when they are facing off is the critical one. Do you move forwards or not? Especially against Skaven, with their 10" charge, the question of when to charge is a difficult one for me.

I used to be very good at guessing distances, but I have fallen out of practice now, so I am adapting other means.

If facing an infantry army, I know that my opponent is pretty much always going to set up at 12". If I set up at 12" too, I know that there are 24" between us.

If he moves first, he will probabaly move 8". Leaving a gap of 16". If I move 10", then there will only be 6" between us, and he can charge me next turn. But, if I move up only 7", the gap between us is 9". He cannot charge and I can.

Now if I move first, and I go 10", there is 14" between us. And my opponent is going to be more wary, and probably not move 8". On the other hand, if I move 7.5" the first turn, leaving 17.5" between us, my opponent may not be perceptive enough to spot the .5" difference, and may move his full 8", leaving him in my charge range.

Is this overanalyzing? Maybe, but I think it has merit if you are bad at guessing ranges like me.
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Post by Thanee »

It's common practice in our games to consider deployment and distance moved this way (I often deploy my faster units behind the 12" line and with diagonal facing, to make these calculations more difficult). Especially against Empire and other guess-artillery I usually move in a way, that they have to guess diagonal distances, which is much harder, than just guessing straight distances.

Also, the width of the bases is a good helper, when measuring distances, i.e. a 2-rank heavy cavalry unit is approximately 4" deep.

Oh, and don't forget to always measure everything the opponent is doing (i.e. shooting, spell ranges, etc), this will give you new accurate figures to work from (this is even more important, if you play Empire (Mortars and Cannons)), but it's also useful for movement!

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Post by Dark Alliance »

Obe wan

"Analysing too much you are
Concentrating more on kicking a** you must"

But good point though and I believe one of those subconcious thoghts which could just win you a game. After all, what is the number 1 Druchii tactic ? CHARGE - DON'T GET CHARGED!

another interesting post Baron
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Post by Quasekomiki »

Q, how are you gonna make your units move only 7"(except for the Cold Ones)?

I always thought you make your move up to 5" (Elven infantry) or anything less or you make your full march move. Not a part of your march.

Or has that changed since 5th? All of a sudden a doubt is spreading in my mind...
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Post by Dark Alliance »

Quase m

how ya doin' man?

Justifiable doubt in your mind dude, you move as much as you wish within any limitations pertinent to that unit and it's position on the board.

You're to supposed to drink the tea leaves man! :lol: !eek! :mrgreen:
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Post by Barondesade »

Yup, I must be overanalyzing again. Just another element of my madness, I suppose. :?

But an interesting thought just came into my head. I used to excoriate the Druchii Chariots for only moving 7", but now, that seems like a pretty good thing, and it makes it less suspicious that my infantry is keeping pace with the Chariot (s). Now, if I could only train them to be smart...
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Post by Quasekomiki »

Drink it!!! :oops: That's right!!! :mrgreen: (damn that short-term-memory!)

Still gonna check my rulebook 2 nite (being pedantic, I know, can't help it)
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Post by Dark Alliance »

Quasekomiki wrote:Still gonna check my rulebook 2 nite (being pedantic, I know, can't help it)


I feel a new debate coming on as I have just had a quick glance at the rule book . . .

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Post by Quasekomiki »

[quote="Dark Alliance"]

I feel a new debate coming on as I have just had a quick glance at the rule book . . .

[/quote]

I do think so...

p54 : Marching troops move at twice their normal movement rate with weapons seathed or shouldered. They are literally 'going at the double'

So they don't litterally say you have to make the full move.

But they do say "move at twice their normal movement rate" there is no specification that you can chip off the odd inch...

Comments anyone?
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Post by Dark Alliance »

:lol:
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Post by Langmann »

Oh boyee...

I think we can say that when marching we can move UP TO twice our normal move, and a march is considered above our normal move. Troops cannot be that stupid can they? Ok maybe dwarves and high elves...

I usually put my units back from the 12' line. The reason is because one of my friends calculates just what you talked about all the time.

The other thing I hate is when his goblin big boss kills my general in HtH combat... happens whay too often, you'd think that a highborn should be able to dance around him. T3 T3 T3. Gotta get my elves in the gym.

Here we go again....
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Post by Quasekomiki »

OK, what I'm gonna write now is defined as 'antsfucking' here in Belgium (litteral translation of the word)

It doesn't say "up to", it says "at"

:roll:
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Post by Dark Alliance »

Quase, I agree with langmann on this one.

But here we go again!!!! :lol:
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Post by Elvenknight »

I guess it would be one of thoes things you discuss with your opponent before battles with either a Yes or No answer.
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Post by Thanee »

Quasekomiki wrote:It doesn't say "up to", it says "at"


But your normal move is up to your movement rate, so moving at twice the normale movement rate is still up to twice the movement rate! ;)

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Post by Dark Alliance »

Thanee wrote:
Quasekomiki wrote:It doesn't say "up to", it says "at"


But your normal move is up to your movement rate, so moving at twice the normale movement rate is still up to twice the movement rate! ;)

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Thanee


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Good call etc etc

sorry quase :D
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Post by Crimsondeath »

Thanee wrote:But your normal move is up to your movement rate, so moving at twice the normale movement rate is still up to twice the movement rate! ;)


Gotta agree with Thanee on this one - I can't see any reason to force you to move your maximum march move.

And onto another Jedi mind trick:

If you're taking a character on a flying monster, be sure to equip them with an RXB. When it comes to the shooting phase, shoot at a target that you are lining up for a charge next turn...

"Hmmm, now let me just check to see if my RXB is in range"

...And you suddenly know exactly how far away from them you are!

This really helps if you're crap at guessing distances (like me!).

:twisted:
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Post by Quasekomiki »

Ok, it's not that I wouldn't like it to be "up to" as a matter of fact, that would make my battles against Bretonnia a lot easier...

Now to convince the Bretonnian Duke (my opponent of this evening) of this 'lil change' in our interpretation of the rules.

Damn! This rulebook is worse than the Bible in having to interpret the contents in order to find out what it means.
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Post by Shockwave »

I like the idea of this discussion tho to be honest i have been called a cheat cos of my "ability" to use maths to work out ranges ( i'm quite good at maths. seemed to the ended the RXB post with my last post hehehe) The reason i got called a cheat and i know this goes of topic but bare with me.
Playing a game of gothic the table is 6'x4' quick bit of maths i fined out how much that is in centimeters. he deploys, i deploy, i look at the distance he has deployed. Some more maths (in my head) and 4 Nova Cannons (Guess range Weapons) are accurate to within 5mm's :shock: !eek! . I think i did nothing wrong :roll: but thats called cheating around these parts. just thought i'd warn you. In relation to the RXB on monster thing :D
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Post by Thanee »

Yep, calculating the initial distance is quite easy, if you know how Phytagoras' (how is his name written in english?) formula works. ;)

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Post by Crimsondeath »

Shockwave wrote:In relation to the RXB on monster thing :D


I've never actually done it myself though :roll:

I learned that trick from a O&G player who always gave his Wolf Chariots short bows - because the range of the short bow is 16", and the charge range of the chariot is also 16"...
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Post by The word of pain »

Good idea on the RXB issue, I'll be trying that out next time my manticore flys the roost.

As far as Gobbo wolf chariots go, they charge 18", not 16", but don't tell your oppo that!
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Post by Thanee »

I usually fly my Manticore close in, to prevent march moves, while preparing for a charge, so the distance is usually not a problem.

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Post by Lord khelek »

DeSade, you mean a SITH :twisted: mind trick!
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Post by Dekhalan »

Quasekomiki wrote:Damn! This rulebook is worse than the Bible in having to interpret the contents in order to find out what it means.


:D

True, true...
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