Question on CQ behavior
This is perhaps a little off topic for this forum, but since it does relate to what happens in the summer games, it does have some fit, and there is no general NWOL rules forum for it - so here 'tis.
Q units are not supposed to engage in combat if they can avoid it. (The two cases in which they can't avoid it are nowhere to retreat, usually trapped by terrain, and trapped inside a fort.) This is implemented in two ways. First, a Q unit cannot move into a square with an enemy unit. Second, if an enemy unit moves into a square with a Q unit, the Q unit will retreat from the square (if it doesn't shatter; it has a 20% chance to do that).
However, if a Q unit is moving tactically and is intercepted, then the intercepting unit moves to the point of contact first, then the Q unit moves there. Since the Q unit is moving, it isn't given the chance to fall back that it would get if the enemy unit was moving in, and it doesn't roll for its 20% chance to shatter (though it might shatter as a result of the battle). The rule that a Q unit can't move to an enemy square is bypassed by this move, because the destination square changes when the interception takes place.
Question: What should happen? It has been proposed that Q units not be intercepted, but that seems like the Wrong Thing because there are times when you would want to do it (since you have a 20% chance to shatter it and you'll destroy any carried supplies even if you don't).
I think that the Q unit should move to the destination square but should then have to make its usual attempt to fall back if it passes its shatter roll.
An alternative is to leave it the way it is and just accept that if a Q unit moves and is intercepted, then it will have to fight a battle (and almost invariably lose).
Thoughts?
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Intercepting CQ's
I missed this post when it went up. I was searching for the thread about how units move to fords when the location wasn't known. Then I saw this.
I hadn't known that CQ's could be intercepted until I have seen it happen on two occasions this tournament. Since the rule was that CQ's couldn't be attacked when other units are in the neighborhood, I thought then they couldn't be intercepted. The first case of CQ interception happened First game when one of our CQ's moved first and was intercepted by our opponents. Their purpose was to try and prevent an attack on their home city. By intercepting our CQ rather than our units, the action had the opposite affect and led directly to losing their home city and the game. Ouch! for a rule that is hardly known.
Whether the CQ can be intercepted, depends on what constitutes it's makeup. Being essential for supply, it should have wagons. They should be easy to intercept. However, it is hard to imagine wagons moving around the battlefield and maybe they are somewhere to the rear out of sight. Then those that are in the CQ would be the command staff and it would seem that only Cavalry units would be able to intercept them.
Robert
rule
I would leave it as is. The corps commander wouldn't likely deliberately try to engage the enemy but might not be able to avoid contact if they happened to cross paths with an enemy. I would think the 20% shatter would represent the order for everyone to flee on their own at the approach of an enemy unit. If the enemy suddenly appeared before they could flee, they might be forced to fight, and at the very least, have the escorts fight while the staff flees.
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