Ace in the Hole: Aggressive deployment

Does the Aggressive Deployment ace in the hole have to be played prior to deployment or can it be played once both sides have deployed before the rest of the game starts?

I’ve always assumed that you use it when deploying, rather than being allowed to move your army forward after both sides have deployed. The rule says ‘You can field your army...’, which sounds to me like you must use it as you ‘field’ the troops.

In practice, I think this makes the ace of questionable value if you are the defender. If the defender starts to deploy at 2H from the middle line, the attacker can deploy further back than 4H from that line if they wish. Of course, that might put the attacker too close to their base line, but that will depend on how mobile the attacker is. We saw Agressive Deployment used to effect in the tournament last year.

RogerC

I agree this seems the likely way to use it but also agree this diminishes the value of it.

you use when you deploy. You show the card before starting to deploy.

Thanks, thought this was the case, just wanted to be certain.

Hi just posting on this old thread - this Ace is quite popular in our games. If you know in your mind you are using it then you can make judgements when you are placing the terrain which will help a defender.

Guess you can still be sneaky within the rules and deploy first FP units at 4H but play the card and deploy later cavalry and FL/S troops further forward ....

Cheers Jez