Skirmishers with impetus bonus

Hi there,

I'm putting together a 3rd century Roman army and noticed the corresponding list in Extra Impetus 2 has a 'heavy macemen' Skirmisher unit with VBU 3 and Impetus 3.

I assume these are meant to represent Palestinian clubmen referenced once or twice who used to rush out and attack Palmayran cataphracts.

With an impetus bonus does this mean they can charge other troop types? Looking through the rules I can find nothing that prohibits Skirmishers from charging if they have an Impetus bonus (normally they can only charge other skirmishers).

Of course they will still be automatically dispersed as per other skirmishers, but if against say, a normal Foot unit, they would get 3 + 3 melee dice before being removed.

Is my understanding of this correct? Are there any other unusual skirmisher troops with an Impetus bonus in the list?

Thanks in advance

Yes there are a few S types with impetus in the lists, generally rare. I can only think of two others without the lists to hand, there are some warrior monks in the Samurai list, and 'Zafones' in the Italian Communes list. I'm sure there are some others.

My understanding is that if they initiate the contact they are not automatically dispersed, but will be dispersed if the opponent moves into contact, such as a charge or pursuit move.

Cheers

I agree with Aurelius on this. To be automatically dispersed the formed unit must move. If the S unit is charging a non moving formed unit then the S unit is not dispersed.

yes, I confirm

Gaius Cassius wrote:I agree with Aurelius on this. To be automatically dispersed the formed unit must move. If the S unit is charging a non moving formed unit then the S unit is not dispersed.

1)For instance, we got draw in the melee and player on the next game turn decide to activate this melee again, does S unit fight as usual or it might be dispersed?

2) On the next game turn CM unit came to the melee between S unit and FP unit, does S unit dispersed automatically?

A) CM unit is main unit
B) CM unit is support unit

Is there any difference between A and B?

The principal to apply is whether the main enemy moved forward to contact the S.

So in cases;

1) No dispersal.

2) A) S not dispersed as CM are only support and main combat was with static FP.

B) S dispersed as CM are main and have charged.

Interesting questions.

Aurelius, why do think that the CM disperses the S unit only when it is the main unit in the melee? Take a look at 7.8.1. There is no distinction between main and support units contacting skirmishers. I would see the S being dispersed by the CM in both cases.

You may well be correct Gaius C. I was basing my thinking on the actions of the main unit, but you are right 7.8.1 does not make a distinction, so the S will be dispersed by the CM in both cases.

Fortunately this is a very rare event!

Thanks everyone, looks like we have cleared this one up!