Crossing fortifications

Hi,
It has probaly been asked before but can you cross fortifications and what are the affects?

Geoff

do you mean an undefended fortification?
Anyway yes you can do that, but you must be already in contact with them. If not you have to stop in contact and then pass it with another movement.

Following Lorenzo's helpful explanation, it is worth looking at the tutorial on fortifications in EI3.

They mention that an attacking unit winning a melee against a unit defending fortifications may pursue over the fortifications even if the pursuit move leaves it 'sitting on' the fortification. Lorenzo has also said (I think on the old forum) that contact with the fortifications is treated as contact with the unit defending them for the purposes of deciding when a melee occurs.

One question is, when a unit occupying fortifications shoots or is shot at, is the range measured from the front of the unit or the front of the fortifications? The only time I've used fortifications, we assumed the former, in the absence of guidance to the contrary.

The other question we had was whether an attacking unit which moves up to fortifications placed by the enemy can then get the benefit of those fortifications. The rule that the side who placed the fortifications can cross them freely, but the other side has to halt and move over in a second move, suggests there is a difference between your own fortifications and those of the enemy (eg firesteps on one side but not the other, spikes sticking out in one direction, or whatever).

On balance, I don't think you can 'defend' fortifications placed by the other side, even if you are in a suitable position to do so. I can easily see the reverse argument, however.

RogerC

My 2p

I would assume range was measured to and from the unit not the fortification. In scale fortifications would be very thin. Allowing measurement by the unit allows people to use pretty fortifications of various size without incurring advantage or disadvantage.

Most fortifications are designed with a given direction of travel in mind. Ditches are sloped on one side, steep on the other. Walls have steps on one side, sheer drop on the other. Stakes point out not in, etc.

To "defend" enemy fortifications you'd need to get inside and face outwards - to defend against the relief force.

That said fortifications should block LOS if not manning them - whichever side of them you are on.