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5  MOVE & ATTACK ACTIONS


5.1  ORDER FORMATS  With all move or attack actions you may give either an actual number of armies in the "number" box (eg. MOVE HRS BDS 3), or "all but" a number of armies (eg. MOVE HRS BDS AB-2). If you enter no number at all in the "number" box then this is treated as "all but none" (ie. move all the armies, however many there are).
If there are fewer armies available than you ordered (and you ordered an actual number) then the action fails (having ordered an attack with a specific number of armies, you probably don't want to go ahead if half you armies have failed to turn up, or have been lost in another attack).

Note: The "all" and "all but" order formats are not normally available for actions other than moves and attacks (they're not available unless these rules say they are).

5.2  MOVE  The MOVE action is used to move armies from one area to an adjacent area. In an opposed MOVE action the battle consists of a single round. Each side takes losses of half the strength on the other side, and the weaker side also takes losses of half the difference in strengths. The attacker gives up the attack if the defending armies are not wiped out. The cost is 1 BP.
Format [ "MOVE" ] [ WHERE FROM ] [ WHERE TO ] [ NUMBER OF ARMIES ]

5.3  ASSAULT  An assault is a carefully planned all-out attack. In an ASSAULT battle the battle continues until one side or the other is wiped out. Each side takes losses of one third of the strength on the other side, and the weaker side also takes losses of one third of the difference in strengths. An army that makes an assault may not continue moving during the rest of the turn. The cost is 2 BPs.
Format [ "ASSAULT" ] [ WHERE FROM ] [ WHERE TO ] [ NUMBER OF ARMIES ]

5.4  PROBE  A probe is a cautious attack, used to avoid the effects of ambushes or where you're uncertain of the strength of the defenders. In a PROBE battle each side takes losses of one third of the strength of the other side. The attacker gives up if the defending armies are not wiped out. An army that makes a probe action may not continue moving during the rest of the turn. Probes are not allowed against cities. The cost is 1 BP.
Format [ "PROBE" ] [ WHERE FROM ] [ WHERE TO ] [ NUMBER OF ARMIES ]

5.5  OVERRUN  An overrun attack is an attempt to sweep the opposition aside with a rapid advance, assuming overwhelming odds in favour of the attacker. If successful the attacker will suffer a minimum of losses, and the defender will be routed. If unsuccessful the attacker will be thrown into confusion and forced to fight to the finish. An overrun attack may be effective in dislodging a small army from a strong defensive position (fortifications, defensive terrain or high population) as well as in overwhelming weak forces. Overrun attacks against cities are not allowed. The cost is 1 BP.
In an OVERRUN battle the weaker side loses one third of the difference in strengths. If the defending armies are not wiped out in this first phase then the attack continues as an ASSAULT, except that the attacker loses one extra army in each round of the battle.
Format [ "OVERRUN" ] [ WHERE FROM ] [ WHERE TO ] [ NUMBER OF ARMIES ]

5.6  AMBUSH  The AMBUSH action sets an ambush (ie. change the defence mode to AMBUSH) in a land area against an attack from an adjacent area. To be effective the AMBUSH action must be made before the MOVE action (earlier in the same turn or in a previous turn). Ambushes are remembered from turn to turn, and shown on your game report. Each area may have only one ambush set at a time: if you set a new one then the old one is cancelled. You can't set an ambush in a city. There is no cost in BPs. See also paragraph 3.13.
Format [ "AMBUSH" ] [ WHERE ] [ WHERE AGAINST ] [ NOT USED ]

5.7  RETREAT  The RETREAT action sets a retreat (ie. changes the defence mode to RETREAT) in a land area, and selects a retreat location to an adjacent land area. If the area is not adjacent then the action fails. If you do not specify an area, then the retreat location is unchanged. Retreats are remembered from turn to turn, and shown on your game report. There is no cost in BPs.
Format [ "RETREAT" ] [ FROM WHERE ] [ TO WHERE ] [ NOT USED ]