Questions, Answers and Errata for Holy Hack from the Classical Hack Yahoo Group

Question
Page 7 Shooting 2nd paragraph "the maximum number of casualties that can be inflicted on an enemy unit by any single shooting unit is 3". "Multiple units shooting at the same target can cause more than two casualties to a common target" Which is the maximum number of casualties by a single unit firing: 2 or 3?
Answer
The number of casualties that can be inflicted is 3. More than 3 by more than one shooter.

Question Page 6
"a unit...will be able to shoot ...providing the charging enemy is more than one of that enemy's move distance." -

Answer
More than one half is correct.

Question
Page 8 Shooting risk to leaders
Do I need to specify that a volley is shot to a leader attached in a unit?

Answer
Well if you are shooting at a unit that has a leader then that leader is at risk if a casualty is inflicted on the unit. Take the risk roll and if he is at risk do the Risk to Roll for damage. I suppose you should ask your opponent if the unit has a leader.

Question
Do I need to specify how many figures in the shooting unit are shooting at the enemy leader (i.e. can i split between men & leader)?

Answer
This is in addition to casualties inflicted. Say a unit being shot at gets no casualties. There is no risk. When a casualty is inflicted then remove the casualties and then do the risk roll. If it is a leader with just a guard stand (i.e. a leader on a chariot or in Lmi order remove the casualties and do the the risk roll). If the leader is a single figure and he receives casualties and is in Lmi order and gets 3 casualties then you remove the leader. If he is Hi order and gets 3 casualties take the risk roll and if he survives the stand with a single figure remains. Place casualty caps on the stand. Next time one casualty will remove the leader.


Question
Page 10 Risk to leader in melee: Is it taken even if there is not a single hit or casualty in the unit?
Answer
Yes. But only at each first contact. A unit with a leader in a second round of melee does not do risk to leader again. Now if a new unit charges a unit (with a leader) which is engaged in an on going melee, the unit with the leader will do risk to leader after the melee is done. This is a new first contact by the unit charging into the standing melee.


Question
Page 9 Egyptian chariots and other mounted Egyptians Ch can simply turn on the spot. i.e. column to line in a
90º turn.
Answer
What I mean to saying is this. For an Egyptian Ch unit in column or line you can pretty much change direction by turning and going into that direction unlike other units. You cannot however exceed their allowed movement. They are more like horse archers.

Question
What is the difference with other chariots as they can turn and move fully in any direction? (Changing direction page 9 rule).

Answer
I obviously could have been clearer here. Other chariots who wheel follow the wheeling rules. Egyptians ch do not have to but can. Mounted applies to later period cavalry and Egyptian ch.


Question
Page 9 Disorder and other morale issues in Movement. It is stated at the end of the paragraph : "Foot units that are
disordered take a morale test to receive a charge or to countercharge enemy units".

What about mounted? There is no such specification or limit just to foot units under "Testing to charge disordered"
(Page 6).

Answer
This is left up to the player for mounted. If you want to charge or counter charge disorder fine take the risk as you think best. OR evade if mounted. Mounted Ch or even cavalry I felt had a greater self esteem.

Question
Page 10: Losing melee
Mounted receiving more casualties than inflicting : either rout if they don't pass morale or break off if they pass it. So they always finish showing their back at enemy. Right?
Answer
I believe that it should break off if facing foot but pass through if facing mounted Ch.
When breaking off yes they end their movement with their back to the enemy.

Question
Page 10 Figures Eligible to Melee
1) They are in contact with an enemy to their front, contact stand to stand.
Answer
Should read
1) They are in contact with an enemy to their front, contact stand to stand and count overlapping stands.

Comment
On the Matrix 12 figures or factors at 8 should read 9/5/3 not K/9/2.

Question
Page 11 The break off. It is available "...for failing a morale test". The only situation I found for this is being under 50% strength. Any other?
Answer
Voluntary break off.

Question
Page 10. In "Losing a Melee" it states that mounted unit can break off if they passes the morale. So what is applicable?
Answer
I guess it depends on a specific situation.

Question
Page 11 Units in post melee. "Units that are breaking off, evading, pursuing or routing do not divert around terrain or close order units". And so, what do they do? Do they go through such terrain or close order units?
Answer
They should turn when they run into close order or terrain and move along the front of the unit or difficult terrain until it moves round them or it.

Question
Can evading units change direction after 2 and a half inches? (Responses to a Charge 3 Pg. 6)
Answer
Yes.

Question
Page 13 Morale test Charge. "Disordered to charge or response to charge" failing the morale test its consequences are "become disordered no charge/ already disordered rout". But they were already disordered! Can not understand the first consequence as it is inapplicable. Please explain this.

Answer
Disordered wishing to charge stand and disordered units being charged rout. (see above)

Question
Charge movement: Units charging enemy evading, Units evading, Chariots charging & countercharging, All these specifically add a D-6 die to their movement

What about infantry or mounted, charging to units standing or countercharging? Do these units add a D-6?

Answer
Well since they cannot charge (any unit) unless it is already within its (the charging unit's) normal movement why would it have to roll?

Question
QRS 1 Sumerian. This list is the only one including within the morale test chart " 4 shooting casualties {rout} "
Does it mean that this rule is not applicable to the remaining lists?
Answer
Each QRS is designed to match only it's historical opponent. I tried my best to align the historical enemies as best I could but as you KNOW I am not perfect and you can adjust these to suit yourself.

I placed this there as I felt of all the people covered these were the most frustrated by archery and shooting in general. They were unequal to mastering combined arms and terrain to their advantage. So they suffered the most.

Question
1) Page 6 Stand to Receive. If a unit is standing to receive, it is allowed to shoot ONLY if charging unit is OUT of the charging unit normal distance. But if charged unit decides to countercharge there's no such limit. Is that right? It has not much sense to me.
Answer
Me either. Here is what is said.
2. Stand to Receive: place markers. Disordered foot units being charged must test morale. Any unit that stands to receive a charge, excluding disordered units, before the actual charges and charge responses begin can change formation to meet the chargers when the chargers are more than one half of their (the charging unit) normal movement away from the unit being charged. The units fire at the each other before the charge or charge response begin moving, when either or both units are in range (see page 7 Shooting Close or Long Range).

Question
2) Page 9 Disorder in movement. It is said that "Units in disorder MUST remain stationary during the Movement Phase when recovering from rout". But it is stated later that Units can move, charge, shoot countercharge when in a state of disorder". Is the first rule an exception applied only for units disordered after routs? If not which applies?

Answer
There is a distinction between a unit in simple disorder and a unit in rout. While a unit in rout is disordered it does not follow the rules for a unit in disorder. A routed unit is in complete disorder. General disorder from a second round of the same melee, shooting or seeing a friendly rout is quite different from being in Rout. Rout is a complete breakdown of a unit’s ability to perform any effective punitive actions other than running away. Units recovering from rout must pass a morale test and stand untouched in the turn it passes morale. In the next turn is becomes simply in disorder. In the following turn it is out of disorder. Rout is a disordered state but it is quite different from just disorder.

Question
3) Page 10 Figures eligible to melee. Still influenced from CH. Does stands besides (and successive ranks) a first rank fighting stand able to fight?. i.e. a stand touching a corner with an enemy stand.
Answer
See above text change for units in melee. But let me say this. Two units are in melee stand to stand. A unit comes up to stand beside another friendly unit in that melee. First it cannot move up to stand beside a friendly unit in melee. Units cannot move closer than one inch of the enemy unless they charge. When charging units have to have room to place their stands into direct frontal or flank or rear of the enemy they are charging. I think the situation should be logically executed in regard to physics and not written rules. Does the movement physically make sense.

Question
4) Page 14 Chariots & How they work. What is the use for the chariot weapon capabilities (Good/Poor)? I can not see any bonus/ melees within the Q.R.S. It is not clear which weapon is "long range" and which "short range" in the chart. I assume first one is the "long" one.
Answer
These are built into the basic melee or shooting values on the QRS. Notice that all the QRS have their own values based on my interpretations.

Question
Same thing happens with chariot "support" (runners) which is mentioned in this chart and rule but have no effect anywhere else. Runners were an important part of the chariot warfare, and it should
be considered somehow.
Answer
Good point but I think runners are so obscure in their actual activity that I would recommend having a unit of foot in support of the chariots. If you want them to travel with the chariots then I would reduce chariot speed by one inch for each runner added. It is easier using a foot unit in support.

Question New Kingdom chariots seems to have had runners support.
Answer
Perhaps.

Question
5) Q.R.S.
(i) I agree that is a good idea in friendly game that UV/MV are to be rearranged according to own research and understanding. At least to have some coherence (for instance the Canaanite chariot has a better MV when used as an Egyptian ally that if used in its own list (fighting for his owns).
Answer
Completely interpretative.

Question
(ii) Shooting Modifiers. Does "+1 Shooter stationary" applies to chariots?
Answer
Yes

Question
(iii) Hittites: Notes say that "half of all bow units can be have composite bows. All can have composite bows". So is it half or all?
Answer
Notes & Enemies:
4, 7, 8, 9, 10 (civil war), 11, 12 & 16
Composite Bows do not take minus for over half range & half of all bow units can be have composite bows.

Question
(iv) Basic shooting factor: Some lists it is 5, others 6, others 5/6. Is "6" for composite bows? Some list do have them but still keep "5".
Answer
When you see 5/6 means that units with regular bows use 5 and composite bows use 6.

Question
(v) And finally some historical doubts on a not very well known list by me, Babylonians: Are "Knights" and "Vassal knights" charioteers? Are these latter allies? Were they better than babylonian Knights (+2 vs. +1 and only in first contact)? The babylonian chariot is the most powerful of all in the lists... Any historical reference?..
Answer
Replace with this:
Melee Modifiers
+3 Melee First Contact
+3 Opponent Shieldless
+2 Allies First Contact
+2 Enemy Disordered
+2 Enemy Open or Loose Order Foot
+1 Foot Charging

In regard to historical reference I relied on secondary sources. These lead me to this conclusion.

Comment
For removal of chariot models in a unit which charged. There is a catastrophic event roll where you can lose a chariot model in a charging unit. In the event a model is lost you should remove when possible a model that already has casualties rather than one without casualties.