Question re Thermopylae by Miguel Marques

Miguel
This is how I understand the special outflanking through the mountains rule:

Units in I1 to I4 can be given a leadership Right or any section command. They must be eligible for the command in the usual way i.e. linked with a leader. They are then placed in hexes A2 to A5 from where they can move and attack.

If the above is correct could a leader in the central section, linked to units on I1 to I4, be ordered with a leadership Central or any section card and thus allow any units ordered by this card and on any of the hexes I1 to I4 to move to A2 to A5?

Hi Admiral,

I was just notified of your question (I don't check the site often enough...). Here is the rule:

Mount Anopaea: all the hill hexes are impassable. However, the Persian player can use Leadership cards to transfer units on the upper broken ground hexes, accross the mountains, to any empty hex of the corresponding section along the Greek baseline. These units are ordered (may move and battle).

So this is not the "normal" use of Leadership cards. You don't need leaders linked to the units. These cards let you transfer units that are on the upper broken ground hexes (with leader or not, linked or not) to the Greek baseline corresponding to the card: Leadership Left/Center/Right to the Persian left/center/right section, Any Section to any section.

Therefore, for example, once you have crossed the Mount once, with the "100 Nations" rule you can replace eliminated units (or simply move existing units) on the upper broken ground hexes so that they will be able to cross the Mount again, with another Leadership card, even without a leader. I have never seen this happen, but it is possible!

Hope this helps, don't hesitate asking other questions if you have them. Thanks for playing this scenario!

Miguel

Thanks for that Miguel.

I Got that totally wrong then!

Just to check I have the "Go tell the Spartans" right. On the 1st Greek turn, assuming the Persians have not utilised the "Mount Anopaea" rule on their 1st turn, may remove from play all 5 Greek light units?

The Admiral
aka Jim Duncan

Hi Jim!

Yes, at the beginning of any turn you can remove any light units that are closer to the baseline than any Persian unit (and not adjacent to the enemy). Even after Persian units go through Mount Anopaea, you may find some of your light units that satisfy this condition. So it is never too late to go tell the Spartans!

On the other hand, I wouldn't remove all the lights from the start. Depending on your hand it might be useful to have some of them, specially the Auxilia, to help the spartiates. When some HI are weak and you have already used Rally, screening these units with lights is a good way to make them stay longer on the board... and be ready for a decisive blow!

And if a Persian player goes through the Mount Anopaea at the very beginning, his units will be an easy prey for the Spartans. I always wait a bit before sending them home...

Miguel

Hi Miguel
Thanks for quick reply.
But surely if the Persians are on the baseline the Greeks can't be any closer to it than they are?
Jim

Yes, but once they enter through the Greek baseline they may move upwards to fight the Spartans, and then you may find a light unit that becomes closer to the baseline than any of those units. If the Persian player wants to avoid a late escape of the lights, he can leave at least one of his units on the baseline in order to block their escape.

Sorry Miguel, I see what you mean. Once they move north off the baseline the Greek lights could then get away.