Leader death

Just an idea I've been mulling over. Usually, when a leader was killed in battle it would have a bad effect on units nearby. Here is what I think would add this without detracting from the gameplay. Using a variant of the elephant 'rampage' rule - when a named leader is killed, all adjacent units of that side throw two dice and take losses only if their colour comes up.

I like this rule. I'm going to try it.

As an alternate version of the rule, since the loss of the leader was more of a demoralizing event then one that inflicted losses, all adjacent units throw 2 dice and retreat for each banner thrown (using standard retreat rules when a banner is rolled). Just a thought/suggestion.

I like the retreat rule a bit better. The leader's(ex leader)unit should do the same as any adjacent unit.

I do prefer "retreat variant" instead of "death variant", but I'm going to try them both.
Pavlov with:

...using standard retreat rules when a banner is rolled...

do you mean that "supported units" do not retreat?

Or maybe, due to panic and scare (for losing their leader) they are going to reatreat anyway (ignoring support)?

I think, as you mentioned, due to the trauma of seeing a leader drop in battle, the units should ignore support and roll for retreat regardless.

Roman history is rife with stories of units dropping thier weapons and running after a charismatic leader falls.

I'm going to try it as well. Post your opinion or thoughts on how it played out.

I agree, the support rule is dropped in this particular instance.

Just bear in mind all, that a leader is a loss of one whole banner, the same as a key unit. Thus since banners are not dead people, they are loss of morale, loss of cohesion, fatigue, etc, the loss of a leader means I need one less banner to break your army. That is often such a decisive advantage by itself, that in games that require only 5 banners for victory, leader loss is pretty much the game in a lot of cases.

And, in my experience anyway, the Leader Loss is most likely to happen along with the loss of the unit the leader is with.

This means Leader loss is usually a double banner and adjacent units do lose support if in a line rather than a bunch.

Phill

I'm pleased that people have commented on this. I think I will try the retreat roll and see how it goes. I tend to agree that loosing units would be too much damage for a morale issue. I'll let you know.