AC01 Ocaña (18 November 1809)

Hello!
Thank you very much for your work. Well done!
We've played this game several times, and since each side has different victory points—10 for the Spanish army and 13 for the French (this should be corrected in the scenario rules)—it makes the French command think carefully about when and how to use the cavalry to prevent a Spanish retreat. In fact, the Spanish have won more than once. Spanish units don't need to stop to leave the board (this should also be corrected in the scenario rules), and with a Grand Maneuver or Forced March, it's possible to move a large number of units out.
Thank you.

I have made the adjustment to the banners in the scenario description.

Regarding the withdrawal rules, is this an accurate expression of them? 
The part in bold italics needs clarification. Does this mean in range of an enemy unit?
What does "withdrawal from a potential melee attack mean" - in movement range of an
enemy unit via any potential card?

• General Zayas' Defensive Maneuver: This maneuver allowed the Spanish left 
flank to withdraw the divisions in order.
- Withdrawal commences once General Freire's cavalry units are each reduced to
a single block or have been eliminated (these are the 4 marked cavalry units on the
Spanish right flank).
- Spanish units may not move backward except due to the effects of combat (retreat, exposure to ranged fire, and withdrawal from a possible melee attack).
- Once Withdrawal commences, Spanish units may move freely and Spanish units
and Leaders may withdraw through the exit hexes. Units may not exit by Retreat, Retire & Reform or the Tactician card "Leader Orders a Fallback" but all other types of movement are
allowed, starting from any hex (baseline or not).
- Withdrawal VPs: Each full strength Spanish unit that withdraws will gain 1 VP for
the Spanish side.

For the sake of an alternative.. I've tried to reduce the text, and load the no entry to the Exit zone into the front of the Special Rule. I think the gist of the exit requirement is that the units are ordered, and expend 1 movement in an Exit hex.

• General Zayas' Defensive Maneuver:
- no units or leaders may enter the 3 marked exit hexes on the Spanish baseline, except during Retreat, Retire & Reform or through play of the "Leader Orders a Fallback" Tactician card until Withdrawal commences
Withdrawal
- Withdrawal commences once General Freire's cavalry units are each reduced to a single block or have been eliminated (these are the 4 marked cavalry units on the Spanish right flank).
- Once Withdrawal commences, any unit or leader may enter the exit hexes freely.
- Ordered Spanish units and Leaders may withdraw from an exit hex for 1 hex of movement.
Note: This maneuver allowed the Spanish left flank to withdraw the divisions in order.

In the Victory Banner section
- Each full strength Spanish unit that withdraws will gain 1 Spanish Victory Banner.

there are a few unlikely complications of this Special Rule;
1. If the Spanish cavalry are reduced to 1 strength, and then are rallied back to full strength, can they exit and count as Victory Banners?
2. If the Spanish cavalry rally over 1 strength, does this close the Exit?
3. There is a potential for a inconclusive result if all the Spanish exit, but insufficent units are full strength.

General Zayas' Defensive Maneuver:
The purpose of this rule is to prevent the Spanish command from moving towards the exit hexes.
Moving backward is only permitted in the following cases:
- Flag symbol on the dice roll.
- Avoiding melee attack.
- Retreat and Reform.
- "Leaders orders a fall back" Tactical Card.
- Avoiding rifle and cannon fire.
Movement towards the starting hexes is only allowed when the Spanish cavalry is eliminated or reduced to one block per unit.

1. If the Spanish cavalry are reduced to 1 strength, and then are rallied back to full strength, can they exit and count as Victory Banners?
Yes, it's a complete unit.

2. If the Spanish cavalry rally over 1 strength, does this close the Exit?
Once the withdrawal has started, it cannot be cancelled.

3. There is a potential for a inconclusive result if all the Spanish exit, but insufficent units are full strength.
The Spanish victory is by 10 VP, which is the total number of French units eliminated and Spanish units withdrawn.
In the times this game has been played, both scores have been added together, and there were still plenty of units left to fight.

Important
Do not stop on the exit hexes. A great Maneuver, Forced March, allows you to exit and score with that movement.

Andres, I sense that you are trying to avoid players gaming the scenario rules.

As I understand you, movement to avoid ranged or melee attack is allowed.  As written, with the Tactician deck in use, the potential attack ranges are therefore:
Infantry alone: 2 hexes (Bayonet Charge)
Infantry with a leader: 3 hexes (allowing for Infantry Forward Leader)
Cavalry: 4 hexes (allowing for Cavalry Charge and Cavalry Forward, but not allowing for Momentum Advance and Breakthrough).
Foot Artillery: 5 hexes

Is that your intention? If so, might I suggest that the rule is simplified to allow unrestricted movement when French Infantry or Artillery are 3 hexes away or when French cavalry are 4 hexes away, or something along those lines.

locoNey wrote:

Important
Do not stop on the exit hexes. A great Maneuver, Forced March, allows you to exit and score with that movement.

but the unit must pass through an Exit hex. So regardless of where the unit starts, it must move to the Exit hex, and spend 1 move to " Withdraw" 

locoNey wrote:

General Zayas' Defensive Maneuver:
The purpose of this rule is to prevent the Spanish command from moving towards the exit hexes.
Moving backward is only permitted in the following cases:
- Flag symbol on the dice roll.
- Avoiding melee attack.
- Retreat and Reform.
- "Leaders orders a fall back" Tactical Card.
- Avoiding rifle and cannon fire.
Movement towards the starting hexes is only allowed when the Spanish cavalry is eliminated or reduced to one block per unit.

OK, I had not percieved this was the intention of the rule. I think it is a very difficult restriction to make when there are so many potential exceptions.

I also note that the French player can guarantee the Exit never opens simply by refusing to battle or battleback against one Spanish cavalry. This strikes me as gamey, but perfectly allowable within the Special Rule.