First of all, big thanks to Greg for the Book of Battle. I ran a test session with it and everyone had a lot of fun, except the fact that one PC died and the other finished unconscious but was saved by his squire... I know some players who will be quite affraid when we start the Pendragon Campaign ;).

My only questions come from the definition of a Retreat...

On page 20 of BoB, it says that enemies signal a general Retreat when Battle Intensity is 15 and that they rout when it hits 0 for 2 consecutive turns. However, on page 76, in the Sample Battle, it is written that "Since the Battle Intensity is less than 16 for 2 consecutive rounds, the enemy army will now attempt to Retreat". When does an army retreat? At 15 or below 16?

Also, what happens when an enemy army retreats? Does the battle come to an end? If not, how long does the general retreat last? 1 round? I imagine that players can choose the Pursue/Follow maneuvers if they win or tie their Unit Commander Battle roll, but what else? I saw that it didn't have any consequences in the Determine the Victor section of the "After the Battle" chapter (even though it is written on page 20 that we should "see pg.58 for definitions of Retreat…" - which I wasn't able to find).

Finally, when an army retreats, does it use the withdraw maneuver (as suggests the sample battle, p.76 step 3) or the Run Away maneuver as the Pursue maneuver description seems to imply (I say that because the foe doesn't get the +10 bonus when pursued, as opposed to what is said in the Follow maneuver description)?

If, when forced to retreat, an army has the choice to either withdraw (at +10) or run away, I don't see why anyone would choose to run away. If the army has to run away, then when does it withdraw as described in the Follow maneuver? If the army has to withdraw, then when does the Pursue maneuver can be used?

Thanks again!

Most of this is answered in the Battles and Armies forum, especially in the http://www.gspendragon.com/roundtable/index.php?topic=444.0"]Determining (http://"[url) How the Enemy is Exiting[/url] thread. But one thing you ask is still evading me too:


Also, what happens when an enemy army retreats? Does the battle come to an end? If not, how long does the general retreat last? 1 round? I imagine that players can choose the Pursue/Follow maneuvers if they win or tie their Unit Commander Battle roll, but what else?
Some insight from more experienced commanders would be great.

I know some players who will be quite affraid when we start the Pendragon Campaign ;).


That's the right attitude.



My only questions come from the definition of a Retreat...

On page 20 of BoB, it says that enemies signal a general Retreat when Battle Intensity is 15 and that they rout when it hits 0 for 2 consecutive turns. However, on page 76, in the Sample Battle, it is written that "Since the Battle Intensity is less than 16 for 2 consecutive rounds, the enemy army will now attempt to Retreat". When does an army retreat? At 15 or below 16?


15 is the threshold. It doesn't have to be exactly 15, but 15 or less.



Also, what happens when an enemy army retreats? Does the battle come to an end?


Yes,


If not, how long does the general retreat last? 1 round?


Yes.



I imagine that players can choose the Pursue/Follow maneuvers if they win or tie their Unit Commander Battle roll, but what else?


What else are you anticipating here?



I saw that it didn't have any consequences in the Determine the Victor section of the "After the Battle" chapter (even though it is written on page 20 that we should "see pg.58 for definitions of Retreat…" - which I wasn't able to find).


A retreat is not a defeat.
If an enemy army leaves the field, even defeated, it i not a decisive victory, just a victory.



Finally, when an army retreats, does it use the withdraw maneuver (as suggests the sample battle, p.76 step 3) or the Run Away maneuver as the Pursue maneuver description seems to imply (I say that because the foe doesn't get the +10 bonus when pursued, as opposed to what is said in the Follow maneuver description)?


They Withdraw, unless the Intensity is 0, whereupon they Run Away.



If, when forced to retreat, an army has the choice to either withdraw (at +10) or run away, I don't see why anyone would choose to run away.


Correct.
Unless of course they are troops that normally Run Away



If the army has to run away, then when does it withdraw as described in the Follow maneuver? If the army has to withdraw, then when does the Pursue maneuver can be used?


After two rounds have begun with the Intensity below 15, the enemy army withdraws.
That is, on the third round following two with low Intensity.

Wow! For a guy who posted in the wrong section of the forum, I got the royal treatment! Answers by Greg himself! Cool!

I think everything is clear for me now, everything except some small questions about the Pursue maneuver.

If the Pursue maneuver is exclusively used against an ennemy army retreating and that retreating army always use the withdraw maneuver (except some rare troops who use run away), does it means that the only time you can use a Pursue is when you face special troops who normally run away instead of withdraw when they retreat? If yes, then what are those troops? I know of sprinting troops (indicated in the Army book by an "s"), but they use the Sprint maneuver countered by the Run Down (a Sprinter) maneuver. Could I guess that those sprinting units will run away instead of withdraw if the whole army retreats? Are there any other troops who will do this?

Thanks again!

If the Pursue maneuver is exclusively used against an enemy army retreating and that retreating army always use the withdraw maneuver (except some rare troops who use run away)....
Could I guess that those sprinting units will run away instead of withdraw if the whole army retreats? Are there any other troops who will do this?


Please see
http://gspendragon.com/erratabob.html
Basically, they Withdraw if their Intensity is 15 or more, and you Follow
They Retreat without any modifier with intensity less than 15, and you can Pursue

Sprinters will run at less than 15.