Notice: Due to issues with the processing of VAT on deliveries to the EU a limit has been put in place, restricting orders to a maximum of £135. We apologise for any inconvenience this causes.
> Forums
Reply
1
> Rules > Polemos Rules > MdE Combat and Morale
TOPIC: MdE Combat and Morale
PM henryeedcoat
Standard User
Posts: 9
MdE Combat and Morale
henryeedcoat
4th Feb 2026 04:45:57

So, when playtesting the rules I've found myself with the following questions.

1. How many TPs am I required to spend so my formations can "advance to contact"? Say, I ordered a division to move within 2 BW and spent 1TP. Would I be required to spend the amount I needed to move it or how does it work? Is it possible to advance into contact from the movement phase (say if I ended up with a unit within 1 BW and use my move to "crash" into the opponent.

2. After every turn on which a formation went into combat, you have to test morale, yes? I've found its incredibly deadly to fight any combat, as it's difficult to role under a 3 or 4 , more so if any bases are shaken. I find it odd for units to become immediately spent, but I'm not sure if I'm playing it correctly.

Looking forward to your answers.


Regards

Henry

PM Whirlwind
Standard User
Posts: 499
MdE Combat and Morale
Whirlwind
4th Feb 2026 06:29:00

1. You don't need to spend extra tempo points to advance to contact, it is just a move (although I don't quite follow your description above, I am sorry). So it is not only possible, it is necessary to advance into contact in the movement phase. You allocate TPs, move your forces and if you are in contact, go through the procedure in the contact phase.

2.Yes, you are playing it correctly. Formations with a single base are very fragile - even if they are unshaken, and you roll a 5-6 on the d6 for morale, they become spent. OTOH, if your army is organized that way you do get a lot of formations, so there is a degree of robustness at the army level, plus more TPs, even if they are much less efficient at using them. In any case, if you want them to be a bit more robust, delete 'equal or' from the second paragraph of 'Force Morale' in Col 2, p.21 - that stops the possibility of a single-base formation becoming spent even if unshaken.


PM henryeedcoat
Standard User
Posts: 9
MdE Combat and Morale
henryeedcoat
4th Feb 2026 06:58:40

1. Yes, that's how I was playing it, but I wasn't quite sure if there was a double spending of TPs 

2. I'll try that, I've still got some tinkering to do with the rules. 

Now that you mention spent forces, how is "returning to the baseline" represented? Do I just remove them off the board? Do I make them retreat? 


Regards

Henry

PM Whirlwind
Standard User
Posts: 499
MdE Combat and Morale
Whirlwind
4th Feb 2026 09:10:47

You can do either with spent forces. For myself, I have tended to leave them on the table for campaign games (I count them as prisoners if they are contacted by cavalry or otherwise trapped) and not bothered in single battle scenarios.


1
 

LATEST FORUM POSTS

Colonials at Khartoum by ChrisBBB
22nd Jun 2026

Colonials at Khartoum by Yeppers
22nd Jun 2026

Colonials at Khartoum by ChrisBBB
18th Jun 2026

Baccus Ottoman Army play with Blûcher rule by LEmpereur
17th Jun 2026

Train elements and destroyed unit markers to play DBN by LEmpereur
17th Jun 2026

UPCOMING SHOWS

Joy of Six (Sheffield)
28th Jun 2026

Claymore (Telford College, Edinburgh)
1st Aug 2026

Colours (Newbury Racecourse)
5th Sep 2026

LATEST RELEASES

WWI08 - Italian MMG and crewWWI08
Italian MMG and crew

WWI05 - Italian 4.5cm mortar and crewWWI05
Italian 4.5cm mortar and crew

WWI06 - ATR and crewWWI06
ATR and crew

WWI04 - Italian LMGs and crewWWI04
Italian LMGs and crew

WWI02 - Italian infantry firingWWI02
Italian infantry firing