Zone of Control = a suicide tactic?

[SC_Dave]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has ever used the Special Command Ability, Zone of Control, and found it useful? (Rules on p.109 of ASCE).

Reading through the rules it sounds like a bit of suicide move rather than an advantage. To use it you must move a unit into base-to-base contact with an unmoved unit. If that unit then doesn't move directly away from your unit it must spend 4" of move for not doing so.

It would seem to me that a fairly average mover, say 8", could just cop the 4" penalty and use the remaining 4" of move to into your unit's rear arc?

Have I misunderstood the rule? Do I lack vision? It would seem to me that unless some fairly specific circumstances exist, say wedging your unit between an opposing unit and unpassable terrain, then you are just asking to get shot in the back.

[Son of Kerenski]

Hey Dave!

I think the answer probably lies in the wording - specifically the words "directly away".

Manuevering into the rear arc wouldn't really satisfy that condition as you aren't moving directly away.

But I will let one of the AS elite make the final call.

[Crackerb0x]

It's a calculated cost. Sure you COULD move into base contact with a faster unit to trigger it, but would you? Nothing is making you. And are there units covering your 'control' unit from flankers? Games are more complicated than what a single rule might mean.

Also getting shot in the back isn't really suicide. It's not fun, but unless it's you're a small unit, it's probably not death.

To me, it seems like this ability is to help augment the battlefield and give a tactical option - like many of the abilities are. There's usually a lot of complex decision making that goes into these types of scenarios of their use that a very simple example won't ever be able to represent.

[Weirdo]

As Crackerb0x said, you don't use Zone of Control on just anybody in any place. You use it on things that are already kinda slow to bring them to a crawl(or things that need every inch of their speed to accomplish their mission). Use it in places where swinging wide forces them to deal with blocking or hindering terrain they don't want to deal with. Try using multiple ZoC units to create large overlapping zones. (The rules explicitly say that Zone of Control is most useful when you have the advantage in terrain and/or numbers.) Remember that your force is a team, and have buddies covering your back. A nasty trick might be to combine ZoC with HT units, so you can cook someone to slow them, then Zone of Control to lock them down completely and make them an easy target.

To me, Zone of Control is best suited to breakthrough or hold the line games, where you can force defenders to withdraw before your advance, or stand firm and make attackers break after crashing into your wall, respectively.

[SC_Dave]

Having thought about it a bit more, it might also be more useful if Lance/Star movement is also being used. Advance on a unit with a formation moving line abreast & it could trap the target unit in your sights.