Q: I have a question on scouting movement rates. I notice that the movement rates for scouts is different for the main tribe. I’m assuming, from what I’ve read, that this is because the intention is for scouts to have enough movement points to also return to the tribe. So, mounted tribe/element groups have 27 movement points to get from A to B but mounted scouts have 15 points which gets them from A to B but don’t have to spend movement points to get back to A again. Effectively, this is like them having 30 movement points. (They move twice as far). However, Units on foot have 18 movement points and scouts on foot only have 8. This is less than twice as much movement, (there and back again). Why are scouts on foot so much less efficient in movement than scouts on horse? Shouldn’t they have at least 10 movement points?
A: I agree that foot scouting rates should be increased. However, my scouts almost always go out mounted…..either on horses, or elephants (although I am not convinced that elephants count as mounted as far as movement is concerned….I’ll have to check the numbers next turn).
I think its because they are spending more time “looking” around at the ground , in the trees whatever and so don’t move as far.
It takes a long time to walk around a 25 mile hex and check out every outcrop of rock for ores. The tribe just moves from A to B in a straight line and with blinkers on.
These are good points about why scouting takes as long as it does and I do agree. My point was that mounted scouts have a proportionally greater movement rate, compared to a mounted tribe/element, than does a scout on foot, compared to tribe/element on foot.
Consider that scouts don’t usually have to tend cattle, kids, and the elderly, but they do have to peek about, poke things, and turn over rocks. That can make a person tired on foot…..horses climb hills and Dale’s much faster than someone slogging through turf in dirt sandals, tied together with old leaves, too.
Q: When Scouting, what is your ‘best practice’ advice for new players? Cardinal compass points to limit? Fill in close hexes first? Circular Scouting (meaning, sending scouts out in coconcentric circles around the main tribe)? Something else entirely? Also, what composition do you suggest? 2 warriors with horse? More warriors, with arms and armor?
A: I love the NW to limit Order as I just hit one key and it gets done. I dont know whether there is a “best practice” as how a player likes to build their map is usually a matter of taste as well as practical efficiency. Re numbers most players use one warrior per part, a number use two. Using more is only useful if you come up against Suppressors and serious Suppression does not muck around with 5 to 10 warriors assigned but will be more like 20 to 50. With these numbers it probably does not matter if you have 2 or 10 scouts in the party they will likely not return (btw Scout skill helps determine outcomes of Suppression which I forgot to mention in the last post). Bottom line, I would use 1 or 2 scouts.
Q: When Scouting do the scouts scout each hex it moves through or do you have to specifically be made to scout that hex in order to find anything such as, coal etc, or does they automatically do this as they pass through each hex?
A: Scouts automatically scout all hexes they pass through for ores and special finds. Elements and Tribes only scout the hex they end in.
Q: Can an element use the whole 8 scouting options if I tribe isn’t using any?
A: yes
Q: Can Warriors mount elephants and use them when scouting?
A: Yes, scouts can use elephants
Q: If 2 clans both have scouts that reach the same point at the end of their exploration for the turn, do they see each other?
A: Not necessarily. Probably not. Hexes are regarded as being 25 miles wide. The chances of scouts happening upon each other, or being aware that another unit has passed though would be very remote indeed. In fact, given the technology of the day it would be highly unlikely that two units ending in the hex would see each other.
The sequence is that Tribes and Elements move, then they send out any scouts. So Scouts see Tribes and Elements in their ending locations, not as they are moving.