What is routing?

[John Cook]

...a bank balance seems well suited to game mechanics...

I think so too.  I use computer rules (Computer Strategies) and they do exactly this, reflecting units's physical as well a mental exhaustion.  When they do rout it is usually the last you'll see of them.

[Ithoriel]

One of the many things that I like about the Strength & Honour rules is the way the set-back and disaster cards model the gradual erosion of an army's morale and the fact that neither side knows what either morale state is, except in broad terms, until one side or the other declares "Homunculus Est!"

[steve_holmes_11]

One thing I read about, but seems particularly difficulty for rules to capture.

A unit ordered to move to the rear is mistaken by friends as the start of the rout (with unfortunate consequences).

[John Cook]

One thing I read about, but seems particularly difficulty for rules to capture.

A unit ordered to move to the rear is mistaken by friends as the start of the rout (with unfortunate consequences).

There are also the deliberate false-flights too, like the Normans at Hastings, and pursuits that are not ordered and go out of control, like British sometimes in the Peninsula.

[mmcv]

In my own rule writing, I've been thinking about this a lot and have been experimenting with the idea and terminology.

I generally identified three broad scenarios:

A "flinch" is a short movement back facing the enemy, used when pulling back from a melee, in response to a threat or taking a break from the clash. This doesn't really affect army morale as is part of the normal ebb and flow of battle but has a minor effect on unit morale.

A "fallback" then is a turn away from the enemy and running a few movements away, usually behind friendly lines, which has a moderate effect on army morale (more so if they fall back "through" other units) but a stronger effect on unit morale.

A "rout" then is a unit breaking in a blind panic and fleeing the field of battle, which can have a much more significant impact on overall morale and causes the unit itself to be removed and cause some serious consternation to their commander.

I tend to have it where there are some situations where a unit might completely rout in the face of compounded combat stress or being overwhelmed by the enemy, but could also be they fall back to the point of being isolated and disloyal/disordered and so become much harder to rally and so may rout when next activated.

In my head that generally covers the various stages of potential "retreat" and the effects they may have. When one unit starts to waver it reduces the overall combat effectiveness of those around, which can then cascade into a full-scale retreat if the wavering units aren't properly supported.