Command Delay

[SuperTed]

"Every unit has an inherent command delay before it can execute any new movement orders..."

This quote is taken from page 72 of the CM Manual under the "Command Delay" heading.

I am wondering what the reasoning is for NOT having a command delay for ordering a unit to STOP moving. One would expect the same criteria (i.e. C&C and experience) to apply to ANY movement orders, whether it is to start, resume, or cease movement.

I have run into a few situations where this lack of command delay has created conditions that would probably not happen in reality. For example, I have had a tank zipping along a road with orders to proceed to a specific position. During the Action Phase of a turn, an enemy tank (that could easily destroy my tank) had appeared. Fortunately for my tank, the turn ended while it was behind a building and hidden from the view of the enemy tank. During the next Orders Phase, I cancelled my tank's movement orders. Lo and behold, the crew was not only able to carry out my STOP order instantaneously, but they were also able to temporarily alter the laws of physics so that their tank would not continue forward even a cm.

It seems to me that the command delay should apply to the order to cease movement, since all the standard C&C issues would undoubtedly exist. Further, in the case of vehicles, braking distances may be worth considering when units are given orders to stop immediately.

Well, that's my 2 gp.