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These are based upon similar rules (Warhammer Ancient Battles & War and Conquest) and my own thoughts. Both would require to pass a morale check.

1) Allow a "Fire and Flee" reaction by fast cavalry and skirmishers armed with missile weapons. The flee move would be reduced: one less dice than normal.
So one die for infantry and two for cavalry, but they disregard the low number. This would not apply unless they qualify for a regular "stand and shoot."
If they pass the morale check, they automatically rally at the end of the flee move - unless they are caught by the charge move in which case they are destroyed as normal for a flee charge reaction.

2) Cavalry counter-charge. They wouldn't move, but would be allowed to use their weapon's charge bonus (no CRT benefit though). I think there there should be some risk for it though to represent the disorder from a failed charge. Maybe if they failed their morale check the opponent would get an additional +1 on CRT.

Thoughts?

What Edition is this for?

This is interesting stuff. I know in 6th Edition it's pretty much just the Empire that gets to do cool counter charge-y stuff. Would this be allowed for all Factions?

I play 8th edition
And the thought is it would apply to all that qualify

I like rule 1 thematically, however Fast Cav has been good from 6th to 8th, so not sure that giving it a buff is a good idea balance wise without a points increase.

Rule 2 is good, but I don't think any penalty for failure is necessary. I would also like some qualifiers.

The charging unit should be in the front arc, and be more than half the counter charging units M value distant. The counter charging unit must be able to move 1 inch to gain all the bonus's of charging.

However we run into the same problem as rule 1. Late 8th had cavalry death stars, so while it would improve moderate cavalry use a little it would improve cav death stars a great deal more.

I know 8ths is remembered as the infantry blob edition, but that was only at the beginning of 8th.

I hadn't thought about the point issue.
I totally agree with your qualifiers (charge arcs, etc)

What if it only applied to cavalry that were faster or had a higher armor save than the attackers?
The idea being that slower cav wouldn't have time to react...

I like that you are considering costs/risks to attach to these buffs to balance things out. I dont have experience with 8th so I dont want to pretend to be an expert. My next question would be: what do you mean by "higher armour save"? Do you mean weaker higher like 6+ instead of 5+ or higher stronger as in 4+ rather than 5+? Just to clarify; im 90% sure i know what you mean but i dont want to accidentally say the opposite of your suggestion and sound like im agreeing

MattyFenby wrote:
I like that you are considering costs/risks to attach to these buffs to balance things out. I dont have experience with 8th so I dont want to pretend to be an expert. My next question would be: what do you mean by "higher armour save"? Do you mean weaker higher like 6+ instead of 5+ or higher stronger as in 4+ rather than 5+? Just to clarify; im 90% sure i know what you mean but i dont want to accidentally say the opposite of your suggestion and sound like im agreeing

Yes the one with the weaker save.
So the higher save number.
For example a cavalry unit with a 4+ save could counter charge a unit with a 2+ save
But a cavalry unit with a 2+ save could not counter charge a unit with a 3+ save.

I reckon things like that are too much trouble to remember.

It should be a rule for all Cavalry (excluding fast cavalry) or it will get forgotten about too easily.

The reason why I suggest a counter charge getting the same bonus as a charge is that it is easier to remember.

I am not so keen on a drawback or punishment for these rules if they fail. Fear for example was far to punishing in 6th and 7th edition. It meant that army construction was heavily limited by having to construct for fear.

These rules won't break a balanced army. Plus redirection will still be effective.
A real consideration is to try and flank charge cavalry or receive a counter charge, which makes for some tactical play. Lances would probably need a slight points increase though.

I always thought that Fire and Flee should have been ported into WFB.

Ellyrion Reavers had fire and flee in 5th. Fled 2D6 after firing.