Not directly a rule question, just intrigued
"Foot regiments may only charge foot that is Shaken, in Open Order, in a March Column, or defending an Obstacle"
What is the rationale behind this ?
As I read it, 2 foot Regiments stand shooting at each other, preferably from short or medium range, until one of them can make 3 hits and the other one fails his test, then the none shaken charges in, hopes to win the melee and force another test ?
The impression that I had from reading battle accounts was of a more frequent "push of the pike" physical combat between foot units ?