zoc and zoc attacks

[Treefrog]

BG defines zone of control as the three hexes to the unit's front. I don't understand this as the units face a hex seam and they only have two hexes to their front.

Literature discusses ZOC attacks. I assume this means cutting off the defender's line of retreat with your units' ZOC, correct?

I think I read somewhere that a formed unit can keep open the line of retreat, but a skirmisher (and/or routed) unit cannot, correct?

[Doc o War]

TreeFrog- In all the games I am playing the arrow on the counter is facing a hex SIDE- and i can easily distinguish the front three hex sides- I have not seen an arrow facing the hex seam- it always faces some hex side.
 
Cutting a line of retreat with ZOCs and then making it retreat is the best way to destroy enemy units- They can retreat through other formed units depending on what retreat option you are playing with- I prefer to allow units to retreat through- destroying a retreating unit because it would temporarily overstack a hex seemed artificial to me- so I use that option.  Retreat and rout through another formed unit can still make that unit have to check for rout and it might go also.
 
There is no good rules set regarding what Skirmisher units do?- other than costing more to move and seeing enemy units two hexes out with a question mark. I think it effects combat in some way but so far I have not found an explanation as too how.
 

[wiz_of_oz2006]

The BG Napoleon and Civil War series use different fronts or facing for units. In the Napoleonic series the units face along the spine and has a front or forward ZOC of two hexes. In the Civil War series the unit faces the hexside and has a front or forward ZOC of three hexes. Skirmishers are represented totally different in each series as well. The Napoleon series actually detaches a unit of skirmishers while the Civil War series just effectively expands a unit ZOC. The literature can be confusing because of the difference in the two systems, while simillar there are important differences.

I hope that helps.