Feeding Light Lancers into a melee

[Schnockel]

So...say a cavalier BG is in stuck in melee against a foot unit.

The cavalier (impact pistol, pistol) has a 1-stand overlap. A light lancer BG on the same side as the foot unit decides to frontally charge the overlapping cavalier.

Does it make any difference in the Impact if the cavaliers are engaged in melee or not? In other words, does the light lancer still not get a plus for the lance as the cavaliers have an impact pistol?

Thanks

[Blathergut]

The base of cavaliers you are impacting is just overlap. So yes, they count as impact pistol when you hit.

[rbodleyscott]

The logic behind this is that a battle group is made out of many troops of horse - it isn't a monolithic block. The overlapping ones aren't significantly engaged, so can countercharge the lancers. This is not depicted on the table, but is assumed in the Impact POAs.