Certainly not accusing anyone of being a cheesy player - I haven't met anyone being cheesy in napoleonics as yet - of course we haven't had a really 'serious' competition as yet .......Thanks for the reply, I certainly don't consider myself a cheesy player I just wanted clarification, although others might disagree with me there!?
I acknowledge that there are instances where you can generate an intecept that ends with both the intercepters and the original target in contact. A prime example is:
Target is directly facing the attackers, who are slightly to the side and charge straight ahead. There is a friendly unit (to the target) lined up and 1MU behind (2MU for cavalry). That unit moves forwardes the minimum amount of 1 (or 2) MU to end up level with the target. The charging unit then must fight both.
However - The original target still cannot fire !
An intercept is considered successful if the assaulting unit contacts the intercepting unit. Contact with the original target is irrelevent to the assessment of a successful interception. The last 2 bullet points on page 32 are most relevent:
"A unit being intercepted may not be fired upon by the original target of the assault"
Means exactly as I say above "The original target cannot fire at the assaulting unit"
"The original target of the assault does not have to make any of the otherwise compulsary test for being assaulted if all of the assaulting units fail to make contact because of the interceptions.
This 2nd statement says that because the original target is still contacted (in the above scenario), it MUST make all the relevent test and reactions as if the assault was not intercepted, but is still NOT allowed to fire.
If you think this is not fair then don't do it ! Line your units up in the first place. Checkerboard formation worked very well for the Romans, but wasn't a formation adopted by Napoleonic armies.