Heavy Weapons in melee

[CYRANOINLONDON]

The entry says that you get a + against any except pike in 3 or more ranks etc. There is then a separate sentence ' Also cancels enemy 'better armour' POA if any.'

I've always read the second sentence as being just that , separate from the first one. So I have assumed that whenever you have a base with HW capability in melee it cancels an opponent's 'better armour' POA.

Thus in a combat where an unarmoured HW base is facing a 4 deep steady armoured pike file, I would play it that the pike is a single + up. (Pike gets its 4 deep + but not its 'better armour' POA. ) However my opponent last night queried this suggesting that the HW capability has no effect at all when faced with pike in 3 or more ranks etc. ie the exception in the first sentence applies to the second as well.

Could one of you gurus clarify please?

Thanks
C

[daveallen]

You should have referred your friend to the section for Better Armour: "+ against any except shot, heavy weapons..." p124

Dave

[kevinj]

I've always played it your way. To be honest, that second sentence is redundant anyway as the POA for Better Armour is qualified by "against any except shot, heavy weapon, elephants or battle wagons". Basically, that POA doesn't apply if your opponent is any of those things, regardless of whther or not they are counting a POA for it.

Beaten by a shorter answer!

[grahambriggs]

Your oppenent is wrong. The HW does not get a + vs 3+ ranks of pike. But is does cancel out heavy armour. So 4 deep armoured pike vs unarmoured HW:

Pike get + for four ranks of pike
Pike DO NOT get a + for better armour (as this is 'except vs heavy weapon')
HW DO NOT get a + for being HW (as this is 'except vs 3+ ranks of pike)

So the pike are on a net +