Charge on an already engaged bow unit

[paullongmore]

If a unit of bows which is already engaged with an enemy unit to its front (which covers only part of its frontage) is charged frontally by a 2nd enemy unit do the rear rank bowmen count the negative POA which a shooter would normally suffer for (being in combat not as only an overlap) on their support shooting at impact.

I have never played it this way but struggled to show why you should not get the minus.

[stancolleymore]

If I could hijack Pauls post. The situation developed with other queries in this order



1) Do ALL the firing bowmen get the +ve POA for firing at cavalry in two ranks or only the ones firing at the right hand cavalry base. We agreed that they SHOULD all get the plus.



2) When the cavalry charge the bow unit, In the impact shooting do all three back ranks get the +ve POA for cavalry in 2 ranks or only the right hand file. Again we agreed that they SHOULD ALL get the plus.




3)The bowmen are already in melee with the cataphracts (top picture) when the cavalry charge in (second picture).

Do the two back ranks of bowmen shooting at the impact get a -ve POA as they are already in melee. Again we agreed that they SHOULD get the -ve POA.

[petedalby]

1) Do ALL the firing bowmen get the +ve POA for firing at cavalry in two ranks or only the ones firing at the right hand cavalry base. We agreed that they SHOULD all get the plus.

I believe you did that correctly. The wording for the POA is "unless entirely 1 base deep." The bold and underline are mine for emphasis.

2) When the cavalry charge the bow unit, In the impact shooting do all three back ranks get the +ve POA for cavalry in 2 ranks or only the right hand file. Again we agreed that they SHOULD ALL get the plus.

Yep - no change to the above.

3)The bowmen are already in melee with the cataphracts (top picture) when the cavalry charge in (second picture).

Do the two back ranks of bowmen shooting at the impact get a -ve POA as they are already in melee. Again we agreed that they SHOULD get the -ve POA.

Very interesting and not something I recall seeing before but the answer is very clearly in the rules on Page 101. This negative POA does not apply to support shooting. So you got this bit wrong.

[stancolleymore]

Pete

Yes we thought it was interesting. Thanks for your input.

[paullongmore]

Thanks Pete.

I see said the blind man. It is clearly stated on pg101.