Number of Stands Firing in Impact Phase?

[Saurocet]

Hi Everyone

I have a question concerning the number of missile armed, second-rank, supporting bases that get to shoot in the impact phase.

Let's suppose a BG of cavalry (a 2x2 square formation) charge into an 8 stand BG. The 8-stand unit has 4 stands of swordsmen in the front rank and 4 stands of bow armed MF in the second rank. The cavalry BG lines up in the impact phase so that left most cavalry stand touches the left most infantry stand. In other words, the 2 infantry stands on the left are involved in impact combat and the two on the right are not.

How many bow stands get to fire in the impact phase?

a) All 4 of them because all second (or third rank) support missile units always fire in the impact phase
b) three because the cavalry units are outside the arc of fire (the right most bow unit can't shoot 2 stand widths to the left inside effective range)
c) only the 2 stands that support the two swordsmen stands involved in impact combat can shoot

-Steve

[ShrubMiK]

Only the files contacted may fight in impact phase, so (c).

I'm not sure I like it, but that's the way it works

[david53]

Only the files contacted may fight in impact phase, so (c).

I'm not sure I like it, but that's the way it works

True and also if cav managed to get on flank or rear no support shooting either.

[Saurocet]

Bummer.

I was hoping for (B).