Slitherine

If a 2x4 Unit of Pike is impacted on only one file and loses a base. Can the lost base be from either file or should it be from the file that is contacted? (this has huge consequences on the following melee.... I thought it should be the contacted file, but looking at the rules today that doesn't seem to be the case.)

Thanks,
James

Bases that fill vacated positions may come from any part of the battlegroup.

Thanks, I was hung up on the rules for expanding in melee and the fact that a 4th rank on the overlap file would be contributing a POA and not be eligible for that kind of move.

Hmmm. Now I'm rereading it. It says you remove the base in contact and then other bases in the BG shuffle up to retain contiguity and fill vacated front rank positions. Then you must pull bases from elsewhere in the BG if any non-front rank bases are available. Does anyone play it that strictly?

Of course, in the next movement phase, both sides are allowed to move non-fighting bases into rear ranks to gain POA's in melee.

bbotus wrote:Hmmm. Now I'm rereading it. It says you remove the base in contact and then other bases in the BG shuffle up to retain contiguity and fill vacated front rank positions. Then you must pull bases from elsewhere in the BG if any non-front rank bases are available. Does anyone play it that strictly? .

It is always a fighting rank base that is removed in melee. If fighting to flank and rear, or using different base types the type that takes most hits is removed, if equal owners choice. Since most BG have all bases the same it does not really matter where the detroyed base is removed from since it is replaced in combat by ANY rear rank base. It just starts to matter when you run out of rear ranks or rear rank and front rank types are different.