Contracting

[AlbionOak]

I must be misunderstaning something.
the Battlegroup section states BGs must be rectangles (mostly) - fine.
A six base BG of bows (say) can be 1 X 6 or 2 X 3 then.
If a single line it seems not possible to contract them as with max 2 bases contracting that would leave the BG with 4 in front, 2 behind - not legal?
If, however, one dies then contraction will lead to 3 and 2, a legal formation.
I think I must have something wrong somewhere.

[rbodleyscott]

4
2

is a legal formation. (And will be shown as one of the examples in a diagram in the published rules)

The rules only state that only the last rank can have less bases. They don't say it cannot be more than 1 base less than the other ranks.

[AlbionOak]

Problem resolved. Thanks.
I had assumed that that the rear rank being allowed to have less figures was for the purpose of allowing BGs with odd numbers to form up in a legal (rectangular) formation. Therefore the rear rank could have one less base.
The problem I foresaw was with bows. Players are going to use 4 + 2 (to get 5 dice) when in two ranks rather than 3 + 3 (4 dice).
In general, equal ranks (eg 3 + 3) would seem to be more realistic.

[rbodleyscott]

The problem I foresaw was with bows. Players are going to use 4 + 2 (to get 5 dice) when in two ranks rather than 3 + 3 (4 dice).
In general, equal ranks (eg 3 + 3) would seem to be more realistic.

Not really. Remember that troops are not fixed to their rectangular bases in reality.

4+2 could simply represent a shallower formation rather than a funny shaped formation.

[petedalby]

Nice one Alan - I hadn't thought of that!

Pete