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Contact and melee question
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:32 pm
by bahdahbum
On the French speaking forum, there is an interesting question see topic
viewtopic.php?t=4668 for those who understand french .
I post this topic to help us understand what to do in such case because there is no concensus and it might come from the wording of the rules .
Imagine a group of pikemen in 4 ranks . They are charged from the right or the left by a BG of KN . The front rank of the pikemen is cotacted by the front corner of a KN base ( contact front corner against front edge ) , but another element of chaging KN, contacts the 3rd rank of the pikes, with one of his front edges against that Pike element side edge .
How do you resolve melee and why ?
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:58 pm
by rbodleyscott
On the French speaking forum, there is an interesting question see topic
viewtopic.php?t=4668 for those who understand french .
I post this topic to help us understand what to do in such case because there is no concensus and it might come from the wording of the rules .
Imagine a group of pikemen in 4 ranks . They are charged from the right or the left by a BG of KN . The front rank of the pikemen is cotacted by the front corner of a KN base ( contact front corner against front edge ) , but another element of chaging KN, contacts the 3rd rank of the pikes, with one of his front edges against that Pike element side edge .
How do you resolve melee and why ?
I would have answered the query on the French forum but my French is largely Read-Only.
The answer (to the main query as asked on the French forum) is that it does not matter which base the chargers fight because the pikes
are 4 ranks deep even if the the base contacted isnt the front rank one. (Assuming that it isn't a legitimate flank attack and therefore they don't turn). So the POA remains the same ++.
I expect this is another one that could usuefully go in the FAQ.
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:03 pm
by bahdahbum
I phrased y question badly , the second knight contacts the side edge with his front corner and is part of the same BG

, the KN BG coming not from the front, stricly speaking, but partially from the side . Everyboy agrees there is no flank contact .
well you can imagine the situation .
Would the KN count 2 bases for the fight or one?
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:35 pm
by rbodleyscott
bahdahbum wrote:I phrased y question badly , the second knight contacts the side edge with his front corner and is part of the same BG

, the KN BG coming not from the front, stricly speaking, but partially from the side . Everyboy agrees there is no flank contact .
well you can imagine the situation .
Would the KN count 2 bases for the fight or one?
All bases in contact can (potentially) fight. Both sides fight with equal numbers.
So both sides get 4 dice and all the pike dice are on +2 POAs
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:12 pm
by rogerg
I suspect I may have overlooked that one in the past. The temptation is to think that because it is not a flank contact only the front element is a legitimate contact and fights. However, this means that the pike element contacted only on a side edge is still in contact and fights. The resulting conforming will (probably) break the 'pseudo flank contact' and a one base with overlaps results in the melee phase.
I remember an earlier discussion about BG's being contracted to minimise bases in the impact fight. The above interpretation very neatly offers a way round this dubious practice providing the contact is made at a slight angle so that the charger can hit a second ranker. This is all very neat.
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:37 pm
by bahdahbum
Just to be "heavy" and sure, both fight with "2" bases in melee and the pkes all get 4 ranks support
Sorry to repeat myself, but it is sure to have the right answer once and for all
What would happen if 3rd rank was impact foot
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:00 am
by rbodleyscott
bahdahbum wrote:Just to be "heavy" and sure, both fight with "2" bases in melee and the pkes all get 4 ranks support
Impact. Yes
What would happen if 3rd rank was impact foot
I don't understand the significance of this question.
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:56 am
by karakhanid
I think you are talking about this case:

Sorry no pikes[/img]
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:09 am
by bahdahbum
IMPACT the question in irrelevant
The picture is nice, If I had the needed material I would have done one so as to be pure water clear
It is a case that can happen fairly easely . I suppose in the case of the picture the attacking CV or KN Would get 3 "bases" so dice, the defender 2 bases, dice and if defender pkie he gets all 4 ranks if I understood correctly ( During IMPACT phase )
During melee, as people have to conform, wat would happen with the 3rd rank beig contacted ?
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:30 am
by nikgaukroger
In the Impact phase both sides count the same number of bases as fighting IIRC - and use the lower of charger and receiver if there is a difference.
As for conforming I think the mounted BG "flips" round to the front of the infantry BG.
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:35 am
by stevoid
bahdahbum wrote:
I suppose in the case of the picture the attacking CV or KN Would get 3 "bases" so dice, the defender 2 bases, dice and if defender pkie he gets all 4 ranks if I understood correctly ( During IMPACT phase )
During melee, as people have to conform, wat would happen with the 3rd rank beig contacted ?
During impact all parties have the same number of bases fighting (p. 45), so no. If the number of bases eligible to fight is unequal then both sides fight with the lower number of bases - in this case 2 and therefore 4 dice each.
Cheers,
Steve
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:35 am
by bahdahbum
OK, I remember now, impact phase you have equal number of bases ...
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:53 am
by rogerg
Just to finish this off. We all seem agreed that this is effectively a 4 dice each frontal contact. How do we think the mounted confrom for melee? I note that the left hand base is over half way across the contacted foot. Does this mean that when they wheel to conform it slides across to contact the front of the currently unengaged base?
I.e. the melee is fought as
F F
K K K K
and not
F F
-- K K K K
(The -- is there just to get the alignment to look right)
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:07 am
by rbodleyscott
rogerg wrote:Just to finish this off. We all seem agreed that this is effectively a 4 dice each frontal contact. How do we think the mounted confrom for melee? I note that the left hand base is over half way across the contacted foot. Does this mean that when they wheel to conform it slides across to contact the front of the currently unengaged base?
I.e. the melee is fought as
F F
K K K K
That looks correct to me.