Slitherine

If, say, the first couple of ranks of a pike block are in uneven terrain (disordering them) does the BG claim the + for the 4th rank (which is in open terrain?

No!!!!

Well it can claim it but it will be denied.

Not because the rules say not (not even checked) but because it is wrong on so many levels for the pike block to even be in the uneven terrain!

All the factors depend on where the front rank is, but loss of dice for disorder do not. Go figure. So if the front is in the open they get the 4th even if it is in terrain.

Thanks, Phil. How does the loss of dice work in that situation (front rank disordered)?

Loss of dice is where bases are. If in disordering three must be in to lose a dice, if in severely disordering 2 must be in

Got it! Thanks...

I have a question that follows on from the last post on the pike 4th rank issue:
Ground: a walled village on an open plain, the sides are 3 base widths long
Situation: village is defended by a unit of MF 6 bases. Village is attacked on one side only by a pike block 8 bases - 2 files and 4 ranks - no other attackers. Front rank of pikes is in open ground. Front rank of MF is at the edge of the village. Therefore, all of pike block is in open ground.

Consequently,because the front rank is still in open ground the pikes received the "4th rank +," even though the MF are in the village. Only if the front rank of pikes enters the village will the pike block lose the "4th rank +."

Am I correct (and yes, it is not good to have pikes in villages, but sometimes you have to go with what you have, not what you'd like!) ??

Many
thanks

Hwpf

Pikes are in the open and fight at full effect.
The MF lose 1 dice per 3 and if they had a 2nd rank of shooters they would not count at impact due to being in the village.
When the MF lose they have -1 on their test for having lost to HF in the open (it is whether the HF are in the open rather than where the MF are that counts)

If the MF had stayed a smidge from the edge of the village the pike would lose both their factors for 3rd and 4th rank as these are dependant on where the front rank is. Also the pike front rank would lose 1 dice per 2.

Aha got it many thanks.

Hugh