Slitherine

Page 100 "Scoring Hits P.O.A" says:-
"Close combat P.O.A that require minimum number of ranks only apply if all those ranks have the capability" does this mean that if a 4 rank phalanx of pike loose one base in the impact or melee and every body shuffles forward to fill in,they loose the 4th rank advantage because they don't have a full rank or would they still have the 4th rank advantage as long as they have at least one base there?

Combat is by file. So if a 12 base BG of PIke is 3 wide and 4 ranks deep, each file will be at + +. If the BG loses a base, 2 files will be at + + and the file which only has 3 bases deep will be at a single +.

Hope that helps.

RSDPIT wrote:Page 100 "Scoring Hits P.O.A" says:-
"Close combat P.O.A that require minimum number of ranks only apply if all those ranks have the capability" does this mean that if a 4 rank phalanx of pike loose one base in the impact or melee and every body shuffles forward to fill in,they loose the 4th rank advantage because they don't have a full rank or would they still have the 4th rank advantage as long as they have at least one base there?

What Pete says is correct, however I think this bit of the rules relates to the following scenario. Say you have a BG with mixed capabilities and it so happens that the front rank is defensive spear and the second rank just a bowman with no close combat capabilities. This file would not get the POA for being two ranks of spear given the nature of the second base. It would, if steady, negate certain enemy POAs (e.g. lancers at impact, swordsmen in melee). Such troop types are uncommon.

POA are gained by file, not BG.

Thanks Pete, Not sure that is correct Graham, in melee you would get 2 ranks fighting but if second rank was Bowmen not Spear men surely you you wouldn't get the POA + of Spear men in 2 ranks?

RSDPIT wrote:Thanks Pete, Not sure that is correct Graham, in melee you would get 2 ranks fighting but if second rank was Bowmen not Spear men surely you you wouldn't get the POA + of Spear men in 2 ranks?

Yes that is what I said. No POA for two ranks of spear. But, if steady, can stop some enemy POAs

Thanks Graham, misread your reply