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I've heard some people play assault & overwatch such that the target can only overwatch the unit that declares the charge first. Is this correct?
Or can the target choose not to overwatch the first assault and instead overwatch the 2nd, 3rd, etc. unit that declares the charge?

You can choose not to overwatch the first unit, but if their charge is successful and they make it into base contact, your can no longer overwatch.

If the first unit fails to make it to base contact, you can then overwatch the second unit. (As long as you didnt overwatch the first unit)

It is debatable. According to one side, you are locked as soon as a unit makes it into base contact (which leads to other wonky rules). According to others you are not locked until the following Fight sub-phase (which also leads to other wonky rules).

Yup, Personally I play as once a unit successfully charges you can no longer overwatch other units. But I've seen both sides. I just prefer that method because it allows for more tactical play, do you overwatch my one model that needs say a 10" charge, or do you rely on me not making the charge and overwatch my bigger closer unit to reduce its numbers.

 Happyjew wrote:
It is debatable. According to one side, you are locked as soon as a unit makes it into base contact (which leads to other wonky rules). According to others you are not locked until the following Fight sub-phase (which also leads to other wonky rules).

It really doesn't. At all. It'd be great if you'd stop asserting that it does.

So you disagree that when a unit is locked it can only make pile in and consolidation moves, neither of which charge moves are?

 Happyjew wrote:
So you disagree that when a unit is locked it can only make pile in and consolidation moves, neither of which charge moves are?

Never said that.
You're misunderstanding what happens. You're only locked when you're told to test. Are you told to test during a charge move - IE after it's started?

Happy, you are locked as soon as the first model of the assaulting unit makes it into B2B.

You also have to finish moving all the rest of the models the required charge distance before you move onto the next step, so there is no issue with other models being able to also make it into B2B.

Eihnlazer wrote:
Happy, you are locked as soon as the first model of the assaulting unit makes it into B2B.

You also have to finish moving all the rest of the models the required charge distance before you move onto the next step, so there is no issue with other models being able to also make it into B2B.

Except by your own admission you cannot move said models. Cannot trumps Must.

Why cant you move the models?


You arent at a step where a "cant" even comes up.

Breng77 wrote:
Yup, Personally I play as once a unit successfully charges you can no longer overwatch other units.

That is how my group plays it. (HIWPI)

rigeld2 wrote:

 Happyjew wrote:
So you disagree that when a unit is locked it can only make pile in and consolidation moves, neither of which charge moves are?

Never said that.
You're misunderstanding what happens. You're only locked when you're told to test. Are you told to test during a charge move - IE after it's started?

(Emphasis mine)

The underlined is 100% incorrect.

The actual rule is: "Units that have one or more models in base contact with enemies are locked in combat. While a unit is locked in combat, it my only make Pile In moves and cannot otherwise move or shoot." (23)

Note that this rule applies at all times when the condition is met. Unless you have a quote that says it only applies when " You're only locked when you're told to test."

Do you have a quote that says this?

And note i am not disagreeing with the "While a unit is locked in combat, it my only make Pile In moves and cannot otherwise move or shoot."

I am stating that the above rule does not prevent you from finishing the assault move that caused it to be locked in combat.

You have to finish the current assault before you are allowed to do or check anything else.

 DeathReaper wrote:

rigeld2 wrote:

 Happyjew wrote:
So you disagree that when a unit is locked it can only make pile in and consolidation moves, neither of which charge moves are?

Never said that.
You're misunderstanding what happens. You're only locked when you're told to test. Are you told to test during a charge move - IE after it's started?

(Emphasis mine)

The underlined is 100% incorrect.

The actual rule is: "Units that have one or more models in base contact with enemies are locked in combat. While a unit is locked in combat, it my only make Pile In moves and cannot otherwise move or shoot." (23)

Note that this rule applies at all times when the condition is met. Unless you have a quote that says it only applies when " You're only locked when you're told to test."

Do you have a quote that says this?

Find permission to check for locked status while in the middle of resolving a charge move. I'd love for you to actually cite a rule showing that for once.

We play it that all intended assault moves against a unit are declared first. Overwatch is then resolved with the player on the receiving end of the assault deciding against which unit. Then assault moves are made.

which is fine if your house rulling it that way. However the rulebook clearly explains you declare charge's and overwatch, one at a time.

Is there an example in the rulebook of multiple units charging a single unit?

rigeld2 wrote:

 DeathReaper wrote:

rigeld2 wrote:

 Happyjew wrote:
So you disagree that when a unit is locked it can only make pile in and consolidation moves, neither of which charge moves are?

Never said that.
You're misunderstanding what happens. You're only locked when you're told to test. Are you told to test during a charge move - IE after it's started?

(Emphasis mine)

The underlined is 100% incorrect.

The actual rule is: "Units that have one or more models in base contact with enemies are locked in combat. While a unit is locked in combat, it my only make Pile In moves and cannot otherwise move or shoot." (23)

Note that this rule applies at all times when the condition is met. Unless you have a quote that says it only applies when " You're only locked when you're told to test."

Do you have a quote that says this?

Find permission to check for locked status while in the middle of resolving a charge move. I'd love for you to actually cite a rule showing that for once.

I have, it is right here...

"Units that have one or more models in base contact with enemies are locked in combat. While a unit is locked in combat, it my only make Pile In moves and cannot otherwise move or shoot." (23)

Does a unit with the initial charger in base to base "have one or more models in base contact with enemies" If the answer is yes then the unit is "locked in combat"

The rule is a condition that is applied at all times if the unit has "one or more models in base contact with enemies" As per the rule on page 23

Find permission that tells you that you must check for locked status before the rule applies. I'd love for you to actually cite a rule showing that for once.

No deathreaper, it does not apply until after the entire unit finish's the assault move already in progress.


You do not have permission anywhere to stop the assault move already in progress.

 DeathReaper wrote:
I have, it is right here...

Hmmm... no, no it's not.
You must check for locked status before you can determine if it applies, correct?
Are you told when to check? I can show specific instances that tell you when to check, whereas you're asserting you check every second of every milimeter of movement, firing, assault, planning your turn...

rigeld2 wrote:

 DeathReaper wrote:
I have, it is right here...

Hmmm... no, no it's not.

Hmm yes it is...

You must check for locked status before you can determine if it applies, correct?

No, it applies at all times when the unit fulfills the condition.

Are you told when to check? I can show specific instances that tell you when to check, whereas you're asserting you check every second of every milimeter of movement, firing, assault, planning your turn...

Irrelevant, the rule applies at all times when the condition is met, weather you are told to check or not.

Eihnlazer wrote:
No deathreaper, it does not apply until after the entire unit finish's the assault move already in progress.

You do not have permission anywhere to stop the assault move already in progress.

Incorrect, it applies at all times when the condition for the unit is met.

It is an If then statement.

If a unit has "one or more models in base contact with enemies" then that unit is "locked in combat"

"Units that have one or more models in base contact with enemies are locked in combat. While a unit is locked in combat, it my only make Pile In moves and cannot otherwise move or shoot." (23)

I'm not getting this argument at all lol, when you charge, opponent declares ow, resolves it, then you move in, if you make it the charge is a success sweet, move to next unit, if failed, oh well move to next unit, declare charge then apply ow if not already done and not in combat.

What's the issue there?

 DeathReaper wrote:

You must check for locked status before you can determine if it applies, correct?

No, it applies at all times when the unit fulfills the condition.

And how do you know if the unit fulfills the condition?

Do you have to know if it fulfills the condition for it to apply? The rule does not ask you to check, it does not ask you to know. It just says if you are in b2b, then the condition applies. You know if you are in b2b because you just finished moving the model into b2b...

edit: One side is claiming a timing in the application of the condition, which does not seem supported by the rules AFAIK.

 Dracos wrote:
Do you have to know if it fulfills the condition for it to apply?

Yes, you have to know if a rule applies before it can apply.

The rules are pretty clear. Once a unit completes its charge move into BTB, then both it and the unit that it charged are locked in combat. The chargees can no longer fire Overwatch. I've never seen anyone try to argue otherwise in a real game.

rigeld2 wrote:

 Dracos wrote:
Do you have to know if it fulfills the condition for it to apply?

Yes, you have to know if a rule applies before it can apply.

May I ask where that is stipulated in the rules?

Sorry I think we have a miscommunication. You know that you just moved a model in B2B. What I'm asking is if you need to be told explicitly to check for the condition in order to "know".

Basically, deathreaper and Happyjew are stating that as soon as the first model of an assaulting unit touches b2b, that no other model in the assaulting unit can finish its charge because the unit is locked in combat and can only make pile in moves or consolidation moves.

Eihnlazer wrote:
Basically, deathreaper and Happyjew are stating that as soon as the first model of an assaulting unit touches b2b, that no other model in the assaulting unit can finish its charge because the unit is locked in combat and can only make pile in moves or consolidation moves.

That is indeed how I read the rules. Those posters are not to blame for how the rule was written (at least, AFAIK).

That being said, I play it that you finish your assault move with the unit. You are then locked in combat, and can not overwatch additional units declaring assaults.

Everyone plays it that way. Because that is the only way to play it.

Even if you interpret the RAW to mean you somehow stop moving your remaining models into assault, you really have no reason to argue it.