Hey everyone, I have some house rules i would like to share with you.
-all models have a line of sight that extends 180 degrees from the front facing of the models base.
Sure. Why not? But what do models see when they are in the middle of the block? Say the center of the second or third ranks out of five? And why can't the models at the sides 'turn their heads' the way I can to look behind me? Just to see if there isn't a flank attack incoming? Spotters in real rank and file did have permission to lag and break rank in real life just to see if there wasn't a danger from the sides or rear.
-models may form up into defined ranks instead of being 1 inch apart.
Clear. That is, of course, also the intention of this proposed piece. But why make this a houserule if nothing prevents you from doing this anyways? Your unit must have all its models within 1" of the next. Base-to-base is within 1" already.
- ranked models add +1 to the range on their melee weapons, and may ignore the pile in move.
I can understand where you say they may ignore the pile in move. That would indeed be a great addition when you form ranks and files and don't want to break ranks.
But why the increase in range? Their daggers suddenly got bigger? Shortswords turned into greatswords? Now, having thought about it, you probably would want to be able to fight with a second rank, or even a third if they carry spears, for example. With the simplicity of
AoS, I guess you could say that any model in a rank and file block adds 1 attack to their ranks in front of them, when their range equals to distance to that front rank. Something like that. So a 1" range sword adds an attack to the rank in front of it. a 2" range spear adds an attack to a model two ranks further. A hypothetical 3" range long pike would be the ultimate massed rank and file combat weapon (four ranks of pikes could have the front rank fighting with 3 bonus attacks, for example).
I think being in a rank and file block would probably matter more with regards to unit morale anyways. Perhaps a bonus to bravery? (Perhaps a bit enforced as you have precious little room to retreat when there is another rank behind you pushing forward ;-) ?)
- when attacking a model outside of its line of sight, add +1 to all hit and wound rolls
So when I don't see the enemy, I am more acurate (+1 to hit
roll, and I am stronger (+1 to wound
roll)? Am I correct in assuming you meant to say the to hit and to wound statistic would be increased by 1 (so from to hit 4+ into a to hit 5+, for example)?
-models with ranged weapons may choose not to rank up, and therefore be counted as skirmishers
Why? Basically the whole game has turned into skirmish, so you only have to come up with a houserule reason to enter rank and file.
-skirmishers have 360 degree line of sight, and may not form ranks
Again, why? Base-to-base is within the unit coherency of 1". Chosing to enter rank and file should be something anyone could do. It should then have advantages (such as the added attacks to the front rank, which might also just apply to all ranged weapons in a block, simulating massed rank fire), and disadvantages (a lack in full 360 circle line of sight, for example).
-When shooting into a close combat, roll to hit twice. If the second shot misses, the wound must be allocated to a model you control
While this proposal has merit on its own, I think this has nothing to do with rank and file battles. Another proposal I have seen is that you could shoot at enemy units engaged in close combat, but you could only remove casualties from the unit that are further away than 3" of your models. That would, of course, be a disadvantage for a large rank and file block that has half its models doing nothing on one side of the block, while the rest is engaged.
Hope that helped.
Kind regards.
