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So a local rules nazi pointed this out to me.

In the High Elf FAQ under martial prowes it says, "Ignore last sentence." Which is the example for the martial prowes rule saying that spearmen get 3 ranks normally and 2 on the charge. (writen for 7th when you only fought with the first rank.)

Under the Martial Prowes special rule it now reads, "When fighting with spears, high elves fight with one extra rank to the front only." Under the rules for spears in the bsb it says "extra rank* *does not apply when charging".

I think what he's trying to say is that because the rule for Martial prowes says that when you're fighting with spears you get an extra rank and and no longer includes an example, that extra rank counts as the rank you would get with your spears.

Personally, I think he's off his rocker and the 2 rules are seperate rules and stack on each other, (Like in 7th) but I thought I'd come ask the internet what they thought about this.

So what do you think?

Yes. Thats the way I read it. High Elf Spearmen will fight with an EXTRA extra rank. So 3 supporting ranks normally, 4 with horde.

They no longer include the example because the example eludes to a ruleset where the second rank of infantry does not get supporting attacks. Ie. in 8th edition, the 2nd rank always gets 1 suppoort attack in combat (unless it is Monstrous Infantry).

Basically High Elf Spears = 3 ranks charging (2 ranks + 1 for spears), 4 ranks else (2 ranks attacks, 1 for spears, 1 for martial prowess).

Without an example in the rule, there's no way to prove whether it's an extra rank (redundant with the main rule book's extra rank, because it's describing the same effect) or an extra extra rank (stacking with the main rule book's extra rank).

If they didn't get an extra rank it wouldn't be a special rule. and if they didn't need the special rule they would have eliminated the rule in the FAQ. Plus, the rule states that High Elves armed with spears fight in one more rank THAN IS NORMALLY ALLOWED. it doesn't say "extra rank" which is the rule in the book. So, it 4 ranks on a hold, 3 on a charge and a whopping 5 with the horde! Otherwise they would have just eliminated the "martial Prowess" rule.

I thought it stated that special rules stack unless otherwise stated - hence it would be an extra rank of supporting attacks than is normally allowed - and you are normally allowed to fight in 1 extra rank when using spears, so you are allowed to fight in 2 extra ranks with spears, plus 2 usual ranks, plus 1 for horde.

Its why a unit of 50 spearmen ten wide ALL get to fight.

50 spear elves would fight with 40 not 50.

20 normal, +1 spears +1 spear elves.

but nice catch on the not while charging bit for extra rank ned to remember that.

You are forgetting Horde, which adds an additional rank of supporting attacks.

As per the FAQ, the special rule "extra rank" stacks. So the two rules stack with. This rule and the "extra attack" special rule are the only two (that I could find) that stack.

lixulana wrote:50 spear elves would fight with 40 not 50.

20 normal, +1 spears +1 spear elves.

but nice catch on the not while charging bit for extra rank ned to remember that.

yeah if you set them up at 5x10 you'd get horde which gives you essentially 5 ranks of attacks

yes in a horde

20 normal, +1 spears, +1 horde +1 spelves. = 50