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Playing a game today with my CSM mate and an interesting situation came up. He charged a crusader squad that had disembarked from a drop pod with his defiler and, while charging, came into contact with the pod with a leg. Now, I know that you can't normally make a multiple assault with a singular model, since it's mathematically impossible, but what about the defiler? It doesn't have a circular base, so it should technically be possible, right?

No because they are two different "squads" and as you pointed out a single model can't multi-assault. He could choose to assault either one in the situation you presented but he cannot assault both at once.

The defiler has no special rule allowing it to ignore the normal rules for charging.

So no, it's restricted to assaulting a single enemy unit just like any other single-model unit.

The only way to assault multiple units is with multiple models. The first model to move is always restricted to moving into contact only with the unit against which the assault was declared.

Wait Wait Wait.... A single model can't multi-assault even if it has multiple attacks? That lying Motherfu- .

Sometimes I really hate the guys in my gaming area.

A single model can only ever initiate an assault against one unit at a time. You need additional models in an assaulting unit to contact multiple enemy units.

However, if a single model with multiple attacks IS in combat with multiple enemy units (because one or more have charged in to join the combat), the single model can divide up his attacks between them however he likes, as long as he does it before rolling to hit.

I knew about that, but my roommate had a walker rush his two Veteren squads and tied them up for the rest of the game.

everything has multiple attacks when it charges, lol

However it's impossible to multicharge with 1 body

The rules actually allow for single models to multi assault as the rules does not say "If a single model is assaulting, it can only choose a single unit." but instead it says "The model must take the shortest path between the assault model and it's target unit" (or to that effect). With that wording, if two units are ***EXACTLY*** the same distance along the shortest path to one of the units, the other unit is also the shortest path, therefore allowing you to be in base to base with two units.

Of course, with this said, it will never happen as we can not measure exactly the distance between two models, only approximate using the tools we have.

So the rules allow single models to multi assault, just in practice it never happens because we can not make exact measurements.

Incorrect.

You have permission to assault A target unit. Attempting to assault more than one unit does not have any permission in the rules. As it does not have permission you cannot do it.

The rules prohibit a single model performing a multiple assault because it DOES say "... may not move into base contact with enemy models from a unit they are not assaulting." Page 34, paragraph two, the last sentence.

The single model unit declares the unit that it is assaulting. Note that only one target unit is chosen for the assault. It goes to move into the position where it would contact models from two or more different units, and rules into that prohibition, and nothing provides an exception.

So no, the rules do not allow it.

P.34

Assaulting Multiple Enemy Units wrote:As usual, the closest attacking model must be moved to contact the closest model in the enemy unit against which the assault was declared. Then remaining models can assault models belonging to other units, as long as they keep following the rules...

Note the singular "unit", up there.

See also page 33, the assault process. You declare an assault against 1 and only 1 unit. You assault that unit. IF you have multiple models in the assaulting unit, then these "remaining models" (p.34) can contact other enemy units as well, assuming they're able to do so while following all the normal restrictions on moving into assault.

So basically if two units are exactly the same distance along the shortest path, that shortest path is actually not the shortest path because you would be touching two units so therefore you need to move the next shortest path?

"Shortest possible route".

p.34, again wrote:The model selected must be the one closest to the enemy (going around impassible terrain, friendly models, and enemy models in units not being assaulted).

Really, it's all right there in the text. You just need to go over it carefully, because there are a lot of details and restrictions.

The shortest path IS the one that doesnt bring you into combat with more than unit...

You have to remember as well the rounded bases, if you are not contacting the first model with the farthest edge of your base to the farthest edge of their base, you are not taking the shortest possible route.

you have 1 circle; then there are 2 other circles equidistant from the first with enough room to contact both circles by moving your circle between them, but you are only allowed to move the minimum distance required to contact 1 of them.

Take 3 of your models(any base sizes) and set it up; you will find that no matter where you position those models the shortest possible route will not take you into contact with both models(remember oblong bases, or all models really, turn along their center point, so reaching the edge with the front of your model and then "wheeling" the back end around is adding movement)

Kommissar Kel wrote:(remember oblong bases, or all models really, turn along their center point, so reaching the edge with the front of your model and then "wheeling" the back end around is adding movement)

For the record, Kommissar Kel is making this statement up. The rules do not specify how to turn a regular model, but instead only specify that vehicles pivot on their centers.

Not making up; merely misremembering; I thought it had something to that effect in "Turning" under the movement rules(must have been thinking of another game).

Although any other method of turning an Oblong base nets additional movement, so unless there is a rule stating somewhere that oblong bases get to Wheel and add extra movement to their moves, Math and Measuring dictates a central Pivot.

My apologies for overstating the problem with your previous statement.

But I have to disagree on whether maths and measuring dictate a central pivot. It is impossible to propose a way of handling how to turn one of the oval bases that cannot be used (or accused of being used) to gain "free movement", unless you're doing horrid things like measuring wheel turns and circular rotations. And you'll end up worse than the discussion over vehicles pivoting during their movement because there's no rule specifying how the regular models are supposed to turn.

solkan wrote:My apologies for overstating the problem with your previous statement.

But I have to disagree on whether maths and measuring dictate a central pivot. It is impossible to propose a way of handling how to turn one of the oval bases that cannot be used (or accused of being used) to gain "free movement", unless you're doing horrid things like measuring wheel turns and circular rotations. And you'll end up worse than the discussion over vehicles pivoting during their movement because there's no rule specifying how the regular models are supposed to turn.

"As you move the models in a unit, they can turn to face in any direction," Page 11?

Yes, it is this rule prohibiting multi-assaults that counters my 'kill the hierophant' challenge. My buddy and I were discussing what could you fit in 1250 pts that would take out a bio-titan before the bio-titan killed all the opponent's stuff. (Kinda like Battle Missions: Linebreaker). He proposed 16 chaos obliterators, firing lascannons every turn. We both decided that even if the titan killed one per turn, it wouldn't be enough to stop the torrent of ap2 s9 fire. I suggested allowing multiple assaulting from one model but it's not allowed.