Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

What happens if you attack a unit from the rear, and you kill all the models in the back rank?

This appears like this: After the models have been removed, there's no longer anything in base contact.

As soon as this happens you nudge the attacking unit minimum distance required back into contact with that side of the unit its attacking. If your unit cant move the defender must.

So would he get to attack with the rank that was behind the now dead rank correct?

The_Savior wrote:So would he get to attack with the rank that was behind the now dead rank correct?

Definitely. This continues as needed to keep both sides in base to base contact until the combat has run its course (I.E. 1 side has destroyed the other or forced them to flee. ).

Moving to YMDC.

yes, you nudge the unit forward.

this represents them advancing forward as they kill things.


if for some reason they can't go forward, usually because another unit is attacking the side, then the defender moves.

if neither can move then the unit isn't in combat anymore

I see now. So basically the next rank would be doing the fighting instead. As one of us would have to move up.
Got it. Thanks everyone.

To further this, if you attack from the rear and kill all but 1 model, he still gets to attack back with a full rank (provided the unit has the models).

In this case you wouldn't be able to move forward as there is still 1 model left in the rear most rank, but your opponent would still get to fight back as if you were in base contact with the full rank.

Yea, the general rule of thumb is you always remove from the back rank no matter where the killing happens, and just scootch the attacker forward to keep contact if needed, until everyone is dead or someone breaks. Death and running are the only ways out of combat ever.

Okay... so the back rank is the rank being charged.

But it gets wiped out due to removing models.

The ranks don't change right? The 2nd rank which is now fighting is still the "now" back rank and the front is still the front yes?

If no terrain is blocking me, who is moving to who? Do I move up? Or does he?

Yes, they don't get to reform to face you until after the first round of combat, so no supporting attacks and you get the +2 res until they manage to reform.
The attacker ALWAYS moves to maintain/make contact, unless they absolutely can't, due to a multiple combat or impassible terrain.

So say I have a unit of WoC giving some halberd shaped butt hurt to a big unit of Skaven. I wipe out their back two ranks in combat, then scootch forward the 40 mm to keep contact. If they don't break, they can make a Ld check at -whatever the combat result dictated (same as the break check penalty) to combat reform. If they manage to, they can turn around so their front is facing me, getting rid of the +2 combat res and allowing supporting attacks.

Actually, side question: when does scootching happen exactly? I am pretty certain it is immediately after things get killed, but just want to check. In fact, I am 99% certain, but still.

I'm not sure on the moving up.

I'm new to fantasy this was like my 4th time playing.

Wehrkind. scooching happens after all attacks have been resolved, but before combat rez is calculated.

this is because, if the unit is unable to move to contact it is no longer in combat and doesn't contribute Banners, ranks, or flanks to Combat Rez. only kills.

Cool, that's what I thought, thanks!

Wehrkind wrote:
Actually, side question: when does scootching happen exactly? I am pretty certain it is immediately after things get killed, but just want to check. In fact, I am 99% certain, but still.

As soon as base contact is lost. Check earlier posts. To clarify its page 61 under "Shrinking units and multiple fights." So as soon as enough models are killed off to lose base contact then the nudging happens.