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If a unit has spears, do the first 2 ranks fight normally and the 3rd rank get support attacks? This is what I understand from reading the rules but I may be wrong...

First rank fights normally with 2 ranks of supporting attacks. This is an important differentiation as some units may have more than one attack per model (though I don't think any spearmen do right now)

So if your 5 wide with a champion you'll get 6 attacks with 10 supporting attacks (16 total attacks). If your unit receives 2 attacks per model the same width unit would do 11 attacks with 10 supporting attacks (21 attacks total). The reason this is important to differentiate is because the way your suggesting would end up being 21 attacks with 5 supporting (26 total) with multi attack units which is too many.

I don't think any spearmen would have this, but I figured I might differentiate as you may have the same question about horde formations as it has a similar benefit.

Only the front rank gets to fight with full attacks. all subsequent ranks fight with 1 attack maximum. Unless its a unit of Monstrous Infantry/Cavelry. They fight with 3 supporting attacks.

Ok, that's cleared alot up for me. Thanks


Automatically Appended Next Post:
So, does a horde unit with spears get 3 ranks of supporting attacks with the front rank fighting normally?

Yes, Fights in Extra Ranks is a special rule that stacks with itself.

A horde of HE spearmen will fight with 4 ranks of supporting attacks in addition to the front.

Cool, cheers for the help

Grey Templar wrote:Yes, Fights in Extra Ranks is a special rule that stacks with itself.

A horde of HE spearmen will fight with 4 ranks of supporting attacks in addition to the front.

which makes me REALLY want to try this with Okkams Mindrazor. 40 S8 ASF attacks O.o It's just too awesome, granted quite an expensive unit. Worth giving a shot, though I don't normally run Shadow with my HE.

Stoupe wrote:This is an important differentiation as some units may have more than one attack per model (though I don't think any spearmen do right now)

Saurus.

HoverBoy wrote:

Stoupe wrote:This is an important differentiation as some units may have more than one attack per model (though I don't think any spearmen do right now)

Saurus.

Indeed, they were the first to have it, which was before supporting attacks rules existed. They had the "predatory somethingorother" rule that stipulated that spear saurus in second ranks only got a single attack.

Aerethan wrote:

Grey Templar wrote:Yes, Fights in Extra Ranks is a special rule that stacks with itself.

A horde of HE spearmen will fight with 4 ranks of supporting attacks in addition to the front.

which makes me REALLY want to try this with Okkams Mindrazor. 40 S8 ASF attacks O.o It's just too awesome, granted quite an expensive unit. Worth giving a shot, though I don't normally run Shadow with my HE.

I may be wrong as there's only a couple he players in my area... But don't HE spears have a special rule that the recieve an additional rank ontop of normal? So a horde of he spearmen is 51 attacks? 11 normal+ 10 supporting + 10 horde+ 10 spears+ 10 HE spearmen.

Front rank+ normal support+spears+HE spear rule = 4 ranks of spear attacks.

Stoupe wrote:

Aerethan wrote:

Grey Templar wrote:Yes, Fights in Extra Ranks is a special rule that stacks with itself.

A horde of HE spearmen will fight with 4 ranks of supporting attacks in addition to the front.

which makes me REALLY want to try this with Okkams Mindrazor. 40 S8 ASF attacks O.o It's just too awesome, granted quite an expensive unit. Worth giving a shot, though I don't normally run Shadow with my HE.

I may be wrong as there's only a couple he players in my area... But don't HE spears have a special rule that the recieve an additional rank ontop of normal? So a horde of he spearmen is 51 attacks? 11 normal+ 10 supporting + 10 horde+ 10 spears+ 10 HE spearmen.

Well you can't have more attacks than you do models with attacks. Horde is 40, and HE would allow every single model to attack. Sure, if I ran 50 then all 50 would attack. With how pricey elves are I'm inclined to stick with 40 when trying this.

A normal unit of HE spears gets 4 ranks of attacks.

A Horde gets 5 ranks of attacks(front+normal rank+horde rank+spear+HE spear special rule)

Yep, I didn't include Horde

correct me if im wrong, but doesnt the fights in extra rank rule only work in a combat in witch the unit did not charge?

also, if they do charge and the combat is a draw, on the next turn do they get there spear rank bonus attacks?

Matt65 wrote:correct me if im wrong, but doesnt the fights in extra rank rule only work in a combat in witch the unit did not charge?

Spears cannot fight in extra ranks if they charge. Horde formations can. The special rule is attached to spears, not the fight in extra ranks rule.

also, if they do charge and the combat is a draw, on the next turn do they get there spear rank bonus attacks?

As they did not charge in that turn, yes. Though due to the ambiguous nature of the way "turn" is used by GW, one could argue that if you charged it would take 2 rounds of combat to get the bonus back. This is is more rules lawyering though. I wouldn't play it this way.