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This discussion will end with cracks about my name, but I need to know the answer, however obvious. I'm a n00b, thanks in advance.

If my model charges another model with no terrain around us, and we're both still alive at the end of my turn, can my enemy start their turn and make a full advance around to my rear arc?

I've already assumed that you can, but we've just started playing Hordes and don't have much experience yet (my opponent said this move was stupid). The assumption is that the model never leaves the 0.5" radius, and therefore is not subject to free strikes. I don't remember a rule about being frozen when in combat, after all, you're allowed to move out of combat, why not move around within the space?

It's not like it breaks the game, blobs of infantry will still get all caught up on each other, making this move only available to those on the flanks. In addition, if you make the charge, you're at a great advantage, but if you fail to finish the job, the advantage goes to your opponent ... seems fair to me.

Anyway, thanks again!

Leaving the front arc will provoke a free strike I'm about 85% sure (I've been on a bender of incorrect calls recently, so factor that in)

Yes, leaving the front arc will trigger a free strike. If the model has 360 LOS you can do this without incurring a free strike.

Ok, well I remembered that I'd left the rules in my bag (I thought I'd left them at work). So I just looked up a few things.

It seems that if the advancing model moves out of LOS, if they were in combat, a free strike occurs. I suppose I knew that, but didn't connect LOS with front arc.

It doesn't make sense to me that the model leaves LOS by making a rear arc attack, since the model is still partially in the front arc. The advancing model must be 51% in the rear arc of their enemy to make a rear strike, but the model is still 49% in the enemy's front arc ... so they are still seen ... ?

Anyway, the rules seem to indicate that I'm wrong. Well, you certainly can execute the move that I described, but you'll be receiving a gnarly hit for doing it.

You may be confusing within and completely within. If any part of your base is still in the front arc you are still in the front arc of the other model. You can move around and leave a little sliver in the front arc and no free strike is triggered. Once you completely move out of the front arc the free strike occurs.

page 41 "For a model to receive the back strike bonus, the point of origin of the attack must have been in the target's back arc for the attacker's entire activation up to the moment of the attack."

Yeah, not possible in a single activation. Certainly not worth a free strike to get there either.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 ICleadpeople wrote:
You may be confusing within and completely within. If any part of your base is still in the front arc you are still in the front arc of the other model. You can move around and leave a little sliver in the front arc and no free strike is triggered. Once you completely move out of the front arc the free strike occurs.

Yes, thank you. I just read this out of the rule book .. I thought I'd left it at work. Much appreciated, thanks!

If it's worth a freestrike or not depends of the situation. Against a shield-walled model, going into their back arc could be the only way to deal any damage. But these situations are very unlikely.

Just to clarify, only leaving their Melee range will provoke a Free Strike.

If a model with Reach is engaging a model without reach it could potentially walk around to the back without taking a Free Strike.

And anyway, its not worth it because you don't get the backstrike bonus anyway.


That said, there are other reasons you may choose to move while in combat so always keep an eye out.

Some models do not provoke free strikes (such as kayazy assassins) and it is often beneficial to walk around an enemy into their back arc simply to make room to pile more assassins into melee on strong targets such as warcasters. Back strike bonuses are generally pretty hard to get.