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So this happened to me the other day:

O O O O O O O g g g g g g g G1 G1 G1 G2 G2 G2 G1 G1 G2 G2

O - Ork Boys
g - grots

G1 - Unit of genestealers
G2 - Unit of genestealers

I assaulted the unit of grots with G1. I then assaulted the the boys with G2. I was told the G2 unit HAD to also assault the grots since the G2 unit could not "wrap" around to get in base contact with the boys. As a result, the G2 unit did not get a charging attack bonus since it was attacking multiple units. Mind you, I only wanted to attack the unit of boys with G2.

I understand models within the assaulting unit need to move in the most direct path to get in base contact with the assaulted unit, this could result in moving through terrain, but does this include forcing moving through another unit.

tl;dr - Can the G2 unit assault the boys without being forced to assault the grots?

Yes of course you could assault the boys. At most you could be forced to make a disordered charge by the circumstances. If at least one G2 can see at least one O and the shortest route around the grots is 12" or less then you can declare a normal charge.

Edit: Remember that it says that you can move within 1" of enemy models when moving charging models, and it doesn't state that there's only referred to the enemy unit being charged, so shortest route could be right up against a grot; though I don't know whether this is intended or not.

Exactly. You can't go through but you can go round, if there is enough charge distance.

No need for a disordered charge. You declare you are charging the boyz, and if the roll is enough to get around the grots and into base with at least 1 boyz squad, then you are fine**.

If you do not declare a multi-assault, then you can't get into base with the grots, but you *can* get within 1". (.0001" is fine)

**Technically, if the grots are at least 26mm apart, you don't have to go around, you could charge "through" the grotz to base the boyz.

You cannot come in base contact with a unit you are not trying to assault. So a few things could have happened if you could get in base contact with O with out coming into base contact with unit g then everything is good and it would be a normal charge. if however you could not and you got in base contact with unit g with out declaring them as a target as well then you actually would not have been able to charge at all. seeing what you opponents response was it sounds like the second option was what happened and in that case your opponent gave you a break by allowing you to charge both units by allowing a disordered charger.

You can always charge around other units by the shortest possible detour, providing you have enough charge distance.

See page 46, 1st column, 3rd paragraph.

There's a common misconception that the charging models need to move in a straight line.


So long as you have sufficient charge range to get into contact with the unit you want to assault, there is nothing stopping you from charging around another unit.

Is charging in a straight line a misconception? i thought RaW was "by the shortest route", so if you had to clip a wood, you would still have to go through, you can't always charge around?

Read page 46, 1st column. It has to be the shortest possible route, avoiding enemy units you are not charging, impassable terrain and friendly units.

Nothing about a straight line at all, but often that will be the shortest route.

So we would agree that: Straight line unless Impassable / Other units would still be the best way to think about it?

ED: Just confirming that even though there is no "need" for a straight line, it "should be" a straight line.

It 'should be' a straight line, except for the times is 'should be' a curve...

The rule is pretty explicit, the shortest possible route.

It means you go through/over the things you can go through/over. And you go around the things you can't go through/over.