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In a recent game, I killed a runesmith in combat at initiative 5, before any of my opponent's characters swung. His hammerers go last, due to great weapons.

Question is, does he get to step up and fill the hole the character left, or does this only occur at the end of combat?

I said it's at the end of combat, my opponent said at the unit's initiative. I've been having difficulty looking in up. Anybody know for sure?

I don't have the rulebook on me, but don't models always move forward to fill the hole? Like if there was a missing model on the back the model in front would move back to fill it.

But I haven't got the rulebook, but I'd move a man forward.

Step up happens immediately upon the space becoming available. So if they haven't gone yet, they will get another model to swing. If they had already gone, they'd have to wait till the next round for the new guy to attack.

For ease of practice, you just remove casualties from the rear.

The following unit of Hammerers takes 5 unsaved wounds.

X=RnF
C=Command

XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX
XXXCCCXXXX


The red Xs will be removed as casualties.

XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX
XXXCCCXXXX

Everyone in blue will still get to fight.

I'm not sure if it's in the rulebook, but it's definitely in the Rulebook FAQ- page 8, under Close Combat. Here's what it says, note that it says "immediately".

Q: Usually models are removed from the rear rank in combat when
slain. However if a model has to be removed from a fighting rank as
there are no others to replace them – for example a unit champion or
character – will another model immediately fill the gap? (p51)
A: Yes.

Thanks, guys!

 DarthBinky wrote:
I'm not sure if it's in the rulebook, but it's definitely in the Rulebook FAQ- page 8, under Close Combat. Here's what it says, note that it says "immediately".

Q: Usually models are removed from the rear rank in combat when
slain. However if a model has to be removed from a fighting rank as
there are no others to replace them – for example a unit champion or
character – will another model immediately fill the gap? (p51)
A: Yes.

Don't forget about challenges, once the challenge is over, ie one or both are dead, then their space is replaced.

they always move forward, hence why we remove casualties from the rear ranks and not the front.