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This is probably a simple question, but was quite confusing at the time. Four units were in the same combat, making a Z shape. My deathwing charged a large squad of guardians. I wanted to get my bikes into combat with the guardians (for a sweeping advance), but a squad of wraithguard was partially in the way. I charged both units, the guardians and the wraithguard at the same time so that the wraithguard couldn't shoot me next turn. So deathwing touching guardians, guardians touching deathwing and bikes, bikes touching guardians and wraithguard (to make said Z shape).

First, to make sure I got this right, the half of the guardians closest to the deathwing had to attack them, the other half had to attack the bikes? Equally, half the bikes attack guardians and half attack the wraithguard?

The guardians ran from combat next turn, deathwing can't sweep, so the bikes were going to. However, can the bikes do it considering they're still locked with the wraithguard (which are fearless)? If not, could I do my hit & run to perform said sweeping advance?

I'm probably over thinking things, but I've actually never had more than 3 units in one combat, and wanted to check about that sweeping advance in particular. My opponent said it makes sense and I should just be happy with that, but I'm still a bit skeptical and feel like I cheated him.

Hello Friend,

I think you accidentally cheated; though in the spirit of the game, doing what made sense and seemed agreeable to both players was also not incorrect.

Check out pg 165 of the BRB re: Hit & Run - "... the unit breaks away from combat and must immediately move ... in the chosen direction ... ignoring the models they were locked in combat with. No Sweeping Advance rolls are made."

That means that using Hit & Run USR does not allow your bikes to perform a Sweeping Advance.

Also, from pg 53 of the BRB: "If a victorious unit is still locked in combat with other units that are not Falling Back, it does not get a chance to execute a Sweeping Advance...".


tl;dr

- Hit and Run doesn't let the bikes do a Sweeping Advance because the move makes them ignore models from the combat.
- The bikes can't sweep if they are still locked in combat with the wraithguard.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I regards to your first question about wound allocation: you don't necessarily have to split your wounds in half, as the guardians, deathwing, and bikes did.

Paraphrasing from the BRB:

One allocates wounds to the closest model first, ie models in base to base contact. So assuming there were more Guardians in base-to-base contact than wounds to be allocated, you could have allocated all the wounds to the Guardians, if you felt like it. You are not obligated to split the wounds in that situation.

However, if you had more wounds than base-to-base Guardians, then the excess wounds after removing the base-to-base Guardians would have to be applied to the remaining base-to- base enemies, which in this case would be the wraithguard.

If there are still unallocated wounds after the base-to-base enemies are removed, then wounds are allocated to the next closest model - if two models are equidistant to the attackers, then pg 52 of the BRB says the player being attacked chooses which is closest.

PS - In one of my more recent games, my Ork Horde fought against Space Wolves; by turn 4, all of his units and a majority of my units were locked into a single huge melee. Figuring out who was hitting what took forever, as did rolling 300+ dice. It was epic.

See, we read that bit about sweeping advances, and he insisted that the "No sweeping advance rolls" means that the wraithguard can't try to do a sweep on the bikes, not that the bikes can't make a sweep.

In regards that bit from pg 53, he said it doesn't apply because the bikes are no longer locked in combat (after making the hit and run), so they're free to do it.

Personally, I agree with you, and wanted someone to reaffirm the way I was looking at it, but if he prefers it goes the other way I guess I won't argue it. Not that that specific scenario will happen any time soon.

PS - In one of my more recent games, my Ork Horde fought against Space Wolves; by turn 4, all of his units and a majority of my units were locked into a single huge melee. Figuring out who was hitting what took forever, as did rolling 300+ dice. It was epic.

I want to be in that game

 kingbobbito wrote:
In regards that bit from pg 53, he said it doesn't apply because the bikes are no longer locked in combat (after making the hit and run), so they're free to do it.

Which is correct, but is a 2-part problem:

If they can do it, because they are no longer in combat, how can they perform a Sweeping Advance, which is an end of combat resolution.

In your example, you are correct and it is quite simple:

In a Multi-part combat, if a Unit flees, it does so freely (No Sweeping Advances) unless 1 whole side flees:
"Remember that winning units can only make a Sweeping Advance if all of the units they were locked in combat with Fall Back or are wiped out in the fight." (my emphasis)

If any of the Units in the combat wish to Hit and Run, they can also do so: It "counts as" a Fall-Back (even though it's not).

So in your example, both the Guardians and the Bike could "Fall Back", no sweeping advances would be made and the Terminators would be left in combat with the wraithguard. (Assuming the Pile-in moves got them close enough).
EDIT: Fixed

The Guardians could test to re-group, and the bike would be free to charge them, depending on who's turn it was next.

 BlackTalos wrote:
So in your example, both the Guardians and the Bike could "Fall Back", no sweeping advances would be made and the Terminators would be left in combat with the wraithguard. (Assuming the consolidation moves got them close enough).
The Guardians could test to re-group, and the bike would be free to charge them, depending on who's turn it was next.

Wait, so the deathwing and the wraithguard are still technically in combat with each other? They were about 8 inches apart, would they be required to attempt to get to each other with their consolidate? And if they couldn't make it, combat would end between them?

I suggest you read "Assault Results", the last paragraph of it from the "Multiple Combats"section. I covers it quite clearly.

Sorry, I meant Pile-in, not Consolidate. And 8" would be a bit far, yes, so they would both consolidate.

But at the End of your example combat, Terminators and Wraithguard would Pile-in to continue combat (if possible). As Pile-in is 3", they have to be at minimum 6" from each other for the combat to continue.