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Seriously had this argued and the rules are poorly written so here it is:

Start of Initiative step pile in
At the start of each Initiative step, any modei whose Initiative is equal to the value of the current Initiative step, that isn't already in base contact with an enemy model, must rnake a Pile In move. A Pile In move is a 3" move that is performed in the following order: .
First, any models Pile In if this will bring them into base contact with an enemv. .

Second, any models Pile In if this willbring them to within 2" ofa friendlv model in base contact with an enemy t . .

Third Any remaining models that are not in base contact with one or more enemy models and have yet to Pile In must now do so, and must attempt to get as close as possibie to one or more of the enemy units locked in this combat. These moves follow the same rules as moving charging models, except that they are not slowed by difficult terrain (though it rnay sdll trigger Dangerous Terrain tests). Also, a Pile In move cannot be used to contact units that are not already involved in the assault.

When making Pile In moves, the player whose turn it is moves his unit(s) fi.rst. If both players' Pile In rnoves combined would be insufficient to bring any combatants back together (that's more than 6" - very unlikely!), the assault comes to an end. All remaining Initiative steps are lost - work out the assault result as described on page 26.

At the start of each Initiative step, any modei whose Initiative is equal to the value of the current Initiative step, that isn't already in base contact with an enemy model, must rnake a Pile In move. A Pile In move is a 3" move that is performed in the following order: . First, any models Pile In if this will bring them into base contact with an enemv. . Second, Any models Pile In if this willbring them to within 2" ofa friendlv model in base contact with an enemy t . . Any remaining models that are not in base contact with one or more enemy models and have yet to Pile In must now do so, and must attempt to get as close as possibie to one or more of the enemy units locked in this combat. These moves follow the same rules as moving charging models, except that they are not slowed by difficult terrain (though it rnay sdll trigger Dangerous Terrain tests). Also, a Pile In move cannot be used to contact units that are not already involved in the assault. $lthen making Pile In moves, the player whose turn it is moves his unit(s) first. If both players' Pile In moves combined would be insufficient to bring any combatants back together (that's more than 6" - very unlikely!), the assault comes to an end. All remaining Initiative steps are lost.

This seems to speak of one initative step at a time. So basically combat can end at like initiative step 5 or 6 if models cant make it to base. That was my opponents argument.

That would be correct. If at the end of any I-step, both players pile-in moves do not get any models in btb then combat is over.

Least that is how I understand it.

Could happen with blob units where one side take a ton of losses. For example IG vs say Daemonettes. Daemonettes will likely go first and kill a lot of IG possibly making it hard for them to pile in and get into btb

Lets take this setup: 3 Termies: 1 LC/LC and 2 TH/SS assault 10 IG. You have the following Initiatives:
LC/LC: I4; IG: I3; TH/SS: I1
Overwatch shooting by the IG gets nothing.
Termies roll charge and its enough to get a single TH/SS Termie in base contact.
Initiative step 4: LC/LC piles in and gets into base contact, attacks and kills 3 IG.
Initiative step 3: Remaining 7 IG pile in and gets all Termies in base contact and all others in within 2" of a model in base contact. IG attack and kill 1 Termie...since all 3 Termies are in base contact (and have identical 2+ saves) the Marine player chooses the model to die...in this case the LC/LC model (since he already attacked).
Initiative step 1: Since both TH/SS termies are engaged (B2B) due to the IG pile in, the Termies go strait to the attack...and kill 6.
The IG player lost by 8 and fails his Ld roll. Termies can't sweep so the lone IG dude takes off to get a beer and live to fight another day.

In short, you repeat the pile-in and attacks step by step until you finish the lowest living Initiative model. At that point you determine the final result of the combat and the assault phase then ends.

Now, their may be a case with blobs or a squad strung out in a long line that at the start of an intitiative phase they can not get in base contact despite a 3" pile-in, then the combat is over:
For instance the 3 Termies charge and the Overwatch kills 1 (the LC/LC SGT passed the hit back to the closest TH/SS Termie who failed his save). They then charge and the LC/LC termie gets in base. The TH/SS Termie is about 5+ inches away (due to the middle guy dieing). The LC/LC termie gets 3 kills, killing the 1 IG is in base and another 2" away and the 3rd IG 2" beyond that (4" from the guy in B2B). The closest IG is now about 6" away. Since the combination oh his 3" pile in and the remaining Terminators 3" pile preclude anyone from getting into base, the combat ends with each unit no longer locked in combat. Each unit is free to consolidate d6" (may not consolidate back into base contact) and the player turn ends.

Yep, that's how it works and it's not really poorly written. This line should make it perfectly clear:

All remaining Initiative steps are lost.

There you have it.

This can easily happen with Daemonettes as mentioned, or units with similar numbers of high attacks like Berzerkers or Death Company. It's also a danger to the new Chariots in particular.

...you might also want to check up on the forum rules, stickied at the top of each board. Quoting parts of rules for clarification is fine, but you should steer clear of posting entire rules for copyright reasons, just include the bits you need.

Note that you then go to the end of combat steps, which includes a Pile In move by both sides.

Alright so here is what happened.

Had a slaanesh herald at initiative 9 with the eternal blade kill a few harlequins. Harlequins piled in at initiative 6 and did not make base. The way the rules are written this would end combat as all other initiative steps are lost. So my daemonettes would not be able to consolidate in to attack at initiative 5.

 Tomb King wrote:
Alright so here is what happened.

Had a slaanesh herald at initiative 9 with the eternal blade kill a few harlequins. Harlequins piled in at initiative 6 and did not make base. The way the rules are written this would end combat as all other initiative steps are lost. So my daemonettes would not be able to consolidate in to attack at initiative 5.

That is correct. the Init 5 guys would not be able to consolidate in to attack at initiative 5, because the Harlequins piled in at initiative 6 and did not make base.

 DeathReaper wrote:

 Tomb King wrote:
Alright so here is what happened.

Had a slaanesh herald at initiative 9 with the eternal blade kill a few harlequins. Harlequins piled in at initiative 6 and did not make base. The way the rules are written this would end combat as all other initiative steps are lost. So my daemonettes would not be able to consolidate in to attack at initiative 5.

That is correct. the Init 5 guys would not be able to consolidate in to attack at initiative 5, because the Harlequins piled in at initiative 6 and did not make base.

So combat does in fact end here. Then they consolidate if they can make base with each other and fight the next game turn.

 Tomb King wrote:

 DeathReaper wrote:

 Tomb King wrote:
Alright so here is what happened.

Had a slaanesh herald at initiative 9 with the eternal blade kill a few harlequins. Harlequins piled in at initiative 6 and did not make base. The way the rules are written this would end combat as all other initiative steps are lost. So my daemonettes would not be able to consolidate in to attack at initiative 5.

That is correct. the Init 5 guys would not be able to consolidate in to attack at initiative 5, because the Harlequins piled in at initiative 6 and did not make base.

So combat does in fact end here. Then they consolidate if they can make base with each other and fight the next game turn.

Small correction here.. Both sides Must make a 3" Pile In move. If that is not sufficient to get them in BTB, then they can Consolidate

Fragile wrote:

 Tomb King wrote:

 DeathReaper wrote:

 Tomb King wrote:
Alright so here is what happened.

Had a slaanesh herald at initiative 9 with the eternal blade kill a few harlequins. Harlequins piled in at initiative 6 and did not make base. The way the rules are written this would end combat as all other initiative steps are lost. So my daemonettes would not be able to consolidate in to attack at initiative 5.

That is correct. the Init 5 guys would not be able to consolidate in to attack at initiative 5, because the Harlequins piled in at initiative 6 and did not make base.

So combat does in fact end here. Then they consolidate if they can make base with each other and fight the next game turn.

Small correction here.. Both sides Must make a 3" Pile In move. If that is not sufficient to get them in BTB, then they can Consolidate

They don't consolidate and they don't make a 3" in pile in.

If this happens you go to Combat Resolution and determine who won the combat (per page 26). Says so right at the end of that paragraph on page 23.

You would have won that combat because your Herald made kills and the Harlequins did not even get a chance to swing.

Edit: spelling

Fragile wrote:

 Tomb King wrote:

 DeathReaper wrote:

 Tomb King wrote:
Alright so here is what happened.

Had a slaanesh herald at initiative 9 with the eternal blade kill a few harlequins. Harlequins piled in at initiative 6 and did not make base. The way the rules are written this would end combat as all other initiative steps are lost. So my daemonettes would not be able to consolidate in to attack at initiative 5.

That is correct. the Init 5 guys would not be able to consolidate in to attack at initiative 5, because the Harlequins piled in at initiative 6 and did not make base.

So combat does in fact end here. Then they consolidate if they can make base with each other and fight the next game turn.

Small correction here.. Both sides Must make a 3" Pile In move. If that is not sufficient to get them in BTB, then they can Consolidate

But at the end of the I-Steps both sides make another 3" pile in, so it is gonna be very unlikely it ends right?

40k-noob wrote:
They don't consolidate and they don't make a 3" in pile in.

If this happens you go to Combat Resolution and determine who won the combat (per page 26). Says so right at the end of that paragraph on page 23.

You would have won that combat because your Herald made kills and the Harlequins did not even get a chance to swing.

Edit: spelling

You still do the end of combat pile in after you determine assault results.

Both sides only make a pile in move at an initiative step, if that isn't enough to bring a single pair into b2b you go straight to combat resolution, that is what the rules say.

 liturgies of blood wrote:
Both sides only make a pile in move at an initiative step, if that isn't enough to bring a single pair into b2b you go straight to combat resolution, that is what the rules say.

Exactly.

Then Page 27 tells us that After the combat has been resolved, models from units that did not Fall Back and are not in base contact must make a Pile In move.

Sorry I'm watching tv and was pausing before I posted.
I wasn't disagreeing with you.

 DeathReaper wrote:

40k-noob wrote:
They don't consolidate and they don't make a 3" in pile in.

If this happens you go to Combat Resolution and determine who won the combat (per page 26). Says so right at the end of that paragraph on page 23.

You would have won that combat because your Herald made kills and the Harlequins did not even get a chance to swing.

Edit: spelling

You still do the end of combat pile in after you determine assault results.

You are assuming they stay locked in combat.

There is no guarantee of a end of combat pile in. It all depends on what the results of combat resolution is and/or if a sweeping advance occurs.

Well yes that is why you determine combat results.

 liturgies of blood wrote:
Well yes that is why you determine combat results.

and what happens if the losing side gets away or is swept?

Do you still get an "end of combat" pile in?

Well, no. But no-one's arguing on that point?

The combat resolution pile-in was brought up because it was alluded to earlier in the thread that not being able to pile-in at the Initiative step *ends the combat*. Combat resolution makes it clear this is not always the case.

40k-noob wrote:

 liturgies of blood wrote:
Well yes that is why you determine combat results.

and what happens if the losing side gets away or is swept?

Do you still get an "end of combat" pile in?

You might, it depends on the outcome of combat resolution.

40k-noob wrote:

 DeathReaper wrote:

You still do the end of combat pile in after you determine assault results.

You are assuming they stay locked in combat.

There is no guarantee of a end of combat pile in. It all depends on what the results of combat resolution is and/or if a sweeping advance occurs.

Did you read my post just after this one that you quoted?

I said " Page 27 tells us that After the combat has been resolved, models from units that did not Fall Back and are not in base contact must make a Pile In move. "

Note the situations that I said that you get to make a end of combat pile in move. I will underscore them for you.

 DeathReaper wrote:

40k-noob wrote:

 DeathReaper wrote:

You still do the end of combat pile in after you determine assault results.

You are assuming they stay locked in combat.

There is no guarantee of a end of combat pile in. It all depends on what the results of combat resolution is and/or if a sweeping advance occurs.

Did you read my post just after this one that you quoted?

I said " Page 27 tells us that After the combat has been resolved, models from units that did not Fall Back and are not in base contact must make a Pile In move. "

Note the situations that I said that you get to make a end of combat pile in move. I will underscore them for you.

You are correct DR, though this step is usually skipped if there is no longer any opponent in CC with the unit due to falling back. Pile In moves can only be used to:

-Move into base contact with an enemy model
-Move within 2" of a friendly model in base contact with an enemy model
-Get as close to the enemy unit you are engaged with as possible.
*Pile in moves cannot be used to contact units not already involved in the assault
(page 23, Start of Initiative Step Pile In)

In any case there needs to be an 'enemy unit they are engaged with' in order to make pile In moves legally. If the enemy unit has fallen back they are either destroyed (SA) or successfully disengaged and you now lack an enemy to pile in towards. Per RAW this step always occurs but in this case nothing would happen in it and you go right to consolidation.