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If I have two (or more) units attempting to assault an enemy unit, can one of my units block my others from engaging? For instance if the first unit is a rather large unit that surrounds the enemy unit in such a way that my next unit cant make actual base contact. Can my second unit assault by reaching my engaged unit or do they need to have a model make base contact to the enemy unit somewhere too?

If a charging unit can't get a model into base contact, the charge fails.

So yes, it's entirely possible for a previous unit to block another from charging.

Two ways to get around this are to charge with the smaller unit first. Or if you are trying to get the larger unit to soak up overwatch fire then you need to be smart in your model positioning with the larger unit in the movement phase preceding the assault so that only some of the models will make it in to base to base from the larger unit. This can be risky as overwatch could kill enough to negate the charge.

Positioning is key to maximise the benefits of multi charges.

Choosing the order you move the charging models (past the first) is aalso kjey. You can prevent closer guys from blocking by moving guys further away first

nosferatu1001 wrote:
Choosing the order you move the charging models (past the first) is aalso kjey. You can prevent closer guys from blocking by moving guys further away first

Aren't you supposed to move the closest model, then the next closest, then the next, etc.?

No, only the closest model moves first. After that you choose the order - unless that was FAQd

Also each model must move the shortest path possible to make base to base contact. So you can't really do any placement shenanigans. Each model moves to the closest enemy base it can reach.

 disdamn wrote:
Also each model must move the shortest path possible to make base to base contact. So you can't really do any placement shenanigans. Each model moves to the closest enemy base it can reach.

This is also not true.

Only the first model must move by the shortest path.

nosferatu1001 wrote:
No, only the closest model moves first. After that you choose the order - unless that was FAQd

Huh, well there you go. I always just moved the closest model. Then again there are very few instances that would make it beneficial to do otherwise; maybe if I want a model previously further at the back to be closer, but with pile in moves that's not usually an issue.

It's actually quite often beneficial to move the further away models first, to maximise the number of models who can reach base contact. Back when charging models didn't have to end their movement in coherency it wasn't so much of a big deal, but in the current rules moving your closest models first will quite often result in the rearmost models not being able to get into base contact as the models that they can reach are already blocked off by their squadmates who moved first.

 insaniak wrote:
It's actually quite often beneficial to move the further away models first, to maximise the number of models who can reach base contact. Back when charging models didn't have to end their movement in coherency it wasn't so much of a big deal, but in the current rules moving your closest models first will quite often result in the rearmost models not being able to get into base contact as the models that they can reach are already blocked off by their squadmates who moved first.

I've never had this issue but I'll take your word for it. I guess it would be a bigger issue playing hordes (I'm predominantly a meq player)

 insaniak wrote:

 disdamn wrote:
Also each model must move the shortest path possible to make base to base contact. So you can't really do any placement shenanigans. Each model moves to the closest enemy base it can reach.

This is also not true.

Only the first model must move by the shortest path.

Sorry, you're right. this is only the initial charger. All other models in that unit only have to abide by the following three rules when charging.
1- Must attempt to engage as much of the enemy unit as possible
2 - Must maintain unit coherency.
3 - If you can't engage the enemy move as close as possible to the enemy

Only rule 1 there might mess up placement of charging models. By this rule if you have an option to engage in base to base with more than one unengaged enemy model you must choose that over engaging less enemy models.The rules seem to intend to make sure the assaulting unit is spread out to engage as much of the enemy unit as possible. Which would make multiple charges into a unit more difficult to place unless the charging unit is small, or the two charges are coming in a pincer from opposite sides.