On to part 2 of this weeks examinations.
Had an incident of a file of 3 pike conacted frontally by the an Elephant and in the rear by a Blade.
Q1. Is there 2 seperate combats?
yes
Q2. Does the rear element of pike still provide support to the front Pike?
Until it turns to face the rear attacker, yes.
Q3. Which is the better combat to do first ( of course assuming there is 2 combats ),( for the elephant/ blade player )? I am assuming the rear one as if the pike wins it turns to face his/her opponant and may even follow up (DOH! now the pike don't get -1 for not being able to recoil). Now I know I need help with this game.
An element in combat against the opponent's rear edge ignores combat outcomes. ( "or against a rear edge" at the end of the second bullet at the top of page 38.)
So if you do the rear attack first and win, the pike is destroyed (and possibly pursue into the next pike, so counting as a -1 for the front combat). If you lose or draw, nothing happens to you. The pike just turns round in place with no pursuit. Now they don't support but the remaining pike still get -1 for blocked recoil.
If you do the front combat frst, all ranks give support. If the pike win, and were fighting foot instead of the elephant in your example, they might pursue, which would take the rear element out of combat (as far as I can see).
