How do you play this?

[landmeister]

Dear all,

I know these lining up situations are not ruled, so I would like to know other opinions. Please look at the diagram included.

Situation 1.
Elements A and B are Cv. Elements 1 and 2 are Bd. Element A is destroyed so elemehts 1 and B are not in legal contact. I line up elements depending on who moved this bound. I line up 2 to B if it flanked A and B this bound and I line up B to 2 if it was the column which attacked 1. In case of both elements having been fighting from last combat (a draw) the player whose bound is being played decides.

Situation 2.
More elements of Cv and Bd. Element 2 can't line up into a normal contact, but it's still in legal contact. Then column C-D moves forward so that 2 can now line up front corner to front corner. Would you line up? If it was a legal contact before, is it illegal now? I would say so, as the rules say that you MUST line up corner to corner if you can. There would be enough room after column CD moves, would you line up immediately after C-D moved or at the end of all moves? It can change the situation a lot as 2`s TZ can affect other enemy moves. I play it lining up immediately.

And you? 

[LawrenceG]

In situation 1 the flank contact is not one of those specified on page 33 so I would say they are not in combat until one of them uses its 80p free move to adjust the contact and hence initiate the combat.

In situation 2 the combat was initiated by a legal move so there is no need to adjust it. An 80p free move could be used to line up at any time.

[landmeister]

In situation 1 the flank contact is not one of those specified on page 33 so I would say they are not in combat until one of them uses its 80p free move to adjust the contact and hence initiate the combat.

I know, so this is why I'm asking WHEN you must line up. Immediately after the combat outcome ar at the beginning of the next bound?

In situation 2 the combat was initiated by a legal move so there is no need to adjust it. An 80p free move could be used to line up at any time.

Yes, it initiated as a legal move, but finished as an illegal one, as per figure 20, so you MUST line up if you can. and you can immediately  after column C-D moves away.

[MikeCampbell]

the wording for initiating contact on a flank says that the move into contact must end up front corner to front corner if possible ("it must end...."), or the entire flank edge if not.

So it's only that initial move that requires it - nothing else is required on subsequent moves.

[LawrenceG]

the wording for initiating contact on a flank says that the move into contact must end up front corner to front corner if possible ("it must end...."), or the entire flank edge if not.

So it's only that initial move that requires it - nothing else is required on subsequent moves.

No, it explicitly mentions "adjusting an existing contact with an enemy flank or enemy contacting its flank" as ways of initiating close combat. This implies that combat has not been initiated until the contact is adjusted.

Previously a combat was initiated with the front element by contacting it in the specified way, but this combat has now been terminated (along with the element).

As for when the adjustment takes place, it can be "in either player's bound", so adjust your element whenever you want.

[MikeCampbell]

I was talking about situation 2 - IMO there is no requirement to adjust the contact at all.

For situation 1 it can only be done during a movement phase (of either side), since that is when an element gets to initiate close combat (it could do so by pressing forward or pursuing, but those are not happening in this case)

[LawrenceG]

Sorry, I didn't realise you were talking about situation 2, for which I fully agree with your analysis.

[landmeister]

I was talking about situation 2 - IMO there is no requirement to adjust the contact at all.

For situation 1 it can only be done during a movement phase (of either side), since that is when an element gets to initiate close combat (it could do so by pressing forward or pursuing, but those are not happening in this case)

Interesting analysis. I think this is the way to do it. Thank you.