Hi Neil,
Firstly, thnk you for your answer.
Have not understood your question.
Whether 3C costs 1 or 2 Pips depends on whether they are regular or irregular spears.
I'm not talking about reg or irr pips, but moving less than maximum move. Diagram 3c is only possible if the column move less than max. A four Sp elements column is 60 mm deep, and they move 80 mm (160 p), so the only way to end as they are depicted is moving less than max.
I have never played the rules such that a long line of regular spears creating a column count as moving less than their maximum move. The lead element moves 75mm, which is the maximum possible for the group without splitting the group apart.
This was one of the points included at the v. 1.0 Commentary, IIRC. I never played so either, but I see that this has been finally fixed in 2.0.
Where does is say that elements forming hte column cannot move sideways?
It states "others moving to close up any gaps" and "it may take more than one move for all of a contracting group to join in the column". Thats sounds like elements moving sideways to me.
This is the problem. It's not said anywhere while it was specifically included in 1.0. I understand the same meaning of "closing up gaps", but this sentence was already there in 1.0. So the question is, why the sentence compelling elements to move sideways has been moved out? I mean, what has been changed in 2.0?