Art De La Guerre

[Ballista]

Situation is

B 2

A 1


A,B facing right
1,2 facing left
B & 2 in front edge melee
1 wheels and charges A who evades, charge move takes them into side contact with B by corner of 1
Are they now able to conform side/side with B under the new clarifications of 1/9/18
A is not zocing 1

[Ramses II]

Parts of this question fall into areas covered by the new FAQ (relating to movement in enemy ZoC), though much depends on the orientation of the units which cannot be adequately shown in this diagram. 

Assuming that unit 1 can move in a direction that allows it to continue towards the existing melee, when it ends up in contact it conforms into a ‘support’ position. 

Remember, Conformation is merely a rules mechanic used to illustrate a given situation on the table, which allows the players to work out the melee resolution. 

[Ballista]

Unit 1 has a clear path once A evades to the side of B
With reference to the new FAQ dated 1/9/18 the question is how does 1 conform to B
side/side as implied in new FAQ ? or
front corner to front corner as per interpretation prior to 1/9/18 ?

[Ramses II]

And this is where the diagram is inadequate   LoL. 

Once Unit 1 enters the ZoC of A it’s movement must not move out of that ZoC (see the FAQ), which tends to restrict the initial direction of charge. So it may not be permitted to wheel that far in the first place. (Basically the initial charge must intend to fight A).  

The final Conformation depends on the initial location of 1 relative to the front edge of B. It may only contact the side of B if it starts on the flank, at least partially behind the line extending from the front edge of B (p51).
Otherwise it will face the same way as unit 2, at the point where it makes contact. It does not need to be moved back to be in corner to corner. 

[Ballista]

Unit 1 did not enter ZOC of A before A evaded to it's rear
There were no other enemy units who ZOC'd 1 on it's charge move.
Unit 1 did not start behind front of B - that was no problem.
The issue that arose was how did 1 conform to B as it had contacted it's flank at an angle but was not a valid flank charge.
So how does 1 conform to B
The example diagrams provided in the FAQ from 1/9/18 all show units moving past initial corner/corner contact perfectly aligned with friends and enemy units front on. In this example the same situation occurred but at an angle.
Is it aligned front corner to front corner next to 2 facing the same way ? OR

Under the new interpretation from 1/9/18 is it allowed to align side to side with B so it is along the side of B facing in the same direction as 2 ?

[Ramses II]

In brief, yes. Although it starts “in front” of A, unit 1 may contact A beyond its front corner and align side by side against A, facing in the same direction as 2. It is not forced to align corner to corner.

(Note, this has always been the case )

[Ballista]

Always been the case ?
Prior to 1/9/18 amendments, here has always been ruled that must conform front corner/front corner if contacted the flanks of a unit already in melee and not a legitimate flank charge. As was in this case and 1 was moved to front corner front corner contact with B and aligned alongside 2.

The 1/9/18 interpretation was viewed but ruled as it was not a front on charge carefully aligned with 2 and B then this interpretation was not able to be used

[Zoltan]

@Ballista - you said in the OP that A and 1 were facing each other at the start.

Ramses appears to be saying that the wheel declared by 1 when it declares its charge is constrained to an angle that would enable it to contact A, were A to stand (and not evade), due to A potentially exerting a zoc. Thus, 1 can not wheel far enough to contact B making this a non-sensical scenario to start with.

Similarly, A’s evade angle is constrained to mirror 1’s constrained charge angle. So A would evade well away from B which does not allow 1 to contact B.

Perhaps you could post a photo of actual troops or a photo of a drawing on paper as a more effective illustration of your scenario (please)?

[Ballista]

It's the end result that needed clarification, how would 1 conform with B - side/side or front corner/front corner

[fdunadan]

If A is ZoCing 1 at the strat of the movement of 1, there can't be any Wheel: any move when you're facing a ZoC must leave you more aligned with the ZoCing unit. So if A and 1 are facing each other, 1 can only move straight forward A and can't contact B.

If a is not ZoCing 1 at the start of the move (A is a Light, cause of terrain,...) the 1 can Wheel then declare a charge. If A evades, 1 can pursue the charge up to its maximum movement allowance and then "contact" B. It will not be a legal flank contact since 1 beginned it's move not on the flank of B. The contact is therefore only authorized as a support, and since FAQ of 09/01 allows it, it will be side by side. You simply rotate 1 with the front corner touching B as the pivot.
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Audentes fortuna iuvat.

[Ramses II]

Agreed fdunadan, though the initial positions of A and 1 could be such that 1 could continue into contact with B.

However, to some extent this is immaterial to the question posed be Ballista regarding how a unit can move into support, and more importantly, how it conforms following contact.

[Zoltan]

So if 1 contacts B’s side edge with it’s front right corner only, 1 will simply pivot so that it conforms with B side edge to side edge.

Of course this would leave 1 in a position (in its next turn) to do a quarter turn and charge B’s flank (assuming B and 2 are still in melee and A has not returned to zoc 1).

It’s still a little confusing that 1 starts off declaring a charge move (against A) but due to A’s evade decision 1’s charge turns into a “support move” (against B).

[Korik]

I presume that the first bullet in point 2 of Ramses response still requires the conforming unit to respect the rules concerning flank/rear contact?

For example, a supporting unit could continue it's movement past corner to corner contact to side to side contact, and then claim a 'conform' as being into front edge to side edge contact, with all of the disadvantages to the enemy unit
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Korik

[Ramses II]

[Zoltan]