Art De La Guerre

[KevinD]

Suppose you have a unit which must conform to the enemy. (A knight was fighting a bowman to the front when it got hit in flank on the enemy move and took the hit for fighting in two directions. It then wins the melee and routs the bowman in front in that melee phase.) In its next movement phase it must conform to the enemy on its flank. Can it, however, spend a CP to rally, and then, having an enemy on its flank, conform to that enemy at the end of its movement phase?

[Andy Fyfe]

Yes; this was covered in the most recent errata.

However, it must spend 2CP to rally as it is still in combat to its flank.

[Neep]

(Andy I don't see that.)

I was looking at the V3 FAQ the other day. It's available on FaceBook.
Back then, the passive player would conform to flank etc at the end of the melee phase. Those conformations did not preclude rallying. They seem to have moved these conformations to the beginning of the next movement phase - I'm guessing just to keep the passive player from having to do anything during the melee phase. Anyway it looks like the turn to flanks is an "involuntary" conformation and thus would not preclude rallying.
This particular aspect of rallying could really stand a more specific exposition.

[Dickstick]

Not quite correct Andy.

If the unit conforms first it cannot rally as it has already moved.

Ammendment allows a unit to rally then to conform .
So one cannot use the rally to avoid conformation.

To be able to conform the unit cannot be in melee so only one CP is required ( except impetuous troops p45 who spend 3CP)
_________________
Player 747 don't call me Jumbo

[SteveR]

What a nice problem.

To begin with, let's quote the errata - it says on page 55 that "A unit can rally and then be forced to conform..."

Conformation happens in the movement phase.

So the unit may indeed rally and then conform.

The question then boils down to is it in melee? (to determine the number of CP)

Page 60 defines what units are in melee - it is the main unit (check) and it is at least partially conformed (check)

However I think that sentence is intended to indicate that you must be conformed enough to fight - since it says corner to corner is not enough. I don't think it is intended to represent a case where the unit is in contact like this. Just my opinion of course.

For example, consider two MSw units in complete flank to flank contact. One of them will have to conform. But are they "in melee" before they do?

Where I think the answer is is on page 52 - conforming units in melee - second paragraph. It says "units that have an enemy in melee on their flank or rear must turn to conform in their own movement phase..."

So I agree with Andy on this one. 2 CP.

[Neep]

AFAICS there are 3 situations where one conforms from the units' immediate situation:
Conforming units already in contact
Conforming units in melee
[resolving] Incomplete conformation

I believe the first is voluntary and therefore would preclude rallying, while the latter two are involuntary and would allow rallying (2CP).