Combat Reform and Characters

[Dancing Skeleton]

When performing a combat reform the rules state it cannot be used to get a model out of contact with the enemy if it was in contact before the reform was made. It then goes on to say the model can be in base contact with a different enemy at the end of the reform if you wish.


So this may seem like a dumb question but I’m just surprised at the seemingly obvious answer.


You can therefor during a combat reform move a character so that it is in base contact with a different model (as long as it’s still in contact with an enemy model)?


So lets say I’m in combat with a unit of High Elf Spearmen led by a mage with no champion. And hypothetically lets say I know if I issue a challenge he will refuse with his mage (goes to back rank). So in order to kill the mage (instead of issuing a challenge) I can perform a combat reform after the first round and move my Vampire into base contact with him?


Also I understand if both want to reform there is a roll off to see who goes first. So for the example above lets just say I won the roll off and made him reform first so that I could make sure I put my vampire in contact with his mage.


Lastly, can this combat reform be as simple as rearranging where my character sits in the formation? Or is there a specific requirement to count as a reform (change in number or size of ranks etc)?

 

[Alabaster427]

Short answer: yes.

Long answer: This is basically how you Make Way. Normally, you can only Make Way with a character if that character is not in base contact with an enemy, meaning if you have your VL in b2b with the Spearmen but not with the mage, you couldn't move the VL so that he IS b2b with the mage. But with a combat reform, you could. Granted, this is done after a round of combat, so you would have to wait until the combat phase ended, but that's basically what it's for. OR if your VL is fighting the Spearmen and you get charged (on the same side) by a phoenix, which is not b2b with the VL, you couldn't make way, but you could with the reform.

Note: you cannot make a combat reform if you are fighting enemies on more than one side (i.e. one on the front and one on a flank, one on both flanks, etc.) and the loser of combat deducts the combat resolution from his LD in order to perform the reform.

 

[Dancing Skeleton]

I appreciate the response, that answers my question.


The only thing is what counts as a combat reform? Does just moving your vampire count as a reform or do you need to make some sort of rank change as well?

 

[Alabaster427]

You don't have to change rank and file numbers. Simply changing the position of characters is sufficient.