Multiple Combats: Rules & Tactics

This is by Taak but he screwed up posting times so it's under my name.

Greetings everybody,

This article has come about because alot of people including the venerable Kirby showed last night on Vassal that they didn't completely understand some of the specifics of ongoing locked combats and multiple combats. So lets look at the 3 points from page 41 (including the FAQ for the third) and what it actually means. After this we'll look at some applications to bring your approach to combat to a High Level of play in this aspect (see AbusePuppy's article here).

Rule Book, Page 41 "Attacking":

In multiple combats, when it is time for a model to attack, the following extra rules apply:

*Models that were engaged with just one of the enemy units at the beginning of the combat (before any model attacked) must attack that unit.

*Modls that were engaged with more than one enemy unit at the beginning of the combat (before any model attacked) may split their attacks freely between those units. Declare how they are splitting their attacks immediately before rolling to hit.

*Models that at the beginning of the combat (before any model attacked) were engaged with more than one enemy unit, but were in base contact with just one of the enemy units, must attack that unit.

NB: In all three bullet points, the word ‘combat’ will be changed to ‘round of combat’.

There is some confusion here because GW have not defined the beginning of the combat as well as they could have even in the errata with the 'round of combat' term. Use of 'at the beginning of that assault phase' in conjunction with 'the beginning of the combat' as well as defining the 'before any model attacked' terminology which as attacking involves moving an assault would make things much more clearer and less confusing.

Lets start with the first bullet point.

*Models that were engaged with just one of the enemy units at the beginning of the combat (before any model attacked) must attack that unit.

You've assaulted into an ongoing combat where the combatants from previous rounds are locked together against each other. At the beginning of the combat these locked units were not in combat with the unit you have just assaulted into this ongoing combat. Thus the locked units cannot attack the unit that has just assaulted them this round and only each other. From a fluff perspective they are engaged in the cut and thrust of combat doing their best not to get killed by concentrating on the swirling melee around them, then out of the blue they are smacked in the back of the head by someone that wasn't there a second ago. A unit of Space Marine Scouts is locked in combat with a unit of Ork Boyz. A unit of Nobz join the combat this turn engaging the Scouts already attacking the Ork Boyz. The Scouts can only attack the Ork Boyz, not the newly arriving Ork Nobz.

*Modls that were engaged with more than one enemy unit at the beginning of the combat (before any model attacked) may split their attacks freely between those units. Declare how they are splitting their attacks immediately before rolling to hit.

This bullet point is exactly as above except factors in huge swirling combats. A space marine scout unit is locked in combat with an ork boyz unit and a Nob unit from the previous Ork and Space Marine Turns. The Ork player charges a loota unit into the scouts in their assault phase to try and get the numbers to finally kill off those damned scouts who just won't die! The scouts aren't expecting being attacked by yet more Orks as they've been fighting hard and desperately for their lives for quite some time now and out of the blue the sergeant gets a choppa thrust through his groin from behind. The Scouts need to move in such a way to engage these new foes but that is going to take time. As such they can only allocate their attacks against the Boyz and the Nobz with whom they were locked in combat with from previous turns of combat. They can't attack the newly arrived loota's until the space marine player's next turn's assault phase assuming they are still alive by that point.

*Models that at the beginning of the combat (before any model attacked) were engaged with more than one enemy unit, but were in base contact with just one of the enemy units, must attack that unit.

This deals with locked combats where your units are in base contact with different units. The Space Marine Scouts, Ork Boyz and Ork Nobz example from above sees 2 of the scouts engaged solely with the Nobz and not the Boyz. They are counted as engaged and locked with both the Nobz and the Boyz because the rest of their unit is engaged with the Boyz, but due to the fact that they are not in base contact with the Boyz they can only attack the Nobz. Building on point two above, the Loota's charge in and engage these 2 Scouts but as they are locked in combat from previous rounds with both the Nobz and the Boyz (though can only attack the Nobz as shown by this point three) they can only attack those models from the units they are locked in combat with already which they are in base to base contact (the Nobz) and cannot attack the Loota's this round of combat.
Now, above "Attacking" as explored above on page 41 of the Rulebook is "Defenders React."

If a unit is already locked in combat from a previous turn is assaulted by a new enemy unit, it can react as normal. Its models must be moved into base contact with models from any of the units that they are fighting, not just the enemies that assaulted them.

The interesting thing here is that against a big enough unit, if you've timed your attack in terms of correct distance accurately, you can pull away enemy models from the combats which they are already locked in by up to 6 inches (so long as they weren't already engaged in base to base contact with an enemy model from the previous round of combat - remember that defenders recting to an assault MUST move into base to base contact if possible with an unengaged enemy) and as such they can be eliminated from attacking altogether this turn. This is bloody difficult to pull off at the best of times, however, when you do it successfully you are fully entitled to a happy dance. Especially in a tournament (just make sure it's big and flamboyant, arms in the air style, so people can go 'What the hell is going on there!?!). Just be sure to laugh it off lightheartedly so your sports score isn't affected. :)

Knowledge is Power: Applying this Understanding to Gameplay.

Now, with the rules clarrified for multiple combats and who can engage who, the real trick is applying this knowledge and understanding to bring your gameplay to a High Level in the assault phase, synergising this understanding of the mechanics with a good army list design and overall tactical approach to your games.

If you've spent any real time on this blog you will be familiar with the term 'Bubble Wrap.' Bubble Wrap Units are units which you employ on the field to ring or protect key units vulnerable to the enemy attacks either in combat or at range. Your opponent is forced to deal with these units enabling a range of tactical advantages to your own gameplay. Thunderbubble/Thundergate armies featured here by GWvsJohn and Kirby are one example of an effective Bubble Wrap Unit combined with a strong list but also Kroot walls protecting suits and vehicles are very common as well as bubble wrapping Imperial Guard Tanks with a variety of infantry models such that your opponent cannot assault your tanks first up and must deal with a fodder unit.

For myself, I have employed Tyranid Gaunts and Gants in games to pull in a number of tricks, not just abusing Multiple Combat rules as this article explores but also the half your unit covered by a unit gives a cover save if they are targetted at range. I personaly like to run Tervigons with a big unit of Termagants to make them troops and also a big unit of gaunts or more gants in concentric interweaving circles of models around the bigger MC's. This has several effects ingame.

First of all, by setting up cheap, expendable gants in an interweaved circled (I haven't figured out how to post Vassal Images here yet nor save them such that they are viewable, so a typed example will have to suffice: You have two units of termagants the 'd' and the 'P' unit. In each, the circle part of the letter represents the model itself, ignore the stem of the letter except to identify which unit the gant belongs to. The units are arrayed in an interweave pattern such as: dPdPdPdPdPdPdP , but imagine that this inter-woven formation is in a big circle forming a place for other circles of units within the circular space the interweaved units create in their placing) both units benefit from a 4+ cover save. Many people run units in an X style pattern which keeps the lines of units covered in all directions, but don't take that extra step of then protecting other units themselves. When the Termagant units start taking casulties you decrease the spacing of the units and the circles begin to shrink and absolute care must be taken to get the numbers positioned right to keep claiming the save off of both bubble wrap units which will be essential to ensure they make it to combat with the numbers to lock strong opponents long enough for the counter attack in your next turn of play.

With a unit of Genestealers (Scything Talons+Toxin Sacs Rock!) on the inside of an interwoven circle of termagant units, the Genestealers in effect gain a 4+ cover save from any direction as well as being a threat for multiple combat abuse. Throw a Tervigon into the dead centre of the inter-weave and all those Termagants are Fearless and so will in effect tarpit enemies long enough to allow a largely intact unit of tooled Genestealers the ability to abuse the engaged ongoing locked combats to the best of their ability and also minimise the casualties they would otherwise recieve (ie, none in the first round that they've assaulted the enemy - unless you roll shockingly and lose the combayt that is, lol). This formation, alongside the Tervigon running Toxin Sacs and Adrenal Glands or one or the other, as well as Catalyst means that you have a seriously resilient formation on the field. You have combined the best elements of Bubble Wrapping alongside Cover From Shooting Through Units with a thorough understanding of the mechanics of multiple ongoing combats as well as a synergistic list design. A Similar Formation could include 2 units of Hormagaunts, a Unit of Genestealers or Tyranid Warriors and a Hive Tyrant with Tyrant Guard and Old Adversary (Preferred Enemy Buffs WOOOO!).

The best advice to give in relation to use of the Multiple Ongoing Locked Combats and Assaulting into them With New Units is that you need to get your ranges right and understand how to run your list so as you can cause maximum damage to the opponent and minimise your own. It can be difficult at times but hopefully this article has helped open your mind to newer ways to apply your assaults and units in multiple combats.

All the Best,

Auretious Taak.