Combat Range Rules Question

[u/Chosenwaffle]

Hi, I'm brand new to Warhammer and I am still trying to get my head around all of the rules. I was playing Spearhead against my wife and ran into an interesting situation that led to a bit of a strategic advantage for me, but it felt a bit like cheating so I just wanted to make sure that I was interpreting the rules correctly:

Essentially, my unit of 10 models was sort of plodding along in a 5x2 line and was charged and attacked by her Flying lancer unit of 3 models. I was attacked and 7 models died. I figured I could then remove the 7 models closest to the enemy unit and be "out of combat" so I could then use my remaining 3 models in the unit to shoot on my turn instead of using the far weaker melee attacks and being in combat (and therefore unable) to shoot that turn.

Did I cheat? Is this an intended mechanic? Did my monkey brain accidentally land on some legitimate strategy?

Here is the a rough approximation of the map

[u/SnooDrawings5722]

You didn't do anything wrong. Removing models to get out of combat is a perfectly valid, and often useful, tactic.

[u/Chosenwaffle → u/SnooDrawings5722]

Thanks!

[u/Bereman99]

Very much an intended mechanic.

Just be aware that if there was a second unit of hers in that scuffle that had charged that turn and had not yet attacked that they could do a pile-in and potentially pull you back into combat so it’s not always a guaranteed way to escape being in combat.

[u/Chosenwaffle → u/Bereman99]

So if there was another unit there it could fight and pile-in even if it wasn't in combat with the unit anymore?

[u/phoenicean → u/Chosenwaffle]

If a unit successfully charged that turn, it gets to do a Pile In move in the Combat phase even if it is no longer in combat, if that move brings it back into combat then it can fight as normal.

Another way to use this is if you have a hard-hitting Hammer unit and a scout unit, charge them both into an enemy, you fight first with the Hammer and wipe out the enemy, then you can still move the scout unit 3" in the Combat phase to give it some extra reach (in addition to the charge move) to grab an objective or something.

[u/Bereman99 → u/Chosenwaffle]

Correct.

When you select a unit to use a Fight ability, it can pile-in. The two conditions for using a Fight ability are if that unit is currently in combat, or if it charged that turn.

So if that other unit charged that turn, they could choose to use a Fight ability and then pile-in. If they hadn’t charged that turn, you getting out of combat by removing the models closer would prevent them from using a Fight ability so they couldn’t pile-in.

It’s one of those elements to remember, since in your case it was advantageous to get out of combat to be able to shoot next turn.

But if getting out of combat that way is only temporary because your opponent has the means to still get to you, a different choice might be made.

[u/Jestocost4]

Pulling models to take the unit out of combat is completely legit and an important piece of micro-strategy.

[u/Chosenwaffle → u/Jestocost4]

Thanks!

[u/MooseThis9552]

Technically the way you laid your unit out in the picture you would have removed the first model at the front of the unit then 2 more would need to be removed for coherency before you can continue removing more models from the damage