Quick Question re Melees (Main units and Supports)

Gents -

If one separates a melee involving multiple units into three or more main unit vs main unit melees (depending on result and direction of resolution), it is possible and permissible for a main unit to become a supporting unit if an enemy formation is forced to withdraw.

Now, let's say that the former main unit was disordered as a result of the first melee.
As the enemy has withdrawn, this unit can now support its neighbor when it (the neighbor) fights as a main unit. If the dice go against them and these units are forced to withdraw, does the supporting unit get a casualty/VBU loss since it is already disordered?

The top left of page 41 states that this is so.

Just wanted to check.

Thanks.

Chris

The key thing to remember is that after every melee is resolved (ie once you have finished rolling all of the dice for a main units and their support) you recalculate who are main units and who are support units.

Whilst a unit cannot be engaged as a main unit and act as support in the same melee, it is considered a NEW melee when you have completed the melee, inc follow up etc, for the active unit you are rolling the dice for.

It's a touch confusing and it does mean that the order of unit melee resolution can be critical, if you can get a slight overlap and drive the enemy away you can then get support for teh unit next door, the downside of course is that if the opponent wins then he is in a stronger defensive position.

" If the dice go against them and these units are forced to withdraw, does the supporting unit get a casualty/VBU loss since it is already disordered? "

I believe that support units do not take a VBU loss. They certainly recoil and take a disorder, but the last sentence of page 40 says that only the main takes VBU losses. I guess the idea of a VBU loss because of accumulating disorder's comes from 7.6.1, but that paragraph refers to having passed the units own cohesion test. So an additional disorder on a support has no effect.

So an additional disorder on a support has no effect.

yes, to keep it simple, you get a loss to VBU if already Disordered and you have to take a Cohesion Test (unless you get more losses due to the failure of the test)