This came up last week. I was sure I knew the answer and looked through the rules and clarries for rather a long time, but could not find it.
A player wanted to move a TuG into contact with an enemy Tug during movement, not the charge phase. Since it's movement the enemy can't evade, and melee is fought, he said. I said no, you can only get into contact via a charge unless you join an existing combat from overlap via micro moves. Otherwise, if you want melee, you must charge.
I searched to rules and could not find this. I KNOW the cursed thing is in there somewhere, but I seem to be suffering some sort of selective blindness. Can someone point me to a page? I looked in Universal Rules, Charges, and Movement. Where did I miss it?
I asked the exact same question a few months back. Look down the threads to 'Making Contact with Enemy UGs'.
I could not find a rule reference either but Simon gave a clear ruling. I expect it will be more obvious in the Compendium(?).
You want page 2 of the clarifications at the top "4 ways of contacting the enemy" although there are only 3 ways listed. If it is not in this section then it is an illegal way of making contact.
Let's see if it is ....
QuoteJ: Engaging in Melee when already in Contact
1. Normally UGs may only create a new combat by charging or pursuing into enemy, or by being hit by such enemy.
2. Troops who are already touching an enemy UG but are currently not fighting it are deemed to close and already too involved and close to charge. Instead they can create a melee combat in the movement phase in the following four ways:
2.1. Where an UG is in front corner only contact with an enemy front corner it:
Û may align 1BW in movement to create a single base width frontal melee combat, or
Û it may make a wheel as a whole into side contact with enemy if it can both reach and has room to do so.
Û It may make and MF1 action to simply put a file into combat and do further MF1 moves if cards allow.
2.2. Where an UG is in side contact with the side edge of an enemy it may use an M9 turn 90° and thereby create a melee combat to the side.
Only other point is you can move up in movement to create a supporting file only.
Si
Dave,
Did that make sense and clear it up?
Finalising draft in next 5 days so the time to warn me if not.
Si