An thoughts on whether the rear base of a two base file can claim shield cover while the front base in the file is in combat?

Item 5 in the rules description of the characteristic covers this I believe - depends on whether the base is engaged.

Yeah. Read that Nik. Hence the reference to file. Imagine hotplates three deep. The first two bases in the file are engaged but the third is not. Can the file claim shield cover? Can the third base claim it on its own?

The third base in a file of hoplites (i.e. LSp types) is not engaged - it is not a base engaged in combat frontally or as a supporting file and so qualifies per item 5 mentioned above (the wording in this item is about bases) and can benefit from Shield Cover.

ok, in case of missile troops with Shield Cover - shooting is not allowed if using Shield Cover.
I understand not the whole TUG needs to claim Cover, some files can shoot while others can claim Cover.
Quid if a TUG is in 3 ranks, does it mean the front rank can claim Shield Cover while the 2 other ranks shoot at full effect?

Quote from: Ambiorix on December 09, 2021, 09:51:10 PM
ok, in case of missile troops with Shield Cover - shooting is not allowed if using Shield Cover.
I understand not the whole TUG needs to claim Cover, some files can shoot while others can claim Cover.
Quid if a TUG is in 3 ranks, does it mean the front rank can claim Shield Cover while the 2 other ranks shoot at full effect?

Yes it can.  If it is in 2 ranks, it can claim shield cover and shoot with the rear rank at reduced effect.

Richard

I used that tactic a lot with my Late Romans when the opponent were skilled shooting huns.
Approach to within 1BW and your rear rank alone is back to WHITE due to unprotected Huns and let the front rank shiled cover to keep the damage down against you. Worked nicely.  Once I had shot a few bases of so the Huns had incomplete depth I then ditched the shield cover and shot them on Green.
Felt very realistic that the Roman huddled behind shields when the hail of arrows were ripping into them but then let rip themselves after it had subsided.

S

Quote from: Ambiorix on December 09, 2021, 09:51:10 PM
ok, in case of missile troops with Shield Cover - shooting is not allowed if using Shield Cover.
I understand not the whole TUG needs to claim Cover, some files can shoot while others can claim Cover.
Quid if a TUG is in 3 ranks, does it mean the front rank can claim Shield Cover while the 2 other ranks shoot at full effect?

I have one more question : Shield cover is an all-round caracteristic . Now in the case described, I suppose that only the front rank has the shield cover as it is the rank that claims it and that if the "shooters" are targeted from their flank/rear they do not benefit from the shield cover or do they ?

It only applies to the rank that claims shield cover.

If shot at from the rear only, then it becomes a pointless question as you wouldn't be able to shoot back....

Richard

The unit was shooting to the front towards some pesky skirmishers but had some skilled shooters targeting them from the rear