PDF rules pg 59, 5.F, 1.3

In order to avoid a friendly TUG, a charging unit may contract ranks  but must remain at minima 2 BW wide .

As written a keil, a 9 bases unit may contract and go up to 5, 6,7 bases deep as long as it reforms into a legal formation as soon as space allows .

In combat it is by using MF1 and out of combat M7 as it does not seem to be automatic .

There is no time limit as you might not have the needed colours especially for tribal guys .

Did I read it all correctly ?

5 F 1.3 says reforming in this case does not need a prompted action.

OK misread it ...but you can contract up to 6 or 7 bases deep in order to avoid a friendly TUG ( keils, big phalanxes )

Read it again "contract by 1 file"....

I guess it could lead you with a file 6 to 8 deep depending on how wide and deep your keil had been deployed before it charged. However, the main thing is that it is clear that you could be in an otherwise illegal formation if you contract by 1 file and what the details of that illegality are are not really important.

OK thank you I just wanted confirmation you can contract one file and be in an illegal formation for a as short time as possible sorry for my faulty english

Reform as soon as space allows : even if only partially because of lack of space or only when fully possible

When you reform it must be into a legal formation.  There is no concept of a partial reform.

That would mean that not only could UG B (as pictured in attached schematics) declare its charge (that I get), but also resolve its charge movement even if it does not reach its target and does not end its charge movement in combat or contributing as a supporting file (and thus nominally bound to follow formation rules), all that while being in an illegal formation .

I get that rules for formation are not applied for UGs in combat, but that is not the case here.

Furthermore, it means that UG B could stay in its (illegal) formation as long as it does not move, even though it is neither engaged in combat or contributing as a supporting file.

Are my interpretations correct ?

Best,
Antoine

It would stay in its otherwise normally illegal formation until such time as it could reform into a legal one whatever creates the opportunity to do so (per 5.F, 1.3) - for example C in your picture breaking its opponent and pursuing could allow it to reform. It cannot make any prompted action until it does reform and so could sit in an otherwise illegal formation for a long time.

Thanks Nik, I think I see better.

Does it also that, in example above, UG B may not do any prompted move in subsequent turns that might allow it to regain formation, such as a move forward (assuming UG Y does not come back close ?

What about charging again at UG Y ? If yes, do we differentiate between a prompted charge from more than 1 MU away and a forced charge ? What about free charge ?

The wording seems clear.  They cannot make any other prompted action until they reform.  So they cannot turn even if they would regain a legal formation by doing so.

Richard

OK, but a forced charge that goes straight ahead during step 2.3 is not a prompted move, is it ?

No as it is not prompted (likewise Free Charges). Stopping forced charges is, however, a prompted action ...

Quote from: lionheartrjc on March 22, 2026, 04:42:55 PMWhen you reform it must be into a legal formation.  There is no concept of a partial reform.

So as long as there is no space to reform completely legaly there is no reform

Thank you