A follow-up question for handgunners in keils

[Glactophagos]

I've read the earlier posts about the subject, but I still have questions:

So max 3 bases of handgunners per Maximilian (7108) keil, correct?

'There are two ways to represent this: 1) ideally replace 1 pike or halberd with a handgunner, or 2) to avoid rebasing place a handgunner skirmish base in front of the file containing them.'

I would like to use the second option. Does that now mean my keil will look like this:

HHH
PPP
PPP
PPP
PPP

and if that is correct, when does the handgunner base die? Is it the first casualty or, as it really only seems to be a symbol after all, will the file retain its firing capacity until the last base in that file dies? (obviously accounting for the fact that once in contact, there will be no firing anyway... Which makes me wonder: remove the symbolic handgunner base once fighting?)

Or any other answer, of course. Please enlighten me?

Huub

[lionheartrjc]

I would treat the handgunner skirmish base as a marker.  Identify which base contains the handgunner(s).  If this base dies, you lose the marker.

Probably could word it better - indeed, you could place the skirmish base in front of the base (rather than the file) which contains the handgunner(s).

Richard

[Glactophagos]

Thanks, that does clarify the matter!
I'm thinking it might be an idea then to just replace the front pike base with a shooty base and tell my opponent that it does fight as a pike base. No messing around with extra bases and it is immediately clear when there is no more shooting in that file.

[Jilu]

Thanks, that does clarify the matter!
I'm thinking it might be an idea then to just replace the front pike base with a shooty base and tell my opponent that it does fight as a pike base. No messing around with extra bases and it is immediately clear when there is no more shooting in that file.

it is what i do