Engaged/Disengaged Question

[MiB1213]

I apologize if this was covered in a different thread but I couldn't find one.

In the melee book you are considered 'engaged' if you are adjacent to and in the front hex of an enemy. Pg 9 gives the example of "B" is engaged with "R" but "R" is not engaged with "B", which according to the rules earlier is correct.
Does this mean the only Option for "R" if he wants to attack "B" is to select 'Charge Attack'? If he cannot move since he is adjacent is this still a legal move?

[Skarg]

Originally Posted by MiB1213

Does this mean the only Option for "R" if he wants to attack "B" is to select 'Charge Attack'?

No. (The options available are based on whether you are engaged, not whether you have engaged anyone else.)

It just means R is Engaged if that is the map position when his turn to move comes.

Since R is Engaged, during the Movement part of the turn, he can either stay put, or move one hex as long as he stays adjacent to B. In either case, R can then also rotate to face any direction.

It does not usually matter what Option R may have in mind during the Movement part of the turn - all of the Options for Engaged figures involve staying put or moving one hex during movement.

During the Action part of the turn, when it comes to R's turn to act, then you see if R is Engaged or not at THAT time (for example, B could be dead by then, or might have Disengaged to another hex). That Engagement status, combined with how far he moved during movement, determines what Options are available for R to do.

Typically, R would turn to face B, and if B is still there and he wanted to attack B, take option J "Shift and Attack" or L "One Last Shot Missile Attack".

[ColBosch]

One thing to make clear, since it's only mentioned once per rulebook, is that a figure can freely choose its facing at the end of its move. Part of the tactics of the game is finding ways to get into a figure's side or rear hexes despite that fact. (Skarg has the right idea, but everywhere he says "R" he meant "B" and vice-versa - B is the engaged figure in the example, R is unengaged - R is directly behind B.)

[Skarg]

Oh yeah, I thought MiB1213 was asking the opposite thing.

Yes, the attack option for disengaged figures is called "Charge Attack" but it does not require movement, it just allows movement up to 1/2 MA (and down to zero if desired).

[MiB1213]

Originally Posted by Skarg

Oh yeah, I thought MiB1213 was asking the opposite thing.

Yes, the attack option for disengaged figures is called "Charge Attack" but it does not require movement, it just allows movement up to 1/2 MA (and down to zero if desired).

Thank you. that other reply had me even more confused. So my initial understanding is correct in that the disengaged figure (the one to the rear) can only use the Charge and Attack but he can do so even without making any movement.
It's clear that he can move to one of the front hexs but my original question was regarding how and if a character is behind another and they are NOT facing each other, as in the example in the book.
Thank you for clearing it up.. and as mentioned the free facing is good to keep in mind.

[Skarg]

Yes, exactly. :-)