Pole Weapons: Attack / Defense Question

[hcobb]

Note that you can make two attempts to enter HTH combat per turn when engaged. One of these would be your disengage option.

[Shostak]

Originally Posted by hcobb

Note that you can make two attempts to enter HTH combat per turn when engaged. One of these would be your disengage option.

That just muddies things. Option (o) Attempt HTH covers it better than Disengage does, since it is what it says on the tin: "Attempt HTH."

I agree that the rules imply that it is possible to get two HTH attempts per turn. To do so, one would have to start disengaged but within half MA of a foe, attempt to move into HTH, be repulsed, then attempt HTH again instead of attacking. However, I would not allow it since it contradicts the spirit of "one figure, one action" that permeates the game. If you allow two HTH attempts, players will want to be able to shield rush and attack in the same turn, too, arguing that the shield rush is a component of the move similar to how the HTH attempt is a component of the move.

[hcobb]

ITL 116: "If the attacking figure is engaged, he may shift onto a figure engaging him to attempt HTH, even if he is engaged with other figures as well."

ITL 106: "A figure that selects the “disengage” option stands still or shifts during its movement phase. When its turn to attack comes, instead of attacking, it moves one hex in any direction. You may move onto another figure to attempt HTH combat that same turn."

Does this mean that you can disengage against a single figure by moving into HTH during your action or not?

[Shostak]

Originally Posted by hcobb

Does this mean that you can disengage against a single figure by moving into HTH during your action or not?

It depends on where the figures are. If you are engaged to Figure A and Figure A is adjacent to Figure B and you use "Disengage" to move into HTH with Figure B, you aren't actually disengaging from anyone, so choose option (o) Attempt HTH instead.

[hcobb]

So do you move into HTH during movement (with a shift) or during the action phase (with either option n or o, your pick)?

[Shostak]

Action phase.

[Skarg]

Originally Posted by Shostak

That sounds more like an option that should be called "Extra Step" rather than "Disengage".

Yes, though whatever it's called, what it says that action/option does is let you move one hex in any direction.

Originally Posted by hcobb

ITL 116: "If the attacking figure is engaged, he may shift onto a figure engaging him to attempt HTH, even if he is engaged with other figures as well."

ITL 106: "A figure that selects the “disengage” option stands still or shifts during its movement phase. When its turn to attack comes, instead of attacking, it moves one hex in any direction. You may move onto another figure to attempt HTH combat that same turn."

Does this mean that you can disengage against a single figure by moving into HTH during your action or not?

Yes they can, but only, as always, if the conditions for initiating HTH are met - they agree, you have higher MA, or their back is blocked.


I have seen GMs rule either way, either that an unengaged figure can attempt HTH twice - once during Movement, and then again as an Action; or that they can't, because initiating HTH during Movement counts as an Action (q.v. option B) and so the figure has already used their action for the turn during the Movment Phase and so gets no second action during the Action phase, just as if they had succeeded at initiating HTH, or moved over 1/2 MA.

We ended up deciding that the second interpretation (that attempting HTH during movement uses their one action for the turn) was best.

Originally Posted by hcobb

So do you move into HTH during movement (with a shift) or during the action phase (with either option n or o, your pick)?

Disengaged figures who can make it to the target's hex via their Rear do it during Movement. Others do it during Action.