Some Newbie Questions

[Skarg]

Originally Posted by Aman

3) Pursuant to the above, a fast-moving elf moving second ran completely around a pole-arm wielding fellow who was two hexes away, and attacked him in the rear [with MA12, he could move 6 hexes and attack]. I don't see any reason why not in the rules, as the elf didn't even go thru a F hex of his victim.

In addition to the rule from ITL others mentioned about standing still to be able to change facing after your opponents' movement...

In general when you move first, you want to think about where your foes could move, and try to deny them good moves like that, but it can be tricky if you don't know their MA. If you stood another hex or two further away, or near an obstacle of ally, they may not be able to get behind you.

Another option is to move up to them and face them directly, so they're engaged and can only shift one, which will still be a Front hex.

Originally Posted by Aman

4) If I force a retreat on someone whose back is "literally" against the wall, there is no penalty that I can see. Am I missing something? Does anyone use a penalty for such a situation, like a Dx3 roll v. stumbling or something?

Yes, there used to be exactly that rule in original Melee, and as recently discussed in another thread here, many of us still prefer to use that roll. I.e. when someone is forced to retreat but can't, roll 3 dice versus adjusted DX or fall down.