attacking models who block a passage

hi all

Let's assume a model is standing at the top (or bottom) of a plank/ladder or behind a man-sized window (above ground) so that the base blocks the passage since they are of the same width.

How do enemies have to attack this model?

1) If it's one attacker: does the attacker need to stand on the plank since he can't get through or do you move both models back a bit so the attacker can stand in front of the defender? etc...

In case of a window does the attacking model keep hanging on the wall since it cannot enter the window?

2) What if you want to attack the blocking model with more than one attacker? do they have to stand in line or can they pass through and go around the blocking model?

As of now we sort of did a paradox mixture between pushing the model back so the attacker can stand in front of the model OR you can simply pass it and attack the model from different sides.

But this "ruling" is very unsatisfactory for shooting warbands and makes the game quite a bit less tactical since you basically cannot block a narrow passage this way.

So I wonder how you handle these kind of situations.

Thanks a lot for your answers in advance!

RAW you need an unobstructed line to the target for your charge. In my group we decided to rule that close combat blocked lines of charge just like close combat blocks line-of-sight.

When there is an obstructer (e.g. at the end of a plank between buildings) that is successfully charged the owner of the target model pulls the target back in the direction of their choice until there is space for the charger to be placed*. Generally speaking this will then mean that the first charger will contact the obstructer and close-combat now blocks the path of any other charger so the rest will have failed charges (assuming their charge was declared).

For windows it depends on the size and shape of the window and the blocker. If a line of charge can be drawn through the window and then around the model to the side (either left or right) then the charger can can be placed next to the obstructer and engaged in close combat. Assuming the obstructer was placed next to the window then it will now likely be blocked by close combat.

If a line of charge cannot be drawn to either the left or the right then the model is blocking the window and cannot be charged.

*If neccessary. If the plank is wide enough they just stay on the plank.

Lord 0's approach sounds like a good one. Where an attacking model would have to stop somewhere impractical to place them (like on a narrow plank or at the top of a ladder), I might also place the attacker on the other side of their target, & we all just agree to remember where they actually are standing, & that they block the ladder/plank until the combat ends. & where a model blocks a narrow passage, they do indeed block it; attackers can't 'leapfrog' them to allow multiple combats. As you said, that's part of the tactical challenge!

Oh, a separate, but somewhat related houserule:

When climbing to awkward and precarious locations you have as many attempts to place the model there as it has I. If the model falls off each time it is considered to have fallen from where you are trying to place it. This cuts down on people wasting too much time trying to place a model in the optimum, but precarious positions. Probably not needed so much in a group that isn't quite so competitive.

A relevant passage from the rules:

Quote :

A charge is like a running move, performed at double the Movement rate, but ends with the attacker moving by the most direct route into base-to-base contact with the enemy model. Once their bases are touching they are engaged in hand-to-hand combat. Models are also considered to be in hand-to-hand combat even when separated by a low wall or obstacle, where it is impossible for the bases to touch physically because the obstacle is in the way.

So you can't stop somebody from attacking you solely by preventing them from touching their base to yours. For example, standing against a window or a low wall implies somebody can charge you if they see you and stop right next to you but separate by a sliver of a millimeter of cardboard and still attack you; if you're standing on a step 1mm above the ground, you're not immune to close combat since somebody can stand on the ground 1mm below you and attack you. An obstacle or low wall doesn't block somebody from charging you, whereas a real wall or a chasm might.

Another rule elsewhere instructs you to "treat ladders like open ground," i.e. you can walk or even run up them if you have 3" of movement without requiring a climbing test. The ruling here allows you to use ladders to connect places that might be difficult to get to otherwise, building "emergency stairs" to place that would be blocked by people taking up space at edges or getting in the way otherwise. You're probably fine walking partway up a ladder, stopping there (since it's "open ground"), and taking a few swings at somebody.