Warhammer Advanced Reactions
Proposed additional options when charged
2012/12/29
Currently a unit when charged is presented with three options by the main rule book, and some units are not permitted to use all of them.
- Hold Stand there and do nothing
- Stand and Shoot Units with ranged weapons take a snap shot, then hold Flee! doing a 'brave Sir. Robyn'
This feels somewhat limiting, as such what I propose is to enable some additional more 'advanced' reactions to add flavour to the game and some units.
Any unit with a unit Champion or Character within the unit are able to undertake an advanced reaction using the rules noted below, some units may have the reaction as a Special Rule, in which case they are considered to automatically pass the required Leadership Test.
Note this leadership test is taken in one of two ways, the controlling player may elect which to use for each test.
- Champion Commands The unit Champion or Character within the unit issues the command. the Leadership Test is undertaken using the leadership of the unit Champion or Character they may not use the leadership of the general, or any modifiers/rerolls provided by anything.
- General Commands The army General issues the command, the Leadership Test is undertaken using the General's leadership, and may take advantage of other leadership modifiers, however there is an additional +1 to the total dice result for each Complete Rank in the unit - larger units are harder to control from a distance.
Advanced Reactions List
Shoot for the whites of their eyes The unit makes a Stand and Shoot reaction at Close Range by waiting until the enemy is close enough to allow this. If the Leadership Test is failed the unit may not fire, they have waited too long.
Brace! A unit of infantry, or monstrous infantry only may, if equipped with shields, attempt to brace to accept the charge. If the Leadership Test is successful the enemy lose one Impact Hit per model that is able to make them additionally the charging unit is at -1 to hit in the first round only.
For example a unit of three Goblin Wolf Chariots charges a unit, they calculate the number of Impact Hits as normal, with a -3 modifier to the total and all attacks will be at -1 to hit.
If the test is failed the charging unit makes its Impact Hits as normal and the Defending unit is at -1 to hit in the first round only.
At the Ready! A unit of infantry, or monstrous infantry only may, if equipped with spears, attempt to hold them to accept the charge. If the Leadership Test is successful the enemy takes one Impact Hit at a strength equal to their own Toughness for each Defending model in base contact
For Example, a unit of Bretonnian Knights charge a unit of Night Goblins with spears, they will take five S3 Impact Hits from the goblins spears.
If the test is failed they may not attack in additional ranks from their spears in the first round of combat.
Form Square! A unit of infantry, or monstrous infantry only may attempt to adopt a defensive posture, if successful the unit counts all facings as the Front and thus may Step Up, Parry and the enemy gains no bonus for charging the Flank or Rear.
If the test is failed the unit counts as having no ranks in the fist round of combat for the Steadfast rule (only)
Additional Reactions
Based on suggestions from The Warhammer Forum the following additional reactions are proposed.
Fire and Fade Fast Cavalry units only, may attempt to make a normal Stand and Shoot reaction and then make a Flee! reaction.
If the test is failed the unit may not Flee!
Elven Fast Cavalry units (only) automatically pass the Leadership Test for this reaction.