Buildings

Effect of Buildings on Command

If the rules on commanders (see pages 58-59) are employed, the presence of buildings on the battlefield affects those rules in the following ways:

Figures within a building or an enclosed wall space are not out of command, even if they are outside the command diameter of their leader, as long as the commander is located somewhere within the same structure.

However, the charisma bonus of a commander can only benefit those figures that are within the leader's command diameter, and that are not separated from the commander by walls or other building features.

Moving Troops in Buildings

Troops are not required to use the special movement rules in this section simply because they're surrounded by walls. In a large courtyard or cavern, it is quite possible that a unit will be able to maneuver using the normal movement rules.

However, when walls constrict the normal deployment of a unit, or when a doorway or gate stands in its path, some modifications of the normal movement rules are required. Figures mounted on bases by themselves are ideal for use inside buildings and fortifications, but normal stands of two and three figures can also be used with little difficulty.

Squeezing In

Figures are not allowed to enter buildings or enclosed areas unless the entire base of the figure can fit inside. However, the number of figures mounted on a stand should not work to penalize a player. If there would be room for all the figures if they were mounted on individual bases, the multiple stand can be placed even where it actually doesn't quite fit. (Obviously, it's a lot easier to squeeze a stand of figures into a room when using a floor plan than it is when using a three-dimensional model.)

Facing and Formation in Buildings

A unit is considered to be in irregular formation when inside a building, unless there is room for the unit to deploy in a regular formation at least two ranks deep. A player must declare when his enclosed unit is in regular formation.

Figures pay none of their movement allowance to make facing changes when within a building or enclosed walls in irregular formation; they can change direction freely, just like skirmishers can. Stands may be placed farther apart indoors than out; up to 1" per figure can separate the stands of a unit. A stand of three figures, for example, could be up to 3" away from another stand (of any number of figures) in that unit. A stand of one figure must be within 1" of another single figure cr within 2" of a double stand, and so on. A gap between figures in regular formation is never necessary, however; figures can be in base-to-base contact, just as they are required to be when they are not inside a building.

Skirmishers are not required to maintain a distance between bases when indoors; they can be crowded as close together as any other figures.

Note on facing: When a unit is inside a building or enclosure, sometimes it will not be possible to face all of the figures in the desired directions. As a general rule, assume that the first side of a figure to contact an enemy (in an indoor environment) is the front of that figure; no flank or rear attack penalties apply if the figure is attacked from only one direction. However, subsequent attacks against that figure from additional directions will trigger the penalties.

If a stand of three figures, for example, must defend two openings in the corner of a building, one of the figures will have his flank to one of the openings. Regardless of the actual direction this figure is facing, it should be assumed that the figure is guarding the direction of obvious attack, and an attack through the nearest opening is considered to hit the front, not the flank, of the figure. An enemy breach into the building and subsequent attack, as described below, would result in the flank penalty being applied to the defenders of the building.