Frontage

In order to tell how many ranks a unit has, a player must first determine the frontage of the unit—how many figures are in the front row, and exactly which figures those are. In general, a figure is considered part of the frontage of a unit when it meets both of the following conditions:

1. Its front side is not adjacent to another figure in the same unit.
2. It is part of an unbroken— but not necessarily straight—line of figures (bases adjacent side to side or corner to corner) that all meet condition 1.

If a unit contains more than one line of figures that meets condition 2, then the player can choose which line constitutes the unit's frontage—if the unit is not in contact with an enemy unit. However, if the front side of any figure is in contact with an enemy figure, then that figure is automatically considered in the front row of the unit (as are all the other figures in the same unbroken line, whether or not each of those figures is also in contact with an enemy figure).

In cases where it is not easy to determine the frontage of a unit, or which figures are part of the frontage, by using these guidelines, then common sense and reasonability should prevail.