Shield Wall

A unit that is in command and in closed formation at the beginning of the unit's Movement Phase, and that is equipped with large shields, can declare a Shield Wall before the unit moves.

A Shield Wall gives a unit a bonus of 4 to AC against all normal missile attacks, and a bonus of 2 to AC against melee attacks. It only gives the bonus for attacks that hit the front of the unit; it gives no advantage to attacks from the flanks and rear of the unit, or from above. It gives no bonus to AC against artillery.

A unit in shield wall formation can be placed so that it is in a circular or square shape with the shields facing outward, in this case, the unit has no flank or rear sides, and the bonuses to AC apply to attacks coming from any direction. However, a unit in this formation cannot move. Note that to enter a 4-sided formation, some figures must have enough movement to turn and face the rear of the unit.

If the shield wall only protects the front of the unit, the unit can move up to ½ its normal movement rate. The unit can change facing only up to 90 degrees during any one Game Round. A change of facing costs a unit in shield wall formation its entire movement rate.

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Regular units equipped with large shields can form a shield wall.

A shield wall gives the unit a bonus of -3 to its armor rating against missile attacks, and -1 against melee attacks. It only provides the bonus against attacks that hit the front of the unit; flank and rear attacks against a shield wall are resolved normally. A shield wall is of no benefit against artillery attacks (see the advanced rules, Chapter 7).

A unit employing a shield wall formation can only move half of its normal movement allowance.