Flank attack on a supporting unit

[Fab]

A brave Raider performs a frontal attack against a Warband who is supported by a friendly Warband in column.

Then a second Raider performs a legal flank attack against the second Warband.

At the end of the Tactical Movement phase does the second Warband turn to fight the second Raiders ? So that the rear support has gone ?

Thanks
Fab

[David Kuijt]

Turning "at the end of the tactical movement phase" isn't what happens in Triumph -- you don't turn someone who is attacked in the flank until you actually roll the attack. In essence you are using the flank-hit position as a marker to remind you that the enemy gets a -1. So here in your example it depends what order you do the attacks.

The smart thing is to roll the attack on the flanker first. That forces it to turn and gives it a -1 in the combat. If you kill it you doubled it and your brave Raider will occupy the space of the enemy Warband, stomping on the bodies and stabbing the wounded with great glee. So whether you kill it or not, your original (frontal) Raider will only have to beat the front Warband to kill it, as it has no space to fall back.

If you lose your mind, or are trying to make the enemy win, then you might roll the frontal attack first. In that case the second Warband is providing rear support. And if your first Raider wins and forces the front guy to fall back, they do so, and now the second Raider will fight (and force the column to turn) against the same Warband stand that was involved in the first combat. Kind of odd.

[Fab]

Interesting indeed.

I didn't catch this subtlety about the timing of actions.

Carefully re-reading para 55.2 is the key.

Thanks
Fab