Melee combat starts when rival units collide with each other. Usually, not all models in unit get into fight but only part of them. There are following factors that determine how many models will get into melee from each side:

number of allocated models to melee (from each unit)
free combat slots around models

Contents

Allocated models

Number of allocated models to melee is determined based on total number of models in unit and direction of attack. If attack occurred in forward arc of defending unit then number of allocated models is calculated based on models total number of defender. If defending unit is flanked (i.e. attacked in side or rear arcs) then calculation takes into account models total number of attacker.

Final number

Final number of allocated models to melee equals base number + bonus number.

AllocNum_final = AllocNum_base + AllocNum_bonus

Base number

Base number is a percentage of total number of models in unit (attacker or defender explained above). This percentage determined randomly and usually is between 60% and 85% (rounded up). If a unit has 3 models or less they are all allocated to melee regardless.

AllocNum_base = randbetween (a,b) * models total number in unit

Bonus number

If it is frontal attack then unit with more models total number gets x bonus. Otherwise, attacker always gets x bonus.

AllocNum_bonus = x

Actual number

When Final number of allocated models is calculated they are distributed to available combat slots of enemy models. Thus, Actual number of allocated models depends on number of free combat slots.

AllocNum_actual <= Combat slots

Recalculation of allocated models

The game recalculates number of allocated models to melee after wounds resolution and\or on new collision with enemy unit. Round winner is considered as attacker.

Large models (in progress)

Unit with large model(s) such as giant spider is usually outnumbered by any unit with 8+ regular size models and is disadvantaged despite superior stats and traits.The idea is to boost survivability of large size unit by limiting free slots around them.

Combat slots

Combat slot is a free space around model that can be filled by enemy models during melee. Number of combat slots around model depends on model size and model's unit formation (i.e. adjacent friendly models may also occupy combat slots).

Regular size model can be surrounded by 4 regular size models or 2 large size models (or 2 regular and 1 large models)
Large size model can be surrounded by 8 regular size models or 4 large size models (or 4 regular and 2 large models)

Attacker (or round winner) always has priority to fill combat slot of defender (round loser).

Models allocation flowchart

Old version (click to expand)

(Old) models allocation

Base number (old version)

Models base number in melee is defined based on models number in unit's first rank or last rank in case of front or rear arcs collisions or number in side files in case of flank arcs collision (pls. see diagram 1)

If unit is collided with its front arc then all its first rank models get in melee regardless if unit attacker or defender.
This is not the case for rear and flank arcs when only models that were actually attacked will get in melee as the rest of models are considered too shocked by sudden attack to help their attacked mates (pls. see diagrams 2, 3)

Bonus number (old version)

additional models or so called "bonus" models can be added from unit rear ranks to already engaged models in melee if the following conditions are met:

attacker or won round
models number advantage
flank | rear attack

"bonus" models can't be added if all unit models already engaged in melee and/or there are no free combat slots left to occupy

Old version (click to expand)


diagram 1

Click here to expand...

diagrams 2 (bonus model for attack)

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diagrams 3 (bonus models for attack and flanking)

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Old version (click to expand)

(Old) Models allocation flowchart

Allocated models

Final number

Base number

Bonus number

Actual number

Recalculation of allocated models

Large models (in progress)

Combat slots

Models allocation flowchart

(Old) models allocation

(Old) Models allocation flowchart

DO in-game tests

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