In a Vanaheim/Elysian army, if I have a Valkyrie or Vendetta, and dismount standard infantry (not Stormtroopers) in BtB to get the cover modifier. What happens when an opponent wants to engage in CC?

1) The Skimmer has Scout, and since it's ZoC is entered first, it is the "Closest unit whose ZoC has been entered". Therefore, the first unit must BtB it to eliminate it's ZoC, allowing the Infantry to be contacted by further units.

2) The first engaging unit must enter the ZoC of the infantry in order to BtB the Skimmer. Once it has done so, it reevaluates the "Closest unit whose ZoC has been entered" condition, then BtBs whichever unit is closest at that time.

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SG

Ghost's Paint Blog, where everything goes that isn't something else.

This is one of those situations where the rules may be a little rough, but ultimately it is left down to common sense. So I would suggest that once a ZoC is entered, the attacker moves towards that unit until it is stopped (possibly by a second enemy unit):

• If the Valk is in front of the infantry, the 1st attacker moves into B-B with it (removing the ZoC even though it rises up above the melee) and subsequent attackers move as they want into B-B with the rearward infantry units.
  
• If the infantry units are placed in front of the Valkyries, when an attacking unit enters a ZoC (the Valk), it then moves towards that unit, but stops prematurely when it hits an infantry unit. The next attacker stops when it hits the second infantry unit, and the third attacker can then move into B-B with the Valk finally removing its ZoC (assuming it has the movement range of course).

Even though you're discussing a single formation, that's comparable in a lot of ways to the "Scout screen from behind the target" situation in the FAQ. You can charge the closer unit, even a Scout ZoC from behind the target overlaps the target.

I believe the attacker should move towards the closest overall, so #2. The path, once you enter ZoC, is defined. If it intersects another unit's ZoC, then re-evaluate which is closest. The only way the charging unit is going to be able to "switch" targets is if the other unit was actually closer at the point the attacker entered the Scout's ZoC.

A fast unit could possibly skirt the ZoC to come in from another angle, thereby hitting a non-scout unit, but that is always a benefit of a fast-moving attacker, regardless of whether the ZoC being avoided is generated by a Scout. The Scout would still make it more difficult to do.


All that said, if the skimmer is closer, #1 also applies. Once a single unit has gone into base contact, the ZoC is gone. The next enemy unit can bypass the closer unit to hit one farther away (within normal restrictions of movement, of course).

Thanks Neal and Ginger. That confirms my suspicions, but I wasn't sure.

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SG

Ghost's Paint Blog, where everything goes that isn't something else.

I've always felt the EpicA rules are zones of control/entering in engagements are seriously overcomplicated for the scale of game.