Characters in combat - odd situation

[Loki]

In a recent game the following situation came up and we where unsure how to handle it, So I thought it worth putting here to see what others thought.

A unit of Dark Age Picts 6 models wide by 4 ranks deep , armed with mixed weapons and with their High Cheiftain in the front rank is charged by a unit of throwing spear wielding vikings. The Vikings, thanks to two Berserkers, a King and amazing dice rolls kill 8 of the Picts - they only target Warriors NOT the High Chief.

Now without any Characters in the front rank that would mean no attacks back, but with the High Chieftain in the front rank - who was never attacked as the vikings wanted to infict maximum casualties in order to ensure a break test with a nasty penalty - the question is does the Chiefain get to attack back?

We decided that since the High Chieftain was never attacked, then despite the casualties he could attack back. As it happened all 3 attacks missed (really bad dice) and the unit broke and was run down by the pursuing Vikings.

As I said at the start of this post I was curious as to what other people thought, So the question is:

Should the High Cheiftain have been able to attack back or not - and why / why not ?


All thoughts / suggestions / ideas welcome

[fisher40k]

Yes you are correct - the Chieftain can fight. It is one of the penalties for not targeting a Character, if he is still alive he can fight.

But why not challenge him? What is a King doing there if he wont fight man to man.

On the other side the Chieftain could have challenged the King - dangerous I know but some lucky dice and a dead King can mean lot of panic tests for the Vikings!

[Loki]

The Viking Hird were in a very exposed position. They needed to destroy the enemy as quickly as possible - better to kill as many warriors as they could and force a Break test with a massive penalty, and kill the High Chieftain on the pursuit.

A challenge against the High Chieftain would have resulted in fewer casulaties and so a lower penalty on the break test - both the Viking king and the Pictish High Chieftain are WS6 so better to kill the riff-raff

[Arken]

Hmm, we have always played that if you caused more casualties on the unit than there are models in contact (whether to the side, front or rear ranks) then the defending unit will NOT be able to attack back at all, regardless of characters or anything else. That is how we understand the rules (we may be wrong of course)

However the common sense (and I suppose gentlemanly thing) is to let the character in the situation given above,fight in the manner you eventually chose to do. I am sure that while the attacking unit is distracted with slaughtering the lesser memebers of the defending unit, the skill and abilities of the character would mean he would get himself into a position to attack.

So, I would say no by the rules, but yes for gamesman (or woman) ship... I look forward to being corrected/being correct

Ark

[fisher40k]

So, I would say no by the rules, but yes for gamesman (or woman) ship... I look forward to being corrected/being correct
Ark

So I ask where in the rules?

The only rule I see is page 52 - Who Strikes First.

troops who strike first have distinct advantage in that the foes they slay will be unable to fight back

So if you do not slay a character he can still fight.

If you have chosen not to target him, then you cannot expect him to stand there and ignore you!