Skirmishers and occupying/defending built-up areas
We are playing and enjoying the rules, but 3 major questions of interpretation always arise. 1. p. 11: it is stated that the minimum distance between bases in a skirmisher line is 2" (3 cm). Fair enough. IS THERE ANY MAXIMUM ALLOWED DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BASES OF A GIVEN SKIRMISHER BATTALION? Otherwise one could theoretically scatter the bases of a single battalion all along the battle field (table)... that does not seem reasonable and realistic. 2. Assume that a battalion has entered in this turn a bua in column of companies formation. All its bases are in. WHEN IS THE BUA CONSIDERED AS OCCUPIED BY IT? IN THIS TURN OR AT THE END OF THE FOLLOWING? (Consider that the rules, p. 39, state that "it will take a full move to occupy the area"). 3. Assume that in the same turn an enemy battalion enters the bua and that there is a charge in the charge phase of the game. WHICH ONE - IF ANY - IS THE OCCUPYING BATTALION? WHICH BATTALION - IF ANY - BENEFITS OF THE COVER BONUS DURING THE CHARGE AND THE MELEE PHASE? Thanks a lot. Giuseppe :(

1. All skirmish bases must be within 6" of the command base page 45. 2. The end of the following (page 39 Occupying built up areas) 3. This is unlikely in my view. You have to be within 3" to charge anyone in a built up area (page 38 Difficult terrain and page 40 line of sight). More likely is that two opponents could enter a built up area in the same phase and start to occupy it but can't fight each other without declaring a charge. The next turn you might have a few options. It depends who wins the initiative. Option 1: if the same player wins (ie the one who reached the BUA first during last turn) then I would give him the option of defending with the BUA modifier in his favour but minus the unformed modifier. Option 2: alternately he might opt to charge his opponet (if he is within 3") and both fight as formed units. You could then say that either the winner occupies the built up area or he takes a further turn to occupy it during which he can be charged by any other formed unit within 6" of the BUA. They fight according to option 1 above. Obviously I'm not the author and this is only my penny's worth. Usually with us, there is no official umpire, so we disagree and then roll a dice to decide and get the game moving again. Even if there is an umpire, he probably doesn't understand or remember the rules so he's no use anyway! I'm not exempt from this criticism by any manner of means so these are only my thoughts on the conundrum and I hope they are helpful.

Thank you very much RDonny. Your answers do clarify my doubts. giuseppe