Reforming meant you need to keep the centre of the unit the same. In the example that you only manage to get one side of a unit to hit one side of the opponents unit. With reforming you can only get more models in contact with reducing your ranks. Is there anything or anywhere in the rulebook that allows you to slide across to maximise the models in combat? I know on the initial charge you need to maximise but this half unit still only got in contact.
The way I read it now is that you have to maximise on the charge even if this takes a model farther than it could normally go. This as far as I can tell is to represent better the chaos of combat and that people would fight rather than standing watching there mates get taken apart by the crazy vampire on the corner, they would all rush in. So I would say if it was not possible for the attacker to maximise because of terrain etc then the defender should. This is just my thought on the matter though and not backed up by the rulebook which I don't have to hand.
I agree with your logic I just can't see it anywhere in the rules. For example if your really close to an enemy say 2 inches away off to the side infront. you turn about 80 degrees to maximise then make contact and close the door. But only like 2-3 rows will be in contact even though you have maximised while still performing a legitment maximised charge.
This is a common question- sliding in combat. There is no mention of sliding in the rulebook. It states about charging: "The unit must move straight ahead, expect that, during this move, it may make a single wheel of up to 90 degrees. You are free to make this wheel in order to place your unit wherever you like against the facing of the enemy unit that is being charged, but remember that you must bring as many models into the fight as possible, from both sides! Therefore this wheel cannot be used to reduce the number of models in base contact, unless of course you have no choice, and you need to wheel for the unit to avoid intervening units and impassable terrain in order to complete the charge." pg. 20 Later, when discussing combat reform, it says you must reform "keeping the center point of the unit the same". pg. 14 Because of this, since you cannot slide during the charge, or slide during a combat reform, and I didn't read any other time in which you can slide- Rules as Written; you cannot slide units to maximize base contact. I am familiar with FAQ's; and can't think of a time when sliding was discussed. HOWEVER I am less familiar with FAQ's than I am the rules. So it might have been FAQ'd and someone smarter than me can correct me. Although unrealistic, I believe this is a reminder that warhammer is a strategy GAME, not a strategy SIMULATOR. Use this rule to your advantage. Do so by forcing some frenzied deathstar into an overrun pursuit. Have them overrun into your slightly clipped tarpit. Now the thing that is supposed to kill can only attack with one or two models, and your thing that's built to tank damage will sit there all game without any problems. If their are enough new lizardmen generals who would like a little tactic article on some basic tactics like this I would be more than happy to spend a day writing about a game and army I love .
A dead topic, but with the July 2011 basic rule book FAQ I need to change my explanation because its WRONG! lol In the July 2011 FAQ, (v 1.5) it states: Change first sentence of second paragraph to "A combat reform is essentially a standard reform {meaning you can change direction and formation}, save {here comes the important part} for the fact that the centre point of the reformed unit DOES NOT have to stay in the same place. {!!!} So, as long as you don't reduce the number of models in contact, remove a single important model (friend of foe) from combat {basically meaning you cant reform your lvl1 out of combat, if it was already in the fight. Once a model is fighting it needs to continue to fight unless some rule specifies otherwise}, or reform to contact a different facing on any enemy unit it is in contact with. {can't think of an example where reforming would move you from a front attack to a flank attack on a enemy unit already contacted, but, you cant do it} So yes, as far as I can read, "sliding" isn't really a rule; however, combat reforming does not require the center to stay the same, so it appears as a slide. Conclusion, I was partly wrong before. In an open field with no impeding terrain, you can combat reform and move your center. It's good to point out though that this happens after the round of combat, so clipping is possible on a charge, fight at reduced numbers, then lastly combat reform and change the center. However, obviously if terrain, enemy units, or other factors prevent you from properly combat reforming (example: if reforming reduces the number in the fight), you will be stuck in whatever position your enemy was smart enough to pin you in. Finally, if both players want to combat reform, you roll off to see who goes first. Thanks!