Melee: A Typical Example

A typical melee: 12 Romans melee 12 Spanish Tribals. The Spanish have a slight overlap of figures that will count in melee (small white arrow).

At first contact the Romans will fight 1-1/2 ranks -- 6 in front and 3 in back, totaling 9 figures. Romans count pila first contact only at first contact. In round 2 the Romans gain enemy disordered and count trained sword in all rounds. If the Romans lose the melee they become disordered from then on. If they charged they must pursue one turn, and pursuers are always disordered. If the Romans have a Roman unit to their rear they can and should break off after first contact. Romans can't take too many casualties.

The Spanish (red arrow) will count all its first rank and half the back -- 6 and 3, totaling 9 figures. The Spanish being armed with pila also get pila first contact. Like Romans and Latins they also are trained sword which is a modifier that will carry through all rounds of melee. After first contact the Spanish become disordered because they are tribal. Being Celtiberian players they can elect to use the typical Celtic rule of breaking off -- if they do not inflict equal or as many casualties as they inflict at first contact. Or, they can be other tribal; decide before the game begins. Being tribal of any kind they also get +3 at each first contact for tribal charging. The Spaniards must pursue if the Romans break off or rout.