During the ongoing digitization of our physical tournament ledgers, the council encountered a frantic margin note (scribbled in rapid Schweizerdeutsch during a particularly tense match) regarding a spatial anomaly in the combat phase. We cross-referenced this historical friction with the primary texts to establish a permanent ruling.
The Tactical Query: “A unit of 5 Empire Knights gets flank-charged by a Giant. Against the odds, the knights manage to win the combat resolution. Can this single-rank unit legally lap round to bring more models into the fight against the flanking enemy?”
The Norn Consensus: Yes. A single-rank unit charged in the flank is legally permitted to lap round with unengaged models, provided they are not utilizing the Bretonnian Lance formation.
Mechanical Breakdown: While the core rulebook frequently references moving models from "rear ranks" the geometry of this specific engagement dictates the following physical realities on the tabletop:
- Single-Rank Legality: Official primary source clarifications dictate that single-rank units (such as standard 5-man cavalry deployments) are absolutely permitted to lap round with unengaged models. In this specific spatial scenario, their singular rank functions simultaneously as both the front and the back rank.
- Flank Engagement Geometry: Because the enemy (the Spawn) charged the flank, the flank itself becomes the "engaged rank." Therefore, the models eligible to execute the lapping round maneuver must be drawn from the unengaged footprint of the unit; in this instance, the outer models of the standard front rank.
- Command Group Rigidity: This maneuver cannot be weaponized to artificially reposition high-value models. The unit's Champion, Musician, and Standard Bearer are strictly required to remain in their normal, legal positions within the front rank. They cannot be voluntarily moved to lap round the flanking enemy.
- The Bretonnian Anomaly: If the cavalry in question are Bretonnian Knights (or Blak Knights of a Blood Dragon Clan) deployed in the Lance Formation, they are strictly forbidden from lapping round an enemy under any circumstances. (Consequently, enemy units are also forbidden from lapping round a Lance formation).
Primary Archival Source: This ruling is permanently verified by the primary source texts: "A commentary on lapping around", authored by Gav Thorpe, published in White Dwarf #283-UK (Page 74).
