Below is an updated version of the 'characters in chariots' rule from AoA, along with a new rule for chariot runners. Both will be appearing in Nigel Stillman's 'Chariot Wars' book. I was just hoping to get you guys to see if you can spot any problems or anomolies with them as they are writen at present. Thanks in advance...
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New rules apply to characters riding in chariots. The cost of the chariot is not included in the character's entry in the army list, and instead it is bought from a later entry in the same list. The points spent on a chariot for a character count against the number of points that may be spent on characters in the army.
The character replaces one of the crew in the chariot, though for the sake of simplicity the characteristics of the character and the chariot are left unchanged, and each is attacked separately. Roll to hit normally for missile fire, but then roll again for each hit that is scored; on a roll of 1-4 the chariot is hit, and on a roll of 5-6 the character. In hand-to-hand combat an enemy model in base contact with the chariot can choose to either attack it or the character. Work out damage against the character or chariot in the normal manner. Characters mounted in a chariot with a shield-bearer may add +2 to their armour save. In any other circumstances a character in a chariot adds +1 to his armour save. Keep track of wounds inflicted on the character and chariot seperately.
The character may dismount and fight on foot if the chariot is destroyed, but only if a suitable model is available to represent him. If no model is available then the character is destroyed along with the chariot. If the character is killed then the chariot may carry on moving and fighting on its own. (Players that want to come up with house rules for characters jumping into and out of chariots should feel free to do so, as there is no good reason that they should not be allowed to do it. Just take care that your chariots don't end up as a form of taxi service that travels around the battlefield mving characters from one fight to another!)
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Chariot runners that are in skirmish formation may move into the gaps between a unit of chariots and still count as being in unit coherency as long as they are within 2" of a chariot model that is itself within 2" of another chariot runner model (see the diagram below). The chariot runners can use this tactic to charge an enemy that is already engaged by the chariots, charging into the gaps between the chariot models.
By the same token, chariots are allowed to charge through a unit of chariot runners that is in skirmish formation, even if the gaps between the chariot runner models isn't wide enough to allow the chariots through (it's assumed that the runners have learned to get out of the way when the chariots charge!). They can even use this tactic if the chariot runners are engaged by the enemy; simply push the chariot runner models aside until there is a wide enough gap for the chariot to fit into.
Developers Note: These rules replace the rules in Armies of Antiquity which allow chariot runners that are touching a chariot model to fight.
>>>>>>> The diagram will be a pretty version of the what appears below. 'Ch' = Chariot, 'R' = chariot runner. Assume there is a 2" gap between each model. Assume all the chariot runners are in a single unit. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
R R R Ch R R Ch R R R R R