martial prowess and silver helms

[Jack Shrapnel]

While reading an overview of the new high elves, and reading about silver helms (what can I say, it's a slow day at work   )  advice was given to run them three wide, three deep, full command to protect a character or BSB (not sure why you'd want your BSB making only one supporting attack but I can see the value to protect a mage - similar to lance formation and damsels)

so the advice given was due to martial prowess all the silver helms could still attack in this formation...

was wondering if this was the case, in that it allows you to attack in one additional rank - but do you need to have an actual full rank (five) to take advantage or can you just automatically do it...

is this actually viable as a mini-lance formation for the high elves?

[stonecutter]

Yes, SH do get to attack in 3 ranks - a front rank with all their attacks and 2 ranks of supporting attacks. Running them in 5 ranks of 3 would work and allow 9 attacks + 1 (champ) + hero (if makes way). However, they would receive no rank bonus at all since they need 5+ models per rank to do so. Accordingly, they would have 0 ranks for static combat resolution, would not negate ranks if hitting the flank/rear of an opponent and any non-skirmish opponent with at least 5 models left would be steadfast against them.

[J4far]

Yeah it seems that unlike a Bret lance formation SH in 3x3 could be used as supplements to a charging infantry block that would help with getting rid of steadfast. From what I understand, if you combo charged in a 3x3 SH unit with a block of say Spearmen 4x6 (or another suitable low str. anvil) they could really help dealing wounds while the infantry provide the static CR. 9 (or 10) WS4 S5 attacks (hopefully with reroll) would really synergize with the low S spearmen.