Combined Units

A unit always moves at the pace of its slowest model -- when it moves, charges, flees, or pursues, use the lowest Movement value and rules of its slowest troop type. Any movement restriction on the character applies to the whole combined unit while they're part of it, and vice versa.

A character may reposition within the unit as part of a normal move, as long as they end up in the front rank -- and even if only the character actually moves, the whole unit still counts as having moved that turn. If a unit containing a character has had its Movement Allowance altered, that change follows the character if they leave the unit (including to charge out of it), but only for that one move.

Missile attacks (other than templates) can't target a character in a combined unit while five or more rank-and-file models of the same troop type (not counting other characters) remain -- every hit is allocated to the rank-and-file instead, since the enemy can't reliably pick the character out. If the character has a different troop type with higher Unit Strength than the rest of the unit, though, it can be targeted separately -- roll a D6 for each hit that would land on it; on a 4+ the hit is allocated to the unit instead. This still applies even if the enemy only has line of sight to the character and not the rest of the unit.

With fewer than five rank-and-file models left, characters become vulnerable to being hit -- the controlling player chooses which model takes each hit, but must allocate one hit to every model in the unit before adding a second hit to any of them, two hits to every model before a third, and so on.

If a character is hit by a template weapon or template spell, a nearby comrade automatically shouts a warning or shoves them clear, taking the hit instead -- no roll needed, and this isn't treated as a save for any other rules purpose. This can't be used with fewer than five rank-and-file models (including the command group) left in the unit, and only protects a character sharing the unit's own troop type.

In the Close Combat phase, an enemy model in base contact with both the character and one or more of their unit's other models may choose to attack the character, the unit, or split its attacks between them -- declared before any dice are rolled. If the character is slain, any excess wounds beyond what killed them are simply lost, not carried over onto the rest of the unit.

At the start of a round of close combat (before Impact Hits), if a character's unit is fighting but the character themself isn't in base contact with the enemy, their controlling player may swap the character's position with another model -- rank-and-file or command group -- that is in contact, moving the character into the fight. If both sides have one or more stranded characters wanting to do this, roll off to see who goes first, then alternate. Only a character whose footprint actually fits the unit's rank-and-file can Make Way, and it can only move them to another spot in the front rank -- never to a flank or rear rank.

As covered earlier, a unit always tests Leadership using the highest value present -- in a combined unit that's usually the character, though occasionally the rank-and-file themselves have the edge, particularly among elite troops.

Unless its own text says otherwise, a special rule that applies only to a character doesn't extend to their unit, and vice versa -- most special rules represent a specific skill or power that simply doesn't rub off on bystanders. Spells and magic items that grant special rules or other effects to a unit, however, affect everyone in the combined unit, character included.