Two Ranks or One? A Small Old World Unit-Formation Debate
A tiny army-building discussion that turned out to be pretty useful
Sometimes the most helpful hobby chats are about very small decisions.
This time we ended up talking about whether a shooting unit in Warhammer: The Old World really makes a mistake by deploying in two ranks instead of stretching out wider. And honestly? Our conclusion was pretty simple: it is not some glaring error.
Stas pointed out a couple of practical upsides to running the unit in two ranks:
- the unit is a bit safer in close combat situations,
- it is harder to charge because it has a smaller footprint on the table,
- it is easier to pivot and point them where they actually need to look,
- and if nobody dies, the unit can keep a +1 rank bonus.
That last point also comes with the obvious condition: you need enough models left for that second rank to still exist.
Why the smaller footprint matters
This is one of those things that sounds minor until it matters in a real game.
A narrower unit is simply easier to manage. We can fit it into tighter spaces, protect its flanks a bit more easily, and rotate it without awkward table geometry getting in the way. Stas summed it up nicely: it is just easier to turn them so they are facing where they should be facing.
And in The Old World, that kind of movement efficiency can be a bigger deal than it first appears.
But what about shooting?
Of course, the natural question is: if we put missile troops in two ranks, are we not giving up shots?
Michał reminded us of one important exception: the second rank can shoot when the unit is standing on a hill.
Then Stas added another one: the second rank can also shoot when targeting a Large Target.
Which immediately led to the practical example: yes, that means something like a Destroyer.
So while a deeper formation may look less efficient at first glance, there are real situations where that second rank still contributes ranged attacks.
Our takeaway
We like this kind of discussion because it is exactly what army-building often looks like in practice. Not every choice is about finding the single “correct” answer. Sometimes it is about understanding the trade-offs:
- wider formation gives you more obvious shooting output,
- deeper formation gives you better maneuverability, a smaller footprint, and some extra resilience in specific situations.
So if you are running a unit in two ranks, we would not treat that as a clear mistake. It depends on the battlefield, the target, and what role you want that unit to play.
And honestly, those are our favorite decisions in The Old World — the ones that are small on paper, but can actually shape how the unit works on the table.