N18 Being engaged by versatile weapon - how to attack back

[FlyingCog]

I had this situation in a game. Esher Leader with Shock Whip moved engaging Enforcer. Now what can enforcer do to attack back?

My reading of RAW is that Enforcer cannot charge and to move they would need to roll for initiative and expose themselves to reaction attacks to withdraw. Have I missed something? It seems like with RAI they should be able to close the distance.

 

[RKDuncan]

They can totally charge. Once the attack with the versatile weapon is over, the models aren't engaged. That would be far too good for versatile weapons. Versatile gets you an attack that can't be retaliated against be most models, but if you stay back to avoid reaction attacks, you don't get to pin the other model in combat the way normal melee does.

 

[Beebopalulla]

Before resolving the second part pay attention to details. For example your are fighting an Escher gang?

Beware of any miniatures who has acces to the finess skill tree especialy

COMBAT VIRTUOSO

Any chainswords, fighting knives, power knives, power swords, stiletto knives and stiletto swords wielded by this fighter gain the Versatile trait with a Long range
equal to this fighter’s Strength characteristic.

Because then those weapon gains versatile and you didn't plan on that.

also the whip est interesting has it's both versatile and has entangle.:

ENTANGLE:

Hits scored by weapons with the Entangle trait cannot be negated by the Parry trait. In addition, if the hit roll for an Entangle weapon is a natural 6, any Reaction
attacks made by the target have an additional -2 hit modifier.

This may have an impact on the possible outcome of the charge.