I know Fearsome (Ferocity skill) has already been discussed throughout the years, but want to hear latest opinions.
Quote from N23 rulebook (think this has remained unchanged since then):
In most situations, it may be straight forward. But technically (RAW), it can have some weird interactions.
Particularly the requirement "result in them making one or more close combat attacks against this fighter". So after declaring the charge, you need at minimum measure charge distance to make sure you reach contact to attack. Otherwise Fearsome won't trigger. So you can make a normal failed charge without Fearsome. Further, you need to successfully navigate through any potential perils on the battlefield, pass Initiative tests or whatever. In addition to the common jumps and climbs, there are numerous battlefield effects that can intervene and prevent your everyday run-of-the-mill charge. And even more spectacularly, special rules that may have complex and unintuitive effects. Consider combination of Duellist special rule (neutral Ulanti alliance Laader), if Charged, it allows the carged fighter to make Reaction attacks before the charging fighters gets to attack. What then? One possible interpretation is the charging fighter is within distance, moves up, but is defeated in combat before having the possibility to attack. Then fail the Fearsome test, rewind and return to where it started the activation? That gets silly. Perhaps interpretation is too strict in terms of having the charging attacker actually make attacks? Perhaps it would be enough to say it needs to be within charge distance to at least have the potential possibility of making the attack.
Quote from N23 rulebook (think this has remained unchanged since then):
In most situations, it may be straight forward. But technically (RAW), it can have some weird interactions.
Particularly the requirement "result in them making one or more close combat attacks against this fighter". So after declaring the charge, you need at minimum measure charge distance to make sure you reach contact to attack. Otherwise Fearsome won't trigger. So you can make a normal failed charge without Fearsome. Further, you need to successfully navigate through any potential perils on the battlefield, pass Initiative tests or whatever. In addition to the common jumps and climbs, there are numerous battlefield effects that can intervene and prevent your everyday run-of-the-mill charge. And even more spectacularly, special rules that may have complex and unintuitive effects. Consider combination of Duellist special rule (neutral Ulanti alliance Laader), if Charged, it allows the carged fighter to make Reaction attacks before the charging fighters gets to attack. What then? One possible interpretation is the charging fighter is within distance, moves up, but is defeated in combat before having the possibility to attack. Then fail the Fearsome test, rewind and return to where it started the activation? That gets silly. Perhaps interpretation is too strict in terms of having the charging attacker actually make attacks? Perhaps it would be enough to say it needs to be within charge distance to at least have the potential possibility of making the attack.
