Basically a reform does not count as moving. You do not measure distance you`ve moved during the reform at all, instead there is only 1 rule: when all reforms are done and the move is complete, no model can end up over 2x M from their starting point. In this thread (link: http://www.ulthuan.net/forum/viewtopic. ... 67#p874367) Rod argues that movement during the reform should be counted. I have never heard this being argued before, nor do I agree after re-reading the relevant rules now. It would make it very hard to evaluate fast cav movement as they often perform up to 3-4 reforms when they need to get in position.
Consider the following:
The diagram to the left shows 3 units: The red blocks are enemy formations while the green block is a unit of Reavers. The way I`ve described above is shown here: the Reavers reform to a single file and move through the 3" gap in the enemy formations, reforming back to 5-wide once they`re through. Of course in-game I never bother with reforming them at all, I just measure end-to-end and move the entire unit. As long as no model has moved over 2x M, this is fine.
The diagram to the right shows the implications of Rod`s argument: after the Reavers have reformed to a single file, one model ends up being at least 4" away from the center of the unit, and thus (again, according to Rod`s argument) needs to spend 4" of his M18 to reform back to a single rank. In a nutshell, this reduces a fast cav unit`s move by at least 4" if they wish to reform to a single file, as they need to spend movement to get back to one rank instead of one file.
Relevant rule sections can be found on Page 14 and Page 68 in the BRB. As a reform is never described as movement in itself, I consider the 2x M clauses to concern the ending point of all models. This is probably to prevent huge units from basically reforming across the battlefield (think 100 Skavenslaves going from 5-wide to 100-wide and blocking pretty much an entire army for a turn for example), but I can`t see how this is meant to concern movement during the reform. Again, I have never heard this argued before either. Also, we have this from the last FAQ that was up:
The issue that brought this up illustrates a case which many will consider abusing the rules: Assume 10 Hexwraiths are standing 30" away from a unit. They march up 16", then Vanhels is cast on them. You move them another 8", then you reform them to 2-wide. This earns you another 8" and 2 models are now in contact with the enemy unit. You keep reforming like this until the entire unit has touched the enemy. Unless you count the distance a model is pushed during a reform as movement, this is completely legal as no model is ever moved over 2x M, nor does anyone end up over 2x M from their starting position (at the end of the reform shenanigans you reform to 2x5, 8" away from the enemy unit).BRB FAQ April `13 wrote: Q: When moving Fast Cavalry or Skirmishers, should I measure
from the location of each model before it moves and place it anywhere
within its Movement Allowance (or double its Movement Allowance
if it is marching) ? (p68, 77)
A: Yes. Except when there is a unit or impassable terrain in
the way, the distance moved must include the distance
required to move around these obstacles.
The ETC FAQ has a (fairly) elegant solution to this situation, but not everyone plays ETC:
ETC FAQ wrote:Q: How do you measure the movement spent by Skirmishers or Fast Cavalry that makes an attack during its movement (Like Screamers, Terradons or Hexwraiths)?
A: Measure the distance each individual model moves, from its starting position to a position where it is over/through the target unit and then to its final, legal position. The total distance a model moved cannot go over its Movement value, or double that when marching. Free reforms cannot grant any extra Movement during the attack. Terradons and Screamers need only 1 model to clip the target unit for all to attack.