Questioning questions and the PB Way

[Wanax]

I happened to be browsing PB's new entry into the early musket/rifle era game and thought we'd all like a look at his definitions for that game which may have carryover meaning here:


DEFINITIONS

BEYOND means “further than”.
WITHIN means “at or closer than”.
ENFILADED means a line extending your element’s rear edge meets an enemy shooting edge.
TO REAR means with any part directly behind the element.
CONTACT means “touching on any edge or corner”.
FRONTAL CONTACT means “with own front edge in contact with any enemy edge”.
SAME DIRECTION means “exactly the same direction”.
Copyright © Phil Barker 15th November 2003

[Badger]

I take it this is from his "Horse, Foot, Guns" rules? Interesting to see, and it's nice he's following Richard Bodley-Scott's example as set in HotTs v2.0. One thing that still isn't explicitly laid out, though:

What does "directly behind" mean?

(1) The "behind" element ("B") is within the area bounded at one end by the "front" element ("F") rear edge and on the sides by notional lines extending "F's" flank edges, whether or not "B" is in contact with "F"?

(2) "B" is within the area described in (1) above and is facing the same or (exactly)opposite direction as "F"?

(3) "B" is within the area described in (1) above and is in any sort of contact with "F"?

(4) "B" is within the area described in (1) above and is in either full front edge or full rear edge contact with "F's" rear edge?

Without more specific definition, I would say there's not reason to use a stricter definition than (1). After all, if we say that something is "directly ahead" of us, that isn't in standard usage taken to mean necessarily so close we could touch it; it's an indication of direction/bearing, not one of proximity really. But from other uses (e.g. in DBA v2.0), there's reason to suggest The Barker intends something more like (4) -- in which case he should be more specific than he's been so far.