Do we now agree on the following?
- When either Shrine, COB + DH, or lone COB (
-DH- ) are inside a R&F unit, that makes a
combined unit as per p.99, when the chariot joins the unit and when it leaves; for practical considerations, together they should be considered to remain a combined unit in-between (the alternative would be to consider that they remain independant despite being together, but when examined, it creates too many problems).
- the
type of the combined unit is "unique"; however, its components retain their troop type as far as stomping is concerned (because p.99 says CC is an exception to being combined), i.e. a R&F infantry can be stomped even if a shrine has joined it.
- spells & impact hits (p.42), breath attacks in CC & stomp (FAQ p.42) are all unusual attacks
distributed as a shooting attack.
They are not template attacks, so the relevant paragraph p.99 to apply is "Shooting", and these attacks cannot hit a character in a combined unit if there are five or more R&F, and if less than 5 R&F, the controlling player allocates.
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Note that in case of stomping, the issue can be confusing:
when determining whether the infantry inside the combined unit can be targeted, the answer is yes because CC is an exception to being combined;
when allocating the hits, the distribution is made nevertheless as if it was a combined unit.
The weird consequence is illustrated when a unit of R&F infantry with shrine is charged by a unit of Empire's Demigryph Knights.
There could be one demigryph in contact with only the shrine. Nevertheless, its stomp would be allocated to infantry...