Characters in the Second Rank

In the FAQ the following Question was asked:

" Q: Must a character be moved to the front rank of a unit as soon
as a space becomes available? (p100)
A: Yes. "
So, is that saying that if you start a character in a unit before the game in the second that in your first turn you would have to move him to the front if there was more then just the 1-3 command models?

I ask, as personally I hate the change to Characters being able to confer abilities and still get 1 attack while in the second rank.

That is exactly how I see it. The only way a character gets to stay in the second rank is when there are command models and "other" characters taking up the five spaces. As soon as a character leaves or dies, or champion dies, they'd have to move up.

And that could make it interesting in HTH combat. Your opponent calls a challenge, and kills your champion at Init 5. Your wizard hiding in the back immediately runs to fill the spot, just in time to take a few spears in the gut from the rank and file.)

Ok, just wanted to make sure. It is very vague in the wording of the rules, and there is not really a section which covers characters deploying in units before the game, just when they join during the game.

Myself and Lincoln played a game where Dwarf Lord on Shieldbearers and the three unit command occupied the front rank (5 wide) and a BSB and Runesmiyh hiding in second rank. Knowing this I would now try and snipe the unit champion to force one to come up front, good play by Lincoln, and me not in full understanding of the rule.

You gotta expect that from Lincoln. That is a tactic he uses himself, so he knows how to counter it.

its even better when you single file someone with a unit of fullcommand that is stubborn haha

These are the things that have taken some of the fun out of it for me. In 6th and 7th if you put your character in the back (except for Skaven) they werent doing %$@@. It just doesnt need to be in there INHO. But as I play more I guess I will just have to start chesse dicking people with it.