As per my previous email, I hesitate to make official rulings about this kind of thing, but I can say what I think.
But I have a rules question on Scythed Chariots. These things were designed to crash into heavy infantry, particularly Pike blocks. Most famously, the Mithridatic chariots destroyed a Bythinian pike block. But the special rules on Phalanxes say that mounted troops (which presumably includes chariots and elephants) may not charge them frontally.
I'd make an exception for scythed chariots in this case. I would imagine the horses must have been blinkered (sp?), as horses simply won't charge headlong into things if tey can possibly avoid it otherwise.
We made an exception for Scythed Chariots; the thing duly ploughed into the Egyptian phalanx causing it and some adjacent units to run and ensuring the demise of the Ptolemaic left wing. I assume the Pikes still get to strike first before the chariot does its 1D6+2 automatic hits?
In this case I'd say that the strikes should be simultaneous, as the momentum of the chariot will drive it into the phalanx come what may. Very much a case of an 'irrisistable force vs an immovable object' sort of rules question!
Also, do you have to roll to wound for those hits (I think so)?
Yes, I'd say you do.
And finally, are elephants allowed to charge phalanxes frontally?
I have feeling that they should be allowed to do so. After all, they went in at the battle of the Hypasdes (sp?), didn't they?
Hope that helps,
Jervis