Duellist & Fighting questions

[Genghis]

I have a couple of rules questions I would appreciate some clarification on:

Duellist is valid 'when facing a single opponent'.  When in melee, this description is clear, however, how does it apply to a pistol being used at range?  My interpretation is that as you're only shooting a single tgt per turn with a pistol, as long as you're not engaged in a Fight, you can use duellist on any pistol shot you take - is this correct?

Second, whilst engaged in a Fight, you can use one-handed weapons to shoot your opponent in the Shooting phase.  Presumably in the Fight phase itself, you're restricted to melee weapons only (otherwise you'd be using your pistol twice)?

[Craig]

Hi Genghis,

Interesting questions...

In the first example you can take a single shot at any figure in range with your nominated duellist pistol type.
Should you also have the Gunslinger talent and two pistols then you must choose whether to use Duellist or Gunslinger, they are mutually exclusive.

In the second example this depends on your interpretation of being in a fight. technically if at the end of the movement phase you are in base-to-base contact with an opposing figure, you are in a fight. So in the shooting phase you can still use your pistol against your fighting opponent or another opposing figure within 3". On this shot you would get the Duellist bonus. Thus it is possible to blow away your fighting opponent before he even gets the opportunity to slice and dice you.
This is how British Officers used their Service Revolvers to such excellent effect in a thousand engagements across the Empire. Let the native get into point blank range then blow their jolly heads off what!
When you enter the fighting phase you are indeed restricted to your fighting weapons.

[Genghis]

Thanks for the clarifications Craig.  I've cleared some modelling time for my IHMN figures now, so might actually be able to try playing the game in a month or so.