After reading through this thread I think I am a little confused. The following diagram is how I move formations (single company formation in this case), which could not be the right way of course so please correct me if I'm wrong.
First I'd like to say that the way I read the rules is that both charge and movement in a single movement turn should be in a straight line. meaning any distance moved in a single turn is fully measured in a straight line from initial to target position and no arch measurement or changing direction is used.
- top left diagram: the first movement is simple enough. always move in straight line, change facing as I like as long as: (1) no corner is moved beyond movement allowance. (2) my formation straight line movement doesn't cut through any friend or foe formation. The way of measuring in the rulebook (red line) is just for indication as hithero mentioned and not what I use. the corner that moved the furthest here is the bottom right corner of the formation so I measure using a straight line from initial to target position (green line).
- top right diagram: the second diagram is little bit different. there is difficult terrain in the way and some corners (red circled for instance) are bound to cut through it (blue line). again no arch movement just strainght line movement. ok, no problem just move the same way and double the distance moved on through difficult terrain.
- bottom diagram: now let's assume that the terrain is an occupied defensible terrain, or even an impassable feature. this way I have to go around it, but again in multiple straight lines (multiple turns). Means I can't do it in a single turn, but in multiple straight lines (turns) around the feature to reach the position I want. First turn I move around it and to the right. the next turn I move into position and also in a straight line.
the bottom line here is that I don't move around an obstacle in a single turn (in angle or arch way) even if the furthest distance moved over the span of the two turns sums up to less than formation's movement allowance. I just assume it was spent in the maneuver and stick to moving in a straight line in each single movement turn. This is how I play it so far and hope the diagram is clear enough so please let me know what you think and if I should change anything and hope I didn't confuse anyone.
I'd appreciate your comments.