One thing that came up during a fight was that I took on some neutral Sorcerers in a realm next to my home realm. I gave them a beatdown, killing two of them and routing the 3rd, meaning that the sorcerer lost combat and would have to free. Unfornately for him, every hex next to him except for my home realm had a friendly trooper in it. The only square he could in theory run to would be the empty home realm hex. Of course "In Theory" is the operative word considering that your home realms are supposed to be under your control unless someone marches in with a Moblize or Conquer action and claims the territory (Unless Stragetize allows such movement). In the end it was decided that since your home realm is considered contested even with no units there, Neutral and Enemy models cannot retreat there (unless it is otherwise occupied by a friendly model). So we killed off the Sorcerer and continued on with the game. So the question is, can Enemies or Neutrals flee into an unoccupied Home Realm hex belonging to you?

Neutral units can only move to uncontrolled areas when they retreat (unless allied with a player, then they retreat like an enemy). Enemy units have to move to an area friendly to them if they can; if not, they can move to an empty area. (NOTE: They cannot retreat to an EMPTY area if there are any friendly areas adjacent, EVEN IF THE FRIENDLY AREAS WON'T FIT THE RETREATING UNITS!!!!!!! In that case, you'll end up having to destroy units! Be careful how you plan your attacks!)

Home Realm Areas are NEVER "uncontrolled", so Neutral units can never retreat there. Home Realm Areas are never "empty", so the only way an Enemy unit could retreat there is if that enemy CONTROLS the area already - IE, has units or a stronghold there.

THUS, if your Home Realm has no units or strongholds at all, YOU control it, and no Neutral or Enemy units can retreat there at all!

Darn i must have a wierd verson of the rules i read it twice and can't find what your saying in it .. it could be me i was up late and lots of coffee

Ripley... said:

The Definition of "empty" on Page 15 specifically excludes Home Systems. It says an Uncontrolled area is one that no player controls, and says a player controls an area if he has at least 1 unit or stronghold there, with the extra case of a player always controlling his home area unless an enemy is there.

The rules for Retreat on page 22 talk about how Unallied Neutrals have to go to an uncontrolled area, and how player-controlled units must go to a friendly area if possible, or an empty are if there are none.