Ranged combat/Dynamic extended contests

I re-read the Narrator's advice page about using ranged combat with Extended Contests, and more generally allowing characters to dynamically change the nature of an extended contest in the middle by gaining AP. (link below) One question: What happens to AP totals when one side in an extended contest changes the contest to its advantage?

For example, a group of Dara Happan hoplites without missile weapons has been reduced to 8 AP by a gang of axe-throwing Tarshites who ambushed them. The hoplites desparately try close with the Tarshites and succeed, wining their bid of 8AP. Now they can use their melee skills. But how many AP do the Dara Happans have, and how many AP do the Tarshites have?

One might say: "AP totals don't change, just the target numbers of each side," which is what I think the HQ rulebook implies. But the AP totals in the example were based on the target numbers in a very different contest, one where the Dara Happans were simply trying to dodge axes.

Shouldn't AP totals change somehow to reflect this? If one side completely changes the nature of the contest, shouldn't it somehow reset the totals?

Rob

http://www.glorantha.com/support/na_ranged.html