Ask the Rules Lawyer

There has been a couple of questions asked about skimmers in the past.  I hope some of this clears up any debates.

Skimmers

Skimmers are able to fly over friendly and enemy models as long as they have enough movement to place their base completely past them.  So you can't hover over them for example.   Skimmers also can move over any type of terrain without penalty, however if they start or end their movement in difficult or dangerous terrain they must still make a dangerous terrain test!  It is even possible for skimmers to enter impassable terrain but if they end their movement there they must make a dangerous terrain test. 

As a side note, skimmers that are also fast can move up to 24" flat out!

Tau Paint

Still Working on them but got everything but a devilfish and 6 kroot hounds.

November 40k Codex is...

Dark Eldar:
Gw has releases limited information but they have confirmed Official in the games days that they are coming... heres the info as has been presented in Dakka, warseer and BOL
Release Date

Dark Eldar will be released in November. November. NOVEMBER!!!

Rules

Harry has said that he expects Dark Eldar to be “nasty but especially nasty for that first strike”
http://www.warseer.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4706442&postcount=34


"In mid June, Vineas reported that Yakface over at Dakka Dakka posted the following:


Originally Posted by Yakface
I have, from a very reliable source, that these rumors are a bit wrong.

The actual stats are as follows:

All poisons are 4+
Splinter Rifle 24" SX, AP5, Rapid Fire, Poisoned.
Splinter Carbine 18" SX, AP5, Assault 3, Poisoned.
Splinter Cannon 36" SX, AP5, Assault 4, or Heavy 6 Poisoned.
Spllinter Pods are an underslung weapon for the Hellions, essentially similar to the carbine.
reds8n added some weight to this, saying:


Originally Posted by reds8n
Actually I'm very inclined to believe these and mr. Yakface.
reds8n has also said:


Originally Posted by reds8n
I did hear something odd t'other week about them having "special" poisoned weapons -- at least fluff wise -- which had a normal S score but then got a reroll to wound. Poisoned lite I guess ? *shrugs* Not terribly convinced by that, not least as Mr. Kelly -- bless him -- tends to stick more to existing USRs and the like.
There has been some scattered talk about a “Pain Chart” which bestows effects based on the number of kills the army has done, much like Epidemius’ Tally Man rule. This has not been supported by anyone reliable as yet.

Miniatures

Scryer in the Darkness has used his product code reading skills to determine the following:


Originally Posted by Scryer in the Darkness
Right, well my eyes are now rolling with code like The Matrix, but here's the result barring any last minute additions/subtractions:

Codex
3 metal blisters
2 metal boxes
6 plastic boxes
No word yet as to what they will be.

Scryer has since gone on to say:


Originally Posted by Scryer in the Darkness
One more thing to add, now that I've had a chance to comb through all the specialty item codes... one of them has a Dark Eldar prefix.

Specialty items are wide and varied and range from things like limited edition dice sets, basing kits, resin markers, templates and things like the L.O.S Marker Light, but they all carry non-army-specific prefixes. The only army-specific specialty item product code that springs to mind in recent memory (though I'm sure there's been others) is the resin Ork Barricades set.
Harry has said he has heard there will be a 1.5 wave and a 2 wave of releases subsequent to the initial release. Avian has also said:


Originally Posted by Avian
I heard stuff for November, January and March, though that was a while ago now.
At the end of April, Rewison reported the following post from Waaagh_Gonads over at Dakka Dakka


Originally Posted by Waaagh_Gonads
After seeing (some) of the warriors that were assembled from the new DE warrior sprue (I did not see the bits on the sprue) last weekend and having been given the all clear to talk about them by my source:

Best start point is to use this pic as a reference.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.co...5501389758.jpg

The warriors are not striding forward and hunched over like they are about to tip over- legs are laid out in a wide stance and the models are much, much better proportioned than the old ones, so no more legs that go all the way up and tiny torsos.
Helmets and non helmeted heads included.
Non helmeted head has a high ponytail.
Ribs/shards of bone poke through loincloths and the ponytail.
The helmets are pretty much identical to the above pic, but with lumps/gems over the ears/temples.
From behind the helmets look exactly like eldar guardian ones.
There is a gem/soulstone on the left chest armour- not the shoulder armour piece as per the above pic.
This is where you have to use your imagination as the pic doesn't show it: On the back there is a backpack that looks like it started as an eldar backpack but does not stick out as far, has vestigal 'vanes' compared to the eldar one (so doesn't stick up above the shoulder) and most excellently down the centre of the backpack, it is recessed with scaled armour over the spine (triangular scales with points downwards)
A high collar that flanges out
Rifle is almost exactly the same as the pic for the base model, even down to the jagged bit that pokes up in front of the warriors abdomen in the pic. There is a variant with what looks to be crossbow arms sticking out laterally (ends up looking like a mini anchor)
Attachable Loincloths (variable designs) One has a skull, one a hook on them.
As per the pic, greaves over the lower legs, then knee pads and scales over the upper legs, with points upwards.
Knife scabbard, 2 'rods' and 2 small sachels on the 'utility belt' posteriorly
Blades of differing lengths and size on various armour parts, primarily lower legs and shoulder pads.
Curved knife HW available.
Attachable blades for the end of splinter rifle.
Referring to the same Artwork, Harry said:


Originally Posted by Harry
They don't look exactly like that.
That artwork was based on a sculpt done at the start of the project.
They have that 'look' ... but they evolved a bit.
And this:


Originally Posted by Harry
Dave Gallagher painted it ages ago based on some of Jes's first concept sculpts for the project.
A long time ago we saw this CAD picture of what apperas to be a splinter rifle. That said, the same pic included a concept of an Ork Skorcha that was supposedly only a test.

http://www.warseer.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=92149&d=1278683013

Harry also implies that Wyches will be plastic (which was pretty much assumed), but doesn't tell us which wave they may appear in.

http://www.warseer.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4520428&postcount=681

Artwork

New art from John Blanche

http://www.warseer.com/forums/attach...8&d=1282419754

Ask the Rules Lawyer

Moving Assaulting Models:

As you start playing more and more games in 5th you'll notice that there are many variations, player devised, on how you enter assault.  This is probably because the player is crossing the rules from 4th edition with 5th edition or simply doesn't know how it's done.  I have found myself doing the same when I first started with the 5th edition rules as I've played from the end of 2nd till current.

No matter what you've seen or been told this is how it's done.  It is accomplished much like regular movement with the exception of having to stay 1" from the enemy.  So you can't move through friendly or enemy models, you can only enter gaps through models that are equal or greater to your base size, you can only base contact the unit you're assaulting, etc.

When assaulting you must try and get as many of your models in base to base as you can.  Here's the big rule that people forget or confuse with 4th edition.  You must move the closest model from the assaulting unit into the closest model from the unit being assaulted.  After that you just try and move your models into base with the enemy unit where you can.  So don't let the guy tell you that you MUST move closest to closest with every model or that you can move any model into base as you see fit.  You can  move them in whatever sequence you wish.

Along that same line of thinking.  After the first model is moved the next models do have some restrictions.  For example the unit must remain in coherency.  The unit must try and get into base to base with a model who isn't already in base to base with another of your unit's models.  If you can't reach an unengaged model then you must base to base with a model already in base to base with a model from your unit.  If yet that isn't possible then the rest of the unit must stay within 2" of other members of your unit.

I hope this helps you guys as you get more and more games under your belt.

Ask the Rules Lawyer

Wrecks

Being as 5th edition is filled with mechanized armies I thought I should bring up a forgotten and yet important rule within the wrecked vehicle genre.  Most of us know that a wrecked vehicle becomes a piece of terrain and will continue to provide cover.  A few of us know that a wreck will cause a difficult terrain check when walking in or through it.  Most of us don't know, until now however, that the wreck also activates a dangerous terrain check.  That's right!  If walking into and/or through a wreck you must also perform a dangerous terrain check!  So keep this in mind if you like to place your guys in the wreck for cover, which I like to do, or see your opponent doing the same thing.  After reading this I might be changing my tactics up.

Nova Open - Currently Live Streaming on Ustream

Not sure if you're all aware of the Nova Open.  The Nova Open is the first "Competitive" event for 40K.  What is meant by truly "Competitive" is the fact that your wins determine your ranking!  There are a set of 4 tiebreakers should things get so close as a clear winner is hard to find.  Here's the link to anyone who has time to view this event: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nova-open-live

08/21/2010 The Beat Down

Nick, Jason, Steve are we ready for another Saturday morning of 40K?  I think Steve and I are chomping at the bit for such a long period without gaming.  Let me know!

Oh for those who are wondering why there's a picture of an emo girl for this heading.  I found it humorous when I searched for an image for beatdown that this girl's name is Barbie Beatdown!

Ask the Rules Lawyer

So there was a question text to me the other day and I thought it would be a good one for this segment.  Can you mix troops within a tank or split the squad across multiple transports?  For example six members of the squad in one tank and six in another or mix members from one squad with the members of another?

The answer can be found in Transport Vehicles, under the subheading Transport Capacity.  It states that a transport may carry only ONE infantry unit and any number of independent characters, that count as infantry, as long as the number of models doesn't go over the transport capacity.  The unit must be entirely embarked, not partially embarked or spread across multiple transports.  This is the main rule unless you have a special rule in your codex that will override this main rule.

Ask the Rules Lawyer

Going To Ground:

How many time have you come under torrent fire and wish you could give the order to "Take Cover!"?  Well this is the rule for you!  I've seen quite a few games in the current 5th edition rule set and am amazed about how many times this rule is forgotten.

Basically it works like this.   Your opponent rolls to hit and wound.  Before you take any saves or remove any models you declare you're going to ground.  Going to ground will grant the whole unit a +1 to it's cover save.  For those units not in cover they would receive a 6+ cover save as they hit the deck and become prone!

Now lets talk about the penalty for going to ground.  After going to ground the unit can do nothing until the end of its following turn.   A few exceptions to this is the unit still continues to take morale checks and if it is forced to fall back it will return to normal.  If assaulted it will fight as normal but will not receive any benefit of cover because they are not ready for the charge.  Following the assault the unit returns to normal.