Content by T0nkaTruckDriver, Written by T0nkaTruckDriver, Edited by T0nkaTruckDriver
Shas'la
- Q: Can a Pathfinder squad with Rail Rifles use any Markerlight hits they might score to guide the Rail Rifles in their squad?
A: No. On p. 22 under "Rolling Dice to Hit" it says:
When a unit fires roll all of its To Hit dice together. Sometimes there will be different weapons firing, or firers with different BS in the same unit and you might find it convenient to use different coloured dice for them so that they can be picked out. For example, you could use green dice for all shots with plasma weapons and red dice for all shots with melta weapons.
This implies that all shooting from a single unit occurs simultaneously. Now lets look at the markerlight entry in the Tau Codex on p. 19:
Each Markerlight hit can be used ... to mark a target for another vehicle or model. If marking a target then one other vehicle or model in the Tau force which has yet to fire can change its to hit roll against the same target to a 2+ with a single weapon.
Since the Rail Rifles in a squad of Pathfinder fire simultaneously with the Markerlights, they do not fulfill the requirement of being a model, "which has yet to fire." Therefore, they are ineligible to have their weapons guided by the same squad's markerlights.
- Q: Do jet-pack equipped troops get to move in the assault phase on the turn they arrive via Deep Strike?
A: No. This is stated directly in the v4 FAQ.
- Q: Must my jet-pack equipped troops take a dangerous terrain test for ending their movement in difficult terrain?
A: If they used their jet-pack to get there, yes. Alternatively, jet-pack equipped troops (even gun drones) may elect to 'walk' into the difficult terrain but must then make a difficult terrain roll to see how far they can go. Note the difference between a dangerous terrain test (roll a d6 for each model, one model dies for each 1 rolled) and a difficult terrain test (the unit may move 2d6 take the highest inches). Also, note that jet-pack equipped troops that move in the assault phase, must always do so using their jet-pack. You cannot choose to 'walk' into difficult terrain with your assault move unless you are actually assaulting an enemy squad.
- Q: Must my jet-pack equipped troops take a dangerous terrain test for leaving difficult terrain?
A: No. Only vehicles need to take dangerous terrain tests for leaving difficult terrain.
- Q: So if I'm reading this right, you're saying jet-pack troops can start their move behind a forest, roll a difficult terrain check to walk into the forest, shoot at enemies on the other side (assuming the forest is < 6" thick) and then use their jet-pack to blast backwards out of the forest out of LoS, all without risking a crash?
A: Yes. This is true. It's also very annoying for your opponent.
- Q: Do the Tau Blacksun Filters qualify as 'Night Vision/Acute Senses' as described on p.75? Does a team-leader with a BSF confer the benefits to his squad?
A: I have seen no official ruling on this. However, the two rules are functionally different and as such, I would say no. As stated in Codex: Tau on p.18, only models equipped with a BSF receive the benefits.
- Q: Burst Cannons are classified as Defensive Weapons. Do I need a Multitracker to fire my Devilfish Burst Cannon if I moved > 6"?
A: Yes, Devilfish cannot fire any weapons if they move more than 6" unless they purchase Multitrackers.
- Q: In 4th edition, passengers riding in a vehicle that is wrecked after moving >6" the previous turn have their failed to-wound rolls re-rolled as stated on p.68. This greatly increases the number of casualties our Firewarriors take in the event of a crash. Is it still wise to move >6" in order to have all penetrating hits count as glancing given the much greater damage that can result from a potential crash?
A: Yes, crashes are more damaging, but it's still almost always better to move > 6".
- Q: What is the fire arc for Devilfish/Hammerhead Bust Cannons and attached Drones?
A: Use the range of motion on the model. For Devilfish, this means the Burst Cannon has a 180 degree firing arc. For Hammerhead Burst Cannons and attached Drones, this means you can fire in a 360 degree arc.
- Q: Can the Devilfish Drones fire if I suffered a 'Crew Shaken' result the previous turn?
A: No, embarked passengers and vehicle weapons may not shoot. In an ironic twist, however, if you disembark the Drones during the movement phase, they may at that point shoot during the shooting phase. But if you leave them attached, they cannot shoot.
- Q: Can troops in a Devilfish disembark if the transport suffered a 'Crew Stunned' result the previous turn?
A: Yes. The description of 'Crew Stunned' on page 67 says the vehicle may not move or shoot and embarked passengers may not shoot from within the vehicle, but says nothing that prevents troops from disembarking and shooting. Also, note that in 4th edition Stunned vehicles do not scatter like they did in 3rd edition so you can move your troops 6" after disembarking and then shoot (or assault).
- Q: If I have drones attached to a Devilfish or Hammerhead and I move the vehicle and then detach the Drones, do the Drones get to move in the Assault phase on the turn they detach?
A: I have no idea. Drones disembarking are treated like passengers, and passengers cannot normally assault out of closed-topped transports (which includes our Devilfish). However, the rulebook often distinguishes between assaulting and moving in the assault phase. Furthermore, troops with jet-packs cannot move in the assault phase after deep striking in a similar fashion to how assault troops cannot assault after deep striking. These two facts seem to suggest that the Drones in fact cannot move in the assault phase after disembarking from a Devilfish, but in reality, there is no rule stated anywhere.
- Q: Can Ethereals deploy into a Devilfish?
A: Yes, as stated on p.81 of the rulebook.
- Q: Must I declare which Devilfish my Ethereal is being deployed into?
A: No, as stated on p.81 of the rulebook. However, be sure to write down which transport he is being deployed into so you can prove to your opponent after the game that you weren't playing any sort of "shell game".
- Q: If I bring a Monat Battlesuit with 2 attached drones and a drone dies from shooting, do I need to take a morale check for having taken 25% casualties?
A: Yes, lost drones count for the puposes of 25% casualty tests.
- Q: If I bring a Monat Battlesuit with 2 attached drones and the drones die, do I need to take man alone checks each turn?
A: Yes.
- Q: If I bring a Monat Battlesuit with 2 attached drones and the drones die, is my Battlesuit still a scoring unit?
A: Yes. As per the note on the bottom of page 85, you count the number of remaining wounds for determining whether a unit is above/below 50% strength.
- Q: If I bring a Monat Battlesuit with 2 attached drones and the drones die and the Battlesuit subsequently flees, can he rally?
A: Yes. As noted above, the unit is not considered to be below 50% strength and as such it can still rally.
- Q: Broadsides are classed as infantry and therefore can start on the table in games that use the Escalation special rule. Drones are classed as jump-infantry and must therefore start in reserve. Will a unit of Broadsides with attached drones begin on the table in games that use Escalation?
A: Yes, the unit is a 'Unit of Broadsides' which happens to have purchased drones as wargear. Since 'Units of Broadsides' begin on the table in games that use Escalation, any wargear drones brought with them will also begin on the table.
- Q: The Codex: Tau entry for Aun'shi says he carries Photon and EMP grenades. If Aun'shi elects to nominate one Firewarrior squad as his retinue, does he confer the benefits of the grenades to the entire squad? What if he begins the game as an IC and simply joins a Firewarrior squad?
A: No. The entries for EMP and Photon grenades specifically say that only models equipped with the grenades receive the benefits.
- Q: Since the Dawn Blade makes Commander Farsight count as a Monstrous Creature, does he always pass the leadership test required to target an enemy unit that is not the closeset?
A: No, the Codex states that the Dawn Blade makes Commander Farsight "count as a Monstrous Creature in hand to hand combat." Therefore he is not a Monstrous Creature when not in close combat.