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The Tyranid Venomthrope emits a cloud of toxic spores by which all friendly units within six inches gain a 5+ cover save and other benefits.

RAW from Tyranid Codex p.45
"The venomthrope Unit and any friendly units within 6" of the unit, can claim a 5+ cover save against any shooting attacks. In addition, these units count as being armed with defensive grenades and any non-vehicle enemy model that assaults one of these units must take a dangerous terrain test ... "

How is it decided if a friendly unit is "within 6 inches" ?

1. By measuring from the base of the Venomthrope to the base of the nearest model in the friendly unit? If the friendly model's base is touching the spore cloud, the unit gets the benefits.

or,

2. Counting similar to area terrain, so that 50% or more of the friendly unit's models have to be at least partly within the cloud for the whole unit to benefit? The Venomthrope's base is 40mm diameter. The spore cloud is measured from the edge of the base, so it will cover a circle of 344.8mm = 13.57 inches diameter.

or something else I haven't thought of.


Although I have a Venomthrope model, I have not played with it yet, so I don't know what people's opinion is.

I think it's the first option. I never even considered any other definition of 'within 6"' other than having a model 6" or less away.

It's the first option. Page 3, Measuring Distances.

Kilkrazy wrote:The Tyranid Venomthrope emits a cloud of toxic spores by which all friendly units within six inches gain a 5+ cover save and other benefits.

RAW from Tyranid Codex p.45
"The venomthrope Unit and any friendly units within 6" of the unit, can claim a 5+ cover save against any shooting attacks. In addition, these units count as being armed with defensive grenades and any non-vehicle enemy model that assaults one of these units must take a dangerous terrain test ... "

How is it decided if a friendly unit is "within 6 inches" ?

1. By measuring from the base of the Venomthrope to the base of the nearest model in the friendly unit? If the friendly model's base is touching the spore cloud, the unit gets the benefits.

or,

2. Counting similar to area terrain, so that 50% or more of the friendly unit's models have to be at least partly within the cloud for the whole unit to benefit? The Venomthrope's base is 40mm diameter. The spore cloud is measured from the edge of the base, so it will cover a circle of 344.8mm = 13.57 inches diameter.

or something else I haven't thought of.


Although I have a Venomthrope model, I have not played with it yet, so I don't know what people's opinion is.

It is most certainly the 1st option, and it is the first option for everything from the KFF, to Shield of Edward the Sparkly Pretty Vampire to Storm Caller.

My opinion was that the first option was correct, however as a Tyranid player I felt it somewhat dubious to make that assumption without independent corroboration.