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Can the Avatar pop his gaze then make a run move?

In general can abilities be uses before a move?

Sadly yes. Gaze is not an action, attack, spell or feat (things that cannot be done when running). It simply spends a point of focus to do it.

In general, the four things listed above cannot be done at all in an activation in which something runs and your activation ends after you're done running.

EDIT: pg. 46 under the run section if you're interested

It is similar to Tartarus' Curse then?

Thought that was the case, but I don't play PoM, so I wasn't sure if it was an ability or a *.

So anything that doesnt have *attack or *action can be done at any time during an activation?

Another unrelated question .. Warwitch Sirens: You have to roll under the magic ability of 7 to use venom correct? after that do you use RAT or the magic ability +2d6 to hit?

To use a magic ability:

choose Target. Roll 2d6, add magic ability. Compare to target's Def+modifiers.

Skill checks, such as a mechanic, are a 2d6 roll that must be under the value given.

So what are some examples of things that require skill checks?

All I can think of is Mechanics, and Cygnar Stormsmiths used to be for their lightning, but that may have changed.

Clay Williams wrote:So anything that doesnt have *attack or *action can be done at any time during an activation?

Another unrelated question .. Warwitch Sirens: You have to roll under the magic ability of 7 to use venom correct? after that do you use RAT or the magic ability +2d6 to hit?

I've seen this a few times. The magic ability of a model only matters for offensive spell casting i.e. spells targeted against enemy models/units. If you're using a non-offensive spell, just declare it and it happens. Magic abilities usually require an action to use, so unless the model is your caster it likely cannot cast and attack. Offensive spell casting is magic ability + 2D6 against the targets DEF like a ranged attack (except that magic can't get the aiming bonus and can be used while engaged).

So far repair is the only thing I've seen that requires a skill check.

The Necrotech also needs to make a check to create Scrap Thralls, and the Storm Caller still needs to make one to zap stuff.

The avatar can really screw with your opponents army, getting in range of light infantry and using his gaze makes moving very difficult for your opponent. Most infantry really struggles to take him out without charging, but watch out for the ones that can.

I watched him against cygnar and get in range of some gun mages along with 2 defenders and choirs saying "no you can't shoot me! .... I thought that was pretty nasty.

Is it me or is that spell that makes a jack the center for a 2 inch fire explosion really powerful?

Actually the Gun Mages would be able to shoot it, they have magical ranged attacks. They're just PoW 10 and even with crit brutal would average less than a point. In general though, Safe Passage is one of the reasons why Lady Aiyana makes an appearance in any ranged list.

Seems like a good spell, but some jacks can just do it on their own like the Retribution's Pheonix and Menoth's Castigator. Setting everything in a radius on fire is always good and probably one of the fastest way to drop non-fire-immune infantry.

I thought it already had the ability to not be targeted by magic attacks?

Clay Williams wrote:I thought it already had the ability to not be targeted by magic attacks?

It cannot be targeted by spells. And the Choir singing passage says that he can't be targeted by non-magical raged attacks.

The ATGM have magical ranged attacks, so they can target the Avatar just fine.

Ah ok, still new so these overlaps can get confusing.

A run and gaze Avatar will quickly outpace its choir.

I play Menoth and find that the units work well only when screened well or if you keep on the offensive. zealots help for this. If facing khador this is fine, but against a fast opponent you have to watch in case your support units dont get taken out from the flanks. Once a Menoth army runs out of protective magicks it is a whole lot less scary.

Orlanth wrote:A run and gaze Avatar will quickly outpace its choir.

I play Menoth and find that the units work well only when screened well or if you keep on the offensive. zealots help for this. If facing khador this is fine, but against a fast opponent you have to watch in case your support units dont get taken out from the flanks. Once a Menoth army runs out of protective magicks it is a whole lot less scary.

Its built in spell protection, high MAT and POW mean that it's okay to outpace the choir. Just
make sure it's part of your plan when it happens.

Also something to keep in mind, many players will use gunmages to just push stuff around. carefull positioning of just one or two models can make sure your model doesn't go anywhere when pushed.

When an ability says 'At any point during this models activation,blah ha ha blah dah etc'

Generally means you can Run and do it, or Do it and run.

Some examples are Rhuperts singing, Avatar Gaze and Greygore Boomhowler's fellcalls

You can do it then run but not the other way around.

George Spiggott wrote:You can do it then run but not the other way around.

This. Running causes your activation to immediately end, so no using Gaze, Plans, Chants, Songs, etc. afterwards.

Riling a warbeast works this way, too.

You can rile and then run, but not run then rile.