Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

The Chapter Master in the SM Codex has the ability to call in an orbital bombardment. In the description of the ability it says that he can do this as long as he has not moved in the movement phase. 2 questions.

Can he use this ability when he is in reserve?

Can he use this ability on the turn that he deep strikes if arriving from a pod, jum pack or teleporting?

I think it reads he has to have LOS so if he is not on the tabe he can't.

1. Interesting. I say no, models not on table typically have no effect (ref: psychic Hood not being usable if not on table, psychic powers not being possible, etc.)

2. No. They count as moving when deepstriking.

Lemartes wrote:I think it reads he has to have LOS so if he is not on the tabe he can't.

No, it does not, as it has the "Barrage" special rule.

1. I would say they could not, just as a vehicle/unit in Reserve cannot fire if not on the table (unless in transport of course ,there's rules for that). There are very few circumstances where mdoels not on the table can do anything at all and those circumstances are stated in their rules.

2. No, Deepstrike counts as moving.

I am at work so that makes sense. You have to give up movement/shooting to use it tho' and if your off the board your not giving up anything.

Also, claiming that he can use his special ability while off table, is like saying a basilisk with the barrage upgrade can shoot you while its in reserve too.

Yea, no abilities/powers/shooting/or anything else if the model is not in play.

Unless, of course, the rules specify that the ability can be used while off-table (IG Improved Comms for example).

I know this doesn't pertain to the original question but say he is in a transport can he call in the bombardment from a fire point? I would figure he could as long as the transport hadn't moved.

Yes Emrab he could call in the bombardment from a fire point, it's important that you remember that he requires a fire point though. Alot of people seemed to think that he should be able to do this from a land raider last time the issue came up.

Thanks.

Does the attack have a weapon profile like a shooting attack. If so then i would say no, If he is not on the field then he could not use it. Besides most thing clearly say "weather he in play or not" Lictors for Nids say this as does the Eldar Autarch. I cant think of an attack though that says anything like that. If anyone can set presidence that would help.

Emrab wrote:Thanks.

Just remember a Land Raider doesn't have a fire point

Can a chapter master call on an orbital strike if he deep strikes but is in Terminator Armor?

No, the rules explicitly state that he cannot use it if he moves, terminator armour(relentless) only says that the model can use rapid fire or heavy weapons as though it was stationary, not all weapons, and so does not override the requirements of the orbital bombardment.

Yeah I must say it's the only downside to the LR but then again if it did have a firepoint then it would be a tad overpowered.

I agree he must be on the table, in a transport that is on the table and did not move counts. If the Orbital Bombardment is Barrage, why does he need line of sight? The rules for Barrage say they do not need LOS, page 32.

Homer

(I dont have the new SM codex on me or rule book) I take it that his attack is just like the IG Bassalic attacking so he shouldnt need line of sight, however if he were in a transport he would still need a firepoint.

Emrab wrote:(I dont have the new SM codex on me or rule book) I take it that his attack is just like the IG Bassalic attacking so he shouldnt need line of sight, however if he were in a transport he would still need a firepoint.

Spot on, despite barrage attacks not needing LOS he is effectively firing a mortar, and you certainly wouldn't do that inside a tank that didn't have a firing port for it.

Drunkspleen wrote:

Emrab wrote:(I dont have the new SM codex on me or rule book) I take it that his attack is just like the IG Bassalic attacking so he shouldnt need line of sight, however if he were in a transport he would still need a firepoint.

Spot on, despite barrage attacks not needing LOS he is effectively firing a mortar, and you certainly wouldn't do that inside a tank that didn't have a firing port for it.

Except that he isn't shooting anything. The ordnance is coming from space, hence the term Orbital Bombardment. The rules I think apply are that he must not move, so the transport can't either, and the shot scatters 2D6 due the rule itself and no LOS from the Barrage designation. What am I missing O RAW gods/daemons?

Homer

You are missing that fluff are not rules.
It's a man portable one shot ordnance barrage weapon which can never used if you moved in the movement phase and counts as BS 0.

You can't fire any shooting weapon out of a vehicle with no Fire points, regardless if you need LOS or not.

This

Webbe wrote:It's a man portable one shot ordnance barrage weapon [... snip]

is you making up fluff to fit the rule, the thing you claim I was doing, in reverse.

Webbe wrote:You can't fire any shooting weapon out of a vehicle with no Fire points, regardless if you need LOS or not.

This part I think is the strongest for needing a firing port. Just seems silly that he can't get on the phone without having the sunroof open.

Homer

Homer please re-read the rules for the chapter master orbital bombardment carefully before making any point on a rules discussion board

"This ability can be used once per game in his Shooting phase, providing that the Chapter Master did not move in the preceding Movement phase... Calling down an orbital bombardment otherwhise counts as firing a ranged weapon"

If you are firing a ranged weapon, you need a firing point.

Homer S wrote:What am I missing O RAW gods/daemons?

Homer

That the rule itself specifically says he can't move and is used just like a shooting attack.

foil7102 wrote:Homer please re-read the rules for the chapter master orbital bombardment carefully before making any point on a rules discussion board

"This ability can be used once per game in his Shooting phase, providing that the Chapter Master did not move in the preceding Movement phase... Calling down an orbital bombardment otherwhise counts as firing a ranged weapon"

If you are firing a ranged weapon, you need a firing point.

sourclams wrote:

Homer S wrote:What am I missing O RAW gods/daemons?

Homer

That the rule itself specifically says he can't move and is used just like a shooting attack.

Thank you both... I did read the rule and agreed with the outcome... like 2 hours ago!

My only remaining point is that it is silly that he can't do it while in a Land Raider because he needs the top open. Must be cheap satellite cell service.

Homer

Homer S wrote:

My only remaining point is that it is silly that he can't do it while in a Land Raider because he needs the top open. Must be cheap satellite cell service.

Homer

Fluffwise i would imagine he has to tag the target with some kind of device (hence the needing los) like a laser target painter that transmits the exact location of the target to the bombardeers

ok also going with the fluff of calling in the attack via cell phone you can lose signal in an elevator or a tunnel so there for he could lose signal in a LR.

Being able to broadcast any personal portable device from within the plasteel & adamantium enforced hull of the mighy land raider is beyond plausible, even for the brillaint Adeptus Mechanicus..

Indeed, being able to pinpoint the foe (or target building) is required to ortheruise the full force of a lance-strike battery and only a vertern commander warrants such authortiy. Basically he needs to point.

To reiterate what I'm sure others have said, since the orbital bombardment "otherwise counts as firing a ranged weapon," it cannot be fired out of a land raider (no firing points, thus models inside can't fire), and can't be fired if the model is in reserves (models in reserves are not yet in the game, so can't fire).