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" The unit counts as being in cover and so will recieve a 5+ cover save and will strike first in the first round of close combat if they are charged."

I have an opponent who claims that since he does not have to take a difficult terrain test that the Wolves do not strike first. RAW I'm not seeing it....if the line said and counts as being in cover for assault purposes, I'd think he had half a leg to stand on.

But there is no line. It says "and will strike first...."

So for the next 3-4 months, whats the right way to play this power?

Furthermore, the claim is being made that grenades negate the will strike first part of the power. Again, the power description does not say they go first due to being in cover.

So what's the consensus here?

Far as I can tell the striking first is connected to the cover - remember that this power was made for 3rd edition.

edit: in any case grenades do nothing for an attacker if there's no DT test that reduces their I value.

The Wolves will strike first in combat (if they are charged). Grenades will do nothing to that.

The power says that the wolves will strike first. Cover or grenades have nothing to do with it. Just another small advantage of going from an old codex to new rules.

Jayden63 wrote:The power says that the wolves will strike first. Cover or grenades have nothing to do with it. Just another small advantage of going from an old codex to new rules.

I disagree.

The quote again says:

"The unit counts as being in cover and so will receive a 5+ cover save and will strike first in the first round of close combat if they are charged."


The colored text clearly indicates that the reason the unit is getting any of these bonuses is because they count as being in cover, and cover in the previous editions provided these bonuses.


This is where you get a complete disconnect between legacy wording not matching up with existing rules.


We all agree that if it just said: "The unit gets receives a 5+ cover save and will strike first in the first round of close combat if they are charged", then this wording would work fine with the existing rules.


But when it indicates that a bonus is given because of a rule that has since changed we have a genuine issue. Its similar to if a vehicle (that was created in 3rd/4th edition) had a rule that said: "The vehicle can move more than 12" and if it does so it counts as a skimmer moving fast and will therefore treat all penetrating hits as glancing hits."


The benefit is only granted because of the rule which is now gone.


IMO, there is no clear RAW and any decision you come to should be agreed upon between your opponent and you before the game.

The point of contention in Storm Caller is "This unit counts as being in cover for rules purposes and so will receive a 5+ cover save and will strike first in close combat until the end of the following enemy turn. Units that are protected in this way may assault and, if they do so and the enemy are also in cover, attacks are resolved in order of initiative."

Option #1: The ability is based on a mechanic which no longer works that way, just like if the rule required an assaulting model to make a target priority test.

Option #2: Treat it just like it said "The unit is made of tapioca pudding and so ..." In other words, ignore the fact that the premise is absurd and use the conclusions.

Personally, I prefer hiding my head in the sand until the end of the year when the new codex will be out, hopefully.

Well considering grenades only work if a DT test is taken, the opposing player cannot get around the bonus of the squad being in cover. Itll work just like the power states unless they are hit with a ability that says otherwise.

Models equipped with grenades don't suffer the penalty for assaulting enemies through cover, but fight as normal.

So, the initiative penalty comes from moving through cover ( as shown by the difficult terrain test).

No DT test, then that means you are not moving through cover, so no grenades apply.

So....then, if the SC power puts the unit into cover, but no DT test is taken to assault them, is the part of them going first abandoned? Or do we go RAW and say they strike first?

General Hobbs wrote:

Models equipped with grenades don't suffer the penalty for assaulting enemies through cover, but fight as normal.

So, the initiative penalty comes from moving through cover ( as shown by the difficult terrain test).

No DT test, then that means you are not moving through cover, so no grenades apply.

So....then, if the SC power puts the unit into cover, but no DT test is taken to assault them, is the part of them going first abandoned? Or do we go RAW and say they strike first?

raw

Indeed, remember that the Storm Caller power was written when assaulting through cover let the opponents strike First, rather than the assaulting unit striking last as it is now.

However, Legacy Codex trumps Rulebook, so until the new Codex comes out, Wolves with Storm Caller on them will always strike first, regardless of grenades.