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I was playing a BT player the other day, and he had a chaplain with a powerfist attached to a large crusader squad. I assaulted the unit with a wraithlord, and set up my own units so that he could only get into B2B with 4 of his guys when he did his reaction move. When he wanted to react his chaplain into the wraithlord, I told him that he could not do it, because his chaplain couldn't move through the bases of friendly models. The rulebook tells us that ICs are required to react first though, and many people seem to ignore one of the most basic movement rules when it comes to reaction moves (all models are impassible terrain).

So, how do you play it?

Nice wording on the poll.

It would really depend on the exact circumstance: if he's able to get the Chaplain into BtB by moving around models, then it's fine. If not, then bad luck.

No way to get around that one it seems. I voted no since I guess I like to play by the rules if I can help it.

The rules do say that the IC moves into BtB first 'if at all possible'

Having the path to the enemy blocked with friendly models would put him into the 'not possible' column. Picture him jostling against the squad members screaming 'Lemme at 'im! Lemme at 'im!' if it makes you feel better.

Although in the spirit of things, I'm inclined to move the IC as soon as possible if he can't go first.

Heh, I love the Oh so Subtle bias on the Poll.

In any case, I play by the rules.

Gwar! wrote:Heh, I love the Oh so Subtle bias on the Poll.

In any case, I play by the rules.

Not everybody sees playing by the rules as an inherently positive thing.

In fact, from the same game, we nominated two terrain pieces as AV12 buildings. He asked what cover save the buildings would give to embarked models. I replied that buildings act as transport vehicles in lieu of giving cover saves. He replied that he liked to arbitrarily change rules just for the hell of it.

I did not vote because you did not have the option of 'I follow the rules and make sure my IC's lead from the front". The rules are specific that you have to move the IC first, in a reaction move, then the unit. It is also specified that they have to be in B2B contact to be able to attack, there are no other options. If there is a pile-in move after the combat once again the IC has to move first, so if there was going to be a second assault round, he should have made sure to make a path if he sustained casulties.

Maxus wrote:I did not vote because you did not have the option of 'I follow the rules and make sure my IC's lead from the front". The rules are specific that you have to move the IC first, in a reaction move, then the unit. It is also specified that they have to be in B2B contact to be able to attack, there are no other options. If there is a pile-in move after the combat once again the IC has to move first, so if there was going to be a second assault round, he should have made sure to make a path if he sustained casulties.

So you think that a player is forced to maintain a path between the edge of a unit an an IC in a unit at all times?

willydstyle wrote:

Maxus wrote:I did not vote because you did not have the option of 'I follow the rules and make sure my IC's lead from the front". The rules are specific that you have to move the IC first, in a reaction move, then the unit. It is also specified that they have to be in B2B contact to be able to attack, there are no other options. If there is a pile-in move after the combat once again the IC has to move first, so if there was going to be a second assault round, he should have made sure to make a path if he sustained casulties.

So you think that a player is forced to maintain a path between the edge of a unit an an IC in a unit at all times?

Its all model placement and being reacted to, you must move the IC first you cannot argue that, if the don't get in B2B they don't get to attack. After resolving the combat round, if there is a pile-in move, the IC again must move first. what i'm saying is knowing this, that any casualties taken I would think about removing them so that when I was able to pile in, i would have room to move the IC to get into B2B with the enemy.

I think it would be smarter if you kept your IC's on the edge of a unit so that you can have more options with them in the flow of a game. I would not put them in the middle of a unit. Unless it was unavoidable (such as an ork warphead teleporting his squad, he deep strikes first then you put the unit around him) or someone you don't want to get into an assault with (again like an ork warphead)

But that's tactics. Though tactics are created by the rules, if you fail to take advantage of the rules then it effects your tactics. The player in question did attempt to move his IC into B2B first, but because he could not move through friendly bases the IC couldn't make it.

Maxus wrote:Its all model placement and being reacted to, you must move the IC first you cannot argue that,

You must move the IC first if possible.

The 'if possible' in the rule allows you to not move the IC first if he can't actually move.

insaniak wrote:

Maxus wrote:Its all model placement and being reacted to, you must move the IC first you cannot argue that,

You must move the IC first if possible.

The 'if possible' in the rule allows you to not move the IC first if he can't actually move.

That is correct, that is my mistake, if it is possible to move your IC first you must. It sounds like in the above happening, the chaplain was able to move first, and did, but did not make it into b2b contact and was unable to attack the wraithlord.

Then, if your IC was surrounded, for example a SM librairan or Ork Warphead who teleported a squad (i.e deep strike), if they were assaulted, the IC must move first is possible, he cannot so he does not move first. So then you might be able to make a hole, if possible, following the rules by getting into the b2b with the closest enemy model not already in b2b contact. This sound correct?

Maxus wrote: So then you might be able to make a hole, if possible, following the rules by getting into the b2b with the closest enemy model not already in b2b contact.

It doesn't actually have to be the closest enemy model.

insaniak wrote:

Maxus wrote: So then you might be able to make a hole, if possible, following the rules by getting into the b2b with the closest enemy model not already in b2b contact.

It doesn't actually have to be the closest enemy model.

My bad, I'm usually playing horde armies where i'm overwhelming my opponents just trying to make sure I get everything within 2" of a fighting model, as long as that happens, its gravy.