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.

Hello,

As the Eldar FAQ says, Eldar can use their Star Engines (SE) to move additional '12 instead of shooting in the shooting phase. Then, the rules for Vehicles and Assault clarify that when measuring which speed vehicle moved, you only take the amount of inches it traveled from it's original position in it's last turn. As we do not have a glossary with gaming terms in book, am I right that turn means all the phases (moving, shooting and assault)?
Then, let's say eldar skimmer moves '7 in the movement phase, and then returns '7 back to it's "original position" using SE.
Which speed did it move? Did it move combat speed or cruising speed? Or did it not move at all, and infantry models will hit it automatically in assault? Does it count as move, or is it "pivoting on the spot and moving torwards then backwards"?

Did it move more than 12"? Yes.

RAW if you moved to the original location you would indeed be auto hit for the reason you stated. The speed is determined how far you moved from your starting location for the whole turn.

Ordo Dakka
It definitely did, but did it move more than '12 from it's original position?

BlueDagger
I thought as so, though even my table opponents, me being and Eldar player, think different, that that would be a combat/cruising speed, not sticking to one place, confusing me :/

Yeah it doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but you get that sometimes with a turn based game. I highly doubt you'd get called out on it if you talk with your opponent before the match. In a WAAC tournament you'd prob get played RAW though.

P63 Vehicles and Assaults "when assessing how far a vehicle has moved only take into account the actual distance covered from it's original position. Moving backwards and forwards or driving around in circles does not help."

This rule is in place specifically to avoid what the Eldar player in the example is trying to do.

Scott's got it down. The BRB has a specific rule saying that you can not due what you're trying to do. It's not open to interpretation, it says right there: moving around in circles, or driving backwards and forward does not help you when it comes to assault.

In fluff terms, this is because in assault, the infantry are hurling their grenades at the moving vehicle, and if it's moved very fast, it's hard for them to get a melta bomb to stick, or scramble ontop to drop a krak grenade into an engine port. Now imagine you're there on a battlefield, trying to hit them and an Eldar tank zips past your face. It's going to be hard to hit, no? However, if the tank is just zooming in a circle you can guess pretty accurately where' it's gonna be and aim appropriately.