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I know it's been done before, but INAT doesn't address it specifically and the search function here is... well. Yes.


So: when an IC leaves a unit, does he do so at his movement rate (i.e.., may he use JPs, Wings, Bike, etc..) or at the Squad's rate (if slower)?

Our group's thoughts:

Squad's Speed:
The IC is a member of the squad until coherency is broken at the END of the IC's move (p11/p48)

IC's Speed:
The IC leaves a squad by moving away during the movement phase, ending his move at least 2" away (i.e., he's moved as a separate unit when he breaks coherency).

The IC can move away and allow the unit being left to remain stationary (evidence of the two "units" moving at different speeds when coherency is being broken).

EDIT:
p29, Heavy Weapons, says that "if any models move, their whole unit counts as having moved for that turn...". If the IC is still part of the unit for movement purposes, this should preclude the unit from remaining stationary... but p48 tells us clearly that an IC joining/leaving a stationary unit does not effect their status.
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The question arose through discussion of Shrike infiltrating in with terminators. I know it's been discussed on dakka before, but couldn't find a thread or poll.

As noted, the IC is STILL a member of the unit until the end of the phase, and as such is bound by the "move at slowest speed" clause.

This also means any USRs lost, such as MTC, stay lost and cant be used. So Ghazghull moving away would only roll 2D6 for Slow and Purposeful instead of 3D6

Whether this is what was intended is not exactly clear...

Page 48 second column, second and third points...

The IC can use whatever movement rules it has to move away. He is no longer part of the unit if he is moving out of coherency, so he is not bound to the slowest move portion of the rules.

Example: IC walks 6" away from the unit he was a member of earlier. He is out of coherency, so immediately becomes his own unit again. "Oh Sweet! I forgot I had a jump pack, so I can keep moving."

Oh, great, it's this argument again.

It's impossible to move the Independent Character independent of the unit to which he was joined, and you don't check coherency until after the whole unit has finished moving. As a result, the independent character moves at the same rate for the entire move, and that rate is the slowest common speed of the unit.

I fully concur with Nos and Solkan

nosferatu1001 wrote:As noted, the IC is STILL a member of the unit until the end of the phase, and as such is bound by the "move at slowest speed" clause.

One thing to note, the book actually says he can join or leave during the phase not the end of the phase.

That brings about an interesting point, what if the unit moves away and the IC stays where he is? While it does say as long as the character is a part of the unit he must follow coherency rules he can also chose to leave the unit by moving out of coherency with them. Now granted he didn't move out of coherency, the squad did, is the end result the same, the character is no longer part of the squad? If he is no longer a part of the squad at that point, is he able to resume moving at his full speed?

Lone Dragon, your scenario doesn't work because it isn't possible to select the squad to move, or to select the IC to move. Instead, you have to select the whole unit (the squad an the IC combined) to move.

Lone Dragoon wrote:One thing to note, the book actually says he can join or leave during the phase not the end of the phase.

The point is that he isn't considered to have left the unit until you have checked coherency after the unit has moved.

That brings about an interesting point, what if the unit moves away and the IC stays where he is? While it does say as long as the character is a part of the unit he must follow coherency rules he can also chose to leave the unit by moving out of coherency with them. Now granted he didn't move out of coherency, the squad did, is the end result the same, the character is no longer part of the squad? If he is no longer a part of the squad at that point, is he able to resume moving at his full speed?

It doesn't really matter who moves first, so long as the IC moves. The IC leaves the unit by moving away from it. Whether you move the unit and then move the IC in a different direction, or move the IC and then move the unit elsewhere, the end result is the same. And either way, at the point at which you perform the unit's movement the IC is still a part of the unit and so still bound by the unit's movement.

How do people feel about the rest of the unit moving away and the IC just staying put.

The IC hasnt moved, so cant join away - he has to stay in coherency with the unit, as per the normal movement rules.

Yup, the rules require the IC to move away from the unit. So whether you move the unit or the IC first, you would technically have to move him in order for him to leave. Which means if you move the unit first, the IC has to move... either to stay in coherency with the unit, or to go in a different direction to leave them.


Having said that, it's not uncommon for players to go with the 'so long as the IC is more than 2" away at the end of the phase, he counts as having left' option, particularly since it matches better the slightly disjointed joining rules... which [i]also[i/] technically require the IC to move to join the unit, but also allow it to happen simply by the IC winding up within 2" at the end of the phase.