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An interesting situation came up during the game today.

A tactical sqaud squad is under fire from a squad of sternguard. Tactical squad elects to go to ground getting a 3+ cover from some ruins. Takes causualties and elects to auto fall back. Squad auto rallies as no enemies are within 6 inches.

Does that squad behave normally in the following turn? IE 3 inch reform, and shooting.

Assuming you can even use Combat Tactics in the first place (since you can't do anything voluntarily while you've gone to ground) then yes, the squad would behave normally once they start to fall back.

In the Going To Ground box it says the unit reacts normally to enemy units, specifically mentioning Morale Checks. Combat Tactics say that they can elect to fail Morale Checks. You should be allowed to use Combat Tactics in this case. As well, the box also states that the unit will return to normal once it commences falling back, so yes it's exactly as if they fall back normally.

1) You can use CT just fine
2) If you fall back, you are no longer pinned
3) The SM autorally, assuming no enemy within 6", and can make a 3" consolidation move
4) Due to ATSKNF they can ALSO now move normally, or elect not to move and count as not moving for the purposes of shooting

Nos, you don't think using Combat Tactics runs up against Going to Ground's prohibition on any voluntary action?

p.24 wrote:While it has gone to ground the unit may do nothing of its own volition, but will react normally if affected by enemy actions (for example, it will take Morale tests as normal).

Electing to use CT to auto-fail the test is a voluntary action. An optional choice. And GtG specifically says the unit "may do nothing of its own volition".

They will take the morale tests as normal; CT is a normal reaction to taking a morale test

Falling back is a normal reaction to a Morale test.

Automatically choosing to fail a Morale test is a voluntary and optional use of a Special Rule.

Mannahnin wrote:Nos, you don't think using Combat Tactics runs up against Going to Ground's prohibition on any voluntary action?

p.24 wrote:While it has gone to ground the unit may do nothing of its own volition, but will react normally if affected by enemy actions (for example, it will take Morale tests as normal).

Electing to use CT to auto-fail the test is a voluntary action. An optional choice. And GtG specifically says the unit "may do nothing of its own volition".

But to follow your point of view, it boils down to the old BRB vs Codex rule? The SM Codex says they can elect to fail any Morale Check they are required to make. That trumps the BRB GtG restrictions I believe.

It does not, can't trumps may. Codices never trump any restriction given by the BRB unless the explicitly say so or are in direct contradiction to the BRB. Neither is the case here.

A) Can't trumps may, or even must.
B) It's not "codex trumps rulebook". The actual hierarchy is "specific trumps general". USUALLY a codex rule is more specific, but not always.

In the case of SM, CT, and GtG, we have three increasingly-specific circumstances.

1. All Morale tests.
2. All Morale tests taken by units with the CT rule.
3. All Morale tests taken by units with the CT rule who happen to have Gone to Ground this turn.

This is one of those things that can probably go either way. Units that have gone to ground will still take morale tests as normal. Whether or not that means Space Marines can then use Combat Tactics to automatically fail that test seems like a bit of a coin flip. If the situation does come up, it might be better to simply work it out between you and your opponent.