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So after a lengthy game and victory at my FLGS, I had a very unhappy opponent who berated me the next day with his opinion on how Imperial Guard players at our store (and from what I gather almost everywhere else) are playing the Bodyguard's Look Out - Arghh! rule wrong. -Specifically if there are two Bodyguard.

Here's the scenario:
Say you have two Bodyguard, a Company Commander and One veteran left and the unit takes 9 wounds from Boltguns:
Wound allocation looks something like this:

Company Commander XX
Bodyguard XX
Bodyguard XX
Veteran XXX

Look Out - Arghh states: Whilst a Bodyguard is alive, each time the Command Squad is wounded by the enemy, up to two wounds allocated to the Company Commander are instead RESOLVED against the Bodyguard(s)

At first glance I assume the company commander would not take a single wound. I AM TOLD I AM WRONG for the following reasoning:
Because there are two models that are identical in gaming terms they must take their saving throws at the same time, in one batch - before rolling those that stand out in gaming terms (See pg 25 of the Rulebook). The bodyguard would therefore die before I could "resolve" the wounds allocated to the Company Commander against them.

My feelings have always been the bodyguards are alive when the squad is wounded, thus the wounds allocated to the commander can be resolved ie. re-allocated against them.
So the issue here really is: When are wounds technically "resolved"?


Interestingly enough and worth pointing out. This ruling would not have effected our game - I feel like this guy is just being a poor sport and trying to win some sort of moral victory in calling me a cheater.

I would have to agree... the wounds are resolved exactly when they normally would be, so would just be treated as extra wounds on the bodyguard/s.

You have no idea how nice it is to have someone agree. This guy is always at the store on 40k evenings and I would much rather not have him call me out during games. I've already decided I'm not playing with him ever again.

It looks like this would be an alteration to the normal way wounds would be allocated. Normally you would place one wound on each model first, then place a second wound on a model only after all models have one wound allocated on them. Allocation happens first then taking saves. This special rule moves those wounds allocated to the company commander over to the bodyguard, this is still allocation, once this is done, saves are then rolled for identical and then those that are different.

9 bolter shots (Normal Allocation):
Company Commander XX
Bodyguard XX
Bodyguard XX
Veteran XXX

9 bolter shots (after using "Look Out - Arghh!")
Company Commander
Bodyguard XXX
Bodyguard XXX
Veteran XXX

Here up to two wounds that were allocated to the company commander are now resolved against the bodyguard(s).
Let me know if this is how you all see this rule working.

It looks to me that your opponent wants to break the order of things and go wound allocation, saving throws, then go back to allocation, and then deny you the benefit of your special rule. Bottom line is ALL allocation is done first and then taking saving throws.

That is exactly how I see it working out.

Have to agree all allocation first, I run a bodyguard CCS w/ straken, it's saved him many a time!

merlin96 wrote:9 bolter shots (Normal Allocation):
Company Commander XX
Bodyguard XX
Bodyguard XX
Veteran XXX

9 bolter shots (after using "Look Out - Arghh!")
Company Commander
Bodyguards XXXXXX
Veteran XXX

Agreed with how this works, with a slight modification. You'd roll all six saves for the bodyguards together.

I agree, otherwise the Bodyguard rule is utterly meaningless. Your opponent was trying to cheat you. Possibly through his misunderstanding the rules, and possibly not.

I have to agree with the others wounds are allocated against the body guards first if they both die then wounds are allocated against the commander.

No, they are not "allocated" to the commander.

THe wounds are allocated evenly, initially
You are then allowed to break the allocation, by allocating 2 wounds on to the two bodyguards

You then pool wounds by identical models; the commander is not identical to the Bodyguards therefore he CANNOT be in the same group as the bodyguards

You roll saves (if any) and remove wounds from within the group, and wounds from one group CANNOT carry over onto anotehr group. For another example, if a SM Sarge takes 3 wound and fails 2, the second failed wound cannot affect anyone else - it is simply lost.

In other words: the guy was attempting to mke the bodyguard rule null and void. ALL the body guard rule does is to change the initial allocation of wounding hits. Everything after that is as normal.

Wow thanks for the clarification that is even better than i thought i usually play against my friends with the rules i mentioned before looks like my command squad will be even more effective.