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Does being in cover allow you to strike first even using the Hand of the Emperor? Or does the faith power override the initiative bonus granted by the cover? I've always played that if I use the HOTE faith power, my units will strike at I1, no matter what. However, I've recently been challenged by someone who believed models in cover would still get I10 and have been questioning my interperation.What do you guys think?

The rules are contradictory. The power tells you to fight at I1, while the cover rules tell you to strike at I10.

You should probably roll a D6.


If you want to include "intent", the cover rules do say that models ". . .normally fight in close combat with an initiative value of 10."

One could conclude that "normally" means, without any abnormal sort of bonuses or modifiers (like what you get for using 'Hand of the Emperor', for example).

If that kind of argument sounds good to you, run with it; if not roll a D6.


P.S. before anyone brings up the powerfist, it does specifically say in the PFist rules that the PFist I1 overrules the cover bonus.

pg 39 Fighting in Close Combat: Cover: "...normally fight in close combat with an initiative of 10." - emphasis mine

Cover does not always grant I10. It normally does unless superceded by some other rule, which is probably the case here.

What is the exact wording of "Hot E"? (get it, hottie??!!?!?!)

 

EDIT: Dang it, foiled again....

The rule says "Make the Test of Faith before rolling to hit. Each model in the unit adds +2 to its strength, but will strike at Initiative 1.". I've basically been using the "normally they get I10 but HOTE is abnormal" argument, but I can see where the opposition is coming from, especially when they compare it to the Power Fist that specifically defines how the weapon interacts with cover.

"...but will strike at Initiative 1" sounds pretty definitive to me.

More importantly, you can follow both rules without breaking either.
Put the two rules together and you get a logical statement which does not contradict itself, "...normally fight in close combat with an initiative of 10, but will strike at Initiative 1".

This one seems pretty clear that they will strike at I1 as put together by blue loki.