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Per the GW Rulebook FAQ:

Q: How do Independent Characters that have joined a
squad effect working out if a squad is below half
strength or not? (p48)

A: Independent Characters are not counted when
working out if a squad is below half strength or not.
The exception to this is if an Independent Character is
with a Retinue (in which case he is counted when
working out if the squad is below half strength).


A couple of questions:
1) What about working out whether or not the unit with a joined IC have taken 25% casualties in a phase?

My line of thinking is that since the the FAQ states that the IC does not count when working out if a squad is below half strength, then the IC most likely does not count when working out if a unit has taken 25% casualties.

2) What about an IC that has accompanying models (a Tau Commander with 2 drones joins a unit of 3 crisis suits. I don't think drones are considered a retinue). They then loses both of the drones in a single phase. What happens regarding morale checks?

Keep two things in mind. If you agree with me on the first question, then the IC does not count when determining if a unit has suffered 25% casualties. Add to that the fact that the IC is bringing the drones, not the crisis unit. What happens? Do the drones count? Are they ignored for the 25% calculation?

Thoughts?

It's stated in the Tau Codex that Drones are counted, so in this example, yeah, the drones count.

Otherwise, I totally agree.

Ok so think about this. Tau Commander (IC) with 2 Drones joins a single Crisis suit. That makes the unit 4 models strong, but the IC does not count so effectively 3 models for morale purposes. The 2 drones that came with the IC are lost and that triggers 25% casualties morale check which is failed. The unit then falls back and can never regroup because the IC does not count. This scenario, while it does seem to agree with RAW, seems very off to me.

They only dont count for 50% strenght, they DO count for everything else.

Thank you for your input nosferatu. Would you mind sharing with me how you come by that determination?

Because page 48 and 49 states the IC is a "normal member' of the unit, and the FAQ only states one exception to the normal %age rules - when looking to rally. So a unit of 5 guys, including the IC, has not lost 25% of the unit if one guy dies.

Copy that. Thanks again.