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Take Blood Angels for example. The way I'm reading it, an HQ can purchase an Honor Guard squad. The independent character HQ choice can join and leave the squad as long as he his legally able to do so, thus not making the Honor Guard a retinue.

The same scenario goes for Lysander from vanilla marines. He is an IC, thus able to leave his command squad.

I say neither are a retinue, using Black Templars as an example which specifically states the HQ cannot leave. They say the title "Honor Guard" makes it a retinue.. Who's the right one here?

Per BGB (pg 48), Retinues are units that are fielded together with an IC. As long as the unit is alive, the IC is an upgrade character, not an IC. Once, the unit is destroyed, the IC reverts back to being an IC. If, the HQ can leave the unit, it is not a retinue.

Lolcanoe wrote:I say neither are a retinue, using Black Templars as an example which specifically states the HQ cannot leave. They say the title "Honor Guard" makes it a retinue.. Who's the right one here?

Whether or not the unit is a retinue is nothing to do with what it is called. It's purely down to whether or not the IC can choose to wander off and leave them to do their own thing.

If they form a single unit that the IC can't leave, they're a retinue.

The only retinues in the game are in the Black Templar and Tau books.

Not entirely true. Hive Tyrants can join Tyrant Guards as if they were a retinue. Once joined, they cannot leave the unit.

But the Hive Tyrant doesn't have to join the Tyrant Guard, whereas with a true retinue you don't have a choice.

Happyjew wrote:Not entirely true. Hive Tyrants can join Tyrant Guards as if they were a retinue. Once joined, they cannot leave the unit.

No, not at all correct. 1) It joins as if it were an IC, but it is not an IC. This means it does not meet the very first requirement to be a retinue 2) When the TG die he does not become an IC again, failing to meet the second part of the retinue rules.

Sorry my bad, I thought I remembered it saying it joins as a retinue, not an IC. Apologies to all.

Grey Knights also have a retinue, Grand Master Mordrak and his Ghost Knights. If you don't take any Ghost Knights then he is an IC, but the moment you take even one Ghost Knight they are a retinue and he cannot leave until they are all dead.

CrashCanuck wrote:Grey Knights also have a retinue, Grand Master Mordrak and his Ghost Knights. If you don't take any Ghost Knights then he is an IC, but the moment you take even one Ghost Knight they are a retinue and he cannot leave until they are all dead.

Mordrak never has the 'Independent Character' special rule.

Really? Could of sworn he did. Either way, the Ghost Knights are counted as his retinue.

NO NO NO

1) Mordrak is NEVER at any point EVER an IC.
2) If he is not an IC it CANNOT BE A RETINUE, as you fail ALL parts of the requirements for a retinue

Read the rules before making unfounded declarations.