Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Prolly a dumb question, but if a Zoanthrope fires his Warp lance against a GK with the Aegis special rule, does he take his psychic test at -1?

Yes.

Yes - why wouldn't he?

It's actually a more difficult issue than a simple "yes".

The underlying problem is that Aegis does nothing, as written. This is because a psyker takes a psychic test BEFORE choosing his target. So, at the time you're taking the test, you're not targeting a unit with Aegis, so you aren't effected by the -1 Ld.

Now, clearly, The Aegis is meant to do something. But, exactly how it works isn't clear. Many players insist that you have to declare the target before rolling your test. But, that isn't really fair, as then you loose the tactical decision of picking what to target after you determine which shots you'll get.

So, I think the best resolution is to roll your psychic test, pick your target, then go back and retroactively figure out if you passed. Yes, this means that if you roll your exact Ld (and therefor would fail if you targeted a unit with The Aegis), you can intentionally pick a unit without that special rule to target.

I'm curious, where exactly does it say you pick target after rolling for psychic tests?
AFAIK the only unit that must roll for psychic powers are Orks, and that's because they have a random psychic effect.

Happyjew wrote:I'm curious, where exactly does it say you pick target after rolling for psychic tests?
AFAIK the only unit that must roll for psychic powers are Orks, and that's because they have a random psychic effect.

p50 of the BGB says that in order to use a psychic power, you have to pass a psychic test. Choosing a target is part of the use of that power.

Grakmar wrote:

Happyjew wrote:I'm curious, where exactly does it say you pick target after rolling for psychic tests?
AFAIK the only unit that must roll for psychic powers are Orks, and that's because they have a random psychic effect.

p50 of the BGB says that in order to use a psychic power, you have to pass a psychic test. Choosing a target is part of the use of that power.

However, that very same page states: "...the psyker must be able to see his target unit, cannot be locked in combat, or must not have Run in the same Shooting phase if he wishes to use a psychic shooting attack." (emphasis mine). Here the PSA rules imply that you have to select a target before attempting to use the power (e.g. taking a psychic test), because if you want to use the power, you need to determine if the psyker can see his target. Note that it says "if he wishes to use" NOT "in order to successfully use," making it very clear that this process happens before the power has been attempted.

That would make the process for Warp Lance (a PSA) be: Declare the power, check shooting conditions (which requires a target), roll psychic test, resolve effects of power/perils.

Almost exactly like a regular shooting attack, hmmm....