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I realise this has been an issue of debate for some time before, and I have looked around and got conflicting answers. However I'd like some opinions on peoples interpretation of the drop pod rules in terms of what I don't understand so I can get a bit of a clearer picture.

I've played a few games now with 3 drop pods in my 2000pt list, and they're good... VERY good... Almost TOO good. As a result I've been looking over the rules: 5th edition, I still haven't got the new book 6th ed book, and I don't know if they've changed drop pods. 5th edition is still being played in my gaming group... for now.

The things that have me thinking are things like footprint and disembarking.

I understand that when the drop pod arrives it basically has to land on clear ground not within 1 inch of impassible terrain or a model. I assume this is just the hull, and then the doors open, and that's where I get confused... What happens to a model that would be trapped under a door? Would it move out of the way the minimum distance? Would it move to be 1inch away from the doors? Does the drop pod have to move to avoid it if it's infantry/vehicle? Do some doors just not open if they're blocked?

The next thing is what happens to the troops or dreadnought inside. With a normal drop pod it seems fairly simple, they can stand (maybe one model will fit) on the harness area with the troop version, and the rest can stand anywhere within 2 inches of the hull in unit coherency. But what about the dreadnought? Can that stand inside the pod like you see in the forgeworld dreadnought drop pod on their site, or does it have to move to be beside the pod's hull?

Finally with disembarking, I assume it's like any transport where they cant disembark unless all models are more than 1 inch away from all enemy models...?

I realise this is just going to be peoples interpretation of the rules but isn't it always?

Thanks

The doors are not part of the vehicle so they are ignored for game purposes. In other word you cannot measure disembarking distance from the doors, is has to be from the base. For model purposes you can just move the model that would be under the doors on top of them because the just don't exist.

When disembarking you MUST deploy you models out side of the vehicle. If you are keeping the models in the "harness" area, then they are still on the model, same as if you tried to disembark a space marine on top of a (non-wrecked) rhino. The models must be within two inches of the hull without being in the vehicle.

With the last bit, you must disembark from the vehicle. If you happen to have one or more people too close to an enemy, then they just are removed as a casualty.

Where does it say the doors do not count for game purposes? They are not decorative or anything so what makes them ignored?

Nothing (IIRC) has changed from 5e to 6e in regards to Drop Pods, except the range of disembarkation is bigger.

All your points are correct as well as what Hellstorm stated.

Captain Antivas wrote:Where does it say the doors do not count for game purposes? They are not decorative or anything so what makes them ignored?

Why do you say they aren't decorative? Is the rear door of a rhino/chimera modeled in the open position not decorative? Are the side doors of a landraider in the down position not decorative? I don't think you will find anyone who thinks they are part of the hull, or are people using them to get another 1" of disembarking space?

Drop pod doors are the same way. The easiest mechanic to just ignore them and treat them as decorative.

ChickenMacNugget wrote:I understand that when the drop pod arrives it basically has to land on clear ground not within 1 inch of impassible terrain or a model. I assume this is just the hull, and then the doors open, and that's where I get confused... What happens to a model that would be trapped under a door? Would it move out of the way the minimum distance? Would it move to be 1inch away from the doors? Does the drop pod have to move to avoid it if it's infantry/vehicle? Do some doors just not open if they're blocked?

I've never heard of the "not within one inch of impassable terrain" bit, though I agree about the enemy models part.

Also consider, you can glue the doors shut if you wanted to so they don't have to open. I personally just don't open the doors that don't have room to open.

Hellstorm wrote:When disembarking you MUST deploy you models out side of the vehicle. If you are keeping the models in the "harness" area, then they are still on the model, same as if you tried to disembark a space marine on top of a (non-wrecked) rhino. The models must be within two inches of the hull without being in the vehicle.

I would argue about that, except you disembark 6" so its no longer a real consideration to me. I've seen TO's allow it before in 5th, but again its not really an issue with a 6" disembark range.

Jayden63 wrote:

Captain Antivas wrote:Where does it say the doors do not count for game purposes? They are not decorative or anything so what makes them ignored?

Why do you say they aren't decorative? Is the rear door of a rhino/chimera modeled in the open position not decorative? Are the side doors of a landraider in the down position not decorative? I don't think you will find anyone who thinks they are part of the hull, or are people using them to get another 1" of disembarking space?

Drop pod doors are the same way. The easiest mechanic to just ignore them and treat them as decorative.

I'd also add that if the doors were part of the hull, it would just be ridiculous. i use Drop Pods a lot, and if I could disembark 6" from the tip of a door I'd have to admit Drop Pods were game breaking. That's just too much room to do what you want with.

Jayden63 wrote:

Captain Antivas wrote:Where does it say the doors do not count for game purposes? They are not decorative or anything so what makes them ignored?

Why do you say they aren't decorative? Is the rear door of a rhino/chimera modeled in the open position not decorative? Are the side doors of a landraider in the down position not decorative? I don't think you will find anyone who thinks they are part of the hull, or are people using them to get another 1" of disembarking space?

Drop pod doors are the same way. The easiest mechanic to just ignore them and treat them as decorative.

My gaming group has always played them as part of the hull, including the Rhino and Landraider examples. The argument being that the wings of a Stormraven count as the hull when measuring from the hull, why not the doors of the Drop Pod? A Librarian in a Stormraven using Shield of Sanguinius gets to measure from the tip of the wing, and that isn't game breaking? It also makes it harder to maintain coherencey since they are limited to the spaces between the doors so it gets you closer to the enemy. And since you cannot charge when you arrive from DS you are more vulnerable.

Good point. I overlooked that. IRL, wings aren't part of the hull so I didn't think of it that way I suppose.

I doubt I'll be able to convince the FLGS of this (fairly large player base since its one of 3 in the area) but the thought of using the tip of the door amuses me greatly.

At the same time, with Rhinos/Land Raiders you don't gain much if anything by it opening. With a Drop Pod its another 6-7" which is significant.

Ok got some stuff cleared up then as there seems to be fairly agreeing points here.

At the moment I'm playing friends and amn't going to be playing tournaments until I have another 1000ish points painted of my 2000pt army... We'll probably play it that (as we're still in 5th for now) the disembark will include the harness platform as a viable disembark area but that will obviously be discussed.

I'd love it if when the doors came down, troops had to move out of the way... It seems more realistic to me but I know 40k isn't always about realism

Thanks for the helps

cowmonaut wrote:Good point. I overlooked that. IRL, wings aren't part of the hull so I didn't think of it that way I suppose.

I doubt I'll be able to convince the FLGS of this (fairly large player base since its one of 3 in the area) but the thought of using the tip of the door amuses me greatly.

At the same time, with Rhinos/Land Raiders you don't gain much if anything by it opening. With a Drop Pod its another 6-7" which is significant.

I wouldn't use the 6-7" unless I could get into cover. At that point whats the difference between that and using the drop pod for cover?


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ChickenMacNugget wrote:Ok got some stuff cleared up then as there seems to be fairly agreeing points here.

At the moment I'm playing friends and amn't going to be playing tournaments until I have another 1000ish points painted of my 2000pt army... We'll probably play it that (as we're still in 5th for now) the disembark will include the harness platform as a viable disembark area but that will obviously be discussed.

I'd love it if when the doors came down, troops had to move out of the way... It seems more realistic to me but I know 40k isn't always about realism

Thanks for the helps

Well remember your drop pod is a unit so you have to put your pod down 1" away from enemy units. I always put it down with the doors down and go from there. Then I can place it where I need and take the platforms into account.

Your disembarking from the access point on the hull, not the ramp. Same as a vehicle with a ramp down. The cosmetic ability of the ramp to drop doesnt add on to its length.

I could swear that there is GW writing that says something to the affect, "We always play that the doors don't count, simply moving models aside and placing them back on the 'petals' of the drop pod, and then the passengers disembark " ... as per normal.

Haven't found it yet.

And for all of 5e, in a heavy RTT, big 40k community setting, players have universally agreed to this.