Super Ready wrote:I would say, no they don't confer it.
The rulebook mentions that Universal Special Rules are granted by
ICs to units that they join - however, Combat Tactics isn't a
USR, it's a codex-specific rule. It has no such allowance.
Another key distinction here is that when taking Leadership tests, the unit is only given permission to use the highest Leadership in the unit. There's no allowance to be granted Leadership-related rules as well, so it's not as though the
IC can use the ability to take the test on behalf of the unit either.
USRs don't really exist anymore, so I'm not sure where you are getting rules that delineate the Special Rules in the core rulebook from those listed elsewhere.
Either way, it's pretty clear cut in the Independent Character rule, "Unless specified in the rule itself (as in the Stubborn special rule), the unit's special rules are not conferred upon the Independent Character, and the Independent Character's special rules are not conferred upon the unit."
The character certainly doesn't confer the rule to the unit, but at the same time, he doesn't lose the special rule simply for the unit not having it.
The question then is, does a unit where a single model has a certain special rule constitute a unit which has said special rule.
edit: Upon further examination of the rule I would conclude that no, another unit can't benefit from having a
SM IC inserted.
The rule specifies "A non-fearless
Space Marine unit with this special rule can choose..." (emphasis mine)
In lieu of any phrase specifying that a "Space Marine unit" constitutes anything other than units selected from Codex: Space Marines (as is done in the chaos codex) I feel there is no choice but to assume that is the case, in which instance, the fact that the
IC counts as a member of that unit for all purposes, and the unit was not chosen from Codex: Space Marines, means that the only logical conclusion is it is not a Space Marine unit and therefore cannot use Combat Tactics, even if it is considered to be a unit that has Combat Tactics.