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I have a few questions involving everybodies favorite Wardian codex, mainly to do with RAW versus RAI and a few other interpretations.

1) So we know that units get area terrain cover saves against the Stormlord's lightning strikes, but my question is, should a vehicle launch smoke (giving it a 5+ cover save on all sides), is this considered "area terrain" for lightning strikes since it grants the cover save on all sides of the vehicle? Going further, would units that are under cover (such as in ruins on the ground floor under a 2nd story or roof) benefit from the full cover save? What about units going to ground? Currently, we've not been playing it this way, as we incorrectly assumed the strikes ignored cover, but since nothing in the Necron codex or FAQ states the lightning strikes ignore cover (just the nightfighting bonus cover saves), I'm starting to think this might work as a way to potentialyl weather the storm.

2) Can the Chronometron be used on Leadership tests? The rules states reroll a single D6 roll, but Leadership tests are a 2d6 roll. Again, we've not been playing it this way, but anything that could help tone down the Necrons is good.

3) When playing Imhotek, do you still roll for nightfighting at the start of the game? Its always been my impression that you don't since the codex states it is automatically nightfighting for the first turn, but my friend (who is a Necron player) thinks that we should still roll in case nightfighting starts later in the game (so he can do lightning strikes all game long).

4) Finally, this is just to aggravate my buddy, but the MSS rules, per the FAQ, state that they kick in at the start of the Fight Subphase, after charges have been made, but before blows are struck. A full-on literal interpretation of this could be that MSS only have effect in the first round of combat, after the charge, because the rule clearly identifies "after charges have been made" . Again, I don't think this is the right interpretation, but I like to tweek him from time to time, and his argument is that nobody has ever asked this on dakka so it must not be an issue.

Thanks for any input!

1) It only ignores cover based on LOS. Smoke, KFF etc all still work
2) No; as per the rulebook a 2D6 roll is different to a D6 roll
3)not sure
4) Every round of close combat

1. Nothing in Lord of the Storm says or implies that it Ignores Cover, so cover saves are not inherently negated. However, since there is no firing model from which you draw LOS, most forms of cover based on the wounded model being 25% or more hidden from a given perspective will be meaningless. Cover saves which are granted/exist regardless of firer's perspective (Jink, smoke launchers, wargear like KFF, area terrain for non-vehicle models, or psychic powers like Storm Caller or Shield of Sanguinius) will still apply.

2. Absolutely not. A d6 roll is distinguished from a 2d6 roll on page 5. Further, page 5 tells us that you cannot re-roll a single die out of a multiple d6 roll unless the special rule granting the re-roll specifies otherwise. The Chronometron doesn't. Fleet (as an example) does.

3. Definitely not. Just like the Night Attacker warlord trait, if you make it automatically Night Fighting at the beginning of the game. Night Fighting (page 124) tells us that we roll for NF to take effect on turn 5 IF Night Fighting was not in effect on game turn 1. The warlord trait and LotS automatically mean that NF is in effect on game turn 1.

4. Every round; it doesn't say the first round, nor does it say it only applies after charging. The charging reference is just to clarify timing.

Thanks for the clarifications! #4 wasn't really a serious question, just a dig at my buddy



Automatically Appended Next Post:
To expand on question #1, what about those models are are covered by being in a building or under the first floor of some ruins? Since the lightning is coming from directly above the unit (in much the same way as a barrage), how would that work? Follow the same rules, ie, only the top floor can be hit?

No, because it isnt a barrage attack. You dont get any cover saves just from the ruin itself, only if it is based and you are on the ground floor would you get cover.

 ClassicCarraway wrote:
Thanks for the clarifications! #4 wasn't really a serious question, just a dig at my buddy



Automatically Appended Next Post:
To expand on question #1, what about those models are are covered by being in a building or under the first floor of some ruins? Since the lightning is coming from directly above the unit (in much the same way as a barrage), how would that work? Follow the same rules, ie, only the top floor can be hit?

If the ruins have a base, they are also area terrain and as such, you would gain a cover save from being in area terrain. If there is no base, they would not get a cover save (except for a special rule or wargear).

Thanks again!

So by this interpretation, units inside a Bastion could be hit by lightning and would not get any kind of cover save? Just doesn't seem right, but then, its Matt Ward, so whattaya gonna do?