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What am I missing?

A Tau sniper team comes with a Marksman with drone controller and markerlight.

Markerlight rules state that a unit may not make use of it's own markerlight ( unless it's a networked markerlight ).

Basic rules state than all models within a unit must fire at the same target - unless an exception rule is in effect.

So as I'm understanding it, a single sniper unit, can not benefit from it's own marker light, even though all models within the unit must shoot at the same target.

What the is the use of giving a sniper unit a markerlight if it can't make use of it? Wouldn't it make more sense to give them a networked markerlight?

It is there to allow other units to benefit from the Markerlights.

 Chopper Greg wrote:
What am I missing?

A Tau sniper team comes with a Marksman with drone controller and markerlight.

Markerlight rules state that a unit may not make use of it's own markerlight ( unless it's a networked markerlight ).

Basic rules state than all models within a unit must fire at the same target - unless an exception rule is in effect.

So as I'm understanding it, a single sniper unit, can not benefit from it's own marker light, even though all models within the unit must shoot at the same target.

What the is the use of giving a sniper unit a markerlight if it can't make use of it? Wouldn't it make more sense to give them a networked markerlight?

What is the use of ANY unit having markerlights if they can't benefit from them? Because the NEXT unit that shoots at that same enemy unit is also going to have markerlight tokens to work with.

Look at it this way, marker drones normally cost 12 points to get a BS2 markerlight in the army. A Shas'ui in a Firewarrior squad has to pay 15 points to get a markerlight (and a target lock), and that's just at BS3.

In Sniper Drone squads, you're getting a BS5 markerlight, and you can add 2 more for 13 pts a pop (and they have stealth).

So yeah, it would be awesome if they could benefit from their own markerlights, but they're already BS5 drones, so just look at the extra BS5 markerlight hits as an awesome bonus.

Maybe - the last codex issued the sniper teams a networked markerlight, and that makes much more sense for units that are likely to be operating well away from other units, including attacking units that are likely to be out of line of sight or out of range of other friendly units that could make use of the markerlight.

As it is, with the new codex, it feels that GW reduced sniper teams to the support role rather than independent operations.

As has been said before, in the previous codex it was a networked markerlight.. this is verry likely an other one for the quickly growing erata / faq list

Even if not - I can still see uses for it already.
Take Orks with a KFF for example. Attempt Precision Shots to take out the Big Mek ready for the next unit to fire, if it works the next unit can fire at higher BS. Didn't work? Not to worry, they can use Ignores Cover to get around the KFF anyway.

Also, the drones use the spotter's bs which is 5 so they are already accurate, just can't reduce cover for themselves.

yeah as rift said they are already bs 5, Spotter can just paint it for other targets, i feel like the faq may update again and let them reduce cover, just seems a tad bit silly

Although they now have to fire at the same squad and stay in 2" of each other. If you have 9 drones with 3 spotters it is a great target for a pie plate, where before they could split into 3 teams. However I'm reading that you can now take three full squads of sniper drones if you wanted. That could be cool. The drones specifically say jetpack infantry so at least they can jump out and fire then jump back into coherency. I can't wait to field test them to decide if I like the new version or not. I liked having AP2 to help take out Terminators.

You cannot jump out of coherency. Jump is stilla move, and follows all the rules except those specifically ignored - and coherency is not one ofthem

Previously you used the NML to raise the drones BS, usually. You dont need to do that any more.

Why assume it is a typo? It is a great way to get markerlights into your army for cheap

nosferatu1001 wrote:
You cannot jump out of coherency. Jump is stilla move, and follows all the rules except those specifically ignored - and coherency is not one ofthem

Previously you used the NML to raise the drones BS, usually. You dont need to do that any more.

Why assume it is a typo? It is a great way to get markerlights into your army for cheap

BS5 markerlights, no less. They are something to be treasured, really.

nosferatu1001 wrote:
You cannot jump out of coherency. Jump is stilla move, and follows all the rules except those specifically ignored - and coherency is not one ofthem

WH40K Rule Book page 11

So, once a unit has finished moving, the models in it must form an imaginary chain where the distance between one model and the next is no more than 2"

This just says once they have finished moving they must be in 2". you can certainly set them up behind cover and do a trail of drones out of cover then jump them back behind cover with out ever breaking unit Cohesion. This would allow you to keep your drones and spotters safe when dealing with some of the more annoying units such as Terminators and Walkers.

When you stop touching the model and start rolling dice, it has finished its move.

You still are not allowed to break coherency.

 Highland_Piper wrote:

nosferatu1001 wrote:
You cannot jump out of coherency. Jump is stilla move, and follows all the rules except those specifically ignored - and coherency is not one ofthem

WH40K Rule Book page 11

So, once a unit has finished moving, the models in it must form an imaginary chain where the distance between one model and the next is no more than 2"

This just says once they have finished moving they must be in 2". you can certainly set them up behind cover and do a trail of drones out of cover then jump them back behind cover with out ever breaking unit Cohesion. This would allow you to keep your drones and spotters safe when dealing with some of the more annoying units such as Terminators and Walkers.

So you are claiming that moving, shooting, an then moving again is one single move?

Interesting rules "interpretation" that has no basis in reality.

You move, breaking coherency. You stop moving, but cannot as you are not in coherency. You must move back into coherency. Once you have complied with this rule you may stop moving with that unit, and move onto shooting with that unit.

nosferatu1001 wrote:

 Highland_Piper wrote:

nosferatu1001 wrote:
You cannot jump out of coherency. Jump is stilla move, and follows all the rules except those specifically ignored - and coherency is not one ofthem

WH40K Rule Book page 11

So, once a unit has finished moving, the models in it must form an imaginary chain where the distance between one model and the next is no more than 2"

This just says once they have finished moving they must be in 2". you can certainly set them up behind cover and do a trail of drones out of cover then jump them back behind cover with out ever breaking unit Cohesion. This would allow you to keep your drones and spotters safe when dealing with some of the more annoying units such as Terminators and Walkers.

So you are claiming that moving, shooting, an then moving again is one single move?

Interesting rules "interpretation" that has no basis in reality.

You move, breaking coherency. You stop moving, but cannot as you are not in coherency. You must move back into coherency. Once you have complied with this rule you may stop moving with that unit, and move onto shooting with that unit.

Nos, you miss read him. Highland Piper specifically states a trail of drones, which is legal, then jump the bunch back to cover. You've been jumping the gun a bunch on Tau thread, not like you at all.

orc master wrote:
As has been said before, in the previous codex it was a networked markerlight.. this is verry likely an other one for the quickly growing erata / faq list

How is this in any way unclear?

Its so he can hit a target for something else. I would view a Sniper Drone team as a BS5 markerlight delivery system that also puts some decent sniper fire downrange.

 Chopper Greg wrote:
Maybe - the last codex issued the sniper teams a networked markerlight, and that makes much more sense for units that are likely to be operating well away from other units, including attacking units that are likely to be out of line of sight or out of range of other friendly units that could make use of the markerlight.

As it is, with the new codex, it feels that GW reduced sniper teams to the support role rather than independent operations.

Actually, the Marksman in a Sniper Drone team now has a Drone Controller, so you get the best of both worlds-- the ability to mark targets for other units and BS5 drones for operation without markerlight support! Overall, Sniper Drone Teams are unexpectedly useful for providing Markerlight support to normal Fire Warrior Squads, since those units' likely targets synergize with one another.

 Highland_Piper wrote:
Although they now have to fire at the same squad and stay in 2" of each other. If you have 9 drones with 3 spotters it is a great target for a pie plate, where before they could split into 3 teams. However I'm reading that you can now take three full squads of sniper drones if you wanted. That could be cool. The drones specifically say jetpack infantry so at least they can jump out and fire then jump back into coherency. I can't wait to field test them to decide if I like the new version or not. I liked having AP2 to help take out Terminators.

Barnowl - Nope, didnt jump the gun, I actually just read what they put down and corrected them that you cannot jump out of coherency and jump back into coherency after shooting, because those are two different moves. I have highlighted the area you apparently missed

The tactic require 3 phases to do:

first the move
2nd the shoot
and then in the assault phase it jets back

so until the time you get to move again it gone 2 3rds of a round, and thats a bit much to claim as "not finished a move" imo.

 Grey Templar wrote:
Its so he can hit a target for something else. I would view a Sniper Drone team as a BS5 markerlight delivery system that also puts some decent sniper fire downrange.

As do I, you would also want to take just enough drones to give the unit majority T4 for the first couple of times they are shot at too.

Are you allowed to do the following:

2 fire warrior squads each with a markerlight, 2 targets.

Squad A fires markerlight at Target B, Squad B fire Markerlight at Target A.

Then rest of Squad A fires rest of shots at Target A (using Markerlight result) and Squad B does the opposite.


Or do you have to resolve an entire squads shooting before moving onto another squad?

 shamikebab wrote:
Are you allowed to do the following:

2 fire warrior squads each with a markerlight, 2 targets.

Squad A fires markerlight at Target B, Squad B fire Markerlight at Target A.

Then rest of Squad A fires rest of shots at Target A (using Markerlight result) and Squad B does the opposite.


Or do you have to resolve an entire squads shooting before moving onto another squad?

The rules for shooting only allow a firing unit to fire at a single target enemy unit.

Only if a unit has an exception (like a Target Lock, or split fire, etc) are they able to break this rule.

Sniper Drone units have no such rule allowing them to split their fire.

 shamikebab wrote:
Are you allowed to do the following:

2 fire warrior squads each with a markerlight, 2 targets.

Squad A fires markerlight at Target B, Squad B fire Markerlight at Target A.

Then rest of Squad A fires rest of shots at Target A (using Markerlight result) and Squad B does the opposite.


Or do you have to resolve an entire squads shooting before moving onto another squad?

Yes you have to resolve all of one squads shooting before moving onto the next. However if you have a Fire Warrior Team Shas'ui with a ML then you could in fact fire the Markerlight on Squad A at Target B (thanks to the Target Lock that comes with it) while the rest of the squad fires on Target A. If you are using Marker Drones then the drones have to fire on Target A with the rest of the squad.

Yeah, I'm referring to the Target Lock ability. Can you start firing with one squad (just the markerlight), start firing with the second squad (again just the markerlight) then finish off both squads firing?

If you can do that, then you can have both squads using each others markerlights, if not then you'd only ever be able to use one (in this scenario)

Jet pack thrust rules refer only to units comprised entirely of jet packs -- as long as the controller is alive (infantry) the sniper drones cannot do a JSJ move.

 shamikebab wrote:
Yeah, I'm referring to the Target Lock ability. Can you start firing with one squad (just the markerlight), start firing with the second squad (again just the markerlight) then finish off both squads firing?

If you can do that, then you can have both squads using each others markerlights, if not then you'd only ever be able to use one (in this scenario)

No. You have to resolve the markerlight and then the grunts before moving on the to the next squad.

 shamikebab wrote:
Yeah, I'm referring to the Target Lock ability. Can you start firing with one squad (just the markerlight), start firing with the second squad (again just the markerlight) then finish off both squads firing?

If you can do that, then you can have both squads using each others markerlights, if not then you'd only ever be able to use one (in this scenario)

You resolve all shooting for one unit before moving on to the next unit, you can't sequentially resolve it accross multiple units.

 tetrisphreak wrote:
Jet pack thrust rules refer only to units comprised entirely of jet packs -- as long as the controller is alive (infantry) the sniper drones cannot do a JSJ move.

Actually they can, just so long as they maintain coherency with the spotters who can't. This limits it, but does not prevent it.

I love the new rules for the sniper drones and really want to use them BUT their models are so damn expensive ($41 and some change for 4 models) and they take a heavy support chioce that I would probably want to use on a Hammerhead, Skyray, or Broadsides. I'll probably proxy them in a few games and see if I like them enough to invest that amount of money on failcast... (sigh).

As far as unit that has models with Jet Packs and models without using a Thrust Move I don't know. I found nothing in the Rulebook about it. I did find that a unit that has models that move at different speeds can move to their maximum move distance but must maintain coherency. That also means that the Drones cannot move out of coherency, shoot, then Thrust Move back into it.