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We had a big game (something like 15k points on each side, we had 3 6x4 tables stuck together making a 12x6 table. Anyway here are a few questions:

1) Can another tau on my team use markerlight tokens that I generated? The codex says "from Codex: Tau" but is that just what I take from that codex, or flat out anything from Codex: Tau can use it? Same question for Ethereal bonuses.
2) my opponents placed a chooser of the slain on a very high piece of terrain. I had always thought measuring was from a models base to another models base. In other words, it's 18" away from the chooser of the slain in a sphere. They said you ignore vertical distance and it's a cylinder of infinite height, but I can't find a rule that says that in the rulebook. Which is it?
3) If a Crisis team gets assaulted, can they use a Target lock to shoot at a different unit from the one assaulting them? I always thought the specific rule (Target Lock) trumps the general rule (overwatch), but I could be wrong.

I let them have it on all accounts, but should I have spoken up? RAW I can't find anything to support their arguments. Can someone point me to what they're referring to?

1) when playing a big apoc game many of the rules will not be covered in the main 40K book because the BRB assumes a 1v1 game. In this case discuss it with those at the table before the game.

2)The rules do not tell us to ignore vertical distance, therefore we must count it.

3)Overwatch only allows shooting at the unit that is charging.

The cylinder of infinite height only applies to FIBA basketball.

Okay, good to know. I'm rather surprised that the Overwatch rules really do end up trumping the Target Lock rule as I thought the more specific rule trumped the more general rule.

 Lotus wrote:
Okay, good to know. I'm rather surprised that the Overwatch rules really do end up trumping the Target Lock rule as I thought the more specific rule trumped the more general rule.

Not quite.

The TL rule does overrule overwatch, but overwatch disallows shooting overwatch f you have been charged.

If the squad is shooting supporting fire, they may use their target locks, as they are not being charged.

I don't quite follow you. It sounds like you just said "the overwatch rule prevents you from overwatching if you would be the unit to fire overwatch" (I'm paraphrasing your 'overwatch disallows shooting overwatch f you have been charged'). Could you rephrase that?

 Lotus wrote:
Okay, good to know. I'm rather surprised that the Overwatch rules really do end up trumping the Target Lock rule as I thought the more specific rule trumped the more general rule.

Why do you think that the TL rule is more specific in this case? Where is the conflict between the two rules? Overwatch allows you to ONLY target lock allows you to target a different unit to that of your unit specifically over ruling the general rule that a unit must all shoot at the same target. It gives you no permission to break any other targeting rules. For instance your opponent has just 2 units left one is in line of sight. Target lock does not enable you to target the unit out of LoS. So whilst he can target a different unit the only eligible unit is the same as the one his unit is shooting at. Likewise in overwatch the only eligible target is the one assaulting you so that is what you must shoot.

Okay, now that makes sense. But if the unit with a target lockgets charged by two different squads, I can then target lock onto the other one?

edit: nevermind. They would be decalred at different times.

1) Can I have more information?

I can make the assumption, as you state Tau on your team, that you mean multiple player matches such as two on two. In such cases I would rule yes, but without more information to see if I have your question correct I will forgo the long explanation as to why till I know for sure. After all, I could be mistaken on what you mean of this question and just bore everyone.

2) Vertical distance is included, so always think of these abilities as sphere of influence, with a radius equal to the distance measured. If, by the shortest distance possible, an unit is outside of the radius then it is not affected. Any rule that falls outside of this, or change it in any way, are clear to notify that they are doing so. One that comes to mind is unit coherence in ruins, where the vertical distance is greater then the horizontal distance.

3) Target Locks are not useful in overwatch, I am sorry to say. Overwatch is an unit wide ability which can only be used once. As each charge is resolved separately, in the order decided by the person charging, you can only fire at the moment the unit charges. After this small window closes, either by successful charge or failure to close the distance, you lose the ability to consider that one unit a legitimate target. If it succeeds, you even lose the option to over-watch any additional charging units.

It was a big team game, with multiple people playing on either side. I had an army of Space Marines with Tau allies, and a teammate had a army of Tau. He had an ethereal and I had markerlights, and we were wondering how they interact. We assumed that they would since the codex only refers to units from "Codex: Tau," however our opponents said that wasn't how they worked since we're still different armies, and we just didn't want to argue.

The rules don't cover team games. In this case a house rule needs to be made. That said I've played in games where special abilities/rules like that work for your entire team (so for example, allied Synapse creatures provide Synapse to your Tyranids) and games where friendly "buffs" only affect the payer's army.

Team Games are not covered in the rules. Things get wonky really fast when you start treating as each army as a piece of a huge army. Allowing team-mates to be affected by Powers/Special Rules/Buffs, use transports etc. I play lots of team games and have found that each players army is individule and does not affect the other players (even if they are battle brothers etc) to keep things as balanced as possible. It's about teamwork and stratagy vs power combo's like Genestealers in a LR.

We weren't doing that. We were still treating each army as a separate army, no embarking on transports or anything. The question is about how the tau codex says things like:

"Whenever a unit from Codex: Tau,..." and so on. It makes no distinction about owner.

Yonush wrote:
Team Games are not covered in the rules. Things get wonky really fast when you start treating as each army as a piece of a huge army. Allowing team-mates to be affected by Powers/Special Rules/Buffs, use transports etc. I play lots of team games and have found that each players army is individule and does not affect the other players (even if they are battle brothers etc) to keep things as balanced as possible. It's about teamwork and stratagy vs power combo's like Genestealers in a LR.

Our rules were quite simple -
Each player brings a normal army (allies allowed) of however many points are agreed on.
One Warlord per side. Teams decide which army provides the Warlord, and then normal rules apply.
ICs can never join units of another army (unless it is a BB allied detachment for that player). Units cannot embark into another player's transports.
Special rules (such as a FNP bubble) that apply to friendly models/units apply to any model/unit on the team. Special rules that are codex specific apply to friendly units/models from that codex (so Bob's Hive Tyrant provides Synapse for Steve's Termagants).
Wargear only works for the player (ie a Banner of Devastation only works for the player who took it).
Reserves are counted per player.

I think that was about it.

Team games or anything outside of the setup in the rulebook will require you to come up with your own solution to some issues. It is usually best to talk with the others about it before the game and hash it out. We can't give you a rulebook answer because one doesn't exist.

Our rules are similar -
Each player brings a normal army (allies allowed) of however many points are agreed on.
Each Army has a Warlord
ICs can never join units of another army (unless it is a BB allied detachment for that player). Units cannot embark into another player's transports.
Special rules (such as a FNP bubble) that apply only to that players models/units (including allies per rules)
Special rules that are codex specific do not apply to friendly units/models from that codex (so Bob's Hive Tyrant cant provide Synapse for Steve's Termagants).
Wargear only works for the player (ie a Banner of Devastation only works for the player who took it).
Reserves are counted per player

Okay:

I can't speak for everyone, just as someone pointed out there is no set in stone rules for multiple players a side. This is where the biggest issue would lie, as you would need to work out the rules before hand and play with them. Some of these rules could break the 'sharing of marker-light' question by forbidding it outright. Like wise, you would also need a 'house rule' interpretation of the allied table, or else you might end up with a rule lawyer making a very stupid but RAW based argument that they are not allies, period, as tau doesn't have a battle brother entry for tau.

However, the multiple player per side games I have played in would likely allow it based on a simple three step logical pattern. Before I give that pattern I do need to clarify that the 'more then two player' games I have run use the mentality that you still only have two sides to the battle. This means each player on that side operate simultaneously during that sides movement, shooting and assault phases. That is a big distinction as you will see below.

The following logical pattern of events:

1) The shooting phase is not finished until all players on that side have either fired or declined firing every unit. This is important as marker lights last to the end of the shooting phase. If each player had separate phases, the end of that players shooting phase would wipe all marker lights from the field.

2) Tau are clearly battle brothers to each other, it would be stupid to think otherwise if you ask me. This is important as you can not share special rules, psychic powers or the likes without being battle brothers. This would include target accusation for while it isn't specifically saying only friendly units can use it, it is clear that allies only share positive bonuses if they are battle brothers. In short, you simply wouldn't be considered a 'friendly' to meet the requirement of allies sharing abilities.

3) The target accusation rule can only be used by units within the Tau codex, as stated in their entry. Given that your fellow player in question was pure Tau, every unit they have on the field would of been selected from the Tau codex. Clearly they would fit this requirement to use the target accusation rule as the key limitation within is that they have to be Tau.

So yes, I would of given it to you.

Do take note of the rules put forth by other players here though. Not every group is going to allow you to share abilities with your team-mates. HappyJew's and Yonush's group would prevent you from sharing the target accusation rule as they have clearly stated that special rules can only be used by an individual player, and not every player on that side.