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Hey everyone...I've been trying to read the rules on page 36-38 and 124...I still don't understand.
I find the BRB isn't direct enough for my brain unfortunately. So please refrain from witty comments about my level of intelligence.

I just watched a batrep on miniwargaming where a player's army had 4 full squads in drop pods with only 3 predators starting on the table.
I'm well aware that 'half' of the army must begin on table. Do Drop pods not count towards this total?

Yes I have read over page 36 about three times now and it doesn't make any sense to me.
Basically I'm just trying to verify if I can or cannot have a deep strike heavy army with Belial + terminators backed up by drop pod veterans.

So at the end of the day.

is having 4x10 tactical squads in 4 drop pods with 3 predators legal or not? My assumption is no it's illegal and MWG failed.

No, drop pods don't count.
Things that MUST be placed in reserve don't count towards the limit.

Units embarked on transports that MUST start in reserve (drop pods for example) also don't count towards the limit.

EDIT: Dammit, ninja'd

What they did was legal, and you can see that on page 36, paragraph 2, 3rd sentence on.

rep +1

thank you.
So what this means is...I could have an entire army - 3 squads of terminators in reserves w/ 3 drop pods all arriving by deep strike in turn 1 I'm thinking that can't fly because the drop pods surely don't count as "on the table"
I just assumed that because the drop pod is your OWN choice, that unit embarked in it still is 'in reserve.'


Anyways thanks for the CLEAR response.

If you are running a drop pod assault list 1/2 of your pods come in automatically on turn 1. The rest come in as normal reserves.

I just wanted 1 or 2 drop pods to back up Belial and his terminators. They could use some melta's up there.
I'd have as many las preds/Mortis dreads to start on the table as my points permit. in Which clearly I will need as many vehicles to start as there are terminator squads since despite the Dark Angels special rule - they are still in reserve.

Anything that HAS to start in reserve does not count towards the allowed limit of units allowed to stay in reserve.

 vril maximus wrote:
rep +1

thank you.
So what this means is...I could have an entire army - 3 squads of terminators in reserves w/ 3 drop pods all arriving by deep strike in turn 1 I'm thinking that can't fly because the drop pods surely don't count as "on the table"
I just assumed that because the drop pod is your OWN choice, that unit embarked in it still is 'in reserve.'


Anyways thanks for the CLEAR response.

I don't think you have it quite yet.

My understanding of the MWG battle rep; 4 squads in transports that have to deep strike and 3 preds as well as some sort of HQ = 4 units, so 2 have to start on the board, and I assume he started all 3 of the preds on the board and the character in a pod somewhere.. Legal.

3 Squads of termies and 3 pods is 3 units that HAVE to start in reserve (the pods) and 3 that can CHOOSE to start in reserve (Termies) and whatever character you have (assuming Beliel). Therefore you'd have to start with 2 units on the board, chosen from your HQ and 3 termie squads.You can't start with all 3 termie squads, your HQ and 3 pods in reserve. Also, re-read the drop pod rules. Half your pods rounding up arrive first turn and the remaining one is in normal reserves. Therefore you'd get 2 pods the first turn and roll for the remaining one on turn 2 onward.

I get what you are trying to do, you want to drop your entire army turn 1 in your enemy's deployment zone and go from there. The only way to really do that is to either put your entire army in pods (that means no bikes, termies or tanks) or fiddle with the rules until you have something that works for you. For example, you could go 3 tactical squads in pods (auto in reserve and not counted for reserve purposes) Beliel(1), Termie squad #1 (2), Termie squad #2 (3) and then go with something budget to start on the table to make it legal, like Hyperios missile battery (4) and another Hyperios missile battery (5). That lets you pop Beliel and your 2 termie squads (3 units in total out of 5) in reserve with the pods, and you just start with 2 units on the board worth 35 points each. That would be legal by my reckoning.

You could also get into allies for cheap units to hold a home objective and bump up the number of units you can keep in reserve. I like Cotaez + 2 10 man bolter warrior-henchman squads with 3 plasma guns each for like 254 points total. That's 3 units right there that would allow you to put 4 into reserve.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think I am.