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Hi all,

There have been several threads on this topic. Search has done well for me. However, with the new 'dex, it seems that some requirements of the formation have changed.

The question is, can I deploy a stormraven gunship, which is part of a storm wing formation, on a "ready for takeoff" skyshield landing pad? If so, how does the formation reserve roll work out?

-Skyshield allows one flier to deploy on the table.

-The Stormraven is a flier, so may deploy on the table.

-The Storm Wing formation states: "Escort Craft: When making Reserve Rolls, make a single roll for this entire Formation. On a successful Reserves Roll, all of the units in this Formation arrive from Reserve.”

Excerpt From: Games Workshop. “Codex: Space Marines (Enhanced Edition).” Games Workshop, 2015. iBooks. https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/codex-space-marines-enhanced/id999945974?mt=13

There are no other provisions for these craft acting as a squadron nor that the formation must be held in reserve. As such, they are not a squadron and may be deployed separately. It is therefore vegan-kosher to put the raven on the board T1 and roll for the formation (the storm talons in reserve) in turn 2.

If I were to attack the second part of the argument, I would say that the formation is not in reserve, because the storm raven is on the table. Therefore, you cannot roll for the formation, because the formation is not in reserve, just two of the fliers.

Any help on this?

Thanks!

When you make the reserve roll, it cannot be for all units in the formation. You've just broken a rule, and not had permission to do do.

If you were magically able to get three Skyshields on the board, and plopped each of the flyers on separate ones, would it work? I suspect not.

Why would it require magic to get 3 Skyshields? Would you break that rule if you used the 3 Skyshields?

No magic needed, but you would break the rule, as you cannot make the required reserve roll for all units in the formation.

If you are just going to put 3 skyshields on the table, which would require 3 CAD, then you would simply ignore the rule for escort craft as you are not in reserve. You also would have to pay the points to get the upgrade on the skyshields. Lots a points to have the flyer formation on the table on turn one.

It's perhaps arguable that the Escort Craft special rule is non-optional, and that therefore you must make a reserves roll for the formation.

If someone went to that length to have the formation start on the table though, I'd probably let them have it regardless.

 Glitcha wrote:
If you are just going to put 3 skyshields on the table, which would require 3 CAD, then you would simply ignore the rule for escort craft as you are not in reserve. You also would have to pay the points to get the upgrade on the skyshields. Lots a points to have the flyer formation on the table on turn one.

It doesn't require 3 CADs. There are plenty of ways to get Fortification that don't involve multiple CADs. Unbound is a perfectly viable option, as is taking one of the two Adeptus Mechanicus Detachments. Both have Fortification slots and the Skitarii one requires very little in way of a tax. I'm sure there are other ways, but I don't know every Detachment out there off the top of my head.