Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

What constitutes a 'character'? I play with a group of guys in a friendly basement setting and have been arguing for a few weeks about this. I run a Khorne Daemonkin detachment with Necron allies and obviously want to get in as many challenges as I can for all those Khorney goodies. My standpoint is anything if your codex says something 'infantry (character)' or 'jump infantry (character)' ie. aspiring champions, veteran sergeants and the like, they are able to be challenged. I am being told that I can only challenge named independent characters, such as Dante for the Blood Angels, or Lilith for the Dark Eldar. The rule book only says 'nominate a character for the challenge'. Has anyone else run into this problem and come to an agreement?

A "character" is any model that has the "character" sub-type, such as Sergeants, Aspiring Champs, and any Independent Character.

Guide them to the beginning of the Characters section of Unit Types. This will be before the section on Challenges.

Veteran warriors, brilliant officers, possessed prophets and ferocious war-leaders can all inspire their troops to great feats of heroism (or fiendish bravery as the case may be) and are often quicker, stronger and more skilled in combat than those they lead. In Warhammer 40,000, these kinds of powerful individuals are called ‘characters’.

CHARACTER TYPES
Most characters are fielded in units from the start of the game, and represent squad leaders, such as a Space Marine Veteran Sergeant. They have their own profile, but do not have a separate entry. They are effectively just another trooper in their unit, with enhanced characteristics and perhaps a wider selection of weapons and wargear choices. Other characters, such as Mephiston of the Blood Angels, fight as units on their own. They are either mighty enough, or feared enough by their own kind, that they don’t take to the battlefield with other warriors. Regardless of their potency, all follow the rules for characters.

Independent Characters
Some characters have the Independent Character special rule, which allows them to join other units.

So, yeah, if it says "(Character)" as a unit type it falls in to this category.