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The rule as follows:

"Use this Stratagem at the start of your movement phases. Select a friendly Adeptus Astarts unit with the Combat Squads ability that has ten models. That unit is immediately split into two separate units, each containing 5 models."

My question: Does the unit selected have to be deployed on the table to take advantage of this, or can it be a unit that is being held in Tactical Reserves?

Example:

Unit of 10 Vanguard Veterans is in Tactical Reserves. At the start of the movement phase, spend the CP to split the unit in half. At the end of the movement phase, deploy both units to the table Or, for that matter, deploy one unit and keep the second held in reserve.

Looks ambiguous, would need official FAQ to clarify.

What is the advantage of splitting a unit later, instead of having two 5 model units in the first place, and moving them together like a unit of 10 models ? If i have a tactical squad of 10 models i can only get one heavy weapon and one special weapon (what are they called in english ?). I can split them before the game starts. But if i start with two squads with 5 models each, i can give one heavy weapon to each squad.

p5freak wrote:
What is the advantage of splitting a unit later, instead of having two 5 model units in the first place, and moving them together like a unit of 10 models ? If i have a tactical squad of 10 models i can only get one heavy weapon and one special weapon (what are they called in english ?). I can split them before the game starts. But if i start with two squads with 5 models each, i can give one heavy weapon to each squad.

Lets the reserves come at opposite ends of the table edge.

p5freak wrote:
What is the advantage of splitting a unit later, instead of having two 5 model units in the first place, and moving them together like a unit of 10 models ? If i have a tactical squad of 10 models i can only get one heavy weapon and one special weapon (what are they called in english ?). I can split them before the game starts. But if i start with two squads with 5 models each, i can give one heavy weapon to each squad.

Even though this is a rules question and not a tactics question:

Reducing the number of drops at game start to positively influence the choice to go first or second. Then spend CP to regain the aptly named Tactical Flexibility provided by Combat Squads as needed throughout the game. Thats the stratagems purpose.

The question here is in regard to what extent you can utilize that purpose.

units not on the table can't be affected by rules or abilities unless otherwise stated. So the vanguard vetrans who aren't on the table can't be chosen

terry wrote:
units not on the table can't be affected by rules or abilities unless otherwise stated. So the vanguard vetrans who aren't on the table can't be chosen

A citation please.

terry wrote:
units not on the table can't be affected by rules or abilities unless otherwise stated. So the vanguard vetrans who aren't on the table can't be chosen

Previous editions had this as a stated rule. However, as far as I can tell, this edition does not have it stated anywhere. Hence, why I asked.

Yeah, it would be nice for GW to clarify if they are continuing the precedents set in previous editions where units off the table can't be affected by units on the table (and vice versa), or whether they've loosened up and one the other direction.

Based on what they've done so far with the 8th edition rules, it seems like they're generally ignoring previous edition precedents where they haven't written them directly into the rules.

As such, IMHO, if a rule doesn't have a requirement for range/visibilty/etc. then I don't see any reason why it can't be used by a unit off the table (or affect a unit off the table if the ability doesn't have a range).

But its certainly worth adding to the FAQ list.