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Can I shoot pistols into a combat that the shooting model is not locked into during the shooting phase? (for instance, before he charges to join the fight)

No.

Ignoring the silly RaW that means you can't ever shoot pistols like that anyway, the rules for pistols don't exempt you from the general restriction.

"A model can fire a Pistol even if there are enemy units within 1" of its own unit, but it must target the closest enemy unit. In such circumstances, the model can shoot its Pistol even if other friendly units are within 1" of the same enemy unit."

This means you can shoot the closest enemy unit even if it's in combat with another friendly unit, but you can't shoot another random unit, it has to be the one you have models within 1" of.

Personally this is why I think things like pistols are awesome. They allow you to try and kill something your locked in combat with before you get to the combat phase. Got some tactical Marines stuck in with some genestealers (and survived)? Move those assault Marines up right next to the tacticals and unload those pistols in before jumping in to help!

Azuza001 wrote:
Personally this is why I think things like pistols are awesome. They allow you to try and kill something your locked in combat with before you get to the combat phase. Got some tactical Marines stuck in with some genestealers (and survived)? Move those assault Marines up right next to the tacticals and unload those pistols in before jumping in to help!

That is not how pistols work. Read again. "A model can fire a Pistol even if there are enemy units within 1" of its own unit" You can't just magically fire off into combat with them.

 VolumeUTDN wrote:
Can I shoot pistols into a combat that the shooting model is not locked into during the shooting phase? (for instance, before he charges to join the fight)

BCB has it correct.

Whule you cannot fire a pistol into a combat your unit is not locked in combat, the individual models in that unit may freely fire.

 BaconCatBug wrote:

Azuza001 wrote:
Personally this is why I think things like pistols are awesome. They allow you to try and kill something your locked in combat with before you get to the combat phase. Got some tactical Marines stuck in with some genestealers (and survived)? Move those assault Marines up right next to the tacticals and unload those pistols in before jumping in to help!

That is not how pistols work. Read again. "A model can fire a Pistol even if there are enemy units within 1" of its own unit" You can't just magically fire off into combat with them.

Additionally, the only way to be within 1" of a unit in the shooting to phase is if you were in combat with them on a previous turn. You can't just move to within 1" in the movement phase.

Good question and answers, thanks.

A related question - by my interpretation, I may fire the pistols from my unit at unit B, which has models within pistol range (Bolt and Plasma) while my unit is within slightly further than 1 inch from unit A.

In the Charge phase, I may charge unit A.

Am I correct?

Scott wrote:
Good question and answers, thanks.

A related question - by my interpretation, I may fire the pistols from my unit at unit B, which has models within pistol range (Bolt and Plasma) while my unit is within slightly further than 1 inch of unit A.

In the Charge phase, I may charge unit A.

Am I correct?

In the shooting phase you can shoot whoever you want with pistols if you're not in combat. The pistol special rule is for when you're in combat with a unit. So yes, you can shoot unit B who could be closer or further, it doesn't matter, then charge unit A.

 BaconCatBug wrote:

Azuza001 wrote:
Personally this is why I think things like pistols are awesome. They allow you to try and kill something your locked in combat with before you get to the combat phase. Got some tactical Marines stuck in with some genestealers (and survived)? Move those assault Marines up right next to the tacticals and unload those pistols in before jumping in to help!

That is not how pistols work. Read again. "A model can fire a Pistol even if there are enemy units within 1" of its own unit" You can't just magically fire off into combat with them.

Yep I read it wrong. Thanks for the catch. Oh well. :p