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Ok so we all know how terrible multiple level buildings or structures are handled in 40k. And how stupid it looks when the winged tyrant or Prince is towering over a small ruin or building but can't assault because he can't fit without crushing the other models( The evil intention in wanting to assault them).

So this rule is a QoL rule to solve a rule that over the years has caused almost as many arguments as TLOS(at least in my play group)

The rule is simple;

In the assault phase against models occupying a non ground level section of a structure you may declare the charge against the structure. Follow all the same rules for charging/overwatch but with an additional -2 modifier to charge distance. This modifier is to represent the difficulty of scaling a wall or breaching a building. Additionally after the assault phase models engaged in this assault are not considered locked in combat(no consolidation) and may move and shoot freely provided they are 1" away from enemies.

This rule provides options to assault armies facing untouchable opponents while still preserving some high ground advantages for models on upper levels(reduced charge range and not locked). So far its played pretty well in testing at least with our group and I was wondering what you all thought and if you had any comments, criticism or suggestions.

Okay, I'm not understanding. So -2" to the charge range, you charge the structure... then what?

Let's say I have some Khorne Berzerkers that are already in base contact with the bottom walls of a ruin, and because this is a tall ruin with 3 levels above the ground level, the models at the top level are about 12" above the ground level. The Khorne Berzerkers "charge" the structure. The structure has no overwatch, so can't shoot, right?

Now, I automatically make the charge because I cannot fail it - no matter what I will complete the charge (even if I roll snake eyes). Cool, so I move the models as I have completed the charge. But now it comes to the Fight phase. Can I attack the units at the top of the building? I didn't select them for my charge, and even if I did in addition to the building I'm really far from them. Or, maybe you're saying that if you complete this charge you can make attacks on any occupants on any level? In that case, again, it seems strange that I can attack a unit 12" up from me. Also, when piling in and consolidating, do I now count the ruin as an enemy and pile into it? Can I even pile in upwards?

I just feel like there's a LOT more to this rule than you've mentioned, and that I'm missing something in how this works on a procedural basis.

Ok yeah something's might have been lost when I wrote that down.

So when you declare your charge against the structure all units on that structure are considered targets so they can all overwatch.

Any unit on that structure can be chosen as a target for attack and for distance wise as long as you are 1" from the structure your considered base to base for the assault, all units in the structure can also attack as if in base to base.

There is no consolidation, piling in closer to the structure(not needed for units already in the structure).

Distance doesn't matter for height considerations, a model on the 5th floor is considered the same as a model on the 2nd( your unit is considered to be on/scaling the building/wall when making their attacks.

 Punisher wrote:
Ok yeah something's might have been lost when I wrote that down.

So when you declare your charge against the structure all units on that structure are considered targets so they can all overwatch.

Any unit on that structure can be chosen as a target for attack and for distance wise as long as you are 1" from the structure your considered base to base for the assault, all units in the structure can also attack as if in base to base.

There is no consolidation, piling in closer to the structure(not needed for units already in the structure).

Distance doesn't matter for height considerations, a model on the 5th floor is considered the same as a model on the 2nd( your unit is considered to be on/scaling the building/wall when making their attacks.

Thank you for the clarification! New question time now; you said these units are NOT locked into combat, so by default they are not in combat at the end of Fight phase. If I now fill in the bottom floor of a ruin and surround it's perimeter, can a unit on a higher floor be unable to charge down to the ground floor? Or would they have to declare a charge on their own structure and be allowed to attack any unit on the ground floor as well?

 Yarium wrote:


Thank you for the clarification! New question time now; you said these units are NOT locked into combat, so by default they are not in combat at the end of Fight phase. If I now fill in the bottom floor of a ruin and surround it's perimeter, can a unit on a higher floor be unable to charge down to the ground floor? Or would they have to declare a charge on their own structure and be allowed to attack any unit on the ground floor as well?

Ok so you can only declare a charge on a structure if the enemy unit has models on an above ground level section of that structure, so they would only be able to declare the structure as a target if you had models on the second level.

In the situation you described where you have the ground fully covered where they couldn't get down then they wouldn't be able to assault you and would just have to shoot their way out (or at least shoot enough to make a clearing)

So basically a larger version of the melee portion of the barricade rules? Seems like a good starting point. It is a little weird that this would, if I'm not mistaken, basically let you melee snipe characters though, right? So if my farseer is hanging out on the second level of some ruins with his dark reaper pals, surrounded by the reapers, some berzerkers could put all of their attacks on him (if they were so inclined) to ensure that he dies.

I like this. Wyldhunt you'd know that going into the game so you could just place them on the bottom floor which would mean no charging the building from the Zerkers. It's kind of like not having second floors at all, the only benefit to being on a second floor is that you get to shoot if you survive because you don't need to fall back.