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Serpent Shields - Can I decide to use them after shooting other units?  [RSS] Share on facebook Share on Twitter Submit to Reddit
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Made in us
Fixture of Dakka





In a recent Preferred Enemies episode, a listener asked whether or not you have to declare you're using your serpent shield ability when you shoot with the serpent. The hosts landed on the decision that you do because the serpent shield rule is worded as...

...In your shooting phase, a wave serpent can discharge its serpent shield in its shooting phase by...

Basically, they decided that the phrase "its shooting phase" indicates (or at least implies) that the decision is made when you've "activated" your serpent to do stuff.

If that's the case, I've been playing the rule incorrectly for a while. To my mind, there's no such thing as a "personal shooting phase" for each unit. The wording is weird, but my take is that "its shooting phase" is just meant to indicate the controlling player's shooting phase. I.e. it's not a shooting attack, but you can't suddenly opt to use your serpent shield's offensive rule during your opponent's turn.

Thoughts? I'm inclined to start treating the shield as basically a shooting attack (needing to be declared when I declare my shooting) just to be on the safe side.


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Made in us
Captain of the Forlorn Hope





Chicago, IL

The shield as basically a shooting attack that is done when you shoot with the unit.

GW has used similar language "in its shooting phase" before to mean in your shooting phase when you shoot with that particular unit.

While you are correct that there is no such thing as a "personal shooting phase" for each unit, GW has used language like that before.

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Made in gb
Decrepit Dakkanaut




As above
"It's" can only refer to the subject of the sentence, the serpent.
   
Made in gb
Regular Dakkanaut





United Kingdom

Sorry to play devil's advocate but i disagree with most of the above.

The rule states that it can be done once per game during its shooting phase, but describes it as 'discharging' the shield (not firing or shooting). It doesn't say that it has to be treated like an additional gun so you don't need to declare a target before you shoot even if you could. The shield can only attack the closest visible unit.

I would treat it more similarly to a stratagem than a gun. I've seen lots of players fail to bring down a unit with firepower leaving it with 1 wound or so, and then they use the ability to finish it off.

This is just an example of when people nit pick wording in my opinion. I don't believe it's not how the rule was intended.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/10/05 08:51:53


Adeptus Mechanicus
Tyranids  
   
Made in de
Nihilistic Necron Lord






Germany

Its not an attack with a gun. You can use it at any time when the serpent is selected to shoot. For example, you have shot with a gun, and there is one model with one wound remaining, you can discard that shield to kill that model, and then continue shooting with the rest of its guns.
   
Made in gb
Lord of the Fleet






London

I agree, it's not a ranged attack per se, it's just an ability that can be used in the Shooting Phase.
   
Made in gb
Executing Exarch





London, UK

Odd wording, but it isn't a shooting attack as it is listed as an ability, so you can come back to it after firing with other units.

   
 
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