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So, I'm trying to figure out the correct interpretation of how Sentinels work with the Masters of Camouflage ability in the Recon Detachment. It reads: "ASTRA MILITARUM WALKER and REGIMENT models from your army have the Benefit of Cover. While such a model has the Benefit of Cover for any other reason (e.g. because it is wholly within a RUIN), improve the Save characteristic of that model by 1 (to a maximum of 3+)."

So, when I first read this, I read it as you basically just get a cover save of +1 all the time and +2 when you're actually in cover, seemed simple enough. However, it gets dicey when you start combining it with the AP rules.

For example, if an armoured Sentinel gets hit with an Ap-2 attack, does it roll on a 3+ or a 2+? It would still get the benefit of cover normally, which adds 1 to the roll, however, the text of MOC says "improve the Save characteristic of that model by 1 (to a maximum of 3+)" but the Armoured Sentinel's save is already 2+, so does that mean it doesn't apply at all? Or, does the AP -2 reduce it's save to 4+, then MOC change it to 3+ and you get +1 to the roll from normal cover, making it a 2+? I THINK that's how it's supposed to be? However, the way AP is worded "Roll one D6 and modify by the attack’s AP." Makes it seem like it modifies the die roll and not the profile, which could contradict this interpretation.

Because AP also states that "A saving throw can never be improved by more than +1." I think that's why MOC is templated as improving the save characteristic, so you may think that maybe it just doesn't effect the Sentinels because their save is already 3+ or better. However, the MOC rule specifically calls out that it applies to Walker units, and the only two are the Armoured and Scout Sentinels, (with a 2+/3+ save respectively.) So if the rule wouldn't apply to them, why would they specifically be called out it it as being effected by it?

Master of camouflage itself says the save characteristics maximum is 3+. So its useless for armoured sentinels, their save remains 2+. If an armoured sentinel is hit with an AP-2 attack you would successfully save on a roll of 3+. Multiple instances of the Benefit of Cover are not cumulative – a model cannot benefit from this rule more than once at any one time.

You modify the roll when an attack has AP, not the save itself, so an attack with AP-2 shooting at a Scout Sentinel would have a net modifer of -1 (-2AP, +1 benefit of cover), against the save of 3+, so you need fours to save.

As for why they include walkers? they still benefit from the always in cover aspect of the rule, just not the bonus to saves from actually being in cover. There is also clearly some future proofing in this, as they include WALKER and REGIMENT, even though all of the walkers currently in the codex are already also regiment.

 Polonius wrote:


As for why they include walkers? they still benefit from the always in cover aspect of the rule, just not the bonus to saves from actually being in cover. There is also clearly some future proofing in this, as they include WALKER and REGIMENT, even though all of the walkers currently in the codex are already also regiment.

There we go! That's what I was missing! It all makes sense now.

Thank you.