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Insaniak pointed out that there does not seem to be anything in the rules that allow a skimmer to move over friendly models (unless you count models as 'obstructions' which may be a fair assumption)

Now I see people do this ALL THE TIME, with every army that has skimmers in it. Question is basically, do friendly models count as obstruction, therefore making it legal for skimmers to move over them?

Terrain always seems to be noted as 'terrain' in the rulebook, so does 'obstructions' simply mean anything ?

The Skimmer rules don't let them cross 'obstructions'... they simply let them move freely over terrain. (page 61)

And the Vehicles and Assaults section only refers to moving over enemy troops.

So no, there is no way to count your own troops as either enemy models or terrain.

happypants> ...does not seem to be anything in the rules that allow a skimmer to move over friendly models (unless you count models as 'obstructions' which may be a fair assumption)... Now I see people do this ALL THE TIME...do friendly models count as obstruction, therefore making it legal for skimmers to move over them?

What is the definition of obstruction? If it is something that impedes movement, nopt stretch, then you may be right Happy. 

In fact, it is defined in the rules that a model can not fit through a space between friendly models unless it can pass between the bases, therefore there is a precendent for friendly models to count as obstructions in the BRB.

If premise 1 holds, that an obstruction impedes movement, and premise 2 holds, that friendly models are obstructions, from the BRB, then it follows that a skimmer may fly over friendly models.

The crux being, is a friendly model an obstruction? By the BRB, yes.

I think it can be done by RAW.

Posted By insaniak 08/11/2006 4:00 PM
The Skimmer rules don't let them cross 'obstructions'... they simply let them move freely over terrain. (page 61)

And the Vehicles and Assaults section only refers to moving over enemy troops.

So no, there is no way to count your own troops as either enemy models or terrain.

I realize you state this as RAW and note it as such. How do you actually play it?

Premise 1. An obstacle is "a person or thing that opposes or hinders something." (Collins English Dictionary.)

Premise 2. The space occupied by a model is an obstacle to movement. (BGB p.15. "A model may not move into/through the space occupied by a friendly model.")

Premise 3. Skimmers may cross obstacles. (BGB p.61. "Skimmers are capable of making a powered boost to gain height and cross obstacles.") [This is the more fluffular bit of the rules, but since the rules do not define what is rules and what is fluff, by RAW it is rules. It could be argued against, is what I am saying.]

Conclusion. Skimmers may move over friendly models.

I would play it that way but as a Tau commander I benefit from that interpretation. It seems to me that not allowing it simply requires skimmer movement to be a bit more careful like ordinary vehicles. Is it a game-breaker, one way or the other? I doubt it.

Skimmers may cross obstacles. (BGB p.61. "Skimmers are capable of making a powered boost to gain height and cross obstacles.") [This is the more fluffular bit of the rules,

Yup, I don't see that sentence as a rule at all. It's an explanation for something that skimmers can do, followed by a sentence ("As such...") which tells you what that explanation means in actual game rules.

I realize you state this as RAW and note it as such. How do you actually play it?

I would play it the same. If nothing else, it prevents the situation noted in the other thread, where a skimmer stopped by a Death or Glory could be stuck above friendly troops with nowhere to go...