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So, the warlock council is another of the "HQ but doesnt use a slot" units, however nowhere does it say that they cannot be taken as the mandatory HQ choice. Since the imperial guard priests had to be FAQ'd to remove this ability (the FAQ originally ruled yes, but later changed to no) would you say yay or nay to this? Its not that it would come up much, since most people would be selecting another HQ anyway, but I would imagine in small point games it might make a difference.

Nay. The IG FAQ clearly sets a precedent, and if a unit does not take up a FOC slot, it clearly cannot fill the mandatory slots.

Agreed with happyjew here,

Even without the president being set, I would still say the warlock council doesn't meet the compulsory requirements. As slotless units do not take up any of slots, they can not meet the requirement for a slot to be filled. That gray, compulsory, slot would still be sitting there unfilled regardless of how many slotless units are taken.

A follow-up question of sorts... though it would be a rather silly giveaway if you did so... is there anything stopping one of the Warlocks being your Warlord?

Your Warlord has to be the model with the highest LD. Once you've filled the man retort HQ spot I don't think a LD8 Warlock is going to have much chance of being highest.

You guys have to stop and think of other examples, however. For instance, the Black Templar's Emperor's Champion does not take up a mandatory HQ slot (As you can have a Marshal, a Chaplain, and then the Emperor's Champion), however, if you have no other HQ, your Emperor's Champion can still be used as a minimum HQ.

The fact the Imperial Guard's Priest Squad or whatever cannot be an HQ, doesn't change the possibility of the Eldar Warlock Council being one, mostly because there's another example out there that wasn't FAQ'd in the BT FAQ's to be impossible. Clearly stating that the case of the Imperial Guard was a unique one.

 Brave Sir Robin wrote:
You guys have to stop and think of other examples, however. For instance, the Black Templar's Emperor's Champion does not take up a mandatory HQ slot (As you can have a Marshal, a Chaplain, and then the Emperor's Champion), however, if you have no other HQ, your Emperor's Champion can still be used as a minimum HQ.

The fact the Imperial Guard's Priest Squad or whatever cannot be an HQ, doesn't change the possibility of the Eldar Warlock Council being one, mostly because there's another example out there that wasn't FAQ'd in the BT FAQ's to be impossible. Clearly stating that the case of the Imperial Guard was a unique one.

But there is the specific rule in the Black Templars codex that allows him to fill the HQ slot.

In this instance, the mandatory HQ slot still hasn't been filled. Sure, you're taking an HQ onto the battlefield, but the box that needs to be ticked hasn't been ticked.

 AG. wrote:

 Brave Sir Robin wrote:
You guys have to stop and think of other examples, however. For instance, the Black Templar's Emperor's Champion does not take up a mandatory HQ slot (As you can have a Marshal, a Chaplain, and then the Emperor's Champion), however, if you have no other HQ, your Emperor's Champion can still be used as a minimum HQ.

The fact the Imperial Guard's Priest Squad or whatever cannot be an HQ, doesn't change the possibility of the Eldar Warlock Council being one, mostly because there's another example out there that wasn't FAQ'd in the BT FAQ's to be impossible. Clearly stating that the case of the Imperial Guard was a unique one.

But there is the specific rule in the Black Templars codex that allows him to fill the HQ slot.

In this instance, the mandatory HQ slot still hasn't been filled. Sure, you're taking an HQ onto the battlefield, but the box that needs to be ticked hasn't been ticked.

He's listed specifically as an HQ unit, meaning that he by all means is an HQ as it states nowhere that he does not. That should speak enough that he is an HQ unit, and it states that after 750 points that he becomes mandatory and the army must take a vow. If we are going by the rule of thumb that says "It must state he is an HQ unit", then it states he's an Independant Character and HQ unit as any other HQ on the list. The only difference is, it says you have to take him after 750 points. It states the Warlock Council is an HQ in the same manner, only, they don't have to clarify that the Warlock Council isn't an HQ. What I'd like to see clarified is what "Primary Detatchment" refers to, does it mean an HQ unit?

It states: "Each Primary Detatchment in your army may include up to one Council of 1-10 Warlocks."

 Brave Sir Robin wrote:

 AG. wrote:

 Brave Sir Robin wrote:
You guys have to stop and think of other examples, however. For instance, the Black Templar's Emperor's Champion does not take up a mandatory HQ slot (As you can have a Marshal, a Chaplain, and then the Emperor's Champion), however, if you have no other HQ, your Emperor's Champion can still be used as a minimum HQ.

The fact the Imperial Guard's Priest Squad or whatever cannot be an HQ, doesn't change the possibility of the Eldar Warlock Council being one, mostly because there's another example out there that wasn't FAQ'd in the BT FAQ's to be impossible. Clearly stating that the case of the Imperial Guard was a unique one.

But there is the specific rule in the Black Templars codex that allows him to fill the HQ slot.

In this instance, the mandatory HQ slot still hasn't been filled. Sure, you're taking an HQ onto the battlefield, but the box that needs to be ticked hasn't been ticked.

He's listed specifically as an HQ unit, meaning that he by all means is an HQ as it states nowhere that he does not. That should speak enough that he is an HQ unit, and it states that after 750 points that he becomes mandatory and the army must take a vow. If we are going by the rule of thumb that says "It must state he is an HQ unit", then it states he's an Independant Character and HQ unit as any other HQ on the list. The only difference is, it says you have to take him after 750 points. It states the Warlock Council is an HQ in the same manner, only, they don't have to clarify that the Warlock Council isn't an HQ. What I'd like to see clarified is what "Primary Detatchment" refers to, does it mean an HQ unit?

It states: "Each Primary Detatchment in your army may include up to one Council of 1-10 Warlocks."

You misunderstand. The argument is not that Warlocks aren't HQ choices, but that because you haven't filled the mandatory HQ slot you don't have a legal army.

And you are also wrong about the Emperor's Champion. You may not take only the Emperor's Champion, you must take another HQ to be your warlord. This is covered in the FAQ.