FMC Swooping

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**BlackTalos**

So, here's the deal:

I believe RaW, and i've always played as such, that p49 and the phrase:" At the start of it's move, a Flying Monstrous Creature must declare whether it is Swooping or Gliding until the start of it's next turn."
will let you start first turn by Swooping off 24" (unless the enemy steals the initiative).

However, a more reliable and experienced member of our LGS has told me that if the owner of the FMC has first turn, he cannot elect to Swoop until his second turn (and must move as jump infantry for turn 1).

Now i am on here to:
.A) By RaW, check if you think this is correct?
.B) Understand how, where and why this assumption would be made (and come across as RaW for that person)

So far the only way i have "explained it" to myself is from p49: "A Flying Monstrous Creature that is deployed at the start of the game starts in glide mode."
This could infer that: "Start of the game" is therefore Player 1, Turn 1, so the choice "Glide or Swoop" has already been made for that player turn: He must Glide. There is no difference between "start of the game" and "start of the first movement phase"?

Would you agree that this is a true statement, and if not, could you try to explain possibly how the error might have come up?

**rigeld2**

I think that's how the error comes up, but you're correct - you can opt to Swoop on player turn 1.

**BlackTalos**

rigeld2 wrote:
I think that's how the error comes up, but you're correct - you can opt to Swoop on player turn 1.

If that is indeed the way the error comes up, what is the counter-argument?

Something along the lines of: "At the start of it's move" happens after the glide mode given by deployment, because, for example, you move another unit first?

**rigeld2**

BlackTalos wrote:
rigeld2 wrote:
I think that's how the error comes up, but you're correct - you can opt to Swoop on player turn 1.

If that is indeed the way the error comes up, what is the counter-argument?

Something along the lines of: "At the start of it's move" happens after the glide mode given by deployment, because, for example, you move another unit first?

Because you've satisfied the deployment requirement when you deployed. Now it's movement and you have permission to Swoop.

**BlackTalos**

I see, that does make more sense, but i still feel like there's an issue with how "everything is simultaneous": If you go second, you are in glide mode and the (RaW) statement is true. But if you go first the start of the movement phase is simultaneous with the start of the game.

And the only argument out of that would be how "Start of its move"=/="Start of the movement phase" but even that is (in my mind) quite a wobbly base to stand on :-/

**rigeld2**

BlackTalos wrote:
I see, that does make more sense, but i still feel like there's an issue with how "everything is simultaneous": If you go second, you are in glide mode and the (RaW) statement is true. But if you go first the start of the movement phase is simultaneous with the start of the game.

Which has nothing to do with deployment.

**liturgies of blood**

Well since it is deploayed on the board, the start of the FMC's movement =/= start of movement phase. The start of movement phase is for blessings etc.

**FlyerMM**

FMC starts in glide mode, no problem here.

I don't have my rulebook so I will assume the quoted rules are correctly transcribed from the book.

at start of FMC movement it must declare if it is Swoop or Glide until start of it's next turn. Note, this is start of FMC movement, not start of movement phase.

The start of game state is given so you know how to treat the FMC on first player turn if your opponent goes first, since it affects shooting at the FMC. There is nothing that stops it from changing its mode at the start of its own movement.

**PrinceRaven**

A deployed FMC starts the movement phase gliding and may elect in to swoop or glide at the start of its move in the same way a FMC that was gliding in the previous turn starts the movement phase gliding and may elect to swoop or glide at the start of its move.

So, if being in gliding mode at the start of the movement phase stopped you from changing movement mode it would be impossible to ever swoop with a FMC that started on the board.

**BlackTalos**

Yeah, i do fully agree with that position as it is how i read those rules.

Just trying to understand why someone so experienced would make that assumption (went to many tournaments, so surely this must have come up?)