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Question for everyone: How exactly do the Tau shieldline/gunrig/drone platforms work in 8th? Can I shoot models on them? Assault a unit on one? Can I move my units onto an enemy shieldline? Move through one?

Or do you have to get through the fortification first to get to units on top of it/can't move models on an enemy tau fortification. It's just really strange because they're considered an enemy unit vehicle fortification transport. So do I have to keep 1" away from it, and not be able to assault units on top and such? Strange.

Thanks!

 Buzzdady wrote:
Question for everyone: How exactly do the Tau shieldline/gunrig/drone platforms work in 8th? Can I shoot models on them? Assault a unit on one? Can I move my units onto an enemy shieldline? Move through one?

Or do you have to get through the fortification first to get to units on top of it/can't move models on an enemy tau fortification. It's just really strange because they're considered an enemy unit vehicle fortification transport. So do I have to keep 1" away from it, and not be able to assault units on top and such? Strange.

Thanks!

Yeah, unless they FAQ fortifications otherwise, for the time being, any fortification that is described as a 'model' (as all the T'au ones are), means exactly that: that they are models (and are therefore considered enemy models to the opponent).

For opposing units, that indeed means they can't move within 1" of the fortification in the movement phase. And even if/when they charge it, the rules don't cover whether you're allowed to move on top of another model. You definitely can't move 'through' another model, but the rules don't cover moving on top of them. Although I think most players would naturally say moving on top of other models (even friendly ones) isn't something that is okay, even if the rules don't explicitly forbid it.

For friendly T'au units, the way you use these fortifications is to 'embark' onto them (like you would a normal tansport) and then just put the models that are embarked onto the fortification as a reminder that the models are 'in' the fortification. This has the obvious benefit of meaning that the enemy cannot shoot/charge at your T'au unit that is 'inside' the fortification, but it also means that the units embarked on the fortification suffer all the normal restrictions of an embarked unit (they can't benefit from ranged abilities, nor can any ranged abilities they have affect other friendly units).

It is strange that fortifications like this can totally restrict enemy movement, even when they're empty, but that's just how things work in 8e unless they FAQ it otherwise!


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For your specific questions:

Can I shoot models on them? (no)
Assault a unit on one? (no)
Can I move my units onto an enemy shieldline? (not unless you think the rules allow you to move models on top of other models)
Move through one? (not unless your unit flies or can otherwise move through enemy models)

Man, it's just so wonky now compared to how it was in 7th. Thanks for the helpful response!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
If you have an ethereal embarked with a squad of firewarriors, they don't receive any bonuses from the ethereal then, correct?

Just think of them as open-topped transports

Exactly, they are just transports now. Everyone can shoot out (you measure from the "hull") and you can't shoot the unit inside. If the fortification is destroyed, it can explode just like a transport and then the unit inside disembarks in the same way.

You can put 10 models in it (one unit and as many characters as you want, up to 10).

They are just open-topped transports. That bits simple enough.

There are some weird things though. Drones can't embark on them, so what happens when infantry units with drones deploy inside them? I think the infantry are allowed to do this as they and the drones are seperate units, but then it tells us to deploy the drones within 3" of the infantry... who are not on the board. And how many deployment drops is this?

I've been thinking of sticking a firesight marksman in a droneport, so the drones get to benefit from his 3+ BS. But then does he count as having LoS to anything the droneport can see, and give his sniper drones +1 to hit?

These things seem really odd. They do seem to be a good place to put pathfinders with rail rifles though.

Mandragola wrote:
They are just open-topped transports. That bits simple enough.

There are some weird things though. Drones can't embark on them, so what happens when infantry units with drones deploy inside them? I think the infantry are allowed to do this as they and the drones are seperate units, but then it tells us to deploy the drones within 3" of the infantry... who are not on the board. And how many deployment drops is this?

I've been thinking of sticking a firesight marksman in a droneport, so the drones get to benefit from his 3+ BS. But then does he count as having LoS to anything the droneport can see, and give his sniper drones +1 to hit?

These things seem really odd. They do seem to be a good place to put pathfinders with rail rifles though.

Stick a Cadre Fireblade instead
Would make the Drones become +2 to hit, give them an additional shot at half range, and he can light stuff up better with his BS2 Markerlight.

Not to mention you can also stick in 9 more Fire Warriors to also benefit from his half range bonus.
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Altho yea, if you stick a Firesight Marksman it will basically lose it's Aura. Since you can't attach Sniper Drones to it.

 Talamare wrote:

Mandragola wrote:
They are just open-topped transports. That bits simple enough.

There are some weird things though. Drones can't embark on them, so what happens when infantry units with drones deploy inside them? I think the infantry are allowed to do this as they and the drones are seperate units, but then it tells us to deploy the drones within 3" of the infantry... who are not on the board. And how many deployment drops is this?

I've been thinking of sticking a firesight marksman in a droneport, so the drones get to benefit from his 3+ BS. But then does he count as having LoS to anything the droneport can see, and give his sniper drones +1 to hit?

These things seem really odd. They do seem to be a good place to put pathfinders with rail rifles though.

Stick a Cadre Fireblade instead
Would make the Drones become +2 to hit, give them an additional shot at half range, and he can light stuff up better with his BS2 Markerlight.

Not to mention you can also stick in 9 more Fire Warriors to also benefit from his half range bonus.
-----------
Altho yea, if you stick a Firesight Marksman it will basically lose it's Aura. Since you can't attach Sniper Drones to it.

You can't put a Fireblade inside and his aura will work. See the transport rules in the BRB, they specifically say that rules that affect units within an aura do not work when the "giver" is in a transport. The Drone buffing is nice though, I have already been building a Droneport for this exact reason, but with Pathfinders inside, so it's basically a huge marker light platform.

 alleus wrote:

You can't put a Fireblade inside and his aura will work. See the transport rules in the BRB, they specifically say that rules that affect units within an aura do not work when the "giver" is in a transport. The Drone buffing is nice though, I have already been building a Droneport for this exact reason, but with Pathfinders inside, so it's basically a huge marker light platform.

Hmm true, I suppose the Fireblade has to run along side the Platform

Open Topped does say "Any modifiers that apply to this model, also applies to its passengers"

 Talamare wrote:

 alleus wrote:

You can't put a Fireblade inside and his aura will work. See the transport rules in the BRB, they specifically say that rules that affect units within an aura do not work when the "giver" is in a transport. The Drone buffing is nice though, I have already been building a Droneport for this exact reason, but with Pathfinders inside, so it's basically a huge marker light platform.

Hmm true, I suppose the Fireblade has to run along side the Platform

Open Topped does say "Any modifiers that apply to this model, also applies to its passengers"

He needs to run along side it for the Pulse buff yes, but then he can't use his BS for the Drones. You will have to chose the buff you want I guess. Control the Drones until enemy models are close, then jump out and grant the Pulse buff maybe? Sounds good to me anyway

So need a ruling on the shieldline ability.

Does it give back a mortal wound for each 6 rolled when making an armor save. Ex. A unit shoots bolt guns at wounds it and 2 of the saves are a 6 thus equaling 2 mortal wounds.

Or is it a flat one per unit per set of saves. Ex. Same unit as above shoots 2 saves are a 6 thus equaling 1 mortal wound for that unit. Then a seprerate unit shoots it wounds and at least a 6 is rolled to save giving 1 mortal wound to the new unit that shot it.

 Ishotfirst wrote:
So need a ruling on the shieldline ability.

Does it give back a mortal wound for each 6 rolled when making an armor save. Ex. A unit shoots bolt guns at wounds it and 2 of the saves are a 6 thus equaling 2 mortal wounds.

Or is it a flat one per unit per set of saves. Ex. Same unit as above shoots 2 saves are a 6 thus equaling 1 mortal wound for that unit. Then a seprerate unit shoots it wounds and at least a 6 is rolled to save giving 1 mortal wound to the new unit that shot it.

Well it says for each 6+ the shooting unit suffers 1 mortal wound, so for each 6+ it would be a mortal wound.