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Hi!
Trying to learn the rules (Im kinda new to this universe) I got a question regarding the Tau Shield Drones. Lets say a Shas'ui in a Fire Warrior Team does bring a Shield Drone. Does this drone give the invulnerable save to the whole team or just the Shas'ui? And if just the Shas'ui, what happens when he dies before the drone?

Does it work the same as above (whatever that is) if it is an independent character, say an Ethereal, that brings the Shield Drone and joins the Fire Warrior Team?
Regards

Matt

Shield Drones only give themselves the invul, They dont share it. Shield Drones are used by placing them between the enemy and the Tau unit so when the enemy shoots, The drone is first in line and thus takes the hits untill it fails it's save.

think of the shield drone, just like any other drone, as another member of that unit; the difference though is the shield drone gets an invulnerable save, but he still like the rest has to roll for a look out sir!. Now who you think will get LoS, the entire squad or the leader of such squad? ... same applies to any other instance

I see, so it is of no help against template weapons (in order to shield an ethereal or such)?
And it has only one wound, doesnt sound very useful?

mattswe wrote:
I see, so it is of no help against template weapons (in order to shield an ethereal or such)?
And it has only one wound, doesnt sound very useful?

keep in mind if it does tank the hit for Mr ethereal, the ethereal will have to take a leadership test. Like most drones used as ablative wounds, you run into the problem where they can force a leadership test.

mattswe wrote:
I see, so it is of no help against template weapons (in order to shield an ethereal or such)?
And it has only one wound, doesnt sound very useful?

It gives the squad a 50% chance to ignore every shot that comes its way, until it is destroyed. That's pretty useful.

It does work against templates - the template determines how many wounds it inflicts by how many models are covered by the template, but all of those wounds have to be assigned to the closest model before they can be assigned to one behind it. So if someone hits the squad with a flamer, and the template covers five squad members, the drone can potentially save all five hits if the dice are in your favour.