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So the confusion is this. Infiltrators: "When this unit is set up on the battlefield, it can be set up anywhere that is wholly within 24" of its Detachment's Commander, even if this is outside its deployment zone..." (The rest is irrelevant)

First problem: You don't choose commanders until after you deploy. So you can't put the infiltrators down infiltrating because you don't actually have a commander on the field yet. Ugh GW why? Ignoring this, because it's the only way the Infiltrate rule actually works (Like with Assault and Pistol), we have another question.

If all units in a detachment have Infiltrators, like Scout Sentinels, and therefore the commander has Infiltrate, how does this work with deployment? I see 2 ways, but each has problems and implications.

1.) They can all infiltrate anywhere on the board not in the enemy deployment zone (as long as they're within 24" of the commander and outside of 9" of enemies).

2.) The commander has to be deployed normally inside the deployment zone, because before they're on the field, they can't be within 24" of themselves, so they can't infiltrate. The others can infiltrate as normal.


1 has the problem of suddenly Genestealers are lining the entirety of the edge of your deployment zone, spanning the entire width of the board, if you didn't put something up there to have the 9" bubble, or if they deploy first.
2 has the problem of one of your units just not getting the use of their ability.

FAQ didn't offer anything to help with this. Any idea? We found a half way measure in the meantime, but we're interested in the RAW of this situation.

Basically, it doesn't work at all until they FAQ it.

Agree a way to deal with it with your opponent before the game.

The basic idea is your choice of commander is very limited. Its the unit with the highest ld or a character. You COULD have multiple characters with tied ld in a detachment but mostly you wont. So even though you dont pick a commander until after deployment you already know who that commander will be.

The other part of this is that its perfectly fine to deploy outside the 24". You will just start the game out of command and risk being removed turn 1 because of it.

To prevent the 9" Bubble, you will have to set up your line early. So your opponent can react by setting up further back, which should be possible provided you play on a board "deeper" than usual 40k boards. If not possible or not wanted he just puts up a line of blockers. Some relatively cheap infantry or such.
If it is his turn before you activate your Genes, he will give them Blastmarkers galore, so they will hopefully not survive the round.
Otherwise you will charge the poor guys first, giving them blast markers. When it is their turn they will fall back and other units will pound your Genes.
Depending on the cost of the sacrificial troops this might come out as a loss for you points wise.
Or instead of some blockers he puts his close combat cracks in front. And they and the Genes mutually annihilate each other, In that case you don't even draw any fire to the Genes saving some other troops to be shot at.

So I agree there is a hole in the rule, and you might be surprised when your opponent sets up the line, but whether your opponent really can get an advantage out of it in more than the first game, I'm not sure.