Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Simple question: if you use the strike from the shadows stratagem, can that unit be set up at the end of the movement phase in turn 1 in matched play?

I've seen different answers in different places. I've had some players say they can (or I can) and a couple insist it is the same as deploying Strategic Reserve and Reinforcement units and therefore SFTS units can never arrive on the battlefield in the first battle round. The wording of it is:

Use this Stratagem during the Declare Reserves and Transports step of your mission. Select one RAVEN GUARD INFANTRY unit from your army. You can set up that unit in ambush instead of setting it up on the battlefield. If you do, at the end of one of your Movement phases you can set up that unit anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 9" away from any enemy models.

No they cannot arrive on turn 1 in matched play.

That's a standard wording for a reinforcement rule. Similar wording is used across most reinforcement rules in the game.

The reinforcement rules you find in stratagems, unit datasheets, etc, are designed to be used in multiple game modes, but only some of those game modes add in the restriction about not arriving on turn 1 or after turn 3. So those rules are worded such that they don't mention this restriction. The game mode (mission pack) adds the restriction.

Cool, thanks for that. I suppose the advantage to SFTS is the ability to use it anywhere on the board 9" from enemy models, rather than the additional restrictions placed on Strategic Reserve and Reinforcements.

Ravengaurd are better at using their infiltrate strategem (which is turn zero -- before play) and can move jumppack or similarly fast models halfway up the board. On turn 1 they can then move again normally.

Also, lord of deceit (phobos specifically) and master of ambush (any one character who has the trait and one infantry) can pregame reposition units. One can also simply start any vangaurd (meaning incursor, infiltrator, scout, eliminator, or victrix warsuit type units) on the board anywhere one wants outside the 9 inch line from the enemies deployment zone, and THEN infiltrate them (again, before turn 1 starts) a move as well.

In a middle zone area, there is a ravengaurd psyker spell that can zip a character across the board as well, delivering him or her where they need to be to buff or support ... but not placing them out in the breeze if you end up getting tore up by your opponent who got to go first.

Finally, turn 1 alpha strike with marines do exist -- you can load up to 10 into a drop pod and bring it down on turn 1 to unload them (again, a nine inch away rule is in play) but its a very powerful method to deliver longer ranged shooting units from complete safety.

SFTS is not a BAD rule per se, its just less useful than all of the above in ravengaurd hands, and leaves you wondering if you will be able to find a place to go on turn 2 (after your hordelike enemy spreads out across 2/3 of the whole board).