3++ is the new black. | Kirb your enthusiasm!: Rules: Combat squadding in BA army

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Rules: Combat squadding in BA army - post FAQ

Posted by Unknown

This is from an e-mailer:

"Hello Kirby,
i'm a regular reader of your blog, and i have a small question for you.
In most of your jumper army, i remember you using combat squad for your assault squads.
In that regard, how do you interpret this FAQ:
Q: Can you take a Drop Pod with a 10-man squad and
then put a combat squad in it, deploying the other combat
squad on the table, or leave it in reserve but not in the
Drop Pod? (p69)
A: No, because squads that are placed in reserve may not
break down into combat squads.

Does that mean that you can no more do 5 man squad DoA?
That you split after the reserve roll?
Something else?
Thank you for your input, i really don't know what to do whith this FAQ (which come from the old DA FAQ and can be a overview...)
Francois"

I've read this as you combat squad after the Reserve roll.

Previously I played that you were 'deploying' in reserve and thus split then and rolled for each squad separately but with this FAQ it indicates you combat squad once the unit actually arrives and literally deploys on the table. The same can be done for squads in pods (deploy two combat squads as you disembark) and full Terminator squads deep-striking.

Comments (25)

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Gx1080 · 739 weeks ago

Inb4 huge discussion about how is not the way to play it despite that, you know, makes sense.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Lord Fancy Pants · 739 weeks ago

Actually, according to the rules, it is the way to play.

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Heretic · 739 weeks ago

I'm just worried whether or not TOs will extend this to other codices. A list I'm hoping to run later this year will have combat squaded terminators, half in a LR, half teleporting.

3 replies · active 739 weeks ago

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Lord Fancy Pants · 739 weeks ago

This ruling came from the general Space Marines FAQ, so it's not excluive to BA's. So, it already applies to your codex.

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Heretic · 739 weeks ago

I just rechecked the SM FAQ and it's not in there.

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Lord fancy pants · 739 weeks ago

2nd page, 6th question down, left column.

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ben · 739 weeks ago

I’ll have to go re-read the FAQ I all way read it that you had to declare combat squading apone deployment. So if in drop pod you had to land with the full squad but they could split when they emerged. Same with other unit in reserve ei you took one role for the whole unit but then could deploy them separately the same way as IG platoons.

1 reply · active 739 weeks ago

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sirbiscuit 81p · 739 weeks ago

It is specifically declared when to squad deploys- IE, when it actually comes onto the table, which is not equivalent to "during deployment". I see where the confusion comes from, but you split as soon as the squad hits the table, not before the game.

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ben · 739 weeks ago

Ok i'm a bit drunk so it took me a while to figure out the real question. I think Kirby has it right you can't deploy one half and not the other. You could reserve the squad and deploy half walking onto the board edge and the other DS in the case of terminators. I'm petty sure this has alway been the case regarding the SM codex the rule about splitting up when the pod come in has alway been there. TBH I've all way seen it as a bit of bonus since it mean you can delay the decision or change it dependent on the situation which you find your self in. It also stop you coming in peace meal with stuff like combat squadded bikes or counter assault units

1 reply · active 739 weeks ago

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david · 739 weeks ago

My understanding is that you can't "reserve the squad and deploy half walking onto the board edge and the other DS". If you are deep striking, you must declare the whole squad is deep striking, and the whole squad goes into "deep strike" reserve. If you can't combat squad before you go into reserve, then once the squad is available from reserve, if it's in "deep strike reserve" then both squads must deep strike, you cant then decide that one is walking on, and one is deep striking.

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Keith · 739 weeks ago

FAQ wasn't really anything new, this stuff was already there.

From the BRB page 94:

"...players may choose not to deploy one or more of the units in their army and instead leave them in reserve."

In other words, if you are in reserve, you aren't deployed yet.

Combat Squads, I'll quote vanilla codex for this one:

"The decision to split the unit into combat squads, as well as which models go into each combat squad, must be made when the unit is deployed"

So, yes you can split a BA Assault Squad when you deepstrike. You don't even have to decide whether you want to split them up until they make their reserve roll. However, you can't have a combat squad of Termies start on the board while the other half deepstrike, you would be using the Combat Squads rule BEFORE their deployment, instead of during.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Keith · 739 weeks ago

Forgot to mention, the way they worded that FAQ is fucking idiotic. It would be much more clear to say "No, units cannot be broken into combat squads while they are still in reserve." Unless they intended it to be a rules change instead of a clarification.

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Katie_Drake 49p · 739 weeks ago

I think the main point of contention is if Deep Striking a unit actually counts as "deploying". To me at least, deploying is setting up your models during the deployment stage of the game. Anything more isn't "deployment" in the strictest sense, but rather just entering the battlefield. I don't think this is something that can be solved through debate though, it's going to come down to agreeing beforehand or GW rewording their answer.

5 replies · active 739 weeks ago

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Kirby 118p · 739 weeks ago

According to pg 95 it does. First paragraph.

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Katie_Drake 49p · 739 weeks ago

Huh. Yup, the wording is consistent. Thank goodness, I was worried for the future of Descent of Angels lists.

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Kirby 118p · 739 weeks ago

I wasn't.

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Katie_Drake 49p · 739 weeks ago

Yeah, but you're a scrub.

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Kirby 118p · 739 weeks ago

I am scrubbed clean yes.

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VT2 79p · 739 weeks ago

The only units that can combat squad after arriving on the board through any means of reserve are those in drop pods. Codex makes this very clear.

Even if it wasn't clearly stated in the books, the FAQ now spells it out.

1 reply · active 739 weeks ago

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snugger 43p · 739 weeks ago

Yes, the drop pod is the only thing that allows combat squadding AFTER they deploy, but there is nothing in the books (excluding the faqs) that prevent other units that deploy from reserves to combat squad at the moment they deploy.

However, the entry in the FAQ is not clear-cut, mainly whether they refer to not being able to combat squad at the point they are put in reserves, or if they mean putting something in reserves mean they cannot combat squad when they are finally deployed. Since the question is in regard to combat squadding before a unit is deployed, I honestly don't believe the intention is that arriving from reserves prevent combat squadding.

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Nubjert · 739 weeks ago

uhh just a noob question, when you deepstrike with 10 assault marines and combat squad do you roll for scatter on both 5man teams(and in doing so be able to drop them on different parts of the table?) Or do you just plonk them next to each other?

1 reply · active 739 weeks ago

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winter 30p · 739 weeks ago

Roll for scatter for each of the squads (as they are 2 different squads).

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Francois · 739 weeks ago

Hello, and thanks for your answer. It makes sense, but there are still some problems pending.
For instance, when do you make your red thirsts rolls?
They must take place "after deployment, but before scout moves". As the squad isn't deployed yet...
One roll for the whole squad and result apply to both? Roll after spliting?
I hate this FAQ.

2 replies · active 739 weeks ago

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Kirby 118p · 739 weeks ago

I would do it after the 'deployment' phase. Reserves are a special case so in this respect roll for the whole squad for Red Thirst.

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Antebellum · 739 weeks ago

That is how I have been doing it since the FAQ was released. I roll once (reserves and red thirst) for each 10 man assault squad, and then choose to combat squad or not combat squad upon deployment.

Previously, I was declaring my combat squads while they were in reserve and rolling separately for each 5 man combat squad.