40K Rules Conundrum: Cowardly Flyers Edition
You know you can’t resist a good old-fashioned rules conundrum. Its like trying to not look at someone getting a ticket on the roadside.
A bit of a rules conundrum with the Terrify Psychic power and flying monstrous creatures.
Scenario: A Flying Hive Tyrant in Swoop mode has moved directly up the middle of the table towards an Eldar player. The Eldar player has a Hemlock Wraithfighter on the board and casts its Terrify power on the Tyrant.
Assuming each step goes poorly for the Tyrant:
1. The fighter has to take a psychic power check as normal
2. The Tyrant gets a Deny the Witch roll
3. The Tyrant loses fearless and must make an immediate Morale check
4. If it passes (and the Wraithfighter is within 12″), it must re-roll the check.now it gets interesting…
A FMC in swoop mode can only make a 90 degree turn at the beginning of its movement, similar to a flyer. It can choose to move as jump infantry as well… What happens next?
AdvertisementDoes it fall back 3d6 like a jump MC?
If so, is it now “on the ground”
If so, does it take a grounding check?If it remains in swoop mode, does it fall back towards its board edge?
If so, does it get to ignore the 90 degree turning restrictions?
How far does it move? 2d6? 3d6?What happens if it goes off the board edge?
Swooping flyers go into ongoing reserves, which directly contradicts the rule that units forced to fall back through failed morale are destroyed.
And we were off to the races with everyone offering suggestions. Basically the core question is exactly how do you resolve movement when a swooping flying monstrous creature breaks? There seem to be several rules sections that directly contradict each other on what happens for both movement, and what happens if the model reaches the board edge.
This is a sticky on existing at the intersection of the Psychic, Flyer, and Morale rules. For the record, you will want to carefully examine the rules for:
Flying Monstrous Creatures: p.48-49
Morale: p.29-30
Flyers: p.80-81
Fear: p.35
Subscribe to our newsletter!Get Tabletop, RPG & Pop Culture news delivered directly to your inbox.By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Terrify: p.147
Rules Lawyers, you may open your briefcases – Begin!
