Still trying to get a handle on the 40K rules.

[Matt Thomas]

You can upgrade the biovores to fire all the mines it just costs more points, you would decide before you shoot the type of mine your launching.  I think there used to be a flame template mine but I think they just simplified it to be all small blast.  I hope that some of this helps, if not sorry.

I thought that at first but doubled checked the Codex and it does not look like you can. I did not see anything in the FAQ on it either.

ETA
yes they are all now small templates, no flamer templates.

[Matt Thomas]

Oh man... Tyranids seem to want Soooooooo many Gaunts. Hordes and hordes of them... I may die of old age before I finish the swarm.
On the plus side they look a lot like Velociraptors (well the Jurassic Park version at least - Nothing like the real ones) with guns which is wicked sweet.

On the rules front I finally got the blackreach book in my hands... time to study.

[Lykosan]

Like we all said, stop magnetizing and pining the gaunts you weirdo.

[Logan007]

You might find this thread useful Matt.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/249986.page

[Matt Thomas]

You might find this thread useful Matt.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/249986.page

Ouch. Not sure what it was supposed to help me with but it made me think that I may need even more frikin gaunts (though I will have enough Hormagaunts as of Friday) given the advice to load up some units with the cheapest possible gaunts rather than take without number on as many.

[Grand Master Steve]

Why dont you assemble the models and then shave off the visible mold lines?

[Rurouni Benshin]

Hey guys!

How's everyone doing?  Been awhile since I've checked the boards, and thought I'd drop in with a question.  (Matt, I don't mean to use your thread, but the topic seems pretty appropriate for what I need to ask, so I hope you don't mind).

As some of you know, I've recently started developing an interest in 40K.  The last time I was at BG, I bought the starter set, and have since gone over both the "Read First Manual" and the Rule Book, however there're still some things that I'm not too sure about.

Question #1:  Assault Phase
Take for example, when a unit of infantry move in to assault an enemy unit.  If some of the models in the assaulting unit are not base to base with an enemy model (but maintain coherency with the rest of it's unit), are they able to attack during the assault?  The rule book wasn't very clear on that, to my knowledge.

Question #2:  Pile-In's
Actually, it's not really a question, but more of a need for clarification.  Take the scenario from Question #1.  Assuming the enemy unit lost the combat, and passes it's morale check, and I have models in an assaulting unit that are not base to base with an enemy model, I may then move them up to 6" to go base to base with whatever's left in the enemy unit.  Correct?

Question #3:  Drawing Line of Sight through friendly's
I know that models within a unit do not block or hinder line of sight from each other, but say another unit happens to be in the line of sight from my unit to the enemy unit.  Does the 2nd unit block line of sight (or even provide cover) for the enemy unit?

Question #4:  Painting
This is more of a general and open ended question concerning painting the mini's.  I know that priming them would be the best way to start, and the way the book describes painting them seems simple enough, but if anyone has any advice at all on color schemes, painting technique, or any advice at all, please feel free to share.

That's all for now guys.  Thanks a lot!  Married life is treating me well so far (knock on wood).  I'll be back in town the weekend of the 15th, so I'll try to stop by for a little while just to say hi.

Hope everyone's doing well, and thanks ahead of time for the advice.
~Ben

[jesterofthedark]

1) During an assualt any unit that is within two inches of a friendly model that is in base to base contact may attack normally.  Unless the model is an independant character.  Independant characters may only attack and be attacked if they themselves are actually basing another enemy model.  This is usually not an issue since in 5th edition any unit that has been assaulted moves 6" to base the rest of its models with the assaulting unit.

Ex.  A unit of 30 orks assaults a 10 man unit of guardsmen, if only 5 orks manage to base the guardsmen after all movement is done then any orks that are within 2" of a basing ork are allowed to attack with all their attacks.  Any models out of the 2" can not attack.

2) Yes, if you win the assualt and the enemy does not flee, your remaining troops move up to 6" to attempt to base all remaining enemy units.  The enemy also makes the same 6" pile-in after the winner of the combat makes their pile-in move.

3) 5th is actual line of sight, so you need to be able to see what ever your shooting at.  You can shoot through friendly or enemy units to hit targets.  If you do shoot through a unit it grants the target cover.  In order for something to be blocked it has to actually be not visible to any unit shooting at it.  There are also rules for altering the cover save if only part of the targeted unit is in cover or out of sight.

[Rob S]

To further expand on #1, and Kevin's mention of independent characters:

They were always very difficult to understand for me until I was shown one major point: treat them as if they were a separate unit in assault.  That means that they need to be in base contact with a member of the unit they want to hit, and a unit that wants to attack the character has to be in base contact or have someone within 2 inches of someone in base contact.

Assume that the 30 orks also had a warboss with them and assaulted the 10 space marines.  If that warboss was unable to get into base contact, he can't assault because it's as if a unit wasn't in base with the unit it wanted to assault.  It makes it a lot more simple when you think of it that way, and I guarantee it'll come up.

[Rurouni Benshin]

Ok, so the way I'm understanding this, and please correct me if I'm wrong:

Scenario:
1 unit of 10 Space Marines assault a unit of Orks.  After the Ork unit reacts, and moves forward, 6 of the Space Marines manage to get base to base with the Ork unit, and 3 other Marines manage to remain within 2" of one of those four Marines, but the last Marine does not make it within 2", due to whatever reason, but does maintain coherency with the 3 Marines ahead of him.

So the Marines that are able to attack in this Assault would be the 6 that are base to base, and the 3 that are within 2" of them.  The last Marine is then left to do what, exactly?  Does he just sit there idly until the assault is over?  Assuming the Marine unit suffers no casualties, and the Ork unit makes it's morale check, would he then "Pile-in", along with the 3 Marines ahead of him?

New Question:  Player turns
Based on what I've read, there seems to be no disadvantage to going first.  To emphasize this, let's say that the first player to go in the game manages to kill an enemy model during the Shooting Phase.  That enemy model dies immediately, without even having a chance to attack.  So the question I'm asking is, is there any disadvantage at all for going first?

New Question 2:  Morale Checks
For Morale Checks during combat, are they only made after an Assault phase?  Are they made during the Shooting Phase? 

Thanks a lot, guys.  I'll keep all the stuff you've told me in mind.  Keep 'em comin' if you got 'em!
~Ben

[jhobin]

-In your senario yes that Marine that is out twiddle's his thumbs, and would pile in at the end of combat resolution.

-Player turns. Going 2nd can have big advantages, usually dependant on the army you play or the missions.  Going 2nd can have big advantages in both styles of missions. With objective based mission's usually its better to 2nd so you can make a last minute grab for an obj and there is nothing your opponent can do about it. In KP mission's you get to see your whole opponenet's army deployed before you setup (generally!) and can setup some great line of sights, but you have to take a pummeling first, or cross your finger's for seize the initiative. There are also alot of advantages for certain armies that I won't go into.

-Morale checks. Are made in the shooting phase when you take 25% casualties or a pinning check (you don't run but stay put in the following movement phase), and at the end of combat resolution.

[Rurouni Benshin]

Thanks a lot, Jhobin. 

Follow up question though to the Morale Check:  If during my Shooting Phase, the enemy unit fails it's Morale Check, do they immediately fall back in the middle of my turn, or do they do that on their own turn?

Also, if they do fail their Morale check and have to fall back, are they untargetable for an Assault on that same turn?

I know during the Assault phase they immediately fall back if they fail the Morale check, which then could allow for a Sweeping Advance, but it's not exactly clarified if this happens during the Shooting phase or not.

Thanks again!

[jhobin]

-They have to take there morale check after you are done firing everything at that unit. They would take the check and then fall back in your shooting phase.

-They can be assaulted while falling back, if you assault a unit that is falling back that unit needs to take a leadership check, if it fails it's wiped out. It is sometimes better to stay withing 6 inch of the unit that is falling back rather than assaulting it because it can not rally if there is an enemy unit within 6.

-The sweeping advance is the extra movement that unit gets after it beats another, so it takes place in the assault phase.