Since I have two things unclear I'll put them in a single thread in order to conserve space. They both deal with order of things carried out when it's not explicitly stated (or perhaps me and my friend just couldn't find them!)

First one deals with failing an activation test. The formation in question receives a Blast marker and must perform a Hold action. However, is the Blast marker gained before or after performing Hold action (and either movement or shooting)? We thought maybe it would be before the action, but then in case of Marshall action number of Blast markers doesn't change until the end of action performed. So we were kinda lost on that one


The second question is about aircraft and disengagement rules - specifically, order in which they must be performed. Supposing my opponent has a formation of Phoenix Bombers that has performed a Ground Attack action and I've got a couple of landed Thunderhawks. It is very much in my best interest to let him perform disengagement first and see if I can shoot them with my Heavy Bolters

Is this one of the cases where the Ties rule kicks in and we compare birthdays? That might compensate for my friend having advantage over me in first Strategy Roll as he's got the tiebreaker for most of the year and we've been using that for ties on that check...

The blast marker for failing an activation is immediate, and can cause the formation to break and not be allowed the hold action. Likewise, if the hold action is used to regroup the extra bm can be removed and thus the formation can often go down to zero bms.

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http://www.troublemakergames.co.uk/
Epic: Hive Development Thread

With regards disengaging Aircraft there are two points.
1) As you imply, aircraft that are disengaging are not permitted to shoot each other even if they come into arc etc - only ground based AA may fire.

2) Landed transports are effectively ground units so may fire at aircraft that disengage. However, if they do so I would say that they have then chosen to stay landed and not to disengage. Put another way, I think there may be an implied step to declare whether the transports are intending to disengage or to stay landed and fire. If you do this, then the order that aircraft disengage does not matter.

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"Play up and play the game"

Vitai lampada
Sir Hemry Newbolt

You've already got your answers, but just to give you the offical stamp of approval (do I even have an official stamp of approval anymore?):

From 1.13.3
If a formation is broken part way through an action that it
is taking (ie, by the Blast marker received for failing an
initiative test, or as a result of Blast markers received from
overwatch fire), then it makes a withdrawal and loses the
rest of its action.

So yes, you do apply the BM immediately and this can indeed break you before your Hold action or suppress units. Note that you can choose to regroup as your Hold action and potentially get rid of the BM you just aquired - assuming that BM didn't break your formation of course.

The second question is about aircraft and disengagement rules - specifically, order in which they must be performed. Supposing my opponent has a formation of Phoenix Bombers that has performed a Ground Attack action and I've got a couple of landed Thunderhawks. It is very much in my best interest to let him perform disengagement first and see if I can shoot them with my Heavy Bolters

Thanks for your answers!

Only aircraft that stays landed being able to shoot flak really feels quite logical. We're going to play it like that.

I agree with Lord I.  I'd just say that all aircraft disengages are simultaneous.  There's no notes on it as to order.  Ergo, you only get to fire ground flak if you're not disengaging.

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Neal