I now understand what happens, thanks guys.

Now to find out if the transported formations are allowed their own activation on the turn the Manta lands.

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Tyranid air marshal

As it is the Manta that is activating, this falls under WE transportation in 3.1.3, and is repeated in the Air transportation process in 4.2.5. In both cases, the contents may disembark and join in with the WE transporting them (either shooting or Assaulting), but the contents 'lose' their own activation for that turn. So I do not think the troops inside a Manta that activates should be any different, irrespective of what kind of move the Manta makes.

However, if the TAU have purchased a spaceship which activates to drop troops (and the Manta) onto the table, then that is a different matter - and it also allows the Manta to make an activation in it's own right.

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Sir Hemry Newbolt

Excellent rational Ginger and a reason to use a hero to drop it!

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No.  It's a WE-transported formation.  It is bound to the WE's action for the entire turn.

Just think of Free Planetfall as a special kind of movement and the questions should mostly go away - not an action, just a special kind of movement.

BTW, since we're on that, I've been thinking that Free Planetfall/Sustain probably doesn't make sense.  Plus, from a balance perspective it would allow a unit to land, dismount, and sustain in a single activation, which seems a bit much.  There's a small chance of scattering out of range/LoS, but it's pretty slim.

Anyone else think Sustain could be removed as an option during FP?

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Neal

Umm Neal, the rules don't allow you to sustain after moving, and I don't think that an Air transport (which has moved to get onto the table) can sustain either. So why would we be even thinking of allowing a sustain after a Free-Planetfall? After all, it is just another form of movement (as you have just pointed out) .

However, my concern is actually regarding the number of times an army can actually do this. Dropping everything onto the table once in a game is one thing, but doing it repeatedly would be very different. An army with a significant number of Orca Dropships, each with its contingent of assault troops, would be very hard to counter. If used properly (and with a little luck), it could be devastating.

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Sir Hemry Newbolt

Certainly a problem if aircraft got it, currently only skimmers do.

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'Abolish red trousers?! Never! Red trousers are France!' – Eugene Etienne, War Minister, 1913
"Gentlemen, we may not make history tomorrow, but we shall certainly change the geography."
General Plumer, 191x