The Necron thread here got derailed during a discussion about what a formation off board is required or not required to do.  While this affects the Necrons the most it will have implications for a other armies (Eldar, Dark Eldar, anything that has a portal).  

Can a formation off board choose not to activate?  What specifically are the obligations of a formation off board?  Are they required to move onto the board?  If a formation fails to activate, is it forced to take a move from the HOLD action and go through the nearest portal?  Can a formation regroup off board?

These are the questions that need to be clarified and decided on by the NetERC, but obviously comments from the community are welcome.  I think there are some simple solutions, but they need to be put down in writing.

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Suggested by Dave:



Or



As a recap, I see problems with the latter of the two because you are forcing a formation to do something that may not be allowable (moving into a ZoC).  THe problem with the former is that it disallows a fundamental action that all formations have, which is the move aspect of the HOLD action.

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as dave stated in the other thread, the easiest solution would be to have them fail to activate (similar to aircraft). if the opponent had your portal surrounded and the rule states you have to come on board, obviously that could not happen due to ZOC. if the rule said you could take a hold action, that might be unfair to necron players because they would be able to shed BMs off board.
so why not make it simple, they fail to activate.

This is an issue with formations that have been put in reserve due to the availability of a gate of some nature.

Terminators in reserve ready to teleport are covered already (if they don't teleport they get no activation).

Maybe we should consider something similar for gate troops? So at the start you declare what formations will enter via gates and if they fail their activation they are committed to moving out? No need to say which gate you will appear out of, just that you are entering play. If you lose gates before the formation has attempted to activate it cannot take an action that turn.

Allowing formations to perform regroups off board seems gamey. "Ha ha! Can't get me here!" kind of stuff.

As to not allowing them to move as part of the hold, that could suck for the tie breaker and could also deny them the ability to contest or control their Blitz or another objective.

The third option (and the one I now support after some more thought on this) is to allow them to move out of the portal if they want to, or to stay put, controlling players choice. That seems less harsh and gives the controlling player some choice. Definitely no regrouping though.

With that option we'll need some clarification about the portal in ZoC issue. I agree that a formation should not be able to enter play via a portal in ZoC of the enemy unless the formation is engaging.

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in the previous thread it was mentioned that people might try and take advantage of this. for example units in a thunderhawk which failed to activate might try and burn an activation by going on overwatch. this could be avoided by adding to the rules for off board formations saying they have to attempt to take an action that would bring them on board.

we could just state somewhere in the necron rules that they cannot get BMs off board, which would mean they could stay off board w/ a 0cm or they could come on board.

I'm confused by this? Did you mean not get RID of BMs?

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Not sure how this is "gamey", as it seems completely plausible that, Necrons at least, could be being rebuilt deep down in the tombs that that portals link too.

This also means a full turn without a formation to do this... I don't see it as a "no-brainer".

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Well if we allow regrouping off board, formations could perform a marshal action, not move, and regroup.

I see that as abusive. A formation could be all but destroyed on turn 1, rally turn 1 and get a 1-2 BM, marshall (or just regroup if it fails) off board on turn 2, rally on turn 2 and remove a BM, and come back pretty close to fresh on turn 3. All the while the opponent can do nothing to stop this.

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This is what I am thinking, Chroma, and I mentioned this in the other thread.  Regrouping off board strikes me as not only allowable but realistic.  While they are off board, they are not on the board claiming objectives, blocking movement, or supporting other formations.  And regrouping doesn't always guarantee the loss of all BMs (as evidenced by my last game... snakes eyes anyone? ).  If you are still with BMs and trying to activate for turn 3 you are gambling with your game.

Think about this: an unbroken Necron formation off-board no longer has its regeneration tied to BMs; they are now regenerating under the Necron rule during the rally phase like void shields.  Can this unbroken Necron formation regenerate?  That is also the formation doing something off board.  If they can regenerate, why can they not regroup?  If they can't regroup, why should they be allowed to regenerate?

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sorry, yes it was supposed to read get rid of BMs for the same reasons you just mentioned

Mosc, in one of your next games then try what I suggested. Go all out turn 1, regroup on turn 2 not coming onto the board, and then come back again turn 3. I'm just worried that this is going to be hard to counter and it won't be a fun match for your opponent.

Activations off-board seem strange, the models should be on the table doing stuff not off on the sideline.

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You don't see giving your opponent a full turn to do what they want a huge disadvantage?

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I don't think it's as big as the advantage Necrons get when regrouping and regenerating off-board, then being able to teleport/portal back on a lot less worse for wear in turn 3.

The opponent is going to have to whether another turn 1 but instead of just protecting their units will have to keep an eye out on the victory conditions as well.

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