Hello All

I would like to understand the Eldar Wraithgate and it's implication better.

If a Wraithgate is covered by the ZoC of some scouts then I assume any formation coming out of the gate must either assault them or move directly out of the scout's ZoC?

What if the Wraithgate is surrounded by scouts or perhaps up against the edge of the table with the table side surrounded by scouts (and still in ZoC of scouts)? I assume in this case the emerging Eldar formation *must* assault the scouts and cannot simply bypass them (in the case where they may have enough movement to end outside the scouts ZoC)?

Next, assuming the Eldar forces fail their activation, and decide to take a Hold action, I assume they then cannot enter play as they would then move and in fact end their move in the scout's ZoC which I imagine to be illegal?

I had more questions but cannot remember them right now. I will add them as they occur.

Thanks

I'm pretty sure you have the right of that.

It's how i've always done it. It's also generally accepted that if there's not enough room on the table for the models to be physically placed then the Eldar (Or anyone trying to use a portal - Necrons etc) can't use the portal. I've used this trick several times to stop Necron units from teleporting back to their Tomb complex and contesting the Blitz in the last turn of the game.

From 1.7.3 Zone of Control:

"If a unit finds itself in an enemy zone of control for any reason, then it must either charge the enemy or leave the zone of control when it next takes an action (note that this will require an action that allows it to charge or move)."

I think it depends whether you count it as a "starting in ZoC" situation or a "entering ZoC" situation. If the latter, then you would have to engage any formation with a unit that ZoCs the wraithgate. If the former, then technically there is no option to stay in the webway, you MUST move. In the past I believe it has been ruled that if unable to either engage or exit ZoC, the formation must "try to exit". This applies not just to portals.

Personally I think some judicious application of reason is needed, and I would play it that a formation can choose to either:
1. engage the screening formation
2. try its best to exit ZoC by the shortest route (even if it means entering another unit's ZoC in order to exit the first)
3. stay in the webway

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There's an FAQ on this question somewhere, but you've got the gist of it, AgingHippy.

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SG

Ghost's Paint Blog, where everything goes that isn't something else.

When in the webway, the formation is off-board. There is no distance to measure. They wouldn't count as being within within 5 or 10cm for ZoC. If they were, then the opposite would be true as well, and units in the webway would project ZoC out of the gate, forcing the opponent away, and since there is no way to assault into a portal, that ZoC would be impenetrable. Also, if you were to count the units in the webway as being in the same location as the gate, then you'd run into issues with things like 30cm distance for Rallying.

Coming on the board through a gate covered by someone's ZoC would require entering that ZoC.

After that, you follow the normal rules.


The exiting formation would have to assault. That would apply to any ZoC, not just a scout's extended ZoC. Normal units can block a gate just fine.


Yep.


Correct. Without an Engage action, the off-board formation would not be able to enter an enemy ZoC. A move on a Hold action could not come on the board at all. Since the formation can't shoot from the Webway, that pretty much leaves them to Regroup off-board as the only real option for their Hold action.


I would say they could use the portal, but any units that couldn't fit on board would be out of formation and destroyed per 1.7.4.. Obviously, that's a substantial disadvantage in trying to assault out of the portal but there might be a situation desperate enough to make it worth sacrificing that portion of the formation.

Would those units left out of coherency (by virtue of remaining in the webway) count as destroyed for the purposes of the assault? Or would the formation take losses and BMs first, then start the assault?

I'm inclined to say the latter, but I'm not sure. I can say I've never seen this happen, and I play the Eldar a lot. But just in case, I'd like to know.

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It's a dog-eat-dog world, and I've got my Milkbone underwear on.

The way I see it, the "left behind" damage and BMS are a result of movement rather than the assault proper. I'd remove units, place BMs and then go into the assault.

I'd say that would apply to any out of coherency moves, e.g. a Speed Freek Warband that left a walking Boyz unit behind so they could assault farther away.

Is it generally allowed to move units out of coherency, e.g. leaving the guardsmen whose chimera just blew up behind in order not slow down the otherwise mechanised formation (loosing the non-mechanised units and get a few blast markers)?

If not, I guess that wraithgate situation might be a special case.

/Jacob

It's allowed. It's just normally a poor strategic decision, so bad it is rarely done. 1.7.4 has the rules for it.