regrouping?

[Lasgun_addict]

this may seem like a stupid question, but i'm kinda new to wharhammer 40k so don't get too annoyed. in the rule book it says a unit (unless its fearless) falling back and is under 50% of its starting number, it can't regroup. does this mean once a unit of, say, imperial guardsmen is falling back and is under 50%, it is completly useless for the rest of the game or until it reaches the table edge?

[ThirdDanScoota]

Pretty much. They cannot regroup and therefor cannot participate in the battle any further, as the unit has been relatively obliterated and scattered, as well as demoralized.

[Lasgun_addict]

thanks for that, its all i needed to know.

[ThirdDanScoota]

No problem, have fun:). Its an important tactic to utilize.

[Sir Guppy]

although i think guard can get a doctrine so they can rally under half strength.

[ThirdDanScoota]

I see.. I wouldnt be surprised. There are many ways to avoid that 50% penalty.

[SGM_Azrael]

I've heard some people say that if you take an uneven number of models in the squad then the 50% rule doesnt apply, total rubbish i know but what are the other ways? Being a player of high sportsmanship and all...

[ThirdDanScoota]

What the.. Never heard of that one before - *throws it in trash can*. The other ways to avoid it is either being Space Marines, having some optional rule that allows it (Tau Bonding Knives for example) or being Subborn or Fearless.

[cfoley]

The one thing that falling back units can do is shoot. I know a lot of the time the ranges and types of their weaponry makes it impossible but in theory they can.

One time that you can regroup when under 50% is if the enemy assaults you.

[ThirdDanScoota]

Oh yes, that one slipped my mind;). Then again, with the armies i collect, i never need to worry about it..

[Sir Guppy]

take 1 man sqauds, that only way to be under half strength would be if your legs were blown off, and even then you cant run away.

seriously though, think a guard doctrin does it, orks can mob up with passing unitsm think others have been said.

[Brother Wolf]

There are 2 guard doctrines, (Die Hards and Iron Discipline), which benefit units for Morale, but the specifics escape me at the moment.

It's under 50%, is it not? So a typical IG squad would be ok at 5 models, but under at 4. So, when the time comes, pick up that Missile Launcher and Sgt and set them asside while the rest of the lasgun troops fall back shooting.

Now Orks are a thing of beauty. Orks get to mob up with other units as they fall back, so a traditional ploy is to have a decent mob of Shoota Boyz lounging around behing the Sluggas and other assault troops. Then, as the assault troops break, dey will 'av sum uver boyz to mob up wit and 'av a'nuver go. WAAAAAAGGGGGGHHH!!!!

[Sir Guppy]

yeah you have to be under half strength - not at it. so 5 of 10 is fine, 4 is not.

[Brother Wolf]

Hey, when my squad hits 4 and starts running off the table, I chuckle to myself and realize that at least 4 of the 10 men in the squad won't have to recieve their campaign ribbons posthumously...

It's the little victories. *grin*

[Sir Guppy]

although if they then got gunned down to one man he can pass his last man standing and come back better than ever.

[ThirdDanScoota]

Which kinda doesnt make sense mind you;). I guess he goes by the "what the hell" ethics and throws his life away.

[cfoley]

You wouldn't take a last man standing test. You only take them if his moralle is not already broken. Once he runs he cannot normally come back (see above for exceptions)

[-_Phoenix_-]

cfoley is correct. If your already broken you don't take a last man standing test.

[Voyager_I]

that's my understanding of it.

[Sir Guppy]

o right my mistake.