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View Full Version : Field Medic. . . ouch.



slovak
09-07-2006, 06:17 PM
Dear Rule-mongers,

I'm running into even more problems with the Dying Unit rules, and looking for some help.

Problem 1: Earlier question topics on the forum about dying units seem to suggest that it is up to the controlling player to decide whether they wanted to remove their dying units at the point that the unit reached 0 HP or upon the unit's next activation. What we're finding in play is that this is problematic, because dying units still occupy the area that their base covers and prevent another model's base from occupying the same area, so in essence dying units become terrain. When left on the board dying units create a huge hindrance to counter-attacking any units in base contact with them- so whether friendly or enemy, and whether or not either side has unit(s) that can recusitate the dying units, if you're the one with models in base contact with them you generally want them to stay where they are.

Either side being able to arbitrarily remove some or all of their dying units in the course of a game turn confers a huge advantage that doesn't seem to be the intent of the CA system. Am I wrong on this? Is it the intent of the design that this is an (dis)advantage to be manipulated by each player, or should the rule be that any and all dying units MUST stay on the board until their next activation? See if this comes up in your games as well.

Problem 2: The Field Medic's special ability Hang In There Boys (Genesis, pg. 130) states: "Any Dying Unit from the same Force within 20cm of the Unit with this Ability is not removed from play when they are activated." This definition seems to suggest that there is no wiggle room here- all dying units within 20cm must stay on the board, whether you like it or not. Further, the special ability Just A Flesh Wound allows the Field Medic to restore 1 (and only 1) HP to a model in B-T-B.

Where this created a problem in a recent game is where a big combat between myself and a Skaard opponent occurred (perfect. . . ) that was within 20cm of my Field Medic. I had several Strikes in the combat (2 HP models) that were taken to 0 HP by my opponent, and then wounded further (down to -1) by a template attack. This left several models in a strange limbo where they were wounded too badly to be revived by the Field Medic, but kept alive indefinitely by her presence. Since they sat in the middle of the combat occupying vital space (again- in my opinion vital to preventing me from launching a game-winning counterattack and in my opponent's opinion vital to to preventing exactly that counterattack) and weren't going away on their own, my question is can I attack them? My opponent certainly wasn't going to, because if he killed them (by causing another wound, taking them down to -2 HP) he was removing an impenatrable wall the blocked his flank from my CA attacks.

Thanks guys-

slovak

DA_MrSota
09-07-2006, 10:52 PM
Dear Rule-mongers,

I think I fit that description

Stunke
09-07-2006, 11:05 PM
Just a pointer: Strikes are HP 2 to begin with, so they have to reach -2 in order to be removed. When they are at -1 they wont be removed since the medics ability keeps them alive, and they have yet to take enough damage to be auto-removed.

Rua Baineann
09-08-2006, 12:46 AM
So, if a unit like a strike is taken below 0, at -1, he can be healed to 0 and serves no other purpose but to trip people. I guess I don't see the purpose of making a unit "not dead" when the go into the minus range. Oh I see he's just mostly dead (Princess Bride)

DA_MrSota
09-08-2006, 12:58 AM
So, if a unit like a strike is taken below 0, at -1, he can be healed to 0 and serves no other purpose but to trip people. I guess I don't see the purpose of making a unit "not dead" when the go into the minus range. Oh I see he's just mostly dead (Princess Bride)

'Dying Units are removed from play when the Unit is next activated. '
So they won't be speed bumps for long :wink:

OR

You could do the wonderful Numb + This Will Make it All Beter combo...now that's 'mostly dead' :lol:

kalius
09-08-2006, 02:09 AM
You could do the wonderful Numb + This Will Make it All Beter combo...now that's 'mostly dead' :lol:

You should need spacial figures to represent those figures.

A Limping bane with one arm and a patch eye.....
A firestorm with medium-rare skin....
ST mark with "special coward underwear"

the posibilities are endless folks!!!

Rua Baineann
09-08-2006, 12:05 PM
perhaps casualty units, might be a future sculpt. darn, now I wish I hadn't traded off those praetorian casualty units

night hunter
09-08-2006, 02:20 PM
Adding a Field Medic is now a very strategic measure.

You can have units that are dying and unhealable due to cauterize, too far down, etc.... activate to use up activations and stall your other units move (get those enemy closer for the charge!) or to block avenues of contact with other miniatures. The fact that it can work against you helps to level that a little.

Now where is my Father (Papa) Legbah Skaard Voodoo Cult.
Skaard need some raise the dead powers to equal this out a bit!

night hunter
09-08-2006, 02:38 PM
The Quickstart Brood rules are worded to get around some of these issues- basically if you have regen but can not heal due to cauterize, etc. you are removed.

For ease of play, we might consider this type of use with the "Hang in there Boys" rule. i.e. If they can never get up in this game by any available effect, remove them as a casualty.

gunslinger
09-08-2006, 03:47 PM
You could do the wonderful Numb + This Will Make it All Beter combo...now that's 'mostly dead' :lol:

You should need spacial figures to represent those figures.

A Limping bane with one arm and a patch eye.....
A firestorm with medium-rare skin....
ST mark with "special coward underwear"

the posibilities are endless folks!!!

is that someone volunteering their efforts to make these models? now that is right kind of you sir.. please get on that and forward them to grafter.. :twisted:

gunslinger
09-08-2006, 03:48 PM
no the new brood rules are quite nice and will take all that into consideration.. just wait for the book.