Guaranteed Reserves?

[VenuxHashMan]

I recently realised that if a list contains both Swarmlord and another tyrant with the Hive Commander ability then all reserve rolls are at +2 and therefore are all automatically passed, giving guaranteed reserves on turn 2!

Is this right? My gaming buddy is telling me that a roll of a 1 is always a fail regardless of any modifiers, but I can't see anything in the rulebook that says this.

If anybody could point me in the direction of this elusive ruling or anything related I would much appreciate it, thanks!

[seanster3000]

A roll of a 1 always fails... That goes for just about every test, check, or any reason to roll. Only exception is Morale double 1s always passes no matter what.

[Jestar]

Another exception to the rule is the Techmarine with servitors repairing a vehicle. The rule is that servitors add +1 to the roll, at no part does it say that a one always fails. It'll probably be FAQ'd at some point, but hasn't happened yet.

[Davor]

Feb 10, 2013 20:23:57 GMT seanster3000 said:

A roll of a 1 always fails... That goes for just about every test, check, or any reason to roll. Only exception is Morale double 1s always passes no matter what.

What page is this on? I don't recall ever reading a rule about double ones always pass no matter what. Is this on the same rule where it says 1's always fails and 6's always passes?

[VenuxHashMan]

The double 1s for a leadership test is on page 7, under 'automatic pass'.

I think the 1s always fail may have been a 5th edition rule that hasn't been carried over. If anyone has a page number to prove me wrong then please point me to it!

[lostiris]

The 1 always fails no longer seems to be a blanket rule, rather it is now entered under each action where it applies.
for example (in the BRB): page 13 under "Roll To Hit" (3rd paragraph), page 14 "Roll To Wound" (3rd paragraph).

For reserves it states on page 124 under Arriving from reserve: "a natural roll of 1 always means that the unit in question always remains in reserve."

[VenuxHashMan]

That would be the one, thanks lostiris!

[t⊗theark]

Feb 10, 2013 20:23:57 GMT seanster3000 said:

A roll of a 1 always fails... That goes for just about every test, check, or any reason to roll. Only exception is Morale double 1s always passes no matter what.

So if strength 10 successfully hits AV 10 than aa roll of a 1 for Armour penetration fails? Pardon?

[genestealerdude]

I still say 1's fail in this circumstance and any other, only fair! I think if you are a courteous player 1's fail, except morale!

Rule Lawyers ruin the game, I'd rather conquer
biomass without politics thank you!

[coredump]

Wait, you are randomly making up rules that don't exist, and then want to call people names that don't want to follow your fabricated rules???

Yeah, that sounds reasonable.


There is no blanket "1's always fail". And no, it did not exist in 5E either.
In some situations that is true, and in others it is not, you need to check the rules to be sure.

As noted, in this case a 1 does always fail.

[seanster3000]

Read these sections for help.

For Characteristic Tests:
see page 7 under Automatic Pass and Fail (had it backwards a 1 always passes and a 6 always fails).

For Shooting:
see page 13.

For Saves:
see page 19 under Maximum Save.

For CC:
see the charts for To Hit and To Wound (a roll of a 1 never scores a hit and never scores a wound, unless some special rule is in play).

For Morale:
see page 29 under Insane Heroism! (double 1 always passes).

Reserves:
see page 124 under Arriving From Reserves.

Yes I was wrong there is no blanket rule that 1s always fail, but more often than not rolling a 1 = fail.

In AP rolls you are adding a dice roll to the STR of a weapon, so yes you are correct. Sorry.

[genestealerdude]

Honestly, I expect my podded/Running Dakka Fex's to ruin face. But war (and the game of 40k) is ruled by chance, by making it a complete certainty ruins the game.

If I stated that my reserves were coming in auto turn two i'd feel bad (even though chances are i'd still be coming in spore pod blobbyness) I guess its all down to the kind of player, i don't mind loosing (bad guys are supposed to loose, cumon Ripley saving newt lol). If in tournaments, rule lore away but i won't be giving you a sportsmanship award for sure ;p

[voncrown]

Feb 11, 2013 2:50:42 GMT genestealerdude said:

Honestly, I expect my podded/Running Dakka Fex's to ruin face. But war (and the game of 40k) is ruled by chance, by making it a complete certainty ruins the game.

If I stated that my reserves were coming in auto turn two i'd feel bad (even though chances are i'd still be coming in spore pod blobbyness) I guess its all down to the kind of player, i don't mind loosing (bad guys are supposed to loose, cumon Ripley saving newt lol). If in tournaments, rule lore away but i won't be giving you a sportsmanship award for sure ;p

So I guess you feel like the new dark angels codex is ruining the game? They get a deepstrike they can declare in advance will happen on a specific turn if they want, no rolls required.
And that's just like, a pretty standard deathwing thing.
On the other hand, our equivalent requires 2 hq slots and a minimum of almost 500 points.
Now, again, a 1 is an auto-fail by the rules, but I don't think it's at all unreasonable to think that level of investment might get you reliable reserves.

[infornography]

Not unreasonable no, but also not the rules. Space Marines drop pods also get reliable drops, but we do not. We do however get slightly more likely ones, which is nice. In 5th ed, we could take swarmy and a tyrant with hive commander to guarantee reserve rolls on turn 3. That was pretty nice. But with a 2+ reserve roll, it's fairly likely as is.

[immortalblue]

Feb 11, 2013 1:10:02 GMT t⊗theark said:

Feb 10, 2013 20:23:57 GMT seanster3000 said:

A roll of a 1 always fails... That goes for just about every test, check, or any reason to roll. Only exception is Morale double 1s always passes no matter what.

So if strength 10 successfully hits AV 10 than aa roll of a 1 for Armour penetration fails? Pardon?

That's exactly right, and was the same in 5th edition. Go re-read it. The "always fails on 1's" concerns "rolling to wound" which you don't do against vehicles.

The bit when checking penetration was (and I think is still in 6th) very clear. it says "Add the strength of the weapon to the dice to resolve strength" Thus 10, rolling 1 = 11 = penetrating on armour 10...