Rules and wording.

[baneofkryptus]

I’m still fairly new to 9th edition and I wanted some advice on sources that simply break down the rule book wording. I often yield to other players with more knowledge of the rules than me because I’m still learning. But I played a guy today - I’ve played him a few times and I hate playing him for this exact reason- who changes his interpretations of rules between battles to suit his situation in games and today it was Deep strike charges.

His Method:

His unit rules say set up more than 9” away from enemy unit. So he measures 9” from the edge of my unis base with the tape measure and sets up his Deep strike unit at the end of the measure so between the bases is exactly 9”. In the charge phase he says he needs to roll an 8+ to get to the 1” engagement range and make a successful charge.

My deep strike

This time he’s playing with no deep strike units. I go to set up my Trygon, and I use the same method he did. He insists ‘more than 9” away’ as stated in the rule means I must set up my unit at least 10” away from his unit. In the charge phase he argues I need to roll a 10+ to get a successful charge because there has to be LESS than 1” to meet the ‘within’ part of engagement range.

I pointed out that this was completely different to the last game and he’s essentially added 2 inches to my charge roll compared to when he’s been using a similarly worded deep strike and charging. The first time he did this I chalked it up to a mistake on his part but this is the 3rd or 4th he’s done this with rules that benefit him one game and might hurt him the next. I want to find a breakdown of the rules (preferably with examples) that stops him doing stuff like this.

[piersonsmuppet]

Deepstrike requires the unit to be set up outside 9”, so the unit usually ends up 9.1” away and requires a 9” charge. A unit can not be set at 9” away if it must be outside 9”. Your opponent was wrong both times. Finding a graphic might be hard since its generally considered so clear.

[dkng]

To put it as simply as posssible: if a rule says a unit has to be set up more than X inches away you will need to roll at least X to make a successful charge (provided there are no obstacles preventing the unit to be set up as close as possible outside the 9" distance and the charge lane is straight and again without any obstacles).

[nidzy]

You sound like you are at just the right time in your 40K arc to give the rules a really deep read.

One of the great things about 9th is that the summary you need is generally right there in the book. Read the core rules and the rare rules and the most up to date matched play rules.

Then for awhile take the time to call your opponent out. You don’t have to be mean, just “I want to make sure I have this right”

People like this exist in every game. As long as you are aware of this then it is bearable because you can counteract it by just being firm. “I am 100% sure this is how the rules work around this” is a much firmer response than “aww geez Rick that doesnt sound like what you did last time”

Anyway, don’t let stuff like this happen with the core rules. Read them again. There will be stuff like this from codexes because it’s impossible to know it all but make your opponent show you the rule if it seems wrong.

Finally, make clear you won’t be playing the person again if you find them doing this repeatedly and get someone trusted in your group to back you up. It is 100% okay to get a rule wrong. It’s unconscionable to selectively get a rule wrong to benefit yourself.

[Hive Bahamut]

I once had a member of our group "knock down a ruin" to make a charge with their Dreadnaught. Another time move obstacles so their Jetbikes could land.

If someone needs to win that bad, I pity them. Cheating with plastic dolls is kind of sad, but I am a good sport, and everyone gets 1.

My favourite thing to do to these players is for the next game have all the info there and just go over it, while gently showing them they are cheating. Proof of it.