Declaring Wolf Standards

[Krablauch]

By reading the rules, you need to declare you are using it BEFORE the assault phase. However, if you declare it and your opponent was going to charge, but then they don't. You are kind of hosed, correct? I mean sure, you get 1 more round of shooting. But that is the correct way of using the declaration part correct?

[hendrik]

i believe that's correct. if you're playing against friends though i don't think they'll mind you claiming it right before you roll any dice. that's how me and my boddies play it, we've got enough thinking to do already! :P

[dswanick]

RAW - it says "for the duration of the next assault phase", which a rules lawyer can argue means that if you declare its use in an Assault phase it doesn't start until the next. If you know you are facing an opponent who will pull this kind of a :lol::-move, just preempt him by asking politely that you be given a moment at the end of his shooting phase to decide if you wish to make any declarations before his Assault phase begins (it should require mutual agreement that any given phase of both players turns are over to allow for special rules such as this). If he is within 6", and chooses to shoot at you with nothing but Assault and Pistol weapons then it's a fair bet that he will carry through with his planned assault even if you declare the Banner.

RAI - in my opinion, is that it should be worded "Declare at the start of a Close Combat". Which would allow you to decide to use it when Assault Moves are made in any given Combat.

[Grey Mage]

Remember, if your opponent moves into the assault phase without saying anything you do have the right to say 'hey now, back up, you didnt say you were done with shooting, I had something I wanted to do" and then pop the totem.

[Sigmund Hammerhand]

Also, if you have the initiative in the game (and depending on the situation) you will be the one charging and then it isn't hard to figure out who gets into combat and your opponent has no way of avoiding it.

 

I wouldn't risk using the standard if you don't know which pack will be assaulted as you would have to declare either all of the (and thus wasting at least one). Once you're in combat you will also be able to tell how long the combat will most likely last so you can decide whether to use it. Generally, though I would try to avoid using it in situations where you can't tell who will be charged.

 

Alternatively, it could also be a deterrent allowing you to direct your opponent to perform a sub-optimal charge putting him in a bad position, or avoiding combat altogether, giving you another round of rapid fire and repositioning.

 

I can't decide whether I think GW has created another one of their idiotically worded rules (and they are rather good at that as we know) - and stubbornly refusing to own up to it by not updating it - or if they are trying to add another layer of tactical depth to the squad, or add some inflexibility to a very powerful piece of equipment that is perhaps somewhat underpriced for what it does.

[eyeslikethunder]

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I can't decide whether I think GW has created another one of their idiotically worded rules (and they are rather good at that as we know) - and stubbornly refusing to own up to it by not updating it - or if they are trying to add another layer of tactical depth to the squad, or add some inflexibility to a very powerful piece of equipment that is perhaps somewhat underpriced for what it does.

 

I presumed the last but maybe i was just being naive. I was surprised watching Tony k play at Nova all his opponents seemed to let him get away with in the assault phase or didn't realise the rules

[Krablauch]

Thanks guys, that's what I thought as well.