Flier and Interceptor Questions

[Arminius_Warbringer]

I am really new to heresy and 30k gaming as a whole and had a few questions on fliers and the associated rules. I have several questions to ask but I will not ask them all at once.

 

My first question is about how interceptor works. As I understand it this allows a squad to detect a deep striking flier and makes it necessary to deploy at least 18 inches away or 12 inches of outside of the squads line of sight.

 

I think it applies to the squad and not just a single model within a squad but I am not sure if this is right? I also don't think it allows the squad with the interceptor rule any shooting benefits like skyfire grants a squad. That means that any shots fired would be snap shots right?

 

Are there any other ways that a squad or model gets shooting bonuses or modifiers for use against fliers besides skyfire? I am not sure what the mechanicum thanatar siege automata's rule is called but it can shoot at fliers too I think. Does anyone know what thallax cohorts get as far as interceptor and skyfire? I had someone use thallax with lightning guns to down a Primaris Lightning flier in a game and I am unfamiliar with their rules. So I am trying to figure out how it went exactly and what went wrong in that sequence.

 

I have my suspicions but without knowing the actual ad mech rules and also having a weak grasp of the whole rulebook in general I am hoping to clarify some things and learn the specifics on fliers and interdiction of fliers by an opponent.

[Quixus]

Special rules like skyfire and interceptor apply to whatever the rule is attached to. If it is a weapon it applies to the weapon only, if it is a model it applies to the model only, if it is a unit, the whole unit gets it.

 

Interceptor does not apply any special modifiers to the shooting, but weapons/models/units with interceptor often also have skyfire.

 

I'm not aware of any other ability that gets rid of snapshooting against flyers.

[Slips]

Anything that would modify snapshooting in any way would essentially modify shooting at flyers.

 

So if a unit/model/wargear permits snap shots to be 5+ to hit or better, itd apply to shooting at flyers with the specific exclusion of mods that only apply during Overwatch.

 

Otherwise, Quixus more or less has it.

[Arminius_Warbringer]

Thanks to you both! Both answers helped. So, interceptor alone means they are limited to snapshots. That is what I thought and was how I understood it. I have other questions regarding ad mech rules and fliers but I appreciate the clarification you have given me.

[Fangbanger]

As far as thallax go, they can get a skyfire upgrade to all shooting attacks if they stay still that turn and have taken the Icarian upgrade making them heavy support.

 

Furthermore, a magos (mech general) can take and Augry scanner which grants intercepter with assault and heavy weapons to the unit and you cannot deep strike within 18".

 

If that is done, yes you can down a lightning as it comes on

 

Note also mech scanners provide a weapons full range unlike the marines 18" when fireing too

[Slips]

It should be pointed out that Augury Scanners don't deny the ability to deepstrike within 18" of the bearer. Instead, it denies the ability to infiltrate within that distance.

 

Otherwise, it gives you Interceptor with Assault and Heavy Weapons if someone Deepstrikes within that 18" area. IIRC, the Mechanicum one is no different they just have a different item(s) (The Djinn Skein? Cyber-Occularis?) that do extra stuff.

[Fangbanger]

Ah yes, my apologies. It is the cyber ocularis that grants interceptor to a unit within 3"

 

So just to rectify my mistake clearly to not confuse OP:

 

If the Thallax had a magos with an Augry scanner, they can intercept deepstriking units within 18"

 

If the thallax had a cyber ocularis within 3', the can intercept any unit that enters from reserve at the range of their weapons

 

A cyber ocularis is an upgrade that some mechanicum warlords can take and are jet pack infantry that are independent (think of them like servo skulls floating around analysing the battlefield) and need to be represented on the table

 

In either case, they still need the Icarian upgrade to gain skyfire and also remain stationary that turn

[Arminius_Warbringer]

Thank you very much my friends. You have filled in the gaps in my understanding of ad mech interceptor and Icarion and have clarified this nicely. Thanks for taking the time to explain it so thoroughly.

 

The guy had Icarion and thallax with augury scanner. He was using jump shoot jump moves with them so I am not sure how that effects his shooting in that particular case. I do not think he had occularis but he also had a thanatar siege automata behind the thallax(he actually had 2). I don't think it buffed the thallax cohorts in any way though(in terms of interceptor or Icarion).

 

So the only question I have left at this point is can he shoot skyfire using the Icarion upgrade after doing a jump move prior to his shooting and then jumping again(jump shoot jump move)? I think that this move would make the skyfire null and void but I would like clarification from more knowledgeable players. I have learned a lot from everyone already and I do appreciate your time and efforts spent on my behalf.

[Slips]

No, he couldnt since you need to stand still in your movement phase to gain skyfire on the Icarian Thallax. Thanatars provide no buffs and Thallax not being automata cannot benefit from cyberthurgy or magos dominus buffs.

 

The most he could do with Icarian Thallax is Stand Still, Shoot, Jump if he wanted Skyfire.