When do you pick mission tactics?

[Silverson]

Good morning all,

I’m playing deathwatch today with friends and remembered that last time this came up we had a discussion about when I actually got to choose mission tactics.

The rules say “before the battle”, but when is that in game terms?

 

Is it:

After all models are set up, but before turn 1 starts?

 

Before any models are placed but after the mission is determined, table sides and objective markers determined?

 

After you see your opponents army but before you determine mission etc...

 

Before you even see your opponents army so you have no idea what tactic is most useful?

 

tuanks in advance.

[Lemondish]

You have to decide it two weeks in advance of the battle.

 

In all seriousness, it doesn't say anything except "before the battle begins", which to me has always meant before the first battle round after deployment, etc. I do this at the same time that I select powers for my Librarians. Have you run into issues here?

[Silverson]

Yea a little, I have only played deathwatch once post codex and it came up so just don’t know the answer

[Delta.Skies]

I would say after all the models have been laid out. For it to be questioned like that seems a lil wonky. Like I wouldn't call out a mission tactic before seeing what's on the field. Cause then you'll be the over confident general in the movies that see his entire platoon get wiped out by mysterious forces and you dont have an overpaid actor to come save the day :)

[vigitant]

Usually I choose it in my 1st or 2cnd turn shooting phase, like thus:

":cuss, I forgot to choose my damn tactic.  Do you mind if I choose one now?"

[Vel'Cona]

Usually I choose it in my 1st or 2cnd turn shooting phase, like thus:

 

":cuss, I forgot to choose my damn tactic.  Do you mind if I choose one now?"

 

This is why I generally roll my eyes when a codex has a pregame-choice mechanic that isn't strictly model based, such as Mission Tactics or abilities that give you bonuses vs. a selected enemy unit, that sort of thing.  I despise bookkeeping mechanics as a rule unless they can be DIRECTLY and EASILY tied to a model, and are integral to its operation.

 

Don't get me wrong, it's characterful and useful, but just having to remember such things is a pain in the butt and it adds more referencing to an already reference-heavy wargame.

[Black Knight]

They kind of need to add a specific setup phase so that no one forgets this stuff. Enough armies have something like this to do.

[Delta.Skies]

 

 

Usually I choose it in my 1st or 2cnd turn shooting phase, like thus:

 

":cuss, I forgot to choose my damn tactic. Do you mind if I choose one now?"

This is why I generally roll my eyes when a codex has a pregame-choice mechanic that isn't strictly model based, such as Mission Tactics or abilities that give you bonuses vs. a selected enemy unit, that sort of thing. I despise bookkeeping mechanics as a rule unless they can be DIRECTLY and EASILY tied to a model, and are integral to its operation.

 

Don't get me wrong, it's characterful and useful, but just having to remember such things is a pain in the butt and it adds more referencing to an already reference-heavy wargame.

Dude the look on the misses face when I'm explaining as we are playing then I have to remember everything to tell her.... tried it first game 8oo pts. Took 4 hrs to play cause of all the stopping and referencing, but it's all helping me remember. But I'm thinking of getting tokens or something with flashcards to remember. Wait I wonder if it's legal to place a marker on your enemy unit so you would know what to do when your turn comes around.

[Irbis]

Dude the look on the misses face when I'm explaining as we are playing then I have to remember everything to tell her.... tried it first game 8oo pts. Took 4 hrs to play cause of all the stopping and referencing, but it's all helping me remember. But I'm thinking of getting tokens or something with flashcards to remember. Wait I wonder if it's legal to place a marker on your enemy unit so you would know what to do when your turn comes around.

 

Why it would be illegal? As long as you don't touch their models, and move it out of the way when it's a bother, it doesn't matter what gets placed on the table...

[Black Knight]

I think most wouldn't care until you start touching models and dice. Then the Chaos god start to stir.

 

Maybe have a piece of paper to sketch what your going to do?

[Lemondish]

I think most wouldn't care until you start touching models and dice. Then the Chaos god start to stir.

 

Maybe have a piece of paper to sketch what your going to do?

 

I know some players I've gamed with tend to keep a notebook that lists out all the things (and order of operations) they want to remember to do before or during each phase of their turn. Little things they need to activate at the right time, etc.

 

Seems to do wonders - been thinking about doing that myself when I start up a new army. 

[Delta.Skies]

 

Dude the look on the misses face when I'm explaining as we are playing then I have to remember everything to tell her.... tried it first game 8oo pts. Took 4 hrs to play cause of all the stopping and referencing, but it's all helping me remember. But I'm thinking of getting tokens or something with flashcards to remember. Wait I wonder if it's legal to place a marker on your enemy unit so you would know what to do when your turn comes around.

 

Why it would be illegal? As long as you don't touch their models, and move it out of the way when it's a bother, it doesn't matter what gets placed on the table...

 

 

- I dont know, havent played an official game of 8th yet or been to a tournament, covering all grounds -

 

 

I think most wouldn't care until you start touching models and dice. Then the Chaos god start to stir.

 

Maybe have a piece of paper to sketch what your going to do?

 

I know some players I've gamed with tend to keep a notebook that lists out all the things (and order of operations) they want to remember to do before or during each phase of their turn. Little things they need to activate at the right time, etc.

 

Seems to do wonders - been thinking about doing that myself when I start up a new army. 

 

 

- yea i was already going to do like flash cards / key points or like you said a note book, but definitely thought about getting tokens or something to place down target priority targets like you would do on ghost recon or something, I just never seen anybody do it in battle reports or talk about it much, but working with Deathwatch and then allies such as AM or creating a soup list where you have 3 different armies. its gonna be a cluster -

 

A Question Off Subject While Kindof On Subject: you can use stratagems from different allies if you had a soup army, or could you only use stratagems from your warlord faction?

[Lemondish]

 

 

Dude the look on the misses face when I'm explaining as we are playing then I have to remember everything to tell her.... tried it first game 8oo pts. Took 4 hrs to play cause of all the stopping and referencing, but it's all helping me remember. But I'm thinking of getting tokens or something with flashcards to remember. Wait I wonder if it's legal to place a marker on your enemy unit so you would know what to do when your turn comes around.

 

Why it would be illegal? As long as you don't touch their models, and move it out of the way when it's a bother, it doesn't matter what gets placed on the table...

 

 

- I dont know, havent played an official game of 8th yet or been to a tournament, covering all grounds -

 

 

I think most wouldn't care until you start touching models and dice. Then the Chaos god start to stir.

 

Maybe have a piece of paper to sketch what your going to do?

 

I know some players I've gamed with tend to keep a notebook that lists out all the things (and order of operations) they want to remember to do before or during each phase of their turn. Little things they need to activate at the right time, etc.

 

Seems to do wonders - been thinking about doing that myself when I start up a new army. 

 

 

- yea i was already going to do like flash cards / key points or like you said a note book, but definitely thought about getting tokens or something to place down target priority targets like you would do on ghost recon or something, I just never seen anybody do it in battle reports or talk about it much, but working with Deathwatch and then allies such as AM or creating a soup list where you have 3 different armies. its gonna be a cluster -

 

A Question Off Subject While Kindof On Subject: you can use stratagems from different allies if you had a soup army, or could you only use stratagems from your warlord faction?

 

 

You can use the stratagems from different armies as long as they're part of a battleforged detachment. 

[Delta.Skies]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dude the look on the misses face when I'm explaining as we are playing then I have to remember everything to tell her.... tried it first game 8oo pts. Took 4 hrs to play cause of all the stopping and referencing, but it's all helping me remember. But I'm thinking of getting tokens or something with flashcards to remember. Wait I wonder if it's legal to place a marker on your enemy unit so you would know what to do when your turn comes around.

Why it would be illegal? As long as you don't touch their models, and move it out of the way when it's a bother, it doesn't matter what gets placed on the table...

- I dont know, havent played an official game of 8th yet or been to a tournament, covering all grounds -

 

 

I think most wouldn't care until you start touching models and dice. Then the Chaos god start to stir.

 

Maybe have a piece of paper to sketch what your going to do?

I know some players I've gamed with tend to keep a notebook that lists out all the things (and order of operations) they want to remember to do before or during each phase of their turn. Little things they need to activate at the right time, etc.

 

Seems to do wonders - been thinking about doing that myself when I start up a new army.

- yea i was already going to do like flash cards / key points or like you said a note book, but definitely thought about getting tokens or something to place down target priority targets like you would do on ghost recon or something, I just never seen anybody do it in battle reports or talk about it much, but working with Deathwatch and then allies such as AM or creating a soup list where you have 3 different armies. its gonna be a cluster -

 

A Question Off Subject While Kindof On Subject: you can use stratagems from different allies if you had a soup army, or could you only use stratagems from your warlord faction?

You can use the stratagems from different armies as long as they're part of a battleforged detachment.

Well then... to remember all of that as well. Too much to just remember all in ones head. Hell I'm still forgetting to shoot pistols. But to remember mission tactics then if you have tome. So mission tactics on top of mission tactics. But will definitely play the card after deployment.

[Master Antaeus]

I think the main thrust is this:

 

Do you have to decide before you see your opponent's army/list?

 

That seems quite valid.

[Lemondish]

I think the main thrust is this:

 

Do you have to decide before you see your opponent's army/list?

 

That seems quite valid.

Always after is how it's played since there's no real mechanic in the rules that details when or in what order seeing the opponent's list happens. That seems largely irrelevant though since I can't think of a time where you don't know before you deploy what the opponent is bringing.

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

If opponent does not want to show list that is just like not telling which units are in which transports. Smeg that .

[MadEdric]

Any event I've ever been to it was required to have a list for your opponent.

I pick after deployment, and often times grilling my opponent what force org slot each unit is from. None have had problems with that.