Keywords help

[Valkyrion]

If I attach a FLY leader to a unit that doesn't have FLY, does it get FLY?

If I attach a PSYCHIC leader to a unit that doesn't have PYSKER, does it get PSYKER?

 

If the answer to both is either Yes or No then I think I understand it, but if the answer to one is Yes and the other No then I need it explaining. 

 

Thanks!

[kabaakaba]

It's no and yes. Sorry.

Fly is a model keyword. So it's don't applying to a whole unit.

Psyker is a unit keyword so it's apply to whole unit....

[Dr_Ruminahui]

I fear that phrasing them as "unit" or "model" keywords is potentially misleading - keywords aren't divided in that way.  Rather, rules interact with them as models or as units, regardless of the keyword - indeed, any keyword can potentially be interacted by rules in either way.   So one can't say "FLY" is a model keyword, as it can in effect be either a "model" or "unit" keyword, depending on how the rules interact with it.

 

Every keyword of every model in the unit is shared with the unit.  So, one model in a unit with "FLY" gives the entire unit the "FLY" keyword.  Note, it doesn't give the other models in the unit the keyword, only the overall unit itself.

 

Different rules interact with keywords in different ways. 

 

Some rules check to see if the unit has a keyword, and if it does, the rule triggers.  For example, ANTI- works that way - so, ANTI-FLY will trigger from that one model in the unit, as he gives the unit FLY and that is enough to trigger the rule.

 

Other rules trigger on specific models having the keyword.   One example is the movement rules - they all trigger on an individual model's movement.  So, in the terrain rules (p 48), Infantry models can move through dense terrain, but a mounted model attached to a unit of infantry models cannot.  Likewise (pg 71), the FLY rules only apply to models with the FLY keyword.  So, when moving models in a unit where some models have a relevant keyword and others don't, you move each model in accordance with its own keywords, meaning that some models may have to take a different route (say, around terrain features).

 

So, I guess the most important points are:

1)  models give their keywords to their unit, but not the other models in the unit.

2)  rules may trigger off of keywords for models, or keywords for units.  If its for models, they effect only those models in the unit with the keyword, if its units, if the unit has the keyword it affects all models within the unit, regardless of whether the individual models have the keyword or not.

3)  its always important to read the rule carefully to determine which it is.

Edited July 16 by Dr_Ruminahui