7th Ed. "Initiative Test"

I am currently still using the 6th edition rule book as I have not yet got around to updating, however having read the 7th edition's version of "pit of shades" I am left wondering how one carries out an "Initiative test". I assume it is the same as a leadership test but using the appropriate characteristic values.
Can someone please clarify this for me.

Thanks
-Eagle-

 

You roll one die and the target's owner has to try and roll under or equal to the value of the targets initiative. With a 6 always being a fail.

 

Thanks for clarifying that.

-Eagle-

 

Yeah other characteristic tests are basically like leadership except one dice, where a 6 is always a fail.

 

what about models with difference levels? (like a steg with skink crew) or a mount (like chaos knights) which initiative is used?

 

In the case of normal mounts like knights, you just pick the highest initiative, almost always the rider. Most characteristic tests will target a specific part of the model, for example the VC frost blade will only hit the crew or the stegadon not both, so use the stat of whatever is being hit. In the case of pit of shades... I would probably again go with whatever the highest initiative is, that is what you do for chariots. Don't quote me on that though, I have not heard a ruling either way, it is an interesting question.

 

In the case of Monstrous mounts and their riders, if the template covers the entire base, both the Stegadon AND all of the Skinks must take an Initiative test using their own. This is the case for all template based attacks on monstrous mounts. So this spell is very deadly to creatures like Star Dragons and Ancient Stegadons.

 

but a fliyng unit wouldnt be hit would it?

 

Do you have any references to back that up? Because that would be extremely painful.

 

Page 60-61, 'Shooting at Monstrous Mounts', last paragraph on page 61 describes templates as hitting the whole model if part of it is under the template.... Yes it is very deadly.

I'm not sure how pit of shades works though.... Skinks can fall through the steg into a hole? It also says the whole model is removed, surely one skink failing cannot kill the whole model?

 

In this case, I suspect only the skink would fall through. Though if the Stegadon dies, remember the crew dies with it only with the exception of a character. And Pit of Shades clearly states that no special rule or magic can keep something from falling in, including flying creatures.