Just want to check on something. It seems like with the consolidated profiles for the Stegadon, Ancient Stegadon, and Bastiladon that they would now test on the Skink's initiative. At Initiative 4 (or 5 near the bastiladon), they are fairly resilient against Pit of Shades and Purple Sun. Did I read the new rules right?
Really?! If so that's a massive boost for them right there! How come this was missed in all the pre-release stuff?
Similar, but different ;ast eddition. (you could targeget skinks, stegs, and characters seperately back then)
Happy to be corrected, but in the case of separate components, doesn't each part take a test at it's own initiative value?
Depends on the wording. If it targets each model in the unit (Dwellers), yes. If it targets a given model by touching it (Purple Sun), you test for both at the highest value of the model (for characters on monsters, that's typically the I of the character).
For purple sun/pit of shades goes something like this: 1. The "Templaes" rule explains what happens when a character on a monster is hit by a template. 2. This replaces the 2nd step of the "Shooting at Ridden Monsters rules" whenever a template is involved thus eliminating the randomising rules. 3. It is then followed by step 3 the wounding rules. 4. Purple Sun/Pit of Shades are spells that use templates and thus hit both the rider and his mount. 5. These spells however do not wound but cause a characteristic test, one per model. 6. These hits would mean two tests, but this would brake rule example 5, because a character and his monster are one model. Conclusion – We have no choice but to make one test using the rules as given on page 10. With that said Dwellers below still explicitly causes 1 test per model and page 104 clearly states characters and their mounts are one model unless specifically stated otherwise in the following rules, so the same applies as neither the ridden monser or the spell's own rules proved an exception.
I would realy like to use this, could someone please explain why? How does the stegadon use the initiative of the skink? I can`t find it in the book, and i would like to use it in a battle i`ll be doing soon. Also, how does the stegodon use the initiative of the skinks in combat? It would be awesome if the steg would hit at initiative 4.
The monsters are now split profile, single models. Previously, the skink crew and the stegadons were all able to be separately targeted, and killed separately. But now, it counts as a single model. BRB p.10 - Characteristic tests "Where a model (or a unit) has more than one value for the same characteristic, as is the case with cavalry, for example, a characteristic test is always taken against the highest of the values." In combat, each part of the multi-part monster will use its own attack profile, so the Stegadon will strike with its low initiative. How I think Ridden Monsters Should Work in 9th Edition: In my personal opinion, characters on monsters should work the same way as split profile monsters. The character's Weapon Skill, Ballistic Skill, Strength, Initiative, and Attacks are used when he fights. The character's Leadership applies to the whole model. Monster uses its own profile for attacks. Also the whole combined model always uses the monster's Toughness and Wounds. While each part of the model may have a separate armor or ward save, you only use the better of each. Character does not get +1 armor for riding a monster. This would ring in a new era of glorious monster-hammer. Think of the Carnosaur with an Oldblood's armor save and ward save... A cannon could still take it out half the time, but boy would he be a lot more survivable. Skink chiefs would be a nice little bonus on top of your ancient stegadon, merely adding more attacks or probably a nice ward save. Currently, hardly anyone takes Ridden monsters because it usually just makes your character easier to kill, and makes the monster he's riding a very tempting and often easy target.
I believe this is correct as the rules are written. It's the same way that an Ironblaster gets to use the I value of a Gnoblar instead of the Ogre.