Triple Rhino Charge

[Adoni-Zedek]

I was looking over the Scorpions VS Banshees thread, and for a bit it discussed tactics against necrons, one of which is to run them over with your rhino. That got me thinking about how the rules handle getting "run over." You take an initiative check, and if you pass, move your model to the closest side of the approaching vehicle.

So what happens if you charge with three rhinos abreast? Models on the outer edges just use standard rules, but what about those 'hit' by the central rhino? Are they denied the intiative check, as they'd just leap into the path of an adjacent Rhino? Do they check against the 2nd rhino?

I've never seen this happen, but my buddy has three rhinos, so conceivably, it could. What do you guys think?

[tturen]

I've never seen anything like that happen either but a model by rule would get a chance to avoid each vehicle. The Rhinos wouldn't need to be abreast either they could be in line and move one at a time with each vehicle adjusting its course to 'line up' targets for the next one.

One could even use a heavy flamer on the 3rd vehicle instead of the ram attack...

[Simon]

That is what you'd interpret off the rules, though I'd be more tempted to say that it possibly should change so that they make a move of up to their movement value to safety, and can only do this once per turn, after the usual initiative test of course.

[El Capitan]

Its tempting to say that the model should only be granted a single initative test against rams and subsequent ones are automatic. + another use for bikes as they splat people, note also that vehicles running over something take d6 damage (+T?)1 per subsequent model, theres a rule about that somewhere in the book thats worth investigating, means bikes can go flying out of control and get mangled along with a space marines

[Adoni-Zedek]

Bikes suffer a fair chance of getting busted, but a rhino is far less likely to get hurt. You're right, though, Mike. Toughness +d6 is the strength of the hit. Unless you hit bikes. A tank hitting a bike only gets hit on the location touched, at the ram value of the bike. A tank hitting a tank (or similarly sized vehicle) gets a hit where they touch, and each other location on a 4+, also at the ram value of the vehicle hit.

I would tend to argue for a single initiative check. This represents you leaping out of the way of the oncoming vehicle. You're unlikely to be positioned to make a 2nd leap immediately after the first.

[James 40K Champ ***]

That makes sence, but would it work in practice?

Ramming may be too powerful then, as 3 Rhinos could demolish huge squads in one turn.

Someone posed that question to me in a game recently when more than one tank did try to squash troops by being abreast, we asumed that they 'vaulted' the tank and ended up behind it (provided they passed the initive test).

[Adoni-Zedek]

Vaulting over the tank?!?! Maybe if you're wearing a jumppack, or are an exarch with Bounding Leap. Perhaps even a Harlequin, or Hormagaunt. But when was the last time you saw a soldier vault an APC? Or even just a Humvee? Or a Geo Metro? The rules state that you move your model to the the nearest edge of the approaching vehicle. That makes much more sense than jumping over it

[tturen]

I'm strill of the opinion that the models should test each time they are targeted. I also agree the placement should be by rule.

[James 40K Champ ***]

Yeah, I know that was kinda silly.. just I dont think you should be able to force getting auto hit by a tank.. its an immensley powerful hit, but shouldnt bother most things due to high inititive.

Imagine you had an Avatar.. its highly unlikely youl fail your test and get hit, but making you get auto hit is a bit harsh.

I agree with tturen, each ramming vehicle should require a test.. and yeah you should move to the nearest edge.

If people arn't happy with the fact a model is bouncing all over the place to dodge.. how about an amendment something like:

Each subsequent vehicle attemting to ram after the 1st = -1 Inititive

So if 3 Rhinos try to run over the same guy, he will have to take 3 tests, one at base vaule, one at -1 and one at -2..

I think that keeps everything fair while representing the increased chance of getting hit?

[Adoni-Zedek]

That stacks nicely with the +1 per model "hit" by the charging vehicle before the current model gets hit. (2nd model charged by the tank gets a +1 bonus to initiative for this check). I think that's probably the best way to resolve the issue.

[James 40K Champ ***]

Makes sence, probably just something they never thought about

[tturen]

That would work pretty well.

[bot]

yeah, you don't move all vehicles at once, only one by one. so multiple run overs must occure.
good technique btw. i like that idea. moving the masses of t2s in a spectacular drifts. rhinos could well be supported by two skimmers (necrons couldn't attack them in close combat.