Do you have to declare prior to rolling breakaway that you are going to unload?? This was ruled against me over the weekend and I can't find it anywhere in the RulesFAQ.

I know this applies to mechs when running. I have never seen it applied to any other situations.

No. You don't. You just expend half your movement to drop the transported unit(s). However, I have seen it ruled by individual BMs in the greater Cleveland are that you have to state it (once against me) but I have NEVER seen it stated in RoW, FAQ or as a ruling by raininva on the wizkids forums. I think it is basically just good etiquette. Still, since the BM is the final rules arbitrator, I try to get myself to declare it so I don't get screwed. But I also don't make a fuss when someone else breaks and drops without declaring the intent.

Z

Actually, in the Transport rules, it says that you must declare a Disembark prior to moving your unit at half its speed, rounded down. However, you do not have to Disembark afterwards (it says you then may place it touching your rear-arc and not touching any opposing units' bases, keyword: may).

Yes you do.

Just like with running you have to announce the intention to load/unload before you roll the dice.

The movement is expended as soon as the order is given, even if for some reason you deceide to load/unload zero units.

As I understand it, you do need to declare the Movement order (Duh!, why else are we rolling to break away, but that's the tecnical of it), and if you fail the break away(or do not move out of base contact on your break away), and do not have the space, you cannot unload.

Since you don't have to be out of base contact to unload (provided there is space), the break away roll is only required if you move the piece. RoW (new version) Page 29.

It helps to bring a copy of the rules (I print out even the tournement rules & FAQ). Even Battlemasters forget or remember them incorrectly, and will make a worng call. They're only human.

-Andy_in_Indy,

No it doesn't. At least not in the online rule book. It says to give the unit a move order, expend half its movement and disembark the passangers. Nothing about "declaring".



I did declare a move order and promptly rolled a 1. I then announced my intentions of expending half of my movement points to unload which i what I wanted to all along. My opponent challenged the move since I did not announce my intention to unload prior to rolling break. And the BM ruled in his favor.

It just so happens that it was the end of the game and my opponents only chance at winning was to capture the fully loaded 'sport. Learning new rules this way is tough. I try to use these incidents to understand the game better and not repeat the same mistakes.

I never challenge rulings during a game unless I know I'm right. It just takes too long to look 'em up. And many like this one just are not covered clearly.

But why? With running, there are additional consequences for failing a break away (additional heat), so that makes sense to declare. If I declare a move order, I can then expend half to load/unload. The rules say nothing about declaring anything besides a move order and nothing at all about a breakaway. Plus, even if I fail the breakaway, I can still drop. There is no additional consequence for failing.

I still think needing to declare is optional, and is very much BM dependant. The best thing is to declare everytime so you don't run into problems (especially in a tournament setting).

Has anyone asked for an official ruling on this?

Z

Of course there are consequences for failing the breakaway.

Example:

A fully loaded transport is based by an enemy unit. The enemy is in a good position to destroy the transport next turn, unless the transport moves its full movement distance away.

So the transport wants to break away, but fails. The player of the transport now suddenly says "Oh, but I wanted to unload" and unloads the cargo.


And yes, I have an official ruling that the intention must be announced before the roll.

From the WizKids forum (thread ID 70723 for those who want to check it):

None of this is self evident from reding the RulesFAQ. The way it is presented there is that you always get your full movement with a move order. You MAY spend half your move points rounded up to (un)load passengers.

Thanks for the clarification.

Basically it is a matter of timing.

The rules say:
"Give the transport a move order and expend half of its speed value (rounded up) ..."

Because the rules do not say when this happens it happens as soon as the order is given.
The only thing that can precede it is the doubling of the movement for running, and that only because the transport rules specifically say so.

A good rule of thumb is that everything happens as soon as possible unless the rules tell us otherwise. ;)

Another good rule of thumb is that everything having to do with an action must be announced before dice are rolled.

P.S.: A move order is no different from a ranged combat order. With the ranged combat order I have to decide if I want to make a normal ranged combat attack, an indirect fire attack or an artillery attack before I roll any dice.
So with the move order I also have to decide if I want to board, disembark or make a standard move before dice are rolled.
It might not be as obvious, but the handling is the same.

I see.

Thanks, that makes sense.

Z

That is a different scenario. The question you refer to invovles boarding, and a unit cannot board a transport that is in base contact with an enemy unit (and must therefore break away first). There is no such restriction on unloading.

mlotoole0 - if your tranport is captured, the units inside pop out anyway (provided there is room) with a click of damage.

-Andy_in_Indy,

@Andy
Reread what I quoted.

aremis says
In your example the units in btb with opposing would first need to break from the opposing units and end their movement in BTB with the transport.
(this describes what the unit in base contact with opposing units must do before it can board)

Then you could use another order to announce the intent of boarding and breaking away. Roll to see if the break away attempt is successful.
(this describes what the transport must do)

And rain confirmes that this is correct.

The point is that the announcement must come before the break away roll.

I don't know if that was what you intended to say or you just misspoke, but a unit *can* board a transport that is in base contact with an enemy unit.

The restriction is only that the passenger-to-be cannot be in base contact with an opposing unit.

After reading the replies, I have revised my opinion on the issue. But I went ahead and posted on the WK forums, so hopefully there will be some sort of official ruling on the whole thing and we can put this debate to rest.

Z