Major Mishap said:

But it's obviously a very exceptional sort of Move action, since, as the DT team has stated, all Move ratings are reduced to 1 and skills like Fast can't be used in conjunction it. With such pivotal exceptions, it's a disservice to still call it a Move action.

Based on the ruling from FFG:

"During the first round of the game, the first action taken by a unit must always be a one space move to enter the battlefield. The Fast skill does not apply to this movement. If the unit attacks as its second action, it cannot add an extra square to its movement. If the unit moves as its second action, it can make use of the Fast skill to move an extra square, but it cannot attack until its next activation.

Zach Tewalthomas"

The first action by a unit is a 1 movement. Thats it, after that you can make an additional MOVE or ATTACK action. Whether or not Scout requires the use of a MOVE action is a different story. But the deployement rule is very clear. If Scout works as a 1 time special ability and has to be connected to a MOVE action then the second action would have to be a MOVE + SCOUT. If Scout does not have to be attached to a MOVE action then it would be a MOVE (Deployement) + SCOUT + MOVE/ATTACK or something along those lines.

Jiltedtoo said:

This is the way we play it and everyone in our group feels its how its intended. Still, it would be nice to have a ruling.

I still think its silly that your first move on the board isn't just a normal move action. Its counter intuitive and gets me dirty looks from newbs when I'm teaching the game.

Judging by the time it is taking for FFG to respond they themselves do not know how it should be ruled.

Indeed. Specially since just the other day they answered my question regarding the Mickey's howitzer in about 2 hours.

Deploying as a one space move action is rather odd when there are so many units with special abilities, or core movement abilities, that should let them move further. Why can Fast apply to any movement except the first action of the game, yet be able to apply on the first turn for a second Move action? That makes no sense.

Allowing Scout, but not Fast, for the deployment move is rather strange, but forcing all units with special movement abilities to use both actions only to move to be able to use their abilities on the first turn is even stranger. Scout would be extremely penalized by that.

Restricting speed 2 units to only a movement of one for their first movement is stranger still. Fast and Scout at least have other limitations, but core Speed has none outside of this ruling.

Applying it for scenarios where units don't deploy from the edge gets dicier still. For the airborne landings it could make sense, but there are a lot of scenarios that are not parachute landings where the ruling would apply with no real rationale.

It will be even more interesting to see how such ideas will interact with helicopters.

A lot of things would be more consistent and sensible if they simply noted units Move onto the table when they deploy.

Loophole Master said:

You have to remember that FFG know little about WW2 weapons and other tools of war, they even call the Punishers weapons howitzers and chainsaws circular saws. In short, ignore any names they give to weapons to determine their effect.

I don't mean to bump this thread but 9 days later since the last post and still no response from FFG about Scout?

Nope.

And because the forum doesn't allow short posts.... yes, nope.

Loophole Master said:

Found a way round that Loopy, the forum recognises spaces as characters so just hit your spacebar several times

Tks

I also emailed FFG about the topic.

No reply (yet? ever?).

Ok, guys, I finally have an answer!! (I sent another question, rephrasing the whole issue in light of the FAQ updates). And here it is:

In terms of the Scout skill, it should be applied to a MOVE action like Fast.

Regarding your example uses of the Scout skill (I am changing "Deploy" to "MOVE" in this case, since a MOVE action is a necessary first action when entering the battlefield):
- MOVE+Scout, ATTACK - LEGAL
- MOVE, ATTACK, Scout - ILLEGAL
- MOVE+1 square of Scout, ATTACK, 1 square of Scout - ILLEGAL

So this is it, then. In spite of the completely different phrasing of the Scout skill, it's supposed to operate just like Fast, adding extra squares to a Move action.

That's how I read it, 2 extra spaces to a Move action in the first turn.

I also got a reply about heavies table entry on a non table-edge square, it takes just the one action.

Major Mishap said:

That's how you might have read it, but it's now how it was written. Anyway, I'm glad they finally clarified it.

And thanks for the heads up on heavy walker deployment, of course it's the logical way to go about it, but it's always nice to have official confirmation.

Yep, FFG sent me an email too. Just goes along with the brand-new FAQ, and finally clarifies Unit Entry to the point where there is no debate &/or interpretation.

Thanks, FFG!!!

LotusPwn3r said:

I'm so glad they final cleared this whole mess up, was a very fun debate though.