Evening chaps.

Just having a read through the book after being asked a perfectly reasonable question in another thread. Id like to have this flagged so we can see what the community in general thinks and if we can have this clarrified.

Long story short - in the unit phase the following steps happen when a unit is activated -

we replace unit leaders

we move out of formation dudes

we roll to remove supression

we make retreat moves

we declare actions

we resolve actions.

Now, any unit with more supression markers on it AFTER rolling to remove supression is said to be retreating, which "will restrict the actions a unit can take during the unit phase".

A unit still retreating after trying to remove supression takes a move action to the squad leaders closest table edge. It would be fair to assume this is the "make retreat moves" step during activation.

However, after this step we declare actions - with 9 supression markers on a squad, yet no reaction markers the unit is entitled to a single action. We have already made a move action in the "make retreat moves" step, but does this count as our 1 action?

My presumption is yes, as it even states it is a "move action", and the number of actions a unit gets during its unit phase is determined by if it has reaction or supression markers upon it, not at any one particular step. Page 47 states that the number of actions a unit gets is determined at the beginning of its activation after rolling to remove supression.

Thank you FFG for reading this, and an advanced thank you also to the community who now doubt have their own views on this. This seems remarkably clear, yet any complications that can be flagged in an FAQ are always a bonus.

Your listed steps are for an activating unit not for the unit phase as whole.

true enough. Sadly the window of edit has passed.

To clarify for all of those who cannot see/understand said typo - the steps list is per units activation, as seen on page 32. These steps happen in order when a unit is activated for those who are confused.

I shall now drink more coffee.

Its all good there have been many posts already i wished for a edit button… some almost instantly lol

After reading this thread, I re-read the rules for Retreat on p. 47 and didn't personally find them confusing. You need to consider "Retreating" as a definitive state that a unit can either be in or not be in.

A quick check of the FFG Dust Warfare Glossary PDF gives us the definition we're looking for:

"Retreat: A state of forced movement which arises when a unit gains more Suppression markers than it has miniatures remaining, during which a unit must make a Move action in the direction of the nearest table edge."

Back to p.47, 2nd paragraph -

"When a retreating unit activates during the Unit phase, it rolls to remove Suppression markers as normal. This may reduce its suppression equal to or below the number of miniatures alive in the unit. If so, the unit immediately stops retreating and proceeds with the activation, with actions reduced by Suppression and Reaction markers as normal."

From this we understand that each Retreating unit has an opportunity to remove the "Retreating" state during its activation. If it manages to do so, then it is no longer considered "Retreating" and you proceed with the unit's activation as normal . If it has both Suppression and Reaction markers on it, it won't be able to take any actions. If it has just Suppression, or just a Reaction marker, it will take one action, etc.

p.47, 3rd paragraph -

"If the unit is still retreating after attempting to clear suppression, it takes a Move action. Every miniature in the unit must move directly toward the table edge nearest the Unit Leader by the shortest route possible. Any miniature that contacts a table edge during this movement is removed as a casualty."

From this paragraph, we understand that a unit that has failed to remove sufficient Suppression markers is still in a state of Retreat . The paragraph then tells us what to do when activating such a unit. It makes a single Move action as described.

Seems pretty straightforward. I hope I helped clarify it for you without coming off as obnoxious. Maybe it would have helped if FFG had bolded, italicized or capitalized the word "Retreat" to give it more emphasis as a formal state for units to be in.

Talarius, that's how we play it in my area. I too read it just as you did, and seems straightforward.

Talarius said:

Thats the way we have been playing it. We also read it that way. Retreat specifically stated a move action. With other special moves such as consolidation FFG is very specific that it is not an action.

Morning Talarius.

That is also (along with everyone else it seems, which is good) how i've understood the rule. Its fair to assume that even with both a reaction marker and supression markers on the unit that it would still make its move action due to being in a state of retreat.

I raise the point that this may not be the case only due to the steps of unit activation, where the retreating move is listed as a seperate state to activation. I also ask that if a unit has a reaction and supression markers on it, could it even make its retreating move, as it is denied any actions.

To clarify - let us take two seperate examples.

First example - a unit has both a reaction marker upon it and enough supression markers to force a retreat. We roll to see if we can remove supression and fail to do so, thus the unit is said to be retreating. We now go to step 4 of unit activation "make retreat moves", yet the unit is not able to take any actions due to having both reaction tokens and supression tokens on it. I would strongly presume we still take the move action anyway as nothing is stated to stop said actions during this step - though it is worth mentioning that is it said that after rolling for removal of supression is when we decide how many actions a unti may take.

second example - same as the first without reaction markers. We must make a move during the "make retreat moves" action, yet this is a seperate step to "declare actions". I presume that the retreating move action counts as the one move the unit legally gets, but if that is the case, then in the previous example perhaps a unit cannot move with both reaction and supression markers due to the retreat move being a legitimate action (thus requirng the ability to perform an action). If the retreat move isnt a legitimate action, then would a retreating unit still have a single action during its declare action step?

Personally ive been presuming that if a unit is retreating it makes its retreat move and thats it, reguardless of reaction markers. It also is not allowed to declare any more actions. This FAQ thread is more to clarify incase the majority of interpritation is wrong or FFG simply didnt realise the rule could be twisted.

Cheers so far to everyone who has had input into this. I ask people continue to read this lengthy and dull example in the hopes people may grasp the problem i am putting forward.

I agree, that's how we play it at my store