The footprint

The footprint: 

The majority of these tactics revolve around the footprint: that is the 1inch bubble that all your models create. That is to say that the rules state that you cannot enter within an inch of an enemy model unless assaulting.

As ever with all rules there are usually exceptions to the rule, but by understanding the rules you can play 40k as a game of absolutes not probabilities. 


Tactic: OBJECTIVE Defense

For example: It's turn 7 and you have two units of 10 guardsman on an objective. Your buddy across the board has a squad of assault terminators 6 inches from your guardsman. The chances of rapidfiring the terminators to death is slim at best even with overwatch. However, what you can do is move one unit to stand an inch away from the terminators preferably 5+ inches away from the objective. They spread out so there is no way that the terminators are able to walk around them and still assault the other unit of guardsman which will stand on the objective. 

The principle is simple: your opponent can't get to the other squad which is on the objective as the other squad is in the way. However, he will be allowed to assault, meaning he will in all likelihood slaughter the brave martyrs. Meaning in all likelihood they will get to consolidate. You could hope that he rolls a 1 and cannot reach the 3inch mark to contest but this seems poor chances. 

Therefore whilst it is imperative that your first unit spreads out to block them, the second unit expands as much as possible using their 1 inch bubble to protect the objective.

Diagram shown below:

Right so the theory here is simple, you need one turn to win, therefore you abuse your footprint to hold up the terminators and hope the game ends or it's already turn 7. 


Couple of thoughts: it seems that the key is to place your models within the radius of the contestion zone to therefore claim but increase the distance to the threat. 

So let's look at some more advanced theory: namely what to do if you have more or less models.

First of all let's have a look at what your opponent can do:

Right formation of terminators in a pretty normal battlefield position.

Right the key points to consider:

First of all, the lead terminator has been labelled MOI for model of interest this will become apparent. 

For your opponent his best chance is to multi assault: this is the only way using only this terminator unit he has to break both squads.

[Multi Assault vs. run around] These are the two options the assaulting player has: 

The choice is simple: It's not really a choice, the rules state that if a model in a multi assault CAN charge the primary target in this case the vanguard then it cannot charge the secondary target, the objective. Therefore if your opponent does declare a multi assault, politely inform them that in this example it is impossible for them to charge the secondary unit as all of their models will easily be in coherency with the first unit.

The black pathway represents the most direct route around the squad. 

Please note that the model of interest has shifted now to the rear model, whilst the foremost is important to ensure the charge the MOI is now related to coherency. In the order of movement you would start with your foremost and then follow the conga line using the new MOI as the last model you move. 


Right, now looking at this we can see that the following is going to be true in a lot of cases therefore is worth doing exactly:

Right so the distance here to go around is going to be 2x A or A+C, or in simple terms half the relevant circle.

So the diameter is 25mm + 50.8m for a total of 75.8mm 

Circumference will therefore be 238.1mm. A+C is Circumference divided by 2 as it's only half a circle. 

So the resulted distance will be 119.5mm or 4.7 inches

Therefore we can calculate the total distance to get past the 1 inch bubble will be 4.7 inches + X where X is the distance from the model in question to the central point of the end model of the blockade. 

Okay... So what does this tell us: well we can easily work out how far they need to roll on their total to work out if they can charge. First measure the distance to your end unit of the blockade, then measure from the end point of the blockade to your unit, subtract 1.3 and that's what they need to roll on 2d6. 

So from the perspective of the aggressor how can we make things harder... Well first instead of giving them one lead point to calculate from use two, so instead of assuming a mixed formation form a line. 

This adds an extra variable into the equation and makes it harder for the defender to calculate completely. 

So now we look at formations for the defender: generally speaking with a ten man squad you can with as much movement as you like and 2inch coherency have a 30inch line... unfortunately the chances are you won't have the movement to do this.. so we need to look really at efficiency from a 6 inch move + a run move. It may be tempting to rapidfire those lasguns but sometimes running is the better option. (Though dropping the closest models is a valuable help too!)

Right so here we look at two extremes of example: the straight defence and the cornered defence:

The key here is that in both examples the guardsman have moved exactly the same distance from their starting position which is parallel an inch away from the aggressor. However, from a simple change in formation you can gain 2 inches more in the requirement the aggressor needs to get past you. 

This is because in the left example you are moving more efficiently diagonally while maintaining the 1 inch gap. The extra movement gained allows you to double row. Ensure that you keep the straight corner in as if you move diagonally but leave it out you recreate the second option at a slant. 

Remember the half circumference will be the same in both scenario's however in the left example you add 2 inches between your models.

Therefore the most efficient defence will look something like this: 

The tactic doesn't only work against terminators they are just a good example, it should work against any infantry unit and even beasts/cavalry as long as you can get enough movement denial to overide their 12 inch move. 

I think I have math hammered the living daylight's out of that tactic! Thanks for reading and as ever comments are always welcome!