Q&A: Imperial Guard

Q: The rules seem to have been written with the general idea that a detachment has only one HQ unit at a time, with units lower on the command chain taking over as their superiors are killed. The Imperial Guard infantry, however, seems to have an unusual command structure in that you are required to purchase three command units, and pay the 25 points for each, in order to field a full strength detachment. Does this purchase grant the Guard infantry three simultaneous command units, and thus perhaps allow them to spread out a little more and take better advantage of cover, or is only one of these units at a time considered to be the detachment HQ?

1. All three units are simultaneously considered an HQ unit. All Guard units within the detachment are considered in command so long as they are within 30cm. of at least one of these units.
2. Only one of these three units at a time is considered the HQ unit for the purposes of judging which detachment units are within command.

A: Nominate one of the HQs to be the command HQ at the start of the battle. This HQ is used until (or if...) destroyed, then one of the other HQs takes over as the next in the chain of command.

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Q: In the Imperial Guard infantry detachment [Armies Book page 33], Rough Rider units are listed in the Main Force section but not the Support Force section. The notes state: "Rough Riders may only be chosen as main force squads if the detachment includes at least one Rough Rider Command squad, otherwise they are chosen as support units." If, however, the detachment does include a Rough Rider Command squad, may Rough Rider squads still be purchased as support units?

1. Yes. You may always choose them as support units.
2. No, they may only be chosen as support units if you do not have the requisite commander.

A: a.

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Q: As the rules are written, Rough Rider HQs are excluded from being able to take a Captain or, more importantly, a Psyker. Is this correct? It seems strange to exclude from a dedicated close-combat force a unit whose primary purpose is to give +1 to the roll in a close-combat or firefight.

A: Yes, it's correct.

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Q: On page 33 of the armies book [Imperial Guard infantry detachment], the Imperial Guard squad is listed with a cost of +6 pts. to "Include a Commissar (Hero) in one unit." Should be this line be taken to mean that a Commissar may be included within both units for 12 pts, or may *only* one unit include a Commissar?

A: Only one unit may include the Commissar.

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Q: List members find it odd that the stats and cost of the Imperial Guard Colonel and the Imperial Guard Commissar-General are identical. The only difference seems to be that the Colonel unit may include a psyker, whereas the Commissar-General stand may not. Should there be any other differences between these two units? The Commissar-General currently seems redundant.

A: You've missed out the most important difference — a Commissar-General just looks much cooler than a boring old IG Colonel, especial as the former gets the chance to ride around in a jet-black Leman Russ! In other words, we've included options in the army lists for aesthetic reasons, rather than just game reasons.

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Q: Another follow-up question. In a previous Q&A, you confirmed that Rough Rider HQ squads could not include either a Captain or a Psyker. (This is what the detachment list seems to indicate. We just thought it odd and wondered if the text might be misleading.) Fair enough. However, in the sample battle in White Dwarf 216 we find that Warwick has indeed included a captain in his Rough Rider HQ stand. Since WD is supposed to be the official word for rules in the GW universe, we just want to double check. Was Warwick using some sort of house rule, or should this be legal?

A: Nope, Warwick just made a mistake (doh!), and the WD editors didn't pick it up. BY THE WAY, the 'official rules' things really only applies to Q&A and rules articles; battle reports shouldn't be used in the same way.