Newbs Rule(s): Falling Back,in Love

With the support of some Devilfish, Kroot flank the night away.

 In an effort to master the massive and complicated set of Warhammer 40k rules, Newbs Rule(s) is my regular close examination of one important aspect of the game: One rule at a time. Today: Falling Back, specifically, shooting on the run.

Despite how dirty is may sound, I am not ashamed to say that I like to flank my Kroot into your backfield. Baring a closer juicy target or objective, I will work your rear guard with my xeno cannibals like it's nobody's business.

They may be bugging out, but that doesn't mean they're out of the fight. Keep shooting, you cannibal bastards.

Here's why I prefer to flank my Kroot deep into your rear:

I love you Kroot.

My Kroot teams don't have much staying power. With a Ld of 7 and no save, they are often apt to retreat after suffering as few as 5 wounds for a squad of 20. More than 10 wounds and they will not will not recover and regroup. Knowing this, I try to have them immediately find cover, or come out assaulting or shooting, preferably rapid firing at close targets. 60 attacks on the charge or 40 S4 shots isn't terribly shabby. It's why I like to run big Kroot squads. Maximum hurt. But I know they won't last. It never lasts long with them.

Thus we come to the focus of this installment of Newbs Rule(s), and why the using the backfield is imperative if one is going to get shot to hell. I have found experienced  and well-intentioned players forgetting page 46, informing me that I can't shoot while falling back. "Troops who are falling back may continue to shoot, but obviously count as moving." This is nice for my Kroot, half-dead, falling back, (hopefully after inflicting some hurt), they may still be able to rapid fire 12" into nearby enemy units. They will have a long ways to go to get back to their table edge if they flanked into the back field, giving them some extra distance to fall back (average of 7" per turn), buying them some time for regrouping if they can. Even if they're below the required regrouping level, the lesson remains: Just because a unit has fallen back doesn't mean it is entirely out of the fight. Keep shooting.