Some questions, activation and lemures

[Jesai]

So first off let me say i finally decided to take the plunge on Hell Dorado, and i am impressed and eagerly awaiting a look at the scenarios and rule book. On to the questions.

Can a model choose not to activate, or activate and do nothing? this of course most often would be beneficial when engaged and one does not wish to initiate and attack sequence.

Can a lemure activate while engaged and do nothing? Mainly comes up when they have a vanishing spell and dont wish to use it yet. I see this as them moving 0 fathoms, but that is admittedly a stretch.

Is a lemure even capable of initiating an attack sequence?

Do other models still have to retreat to leave combat with a lemure?

On a final note, i suppose ill gripe, i feel the westerners starter has rather a terrible choice in models.  The saracen genie in the starter shuts down their game, and if i am understanding the rules of targeting properly, so does running Xian out in front of an immortal army.  I do however appreciate that ranged attacks are not meant to be the end all be all, and mixed arms, blasts, and explosions seem to still be quite effective.  After seeing what else westerners have to offer, i worry new players may be turned off of a solid force by the contents of that starter.

Thanks in advance, dont suppose anyone can give me an idea how scenario play works, that is the last thing holding me back from becoming a raving hell dorado fan.

[Jens]

Hi and welcome to Hell Dorado

You have to activate every model and an engaged model has only the following options: 'retreat', 'concentration', 'focus', 'melee' - so you cannot avoid the attack sequence.

Concering lemures from the english pdf:

ACTIVATING LEMURES
Lemures can only perform one of their own specific actions during their activation. Although it resembles a Walk action, it is still a specific lemure action and also allows them to trigger their magical power.

When performing an action a lemure can:
move, at the most, the number of fathoms indicated in its Movement stat. It can engage an enemy unit, but this will not trigger a combat sequence. It can also break contact with an enemy without triggering an attack sequence or a one-sided attack (but it cannot engage and break contact with a unit during the same activation).

AND a lemure may also release the magical effect that it was entrusted with, which usually destroys
the lemure instantly.

There has been already some debate about the westerness starter vs saracens. It doesn't work well if you only go for killing models and have no real objectives in the game. Among the biggest differences of a proper scenario is that you usually have so split your army some way or another (an average army at the standard game size is around 7-12 models strong) and as a result of that the effect of the genie is limited. Still strong if you have a slightly more shooty westerness army, but nowhere near that effective. Besides most scenarios can be won even if you should have more casulties than your opponent. Ranged combat in HD is often more about 'wounding' your enemy - e.g. the westeners have these "Blades for Hire" units with the special ability that in an attack sequence they initiated their damage is dealt before the enemy attack - hence they become really dangerous to any wounded models they could kill in a single attack sequence.

[keeper]

Welcome Jesai

If you are looking for stuff on scenarios you can find unofficial english translations of some of the scenarios here:

http://www.conf-federation.org.uk/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=dd9a10aae143cf50cd95e1fcaf84ad34&board=146.0

You will need to join the forum to access the files.

[Liancour]

Can a model choose not to activate, or activate and do nothing? this of course most often would be beneficial when engaged and one does not wish to initiate and attack sequence.

As already said, you must activate every model, and if you're engaged you can not do nothing. But if you're free from opponent, you can do nothing if you want.

Can a lemure activate while engaged and do nothing? Mainly comes up when they have a vanishing spell and dont wish to use it yet. I see this as them moving 0 fathoms, but that is admittedly a stretch.

No a lemure must move anyway, as the book state it. But you can always move him by a few millimetres. But keep in mind that your opponent can hit him during his own activation.

Is a lemure even capable of initiating an attack sequence?

No. It's not written, but it's the effect of adding all rules about them.

Do other models still have to retreat to leave combat with a lemure?

Rules about retreat states "If, during the one-sided attack, the enemy is Harmless, the attack is cancelled and the retreating unit may use its retreat action to perform a Walk, Run, Attack, Charge, Shoot, or Concentration action."

[Jesai]

Thank you so much guys!

Jens i agree i definitely got the vibe that scenarios make that westerner starter a different animal, and i did research their other units and think the faction has got some outstanding options.  I just worried about how new players would feel about testing it when they dont have a scenario.

I myself am an Immortals player, which led me to the many lemure questions, i really appreciate the clarifications Liancour.  I was leaning towards those answers, but wanted to be sure  for planning strategies and what not.  I think a healthy selection of lemure models will do my army a great service, and it just so happens i love tiny creepy things... former midnor player

I will definitely check out the scenarios, i know they can make or break a game and have very high hopes. Thanks for the resource Keeper.