Technically, it is not currently a part of the RAW. As the rules are now, to use your example, you would move your Wave Serpent to where you wanted the troops to disembark, then your foe gets to activate a formation (possibly destroying or surrounding your Wave Serpents with the troops inside), then you get to activate the troops and have them disembark assuming they have survived and have space to do so. This is a side-effect of the alternating activation system.

It seems that most people are already doing it as per "B" above anyway, so it should probably be inserted into the rules. With one addition that I just realized that I overlooked. To the end of "B" above, add the following: "Also, when you activate a Formation that is transporting models from different Formation(s), you may have any or all of the models from the transported Formation(s) disembark as a part of the same activation."

Adding the above will clarify the point and cover models like Dropships as well.

As with the others, we activate both the transports and contents in one go and carry out both orders, one after the other.

Matt

I do not think it is a mistake, I seem to recollect the discussion from way back when. It costs 5cm move to do so though.

Its been atound since 2002, at least!

This new rule for transport would be a great benefit for the game.

I have a small 6 players NetEpic convention in december (for the Epic-day in France), I think it will be perfect for testing with different players.

I'll post feedback after play testing games.

I just see a possible "problem":

With this new transport rule, non mechanised infantry will have the possibility to act as mechanised infantry but will have the opportunity to play 2 activations separately and won't need to maintain coherency between transports and infantry stands. Whereas mechanised infantry have to maintain coherency between infantry and transports.

So this new transport rule will grant an advantage to non mechanised infantry unless you play the optional rule "Transports are Separate Detachments (NE Gold Rule book page 17 bottom left box)".

The only other balance would be cheaper cast of mechanized formations versus those with non-integrated transport.

Tying together the two would be good compromise regardless of which becomes standard and which optional. Based on how people commented above (as far as I recall, everyone already uses the activating together as standard) activating together and "Separate Detachments" should probably be standard.