Imacie wrote:
I've noticed a discrepancy in the overwatch FAQ. The last point in FAQ says the formation could remain on overwatch if they were not in legal formation, however an earlier point in the FAQ says the opposite. Which is correct?
I can take this one Dave. The FAQs are correct and don't conflict as they're covering different situations. The overriding principle is: "coherency is checked only when taking a new action (test) and after each move"
The last FAQ item is re-iterating that a formation must be in coherency in order to
choose an overwatch action (i.e. taking an action test). However, as per the last item in 1.10, formations that are
already on overwatch (i.e. from a previous turn or garrisons) can
instead remain on overwatch into the following turn, giving up their action(s) for that turn. This is the only case where a player can choose not to activate. Since they aren't taking an action, they do not need to or have the opportunity to move back into coherency.
The first FAQ however is clarifying that being out of coherency does not affect
shooting. When a formation on overwatch shoots it is not taking a new action, hence does not need or have the opportunity to move back into coherency.
Note that unactivated formations that are (still) on overwatch therefore have four possible outcomes:
1. Activate them, and choose a different action
2. Activate them, choosing overwatch again
3. Overwatch fire, ending their action
4. Leave them on overwatch into the next turn
Coherency is relevant in the first two situations, since both involve taking a new action.
Option 2 seems at first glance redundant but is actually very common as a way of 'stalling' during turn 1, allowing you to 'burn' the activation of a static formation in order to save your other formations until after your opponent has moved. However it gives up flexibility for them to take another action themselves later in the turn and risks failing their action test, meaning they'd no longer be on overwatch.