So, models with peripheral control models deploy with coherency of the spearhead that starts the game, and if they require a target during active turn, only the controller and spearhead can act on that skill. The spearhead being chosen is on a per active turn order basis. That part makes sense. The next parts I am unsure of: 1) Fireteams prevent the leader from being unconscious and still be the leader (causing the link to break). It does not appear the control spearhead has this rule, meaning if the spearhead goes unconscious the other non-spearhead controls will not disconnect as they are still in coherency. 2) However, if the spearhead dies and is removed the table, then the other non-spearhead models will disconnect as they are no longer in coherency. 3) I am completely unsure if a disconnected model can be made the spearhead (for example the previous one died) and if they reconnect at the beginning of the order or at the end of the order, practically wasting that order. Is this how peripheral control works or which part am I misunderstanding?
If the Spearhead dies and gets removed from the table, the remaining Peripherals will disconnect due to failing coherency (as you can't be in coherency with a model that doesn't exist). The next time the unit is assigned an order, the models will still be disconnected, so they will not activate (crucially, this means they will NOT generate ARO's), but the controller is allowed to assign the Spearhead token, as normal. At the end of that order the Peripherals will see the new Spearhead and cancel their disconnected state. So essentially the spearhead dying means you have to waste an order to re-connect them.
I would personally assume (and I play it this way), that 1) and 2) the other models are disconnected and don't get any ARO. Even if the Spearhead gets Isolated. I agree, the rules don't mention this case, but I strogly assume that is how it is intended. According 3) the question is, what is the order in which the bullet points are performed: A) Define Spearhead -> Check Coherency with Spearhead B) Check Coherency with Spearhead -> Define Spearhead I disagree with Delta57Dash here (expecting it to be B), because that would not cover the situation where I nominate a new Spearhead that dosen't have coherency to all members of the Control Unit (and is not consistent with the behavior of Fireteams). I expect you nominate the Spearhead first and then check Coherency. And that means if you activate the Unit, you name a new Spearhead and have the opportunity to geht tehm all connected and perform the order.
Disconnected State doesn't get cancelled until the end of the Order. See the Coherency part of Peripheral (Controller), bold emphasis added: If the Disconnected Trooper passes a Coherency Check with the Spearhead of its Control Unit at the end of an Order or ARO, its Disconnected State is immediately cancelled. And from Disconnected State, bold emphasis added: If this State was caused by failing a Coherency Check, it is automatically cancelled by passing a Coherency Check at the end of an Order or ARO.
Just for my clarity, you only get to nominate a new spearhead when spending an order, right? Not in ARO.
Yes, just when spending an Order: Each time the Controller and Peripherals are activated with an Order, the player must designate one member of the Control Unit as that Order's Spearhead, placing a Spearhead Token (SPEARHEAD) beside it.
Is there confirmation for this? It would be pretty crippling to get one figure from your peripheral team killed if this was NOT true (since you'd just get diced by ARO's trying to reconnect), but the rules say: Each time the Controller and Peripherals are activated with an Order, the player must designate one member of the Control Unit as that Order's Spearhead, placing a Spearhead Token (SPEARHEAD) beside it. So it seems like either the Disconnected Peripherals are Activated along with their controller to assign the Spearhead, in which case they would provoke an ARO (whether they can execute said order or not) or they are NOT Activated, in which case they wouldn't receive the Spearhead token (?) IJW's response doesn't support or dispute this, so I believe that what you're saying must be true, but I'm hoping for some clarification - it seems like the Disconnected State is still somewhat in up in the air.
