Hi all. Sorry if this was asked before but my search didn’t show anything. My question is: Can a player ask another player to turn around even if they do not have a TO unit to place?
Yes, and you should, because otherwise you are revealing Private Information. I recommend the phrase "would you mind turning around for a moment in case I have any hidden deployment?" You can also use this time to record landing zones for Parachutists, the true identity of Holoprojector models, and any other notes that should be made for units with Private Information.
I like that phrase. That way it doesn’t come off like one player being unsportsmanlike to get an extra advantage.
It's not just hidden deployment, but also parachutists and the Sabotage classified objective all require secret information about the table which you'd want your opponent to turn around for. I generally go for a walk or turn my back and check my phone, during deployment, including of reserves, to be polite and give my opponents the table.
Strictly by RAW - no. If you look at the wiki page for Hidden Deployment, you'll see the following wording: In your Deployment Phase, write down the position of your Hidden Deployment troopers in as much detail as possible (make sure to specify whether the trooper is in Cover, Prone, etc.) in order to show your opponent when their state is canceled and their position revealed. So here you have it - if you want to deploy a HD - better write it down in excruciating detail. Same with Parachutist - you write down your choice of the table edge quadrant (and remember, all AD1 troopers have to deploy in this quadrant). Of course this is pretty bothersome to do, so most metas have a homerule about turning around. All in all, if you want a strict by-the-rules answer - no, your opponent doesn't have to turn around while you do or do not deploy HD troopers.
They aren’t necessarily required by the rules to turn around, but you are certainly free to ask them to do so. This is an etiquette/sportsmanship question, not a rules question.
thank you for the explanation. since raw does not even mention turning around, then there is no opportunity to trick your opponent into believing that you are putting a hidden deployment model down so the issue doesn’t really exist in raw. That’s good to know. So the issue really is a sportsmanship issue like has been said before and players should carefully phrase their request instead of saying something like “it’s my turn for hidden deployment turn around please” that would mislead opponents.
You could always just make a habit of photographing the entire battlefield from a high vantage, then fiddling with the photo to mark Parachutist/Hidden Deployment/absolutely nothing. This requires no action on the part of your opponent. Just remember to always do it. For myself, though, I use my opponent's hidden deployment time to grab a soda, check text messages, or whatever non-gaming stuff I want to do for a few seconds.
I see a lot of people do this, and I think it's a good practice. It gives both players a little bit of space to look at angles and make important decisions without pressure and without feeling like they might be revealing something.
I think the rules should actually include an obligatory Private Information Registration phase for both players. Otherwise this seems quite similar to how you were spending your Lt order in N2. For those who weren't around at the time, it was kinda like this: Active Player: Okay, I spend another Order (flips an Lt Order token, hoping their opponent didn't notice that) and activate this dude. He will move. Reactive Player: (declares relevant AROs) ... (some Orders later) ... Reactive Player: Hey, when did you spend your Lt Order? Active Player: (whistles)
