From tinbot rules: For all game purposes, a TinBot is treated as a Marker and not a figure. With the Tinbot being a 'treated' like a marker and not a model, can I move the marker/model out of the way if other there is no room to place due to other models. Or am I forced to re-position the other models and leave the Marker/model in base contact. Non-rules wise: I'm tempted to put a crazy koala on the base of my trooper with TinBot ability and just drop the whole marker. The main reason for the marker is to remind people that it's there, the extra piece on the base should be enough. I just find the marker a little annoying, especially with link teams. My casual opponents don't have an issue dropping the placement of the marker, but our LGS is getting more and more into a tournament mindset. Same Question for Nano-screen. I get the need for the markers in Foxholes and other abilities since it can be removed easily, but tinbot and nanoscreen are permanent.
Those are state markers, not "models in marker state": the state markers have no physical presence, impede nothing, and can be of any size you want. So you can play with no tinbot at all, for example, but you need to be sure both you and your oponent do not forget there is a tinbot there.
Tinbot is listed as a piece of deployable equipment, but the FAQ seems to go against that. The Marker does have to exist and it has to be in base-to-base. I assume it also has to be the "official" marker at 25mm, though that's not explicit. It seems to me that, were the FAQ not there, the tinbot could be targetted by minesweeper. I kind of want to live in that world. ==================================== TINBOT AUTOMATIC EQUIPMENT Comms Equipment, Deployable (1), Non-Lootable, Prior Deployment. REQUIREMENTS While the owner of a TinBot is in a Null state (that is, Unconscious, Dead, Sepsitorized...) or Isolated, the TinBot ceases to exert its effect. EFFECTS During the Deployment Phase, place the TinBot in base to base contact with its owner. The TinBot always remains in base to base contact with its owner, and moves alongside him. For all game purposes, a TinBot is treated as a Marker and not a figure. If the owner of a TinBot falls Dead, remove the TinBot from the game alongside its owner. A TinBot can have a variety of Special Skills and pieces of Equipment; use only those specified in its owner's profile.
Let me rephrase the question then. Rules wise can I use a 2d marker and have another model stand on top of it? Or do I have the have enough free space to place the marker in B2B with nothing on top of it.
It is just a note saying "this troop has a Tinbot X", with no relevance. Rulewise, it is a comms equipment piece, like, for example, a Repeater or a Hacking Device. You DO NOT need to deploy the Tinbot model on the table at all. The tinbot can't be attacked, affected, etc... by anything but hacking programs, E/M ammo, etc...
Neither Tinbot nor Nanoscreen are permanent. Tinbots are Comms Equipment and can be disabled by certain means (anything that causes Isolated state, Blackout Hacking Program etc.) and Nanoscreen is disabled by being hit with Fire Special Ammunition.
It's a Game Status Marker, in the same way as Prone, Disabled, Unconscious, Burnt, Fireteam Leader, Unloaded, etc, it does not block the movement, positioning, or LoF of game elements. It's not even really necessary to be 25mm as it's size and shape have no effect on the game.
That's a hangover from N2, when you could shoot things like the Spotbot and remove the bonus the Spotbot provided. I kinda miss that mechanic.
