The Skyshield Landing Pad is a wonderful terrain piece which has been available for some time now. It is a fairly large kit which measures about 15" x 15" when unfurled and just under 12" x 12" when Shielded. It also stands nearly 4" in height.
As a Fortification this terrain piece is available to any army for 75 pts. With the new rules for fortifications you can take a single fortification for each primary detachment in your force. When playing the Eternal War missions found in the v6 rulebook Fortifications are set up prior to terrain wholly within the owning player's table half and count toward terrain density.
The complete rules for the Skyshield Landing Pad can be found on page 115 of the v6 rulebook. Some of the details I will list here and discuss in a bit more depth.
The Skyshield has two modes. Shielded and Unfurled. In Shielded mode, units on top have a 4+ invulnerable save against enemy shooting attacks. When unfurled if a unit deep strikes on top it will never scatter.
As a Fortification this terrain piece is available to any army for 75 pts. With the new rules for fortifications you can take a single fortification for each primary detachment in your force. When playing the Eternal War missions found in the v6 rulebook Fortifications are set up prior to terrain wholly within the owning player's table half and count toward terrain density.
The complete rules for the Skyshield Landing Pad can be found on page 115 of the v6 rulebook. Some of the details I will list here and discuss in a bit more depth.
The Skyshield has two modes. Shielded and Unfurled. In Shielded mode, units on top have a 4+ invulnerable save against enemy shooting attacks. When unfurled if a unit deep strikes on top it will never scatter.
The choice of adding a Skyshield to your army can provide a number of tactical advantages. Armies which rely on deep striking units could bring units to that point of the battlefield with relative safely, and use it as a means to springboard an attack. If using these types of springboard tactics, consider deploying the Skyshield closer to the middle of the table to hem in your opponent. Also consider placing objectives nearby or even on it for easy access.
Another viable tactic is to use the Skyshield as a defensive strongpoint. In shielded mode, models on top get a 4+ invulnerable save. They also gain some protection from assaults as enemy models must get underneath the platform and use a ladder to get to the top surface or attempt to Assault The Battlements by throwning grenades as detailed on page 96. This tactic is further enhanced by placing the Skyshield in your deployment zone. It can fit in a 12" deployment zone and offer a commanding view of the tabletop. This makes it a great place to deploy heavy weapons and other units which can operate in a static position.
As the top surface of the Skyshield is open terrain if it is set up in your deployment zone even non-skimmer vehicles could be deployed on it.
Another viable tactic is to use the Skyshield as a defensive strongpoint. In shielded mode, models on top get a 4+ invulnerable save. They also gain some protection from assaults as enemy models must get underneath the platform and use a ladder to get to the top surface or attempt to Assault The Battlements by throwning grenades as detailed on page 96. This tactic is further enhanced by placing the Skyshield in your deployment zone. It can fit in a 12" deployment zone and offer a commanding view of the tabletop. This makes it a great place to deploy heavy weapons and other units which can operate in a static position.
As the top surface of the Skyshield is open terrain if it is set up in your deployment zone even non-skimmer vehicles could be deployed on it.
There are a few grey areas with respect to this fortification which I will explore next.
The first has to do with units deep striking on top of an unfurled Skyshield. There is no rule preventing your opponent's models benefiting from these abilities - so the Skyshield may get a bit crowded!
Another point of discussion involves barrage weapons and how they affect shielded units. Since Barrage weapons always assume the shot is coming from the centre of the blast marker it can be argued that these shots bypass the shielded ability. The other side of the coin would be to claim that the shield behaves as a dome and provides protection even against barrage weapons. This is currently supported by the rules as written. Until a clarification for how barrage weapons are affected by these sorts of things, players are encouraged to come to a mutually agreeable conclusion.
Models moving off the Skyshield also raise a few questions. Some units like Jump, Jet Pack, Jetbikes and Skimmers do not need to take Dangerous Terrain tests for moving off an unfurled Skyshield how other units are handled is not covered directly.
As I look at the Skyshield I would opt to handle things as follows:
Infantry models climbing over a shielded or jumping off an unfurled side would also use the Leaping Down rules found on page 95 of the rulebook.
A non-skimmer vehicle on top of the Skyshield would only be able to drive off if it is unfurled and would also be subject to the Leaping Down rules.
One last thing to consider is using the Skyshield as simply a piece of terrain for your games. The rules for Dilapidation on page 96 cover some aspects, but you can always take things a bit further such as restricting the ability to have all of its features working. Perhaps allowing only cover saves instead of invulnerable saves or restricting the ability to change configurations.
The Skyshield Landing Pad offers a number of tactical advantages to armies and gives players a significant piece of terrain to battle over and around.
Skyshield - A seventy-five point landing.
The first has to do with units deep striking on top of an unfurled Skyshield. There is no rule preventing your opponent's models benefiting from these abilities - so the Skyshield may get a bit crowded!
Another point of discussion involves barrage weapons and how they affect shielded units. Since Barrage weapons always assume the shot is coming from the centre of the blast marker it can be argued that these shots bypass the shielded ability. The other side of the coin would be to claim that the shield behaves as a dome and provides protection even against barrage weapons. This is currently supported by the rules as written. Until a clarification for how barrage weapons are affected by these sorts of things, players are encouraged to come to a mutually agreeable conclusion.
Models moving off the Skyshield also raise a few questions. Some units like Jump, Jet Pack, Jetbikes and Skimmers do not need to take Dangerous Terrain tests for moving off an unfurled Skyshield how other units are handled is not covered directly.
As I look at the Skyshield I would opt to handle things as follows:
Infantry models climbing over a shielded or jumping off an unfurled side would also use the Leaping Down rules found on page 95 of the rulebook.
A non-skimmer vehicle on top of the Skyshield would only be able to drive off if it is unfurled and would also be subject to the Leaping Down rules.
One last thing to consider is using the Skyshield as simply a piece of terrain for your games. The rules for Dilapidation on page 96 cover some aspects, but you can always take things a bit further such as restricting the ability to have all of its features working. Perhaps allowing only cover saves instead of invulnerable saves or restricting the ability to change configurations.
The Skyshield Landing Pad offers a number of tactical advantages to armies and gives players a significant piece of terrain to battle over and around.
Skyshield - A seventy-five point landing.
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