Source: Warhammer Fantasy: 6th Edition

Psychology - Frequently Asked Questions
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Is a Break Test a type of psychology test?

No. Break tests are leadership tests but are not one of the defined psychology tests per the Psychology section of the Rulebook. Therefore, units with the ability to re-roll failed psychology tests may not re-roll failed break tests and items which allow the re-roll of failed break tests do not allow the re-roll of failed psychology tests.

Source: Rulebook pages 74, 80

Is a rally test a type of psychology test?

No. Rally tests are leadership tests but are not one of the defined psychology tests per the Psychology section of the Rulebook. Units with the ability to re-roll failed psychology tests therefore may not re-roll a failed rally test.

Source: Rulebook pages 75, 80

How does psychology work with monster mounts (and chariots) and their character riders? Does the rider's psychology take precedence?

The character's psychology takes precedence. So, if the character is Immune to Psychology, the entire model is Immune to Psychology. Also, if a character rider is frenzied, then it must always charge (using the movement of the monster). However, there are some exceptions to this. These exceptions are: Fear, Terror, Stupidity and Frenzy. A Fear or Terror causing monster (or chariot) passes on immunity to fear/terror to its rider. If the monster (or chariot) suffers from Stupidity, or is subject to Frenzy, then these are out of the control of the rider, and the entire model may suffer from it. In all other cases, the entire model uses the character rider's psychology. Further Direwolf FAQ Council clarification: In these cases where the mount's Stupidity or Frenzy affects the rider, it is the movement effects, not the close combat effects.

Source: Anthony Reynolds - Warhammer Design Team (Online Q&A on the Games Workshop Warhammer Forum) / Direwolf FAQ Council

When a unit sustains 25% or more casualties from friendly fire (e.g. mortar scattering, Skaven Life is Cheap fire) does the unit have to take a Panic check at the end of the phase?

That would come under "voluntary tests". By the strict letter of the rules, only casualties in the enemy magic and shooting phases apply. However, as well known, friendly fire isn't friendly at all, and I would probably take a panic test if one of my units suffered self-inflicted casualties in this way.

Source: Gav Thorpe - Warhammer Design Team

When a war machine unit, Skaven Weapons Team, wizard, etc. destroys itself via a misfire, malfunction, miscast, etc. do friendly units within 4" have to take a Panic check at the end of the phase?

No test required. The panic test for friends destroyed is very specific about enemy magic and shooting again. In this case, most soldiers are just waiting for the wizard's head to explode or the whirly-gun of doom to blow itself up. They're pretty used to this type of behaviour.

Source: Gav Thorpe - Warhammer Design Team

Is the panic test for a nearby friendly unit breaking from combat contingent upon the relative sizes of the broken unit and the unit that might have to test?

No. Even single models with less than five wounds on their original profile that break in combat force nearby friendly units to take panic tests.

Source: Rulebook page 80

If a friendly single model with less than 5 wounds on its original profile is destroyed by missile fire or magic, does it cause a panic test for friendly units within 4"? Do single models with less than 5 wounds on their original profile cause panic tests in any situations?

In the Warhammer Chronicles Errata section, the wording on page 81 of the Rulebook was changed to exclude single models with less than 5 wounds on their original profile from causing Panic tests when destroyed by missile fire or magic. Such models also do not cause panic tests if they are destroyed in close combat. Note however that such models DO cause panic tests in friendly units within 6" if they break from close combat and if they are fleeing and have higher unit strength than friendly units within 4" at the start of a turn.

Source: Warhammer Chronicles 2004 page 125 / Rulebook pages 80, 81

If a unit has only one model left in the turn that it is destroyed in combat, does a friendly unit nearby have to make a Panic test (ie, does the last model remaining in the unit count as being a single model)?

This is determined at the start of each phase if it's a single model at that point, then its destruction won't cause panic.

Source: Warhammer Chronicles 2004 page 113

Concerning panic from flank and rear charges, the rules say that you use the Unit Strength (five or more) to require the check, but then say at the end that no test is required if the charging unit numbers less than five models.

Delete the last sentence. Unit Strength 5 is the only requirement needed to determine whether a test is required.

Source: Warhammer Chronicles 2004 page 113

Do failed panic tests "cascade"? That is, does a unit failing a panic test force nearby friendly units to take a panic test (as failing a break test does)?

No. Panic does not cascade. If, in the player's subsequent turn, the unit that panicked is still fleeing and is close enough to friendly units to force them to take a panic check, one must be taken. None of the listed cases for taking a panic test is based on another friendly unit failing a panic test.

Source: Rulebook pages 80, 81.

When do you resolve Fear tests for an enemy charging a unit that wishes to stand & shoot?

Use the following procedure: The fear-causing unit declares a charge. The charged unit says 'I'd like to stand and shoot.' Check to see if the charging unit is in range. If it is then the defenders must take a Fear test. If they fail their test and are outnumbered, they will flee as normal, replacing their stand & shoot charge reaction. If for any reason they do not flee, then the charged unit may stand & shoot as normal.

Source: Warhammer Chronicles 2004 page 113

How do you resolve situations where a single model causing fear is in the front rank of a unit that does not cause fear?

If a single model (e.g. a character) that causes fear is in a unit that doesn't cause fear then any tests or effects that the fear causes is only applied to that character, not the entire unit he is with. For example, a unit would have to take a fear test if a unit with a single fear causing model in it charges them. However if that test is failed then the unit only flees if the fear causing character by itself has a higher Unit Strength than the unit being charged. If the test is failed and the unit requires 6's to hit, then it is only 6's to hit the single fear causing model, not the rest of the unit he is with. In an instance where a unit declares a charge against an enemy unit with a single fear causing model and the unit declaring the charge will come into contact with the single fear causing model, then the unit declaring the charge must also take a fear test and, if the fear test is failed, the unit will not charge.

Source: Rulebook page 81

For purposes of determining if fear causing units outnumber their foes to force an auto-break situation, do you determine it by the largest fear causing unit engaged in the combat or do you use the total Unit Strength of the fear causing units and compare it to the defender's combined Unit Strength?

Neither. If a unit is outnumbered by fear-causing enemies, then it automatically breaks. Operative word is unit, not side, so it is worked out on its Unit Strength versus total Unit Strength of fear- causing enemies it is actually fighting (i.e. in base to base contact with), in the same way that break test are rolled for individually rather than per side.

Source: Rulebook page 81 / Gav Thorpe - Warhammer Design Team

Does placing a fear (or terror) causing character in a unit actually make the unit immune to fear (or terror)? The Fear / Terror liability section on page 82 of the Rulebook states "Obviously a large monster is less likely to suffer from fear or terror itself. There is not way a huge Dragon is going to be scared of a Troll for example. These special liabilities also apply to any rider of a large monster (or steed) too, so a Dragon rider wouldn't be afraid of a creature that would frighten him on foot. They also apply to units that are accompanied by fear or terror causing creatures, a skink unit with a Kroxigor would be immune to fear for example." Does the last sentence only applied to mixed units such as Rat Ogres & Packmasters, War Hydras & Apprentices, etc., or does it apply to characters as well?

The way I would see it most easily solved is to say that the example quoted on page 82 refers only to mixed units including some models in the unit causing fear, others not - and that it does not refer to characters at all. This would mean a fear causing character does not make a unit immune to fear - and it does say on page 100: "if a unit of troops panics, or is forced to flee because of a Fear of Terror test, then any character who is part of the unit must also flee even if he is immune to panic, fear, or terror."

Source: Anthony Reynolds - Warhammer Design Team

Concerning the Fear test, what if your Unit Strength is equal to the enemy's when you fail the test?

Change 'higher' to 'equal to or higher' in the section on being charged by a fear-causing enemy

Source: Warhammer Chronicles 2004 page 113

If charged by more than one fear-causing unit, do you test once per unit, or once only and add up the total number of charging models?

Test once per unit, as each is found to be in range.

Source: Warhammer Chronicles 2004 page 113

Say Shadowblade, or some other Assassin, is in a unit that is charged by a fear-causing creature. The unit fails its Fear test and requires 6s to hit. Does the Assassin also require 6s to hit or do vou make a separate test on his own, probably higher, Leadership? In other words, the Assassin cannot pass on his Leadership to the unit but does the unit in effect bass on its Leadership to him?

If, for some reason, a character does not pass their Ld on to a unit they have joined, then they may make separate Ld tests. Note that in most circumstances this would not make a difference if the unit flees (from terror or panic, for example), the character has to flee with them. regardless of its own Ld value.

Source: Warhammer Chronicles 2004 page 113

Is there a limit to the amount of Terror tests a unit is forced to take?

Yes, each unit is only forced to take one Terror test per BATTLE. After taking the first Terror test, units treat Terror causing units as causing Fear.

Source: Rulebook page 81

What happens if a stupid unit wanders off the board?

It counts as having fled the table, and thus the enemy gets the victory points.

Source: Anthony Reynolds - Warhammer Design Team (Online Q&A on the Games Workshop Warhammer Forum)

Can a unit suffering from stupidity elect to flee?

No.

Source: Anthony Reynolds - Warhammer Design Team (Online Q&A on the Games Workshop Warhammer Forum)

If a character that is suffering stupidity is part of a unit that is not stupid, does the character force the unit to stumble forwards, or does he leave the unit, allowing the unit to operate as normal?

The entire unit stumbles forward at half the character's movement value or the unit's base movement value, whichever is lower.

Source: Anthony Reynolds - Warhammer Design Team (Online Q&A on the Games Workshop Warhammer Forum)

Does a frenzied unit have to charge through a Goblin Fanatic, or is it allowed to stop like other units?

The frenzied unit must complete its charge, even if this takes it through a Fanatic.

Source: Warhammer Chronicles 2004 page 113

When exactly do you move frenzied units?

Follow this sequence: 1) Declare normal charges; 2) Measure to see if frenzied units must charge, declare charges for those that have to; 3) Move chargers; 4) Move frenzied chargers.

Source: Gav Thorpe - Warhammer Design Team

Are the target units of forced frenzied charges allowed charge reactions as normal?

Yes, forced frenzied charges are treated as normal charges in regards to charge reactions. See the Q&A above for the proper sequence of executing frenzied charges.

Source: Direwolf FAQ Council Interpretation

Would a frenzied unit which lost a combat, auto-break from a outnumbering fear causing enemy in the same round?

First, Frenzied units that lose combat always take break tests, just like any other unit. Second, the break test isn't to see if you are defeated. If you have to take a break test you are already defeated, that's what losing the combat resolution means. So regardless of the outcome of a break test, a frenzied unit has already lost its frenzy, just by having to take one. An outnumbering fear causing enemy will therefore normally break a formerly frenzied unit, as the state of frenzy is lost prior to having to take a break test.

Source: Rulebook pages 71, 84

Situation: Unit A is hates the enemy and is engaged in combat with enemy unit B. The combat between Units A and B ends up a draw, and in the following turn Unit A is then charged in the flank by enemy Unit C (which unit A also hates). Will the previously unengaged models in unit A get to utilize the first round of combat re-rolls vs. Unit C?

No, only unit C counts as in "first round of combat" in the situation above. All models in a unit fight together and unit A is no longer in "first round of combat" since it was fighting unit B in a previous turn.

Source: Rulebook pages 67, 84 / Direwolf FAQ Council Interpretation

Can a unit be frenzied while fleeing (with the use of spells)?

No. If for some reason they should still be affected by frenzy, they regain it as soon as they rally.

Source: Anthony Reynolds - Warhammer Design Team (Online Q&A on the Games Workshop Warhammer Forum)

In a situation where a character that is immune to psychology, frenzied, or unbreakable is attached to a unit that suffers from psychology (e.g. A Chaos Exhalted Champion with the Mark of Slaanesh attached to a unit of Marauders) can the unit voluntarily declare "flee" as the charge reaction, or must the unit hold due to the presence of the character?

The unit may voluntarily declare "flee" as a charge reaction. It is the unit which declares the charge reaction (and not the character) and the immunity to psychology of the character does not transfer to the unit. Also, if they didn't choose to flee but were forced to, the character would be dragged along anyway.

Source: Gav Thorpe - Warhammer Design Team