Objective markers, control, Objective Control and secured objectives.
If a mission uses objectives, it will state where they are locate on the battlefield. Typically, your mission will have a deploymen map showing several points where objectives should be placed. The location of each point should coincide with a terrain area (13.01); that terrain area is the objective, and is called a terrain objective. When measuring distances to and from an objective, measure to and from the closest part of it.
At the start of the battle, no objective on the battlefield is controlled by either player. To gain control of an objective, a player will need one or more models with an OC characteristic of 1 or more within range of it. A model is within range of a terrain objective while it is within that terrain area. At the end of each phase and turn, to determine a player’s level of control over an objective, add together the OC characteristics of all the models in that player’s army that are within range of that objective: ▪ The player who has the highest level of control over that objective controls that objective. ▪ If both players have the same level of control over that objective, unless that objective is secured (see below), that objective is not controlled by either player. While one or more units from a player’s army are within range of an objective that player controls, for each of those units tha contains one or more models with an OC characteristic of 1 or more, that unit is said to be controlling that objective.
Some rules allow an objective to be secured by a player’s army. When an objective is secured by a player’s army, that objective remains under their control – even once they no longer have any units within range of it – until their opponent’s level of control over that objective is greater than theirs at th end of a phase. CONTROLLING A TERRAIN OBJECTIVE This VEHICLE has an OC characteristic of 3, and it within the terrain area. This VEHICLE has an OC characteristic of 2, and it is wholly within the terrain area. Both players add together the OC characteristics of all their models that are within the terrain area. The BLUE player’s level of control is 5, and the RED player’s level of control is 6. The RED player therefore controls the objective. The models in this unit each have an OC characteristic of 1. Six of its models are within the terrain area. This unit is currently battle-shocked, so the OC characteristic of all of its models is ‘-’. STRATAGEMS Stratagems can be used by spending Command Points, to create epic moments of tactical brilliance or peerless martial might. They are used when a player deems that a critical point in the battle is reached, where extra combat prowess or fleeting but powerful effects are required to tip the balance in their favour.