Status
Source: Necromunda Core Rulebook (2023)
Fighter Status
A fighter’s Status dictates what they can or cannot do. The actions a fighter can perform during their activation will depend heavily upon their current Status. During a game of Necromunda, a fighter’s Status can change. This is generally represented by how the fighter is positioned on the battlefield, be they Standing or Prone, as described below, but may also depend upon other factors.
Standing
A fighter that is upright on the battlefield is said to be ‘Standing’. Whilst Standing, a fighter may perform a wide range of actions with relative ease.
Secondary Statuses While Standing
Whilst Standing, a fighter will always be subject to one of two Secondary Statuses as well: ‘Active’ or ‘Engaged’. This Secondary Status will affect the actions a Standing fighter may perform during their activation.
Active: A Standing fighter is Active if they are not currently engaged with any enemy fighters. This is the default Status for a fighter; Standing and Active, and such fighters enjoy the greatest freedom to perform actions.
Engaged: In order for fighters to make close combat attacks, they must be engaging an enemy model:
- If the base of a Standing fighter is touching the base of an enemy fighter, they are said to be in base to base contact and are engaged with that enemy fighter.
- If the base of a Standing fighter is within 1" of any part of an enemy vehicle, they may choose to Engage that vehicle.
- A vehicle cannot Engage an enemy fighter.
A Standing fighter that is Engaged can generally only choose actions that allow them to fight or retreat, but other factors such as skills may increase the number of available options.
Players should note that in some cases a fighter may be able to Engage an enemy fighter they are not in base to base contact with, or an enemy vehicle that they are not within 1" of. For example, weapons with the Versatile trait allow a fighter to Engage enemy models from further away.
Prone
A fighter that is laid down is ‘Prone’. A Prone fighter has no facing and they effectively have no vision arc. Unless otherwise stated, Prone fighters never block line of sight – they are considered to be well out of the way of the action. A Prone fighter may be placed face-up or face-down, depending upon their Secondary Status.
Secondary Statuses While Prone
Whilst Prone, a fighter will always be subject to one of two Secondary Statuses as well: ‘Pinned’ or ‘Seriously Injured’. This Secondary Status will affect the actions a Prone fighter may perform and the way in which other models may interact with them.
Pinned: Fighters generally become Prone and ‘Pinned’ as a result of being hit by enemy fire, and will need to spend an action to stand up, becoming Standing and Active. If a Prone and Pinned fighter ever becomes engaged by an enemy fighter, they will immediately perform a Stand Up (Basic) action for free (i.e., without having to spend an action to do so), becoming Standing and Engaged, though they do count as having had to Turn to Face. A fighter can never be both Prone and Pinned and Engaged.
A Prone fighter that is Pinned is laid face-up, representing the fighter keeping their head down to avoid enemy fire.
Seriously Injured: If a fighter should suffer a ‘Serious Injury’ result on an Injury dice (either as the result of being reduced to 0 Wounds, or as the result of an attack from a weapon with a Trait such as Gas or Toxin), that fighter is laid face-down and becomes Prone and Seriously Injured. A fighter is very vulnerable whilst this is their Status, being susceptible to enemy attacks against which they cannot defend themselves and being unable to move quickly towards safety.
Vehicle Status
The Status of a vehicle indicates its degree of mobility. The actions available to a vehicle during its activation will depend heavily upon its current Status. During a game of Necromunda, a vehicle’s Status can change. This generally represents how fast the vehicle is moving or, if it has halted, why it has done so, as described below, but may also depend upon other factors.
Mobile
Whilst a vehicle is ‘Mobile’ it is able to move quite freely around the battlefield, performing a range of actions with ease.
Stationary
A vehicle that is unable to move for any reason is ‘Stationary’. Whilst Stationary, the actions available to the vehicle may be dramatically reduced.
Secondary Status Whilst Stationary
Whilst Stationary, a vehicle will always be subject to one of two Secondary Statuses as well: ‘Stalled’ or ‘Wrecked’. This Secondary Status essentially explains why the vehicle is Stationary and will determine how easily it can become Mobile (if at all) and which actions it can perform during its activation.
Stalled: A Stationary vehicle is Stalled if it has been forced to stop moving by an enemy attack, by damage, or by any other in-game effect or special rule that prevents the vehicle from moving. Stalled vehicles can often fire their weapons, but must ‘Restart’ (see Stationary & Stalled Vehicles) before they can move off.
Wrecked: During the course of a battle, a vehicle might become Stationary and Wrecked due to damage sustained. Once a vehicle is Wrecked it can no longer perform any actions and is treated like a piece of terrain.
Determining Status
The Primary and Secondary Status of both fighters and vehicles can change often. Most often, Status will change during the model’s activation, but it can also change during the activation of other models. Players should determine the Primary and Secondary Status of each model at the end of its activation for the benefit of their opponent and keep track of any changes as play progresses. When a model is activated, confirm its current Primary and Secondary Status.