So it appears that Salamanders are classed as Warbeasts now. This means they have Swiftstride (special rule) but the skink handlers do not. After a quick jaunt through the 2010 8th Edition FAQ I couldn't find a solid answer. So here it is, yes or no on SS?
i have no idea where to find it but i know that all lizardmen players in know play them as having swiftstride, yesterday i played a game where my salamanders died and 4 skinks ren away that is the only moment that they lost swiftstride how i play it ;P
when your salamanders all die, your skinks disappear with them (monster & handler rule). as for swiftstride, im not sure, ill have to have a peek in the BRB
not salamanders are titeled as war beast all group is titeled war beast thus skinks get swistride, in other way that rule would suck because would get it and whats the point of rule that you cant use...
iirc the skink handlers are used like counters or markers, the only important model is the Salamander. I.e., in CC you can't attack the skinks and when the base size of the group is important you just take the Salamanders'. Thats how I remember the monster&handler rule from the BRB without looking it up. Oh yes, and that of course means that the movement and the corresponding rules of the Salamander counts for the whole unit.
I will chime in on that as well. That is the way that I play in in my group. Since the handlers are ignored for all purposes besides being counters (and their attacks in CC), they get the swift stride rule as well. That really helps with the fleeing charge reaction.
For those wondering where the Salamanders are classed as "warbeasts", look in the back of the BRB where it shows the stats for most units.
Handlers are ignored in gaming, so sallies do get swiftstride. handlers dont really excist, they are just counters
Something that I was not sure about regarding this came up in one of my games. What happens if a template attack hits the handlers but not the salamander? Do you have to hit the salamander with shooting and treat the skinks as not being there at all, or does hitting the skink get a shot on the salamander. Being new to 8th edition at the time, had not played since 5th, we treated it as an attack against the skink and ended up just killing one of them.
I've had that come up a couple times too. The way we've been playing it is they just don't exist. The only interaction the skinks have in the game is for LD tests and CC attacks (though im not 100% if they get them, memory is fuzzy). For example, if a template covers 2 sallies and 4 skinks, with the center hole on a sallie, there would be 1 center hole hit and 1 regular hit. those hits are resolved against the sallies and then on a 5+ after armor saves, kills a skink. not sure if its right or not, ive found nothing to really explains the template attacks vs M&H. just seems logical to me that if they dont exist for most rule purposes, then itd be tough to hit them
I talked with some folks at my gaming group about this and yes, a 'hit' on skink handlers should be considered a miss in the current state of rules.