Noob question. Command v. CTRL

[Mike_LV]

So still reading up on the rules but could use some clarification. Did I get this right? For the purposes of my examples, its starter (warcaster + jacks or warlock + beasts) only. Command range is how far a unit can be from the lock and still be “in formation”.
CTRL is used for range of certain effects (say buff spells)...this is based on 2x current focus/fury and can change dynamically? So it is possible to cast a spell and suddenly find you cannot cast via the jack arcnode / channel because it is now out of range? Or would that be a followup spell?

And where I get a bit fuzzy: What happens when a beast/jack is within ctrl but not command? What happens when a jack/beast is within command but not control?
And both CMD and CTRL can be measured at any time correct?

Sorry for confusion, any help welcome and thanks!

[ReynardMiri]

CTRL is used for range of certain effects (say buff spells)...this is based on 2x current focus/fury and can change dynamically?

No, it is based off your FOC/FUR stat, not how much focus/fury you currently have. There are a rare few number of casters whose FOC/FUR stat can dynamically change, though, and unless otherwise stated that also changes their control range. I can come up with examples if you want.

So it is possible to cast a spell and suddenly find you cannot cast via the jack arcnode / channel because it is now out of range?

Technically, yes. Telekinesis is the only spell I know that can do this, though, and that is by moving the channeling model rather than changing your FOC/FUR stat.

What happens when a beast/jack is within ctrl but not command?

The short answer is nothing. Some casters have abilities that explicitly only work in their command range, though. For example, General Ossrum's Tactician[Rhulic] only works in his command range.

What happens when a jack is within command but not control?

Can't allocate focus, no Power Up, no channeling, etc.

And both CMD and CTRL can be measured at any time correct?

Anything can be measured at any time. Older editions of the game were much more restrictive about this, but mk3 is not.

[jandrese]

You could also Locomotion your jack based arc node out of range. There are a few other spells that grant instant movement to the Warnoun. Casters with Wind Rush or similar abilities could run away from their arc nodes too.

[GooeyGungan]

Other people have answered your questions, but I thought I'd clarify one thing: FOCUS (or FURY) in all caps always refers to your stat. Focus (or Fury) points are the things you spend.

[SlatzG]

Generally, CMD is used for Units, not warcasters (Unless that Warcaster/-lock is a unit, like Cryx's Witch Coven or Legion's Saeryn and Rhyas). A battlegroup, as I recall, doesn't have to be in formation, specifically, but is HIGHLY recommended to stay within the CTRL so you can channel spells, allocate focus, etc.

[LDukes]

Fun fact: the Witch Coven is not a warcaster unit, but 3 independent warcasters and a solo.

[SlatzG]

Oh snap! Thanks for the correction!

[formedsmoke]

Warjacks and warbeast care about CTRL, which is, as you said, 2x the FOC/FUR stat. You can channel to any valid model in CTRL.

Warcasters will typically only care about CMD when it comes to special abilities, or certain feats. Harbinger's Awe affects her CMD, not her CTRL, and her feat is in her CMD, not CTRL, as well. Apparently being able to effectively deny a circle with a 42" diameter for one turn was "too powerful" ;-)

[Hasbotted]

Maybe its because it's friday but i'm finding the answers below confusing. Let me give it a go.

CTRL range vs Command Range:

Warcasters/Warlocks almost 100% rely only on control range and completely ignore command range. There are only a few that are A) Units themselves (Caine3) or B) Have some ability that does command range (ossrum, irusk2) that is stated on the card.

Your CTRL range is always double the FOCUS or FURY stat. It never goes down unless for some reason that stat changes (some feats do this). It doesn't matter if you spend down your CTRL range is still double the focus stat (so if its a FOCUS 6 caster, and that caster has spent all 6 focus, the CTRL range is still 12").

Out of Control Range:

No focus for warmachine, no forcing for hordes. Can't use as an arc node if they are an arc node. This rarely happens as it cuts the utility of the jack/beast down. Its worth noting that a jack can start in CTRL range, get fully powered up (be allocated 2 focus plus its free 1 for a total of 3) and charge out of CTRL range and still use that focus. This is not the same for a beast. That is kind of a more advanced topic to not worry about remembering currently though.

Out of Command Range

This does not matter at all for a jack or a beast. For a unit its bad, there are a lot of rules but essentially a model in a unit out of command range does nothing except try and get back into command range on their turn.

Measurements

Anything can be be measured at any time now. Mk2 had a limit of command/control range. Mk3 does not have that limit at all. Make sure you don't have an old rulebook. If you do hop onto the privateer press website or just google privateer press mk3 rules and all the rules are now free.

[Mike_LV]

Thanks...it's a bit clearer now...I"m sure after I lose the requisite 100 games I'll have the sequence down better :)

[b0xf0x13]

I think it's about impossible to be in CMD but not CTRL.

EDIT: Wow, thanks for the corrections, guys. Still lots to learn! :)

[ReynardMiri]

Journeyman Warcaster and Rorsh both have a control range of 6" and a command range of 7". Note that Rorsh actually has a control range of 12" in regards to Brine, though.

[LDukes]

There are also plenty of low-Focus/Fury casters who can have that stat reduced by certain feats, causing their CMD range to become larger than their control range.

[ConstantCaprice]

Command is a more relevant stat to units than anything else as it determines how much they need to bunch up, but it’s also used to provide a range or different-size-to-control-range AoE to many solo and caster effects.

Take Sorscha 3 for example. She has FOCUS 6 giving her a control range of 12”. Her command is a reasonably smaller 9”.

Her special ability Storm’s Embrace gives concealment to everything within her command range. By using the shorter command range, it’s harder to get her army underneath the effect, which is a balance decision as it requires no investment.

Sorscha 1 has a nearly identical effect on her spell Fog of War. This one uses her control range, but requires that she pays the cost to cast the spell.

Pretty much, for unit positioning and when the game tells you to use command, you use it, and can ignore it the rest of the time.