Theoritical Tech-Priest question

[gwensdad]

I'm looking at attaching a techpriest to a unit in a vehicle, but the question has come up as to if that techpriest could have any servitors. The problem arises in that a dedicated transport can only carry a single infantry unit. If a techpriest had any servitors do those count as forming another infantry unit or are they effectively just wargear on an IC?

[Culven]

Servitors form a unit with the Tech-Priest and would therefore prevent him from joining another unit until they are all removed as casualties.

[gwensdad]

The thing is (rules-lawyer wise) that Codex: IG doesn't say that they form a new unit, unlike Codex: SM which very clearly states that servitors form a new unit (when take with Techmarines).

[Nabterayl]

Space marine servitors don't form a new unit when accompanying techmarines; space marine servitors are a separate unit, which a techmarine may accompany as an independent character. IG servitors aren't listed as not a unit, so we should default to treating them as a unit (specifically, a retinue). That means that a techpriest so accompanied cannot join other units, as there is not a special rule saying that he can (as there is for, e.g., Tau commanders accompanied by drones).

[Magos Bellum]

Actually, it is irrelevant, because Techpriests are not independent characters (they lack the "Independent Character" special rule in their codex entry) so they can not join units at all.

[Culven]

The thing is (rules-lawyer wise) that Codex: IG doesn't say that they form a new unit, unlike Codex: SM which very clearly states that servitors form a new unit (when take with Techmarines).
It doesn't need to, the Servitors are purchased as additional models for the Tech-Priest's unit, rather than as a separate unit like in the Space Marine codex.

Also, as Magos Bellum mentioned, the lack of the Independant Character rule kind of puts a damper on the whole issue anyway. :p