How many Independent Characters?

[MaltonNecromancer]

Had a bit of confusion over this; how many Independent Characters can join a single unit? Because we know they can all join each other to make a Death Star, but can you say, for example, stick Dante, a Librarian and a Sanguinary Priest all onto the same unit of Sanguinary Guard? Or is it, as I suspect, only one Independent Character per squad?

As a side note, can Independent Characters attach to Monstrous Creatures? Say Lelith Hesperax and Urien Rakarth attached to a Talos?

[Diagnosis Ninja]

There isn't a limit. And if there is, it's news to me haha.

As for joining a Carnifex: no. There's a rule somewhere saying that you can't join a unit which normally consists of one model.

[Kawauso]

Normally consists of one model?

Carnifexes can go in broods of 3.

If there is a rule like that, then that would mean that ICs can't join units of paladins in the GK codex; their minimum squad size is 1.

[Lerra]

Any number of ICs can join a squad.

Carnifexes in 5th edition come in squads, so ICs can join them. You don't see it very often because there aren't many ICs in the Tyranid codex, and usually they're better off joining other units.

[Tynskel]

another point of view is that ICs can't join a unit that comprises of one model on the board.

ie, a paladin who started as 1 model on the board will always be 1 model on the board (see the 'always' is in there), so there are those that would say you cannot attach an IC to the paladin unit.

[Hive Mind]

And they'd be totally wrong. Oh wait, look at that it's Tynskel. Of course it's going to be utterly wrong.

The rule on p.48 of the BRB says that IC's can't join units that always consist of a single model. No mention anywhere of 'on the board'.

[The Twilight Fade]

Pretty much what I was going to say. Paladins and Fex's whilst they can be taken as a single model they don't always consist of a single model, therefore IC's can join them even when they are solo where as models like the tervigon simply can't ever have them attached

[Wildeybeast]

The confusion over carnies comes from the phrase "units that always consist of a single model (like most vehicles and monstrous creatures)". GW is trying to be helpful by giving an example of what units are usually always taken as a single model, which monstrous creatures usually are. The key word is most. Carnies are a clear example of MC's that are taken as a unit. So as most people have said, you can attach as many IC's to a unit as you have in a unit, so long as that unit's entry in the army book does not state that you may only choose one model, which means you can buy a single carnifex and attach a Tyranid Prime (being the only Tyranid HQ with the IC rule) but I really don't know why you would want to do that.

[Tynskel]

what you just said makes no sense.

Every model on the board is part of a unit.
eg. A single tank is a unit.
3 land speeders squadron is a unit.

What the rule states is 'units that always consist of a single model...'.

What I am stating here is based upon one's perspective and how one decides interpret the rules.

One way to interpret the rules:
models on the board, regardless of codex entry. There is nothing in the codex entry preventing this interpretation. There's no special rule here overriding the rulebook.

A single model carnifex (or paladin, ect) is placed onto the board. For all intents and purposes, that is a single model unit from that point on. It is always going to be a single model unit, because there is no way to add another model to such unit. Hence, no ICs can join.

You could also interpret the rules in a different way:
Codex layout is in play, regardless of what's on the board.

Either way does not conflict with the rules system.
However, they may conflict with other players interpretations.

[Hive Mind]

Not sure if trolling or just really stupid.