Daemonsmith’s Handbook – Iron Daemon

The first paragraph states: "rather than using the normal rules for charging or marching, roll 2D6" etc. So, in this respect, it is specified that it is not treated like a Chariot.

You cannot make a normal move with the boilers. You either make a normal move, or you use the boilers, in which case "rather than using the normal rules for charging or marching, roll 2D6" etc.

I would have to disagree. A normal move is a normal move, i.e. the distance moved cannot exceed the movement characteristic. To move more than the movement characteristic, you have to march, charge, flee or pursue. The Iron Daemon cannot flee or pursue. The normal move is covered in the second sentence of the first paragraph. Marching (or, if you prefer, movement that counts as marching) and charging are covered by the entirety of the 2D6 roll rule.  

You are, in fact, correct: my answer regarding using the boiler and shooting was wrong. Well spotted! Quandoque bonus dormitat Fidelis.

Cheers for your input (and you FvonSigmaringen/strutsagget), i'm re-working this and moving it to the movement section. I've used the double flee example as a situation where you could unintentionally move into combat.

sedge - The BRB (pg 16 - paragraph 5) states: "if you want to attack an enemy you must charge him - you simply cannot move into close combat without having declared a charge"

Now there are rules which will 'override' (for want of a better word) this, such as random movement but the ID doesn't have this rule.

Could be argued that the Iron Daemon 'march' could move you into contact with a unit and thus combat?

I could definitely see an argument for this. The AB does say: "if the total movement would bring the ID into contact with a unit unintentionally (i.e. not as he result of a declared charge), roll for impact hits as normal".

Because it says "not as the result of a charge", this could well mean it refers to the 'march' move (nothing says it is just from situations such as the double flee, only that the move wasn't part of a charge), especially due to the random nature of the move. sedge's example of moving to avoid a charge arc is a good one (especially if the odds of connecting were low, such as if they were at the 18" maximum move distance). The fact they even put it in the rules (and called the rule lumbering and unstoppable), to me, strongly indicates they thought it was a definite possibility (yes I know that is likely a RAI vs RAW). 

Now conversely if you were making a 'march' move and the odds were good you would contact a unit (if the other unit were 9" away for example), then this would have to be thought of as intentional and though it could still be argued you would still end up in contact, you wouldn't get the impact hits (or give them ASF etc).

I think the key to the argument 'for', is that they even said the ID could unintentionally move into contact with a unit. This itself shows it is possible to move into contact with a unit outside of the normal rules.

If my thought flow is right (and i'm not saying it is, i'm just promoting discussions) then, without a doubt, it is gamey but if it is allowed, then we should include it so opponents were aware it is a possibility (in the same way some people 'could' choose to use slayer darts)

It is unbreakable, so its immune to psychology.

interesting stuff. The Iron Daemon movement phase is certainly an example for unnecessary complexity.

I am a bit surprised by the high regard for the steam cannonade as opposed to skullcracker. The latter seems so much better to me. I guess it really depends who you are up against.

knoffles here is the wording if you want to add it

The Iron Daemon is a mighty, smoke-belching powerhouse; slow but incredibly hard to stop. It may move normally up to its Move distance and fire its weapons without penalty while doing so. Alternately, it may choose to engage its steam boiler’s power and move faster, but this is hardly a precise art. In this case, rather than using the normal rules for charging or marching, roll 2D6 and unless a double 1 is rolled then add this number to the Iron Daemon’s movement score for the total distance travelled. The Iron Daemon moves this distance forward in a straight line and may not turn or wield as it does so. If a double 1 is rolled, then something has gone wrong and the Iron Daemon does not move at all this turn.

If a charge is being attempted, this must be declared as normal before the extra movement amount is rolled, and if failed (ie, the distance rolled for movement is insufficient to reach the target unit), simply move the Iron Daemon forward the rolled distance instead. If the total movement would bring the Iron Daemon into contact with a unit unintentionally (ie, not as the result of a declared charge), roll for impact hits as normal. The Iron Daemon does not count as charging if the unit is an enemy, and its enemy gains the Always Strikes First rule against it for the first turn of combat owing to the confusion on board. If by some error it strikes a friendly unit, resolve the impact hits and then move the Iron Daemon back 1" after the collision.

In each round of an on-going combat after the first, the Iron Daemon may make a Thunderstomp attack exactly like a monster to reflect it grinding over its victims with its bulk and power. Iron Daemons cannot overrun or pursue in combat if they destroy or rout their foes.