Question about Trial of Blades ability

[Diobarach]

I tried searching but I didn't see anything jump out with regard to this. Sisters of slaughter have the trial of blades ability that states:

Models with this rule receive +1 To Hit and To Wound if at least one enemy model in base contact with the unit has a higher Weapon Skill or Strength characteristic.

My question is this, if I have a master in the unit who has strength 4, and the enemy has strength 4, does the bonus activate? On reading it I was thinking no but perhaps the comparison is solely against the SoS WS/S characteristic?

[T.D.]

Comparison is just against the Sisters.

[Diobarach]

Ok works for me, thanks for the reply.

[Gidean]

Comparison is just against the Sisters.

This makes sense as it is talking about a special rule the 'sisters' have. It makes no reference to 'unit' when it talks about whose WS or Strength they need to exceed. Therefore it is plainly meant to be the 'model' with the special rule. In other words, the sister. Clear as mud! The only time 'unit' is mentioned is that the higher str or WS opponent must be in contact with the sister's unit.

[Diobarach]

I think there are people that will argue against that interpretation for sure, it's not crystal clear and certainly the devil's advocate in me would contest it. Given this game is in its 8th iteration, the source of ambiguity that surrounds units vs models vs targets is a little frustrating, I guess it's easy to be critical though.

[T.D.]

The Sisters have the special rule 'Trial of Blades'.

The other Dark Elf models in the unit (if you decided to put any in there) do not.

Therefore one uses the Sister's stats to make the comparison vs. the enemy unit in b2b with the Sisters.

[Diobarach]

Ok, not trying to be difficult just want to make a stronger argument. Thanks.

[Haagrum]

I'm sorry, but I don't see how the operation of the special rule Trial of Blades is ambiguous.

There is nothing in that rule to suggest that it is affected by a comparison of the relevant statistics on another model in the Sisters' unit (who does not have that rule). Trial of Blades is clear enough on its own wording that ambiguity needs to be read into the rule, rather than being ambiguous in and of itself. It's clear that the accompanying character/model with S4+ would not benefit from Trial of Blades, so there is no reason why their attributes should be the basis for determining whether it triggers in a given round of combat.

[Diobarach]

Ok, I guess I was just over-thinking it, thanks for clarifying.