As this cropped up at Derventio III last weekend I chatted with Simon about it and he has suggested that I post this here.
An UG cannot deploy at the start of a game on orb.
The characteristic states - "Changing into orb requires a YELLOW in the movement phase while remaining stationary and you must be ≥2BW from enemy TuGs." - therefore, if you haven't paid a Yellow card in the Movement phase you cannot be in orb.
FWIW this is the same as forming Cantabrian which needs to be done as part of a move - "It is free to convert in or out of cantabrian as part of any move in the movement phase," - so you cannot deploy in Cantabrian.
This is different from Stakes and Caltrops where the characteristic states these can be emplaced/laid out at the end of deployment (or by playing a card in the movement phase of course).
Fluffy Little Clouds
A clever loophole prize to Roger on Orbs.
Alas its far from historical so will get a fix in compendium for bits not covered already by the rules. More realistic use of Orbs then...
But so good ;D I am awarding him a 10GBP special Lurkio bonus prize for his 'sins'!
Si
;D