OK, I have been thinking this over and brought it up with troy-the-just the last time we played. This method works well for the Dream Warriors as long as there is a crystal knight on its side. But lets examine other situations where it does not benfit them:
An archer is shooting at a Dream Warrior and decides to aim. Doing it by the rule of math means that you would half its RC and then add the +4 bonus for aim. In this situation the dream warrior does not have it so good. It also means the abilities like group attack and berserk would be very advantageous (and maybe they should be).
I really don't have a problem doing it either way, I just want to make sure that the pros and cons are understood.
There are pros and cons to both methods, depending upon certain figures in certain situations, but, I think, it does balance out in the end, by keeping things congruent and even, it prevents possible other situations from arising.
In the situation you mentioned above, yes the final resut does favor the archer. Using an exmaple of RC 10, you get a final result of 9 if you halve first, then add +4, versus RC 7 if you add first, then divide.
Should this situation favor the archer? Yes, I believe it should.
In games such as this, it's all about checks and balances. One must weigh the advantages of the stat line versus potential disadvantages, to create as balanced a game as possible, in theory of course.
The Dream Warriors have a couple of abilities that are rarely used, and no doubt on the pricey list in the point scheme of things: Feint and Magic Resistance. Combined with their Phasing, decent CC, AND a 2-handed weapon, you get a model that, in my opinion mind you, is a steal for its point cost.
It does have one glaring weakness: an abysmal AR of 12. Therein lies the key. For all their bonuses, a unit must have a weak point, otherwise an unbalance in the game system is created. For the Dream Warriors, it is that low armor value.
So, applying mathematical principles to every situation does not always benefit the same model in the same situation. This is as it should be, I feel. Math is a fickle lady, to say the least, and miniature gaming even moreso. No, it won't benefit the same model in every situation, nor should it. It all comes down to a balance issue.
SP