Rettile:
Hey guys,
since I’ve never used warmachines I have a question: can cannons and similar shoot over frienly units? For example, I have a magma cannon behind infernal guards: can I shoot it or not? do I suffer any penalty? And for mortars and similar?
One more: is the steam cannonade worth it? I mean, it could be 2 shots with BS 3, right? I know it’s strenght 6 with multiple wounds, but still…
m0rg0th:
Yes warmachines can shoot from behind friendly units as they do not block line of sight.
But you can never shoot in a way that might marm friendly units or units in a combat (except if the template scatters in, then it’s ok).
For example: if your target is in front of a close combat and you want to hit it with the hellcannon you place the template. the template may not touch any model in the close combat. but if it scatters in a way that it hits models in said combat that is ok. other warmachines such as cannons and the magmacannon cannot shoot at a target if ANY possible dice-throw could possibly bring the templat into the combat. ergo: the template is laid on the table and the next close combat has to be at least 10 inches away in the line of shooting. if the combat would be 7 inches away you have to place the template 3 inches back so you cannot hit the target with a 10.
There is no penalty for shooting from behind friendly or even enemy units. You only get a penalty if you shoot with your BS (Iron Deamon, Hobgoblins with bows etc).
The Iron Deamon is good when its shooting. I always use it to shoot for 3 rounds and then block the main enemy unit as its almost impossible to kill in CC (as long as its Hellbound). Using rulebook Line of Sight it shouldnt get cover at all as its really big. Usually it fires about 6 shots S6 with multiple wounds so thats always nice. I would never exchange the Steam Cannonade for a Scull Cracker…
Rettile:
so, I can shot over friendly or enemy units as long as the shooting model is taller then the unit. Right? I just have to use true line of sight? I’ll need official models then? No conversions? And for warmachines which don’t have a model, like deathshrieker and dreadquake?
m0rg0th:
That is the problem with TLOS…
There is basically no need for original Models. At least not in friendly games and Non-GW-tournaments. Shooting with BS usually gets the hard cover modifier if both units are infantry since the target usually is covered more than 50%. The ID is so huge that it should usually shoot without a penalty.
For warmachines it doesn’t matter basically. They only have to see the enemy unit. And with almost every unit in the way you can see some part of the enemy unit (even if its through a gap between the legs or something similar). So don’t worry. For friendly games it’s always better to make your house-rules. In Austria we basically play like this: Units are basically always seen (except if they are behind hills, buildings or impassable terrain). Even behind large units etc. (because there is usaully a gap between bodyparts etc.) But it also gets hard cover if 50% of the front (rank) is covered by friendy or enemy models. Which means Dwarfs cover Bullcentaurs and Fireborn etc.
At tournaments it is usually in the ruleset.