Re: [Epic] marine chapters (was: Orks with LandRaiders)

From: Aaron P Teske <Mithramuse+_at_...>
Date: Thu, 4 Sep 1997 19:18:58 -0400 (EDT)

Excerpts from Epic: 4-Sep-97 Re: [Epic] marine chapters .. by "J.
Michael Looney"_at_ione
> This is NOT Epic Space Marine 2nd Editon or Warhammer 40K. Please
check your > view of rules at the door. You are not required to shoot
at the closest
> detachment and detachments do not block line of fire. Your tatics are not
> predone for you. You really do have to decide who you are shooting at, not
> "The closes target". This is a good thing. Rules that make you do this
> (shoot the closest unit) are flawed. The are broken. The result in cheesy
> tactics.

Just for the record, Epic 2nd edition did *not* require you to shoot at
the closest target. On the other hand, you sometimes ended up with
people in desperate situations using a unit to fire at something they
really shouldn't have, from a threat standpoint, just to get the VPs.
(Getting those last couple Squat Bikes seemed to be a priority for some
of my opponents....) Basically, forcing the players to fire at the
closest target is flawed, but so can be complete freedom of action. As
Dirtside II puts it, it is important for all players to treat target
priority in the spirit of the rules, rather than the letter.

> And while I am spining up here, game rules that let you charge a unit in the
> open and let you get there with out being blasted are also flawed. Call it
> "Snap fire" or "Opportunity Fire" or "Bounding Overwatch" (in fact the
moving > unit in the last case dosn't fire, it's the covering unit that
does so, but
> the effect is the same, something moves into the open and gets shot at).
> Charging across an open field against a buch of guys with guns aimed at you
> will get you killed.

Again, Epic 2nd had this, though not your 'bounding overwatch' (though
I'd certainly heard it as a house rule, and overwatch fire in 1st
edition worked in that respect IIRC).

As for E40K, I think you should still get snap-fire against units moving
in for an assault, especially if they come in, say, from 30 or more cm
away. Treat it as snap-fire on flyers, though, in that it doesn't cause
the recipient to halt (they're *expecting* to be shot at, after all).
War Engines (and perhaps regular tanks) could potentially get multiple
shots, since they would presumably have general anti-infantry devices
built in. (The "skirt" of explosives around the Slammers' tanks comes
to mind....)


                    Aaron Teske
                    Mithramuse+_at_...
Received on Thu Sep 04 1997 - 23:18:58 UTC