Re: [Epic] [E40k] Firefights and Line of Sight

From: Richard Dewsbery <dewsbery_at_...>
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 1997 03:49:14 +0100

James Flowers wrote:
>
> Hi All!
>
> Here's an interesting one, IMO.
>
> SITUATION: 2 Tyranids (zero Firepower) against 4 Space Marines (4
> Firepower) within Firefight range (15cm) but with a hill between them
> (nobody actually on the terrain piece).
>
> RESULT: The Tyranids got caned, even allowing for our House Rule of
> minimum Firepower value of 1 for each side involved in a Firefight
> (otherwise the math gives up the ghost - but that's another story).
>
> According to the rules, terrain doesn't play a part in Firefights. And
> probably correct for a lot of Firefight situations, but IMO not in the
> above example. (BTW, I was merely a spectator in the above - interesting
> 'debate' between the players involved. <g>)
>
> IMO, terrain should be a consideration for Firefights, as it does in
> Shooting. Saying that "the marines crawled to the crest of the hill, spat
> molten death down on the tyranid scum, then crawled back to their
> original positions" is just stretching credibility a bit too far me
> thinks...sounds good though. <g>
>
> I agree that E40K is supposed to have an abstract element, and also
> common sense should be applied as well in some situations. But this
> strikes me as an oversight in the rules.
>
I thought that units still had to have LOS (as per p18) to at least part
of an enemy detachment to contribute to a firefight. At least, that's
how we've been playing it. I'm all for abstraction in the rules, but if
two units are either side of a ridge blocking LOS but are within 15cms
of each other, I see no justification in saying that although the two
can't shoot at each other in the shooting phase, by the assaut phase the
ridge suddenly ceases to be any impediment to firing.

I can see that the firefight rules are written somewhat differently, but
until there's an official ruling to the contrary, we will continue to
require LOS in all ranged firing.

Richard
Received on Sun Apr 27 1997 - 02:49:14 UTC