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simple question, and I'm sure its prolly come up before, but can multiple skimmers block line of site for skimmers behind them? Furthermore, does this still allow the skimmers behind the LOS blocking vehicles to fire through them? Example:

I have 3 falcons lined up ass to nose, and a couple wave serpents to the right or left of them. Assuming the falcon line is between the wave serpents and the enemy, can the enemy target the wave serpents under any circumstance? can the wave serpents fire through the falcons? The rulebook is not entirely clear on skimmer LOS blocking, so any input would be greatly appreciated.

If you can see them, you can trace LOS and fire.

If they are truly blocked via LOS, you can't shoot them.

A very rare circumstance indeed. You might be able to block a lascannon crew, but more than 1? Doubt it.

To give you a direct answer, you can't really block LOS with skimmers but if you can't see the other skimmers using model's eye view....you can't shoot them.

Doesn't the rulebook say that skimmers do not block LOS to anything? Period? That seems to be an exception the LOS rules that say use a models eye view wouldn't you say?

To give you a direct answer, you can't really block LOS with skimmers but if you can't see the other skimmers using model's eye view....you can't shoot them.

The problem with that is you have 2 different conflicting rules

There is the rule on true LOS for vehicles and then there is the special rule for non-immobilised/landed skimmers that says they never block LOS (as they are considered to by flying and hovering around).

If you go with one rule over the other you break a rule reguardless. which means in this case you have to decide which rule takes precident, or if there is a disagreement-
A. discuss it before hand
B. dice off for it.

Our group just considers the skimmers special rule to over-ride the vehcile LOS basic rule. so mobile skimmers never block LOS for us.

I agree, they do conflict.

Given I get different answers at every event, I just say stick with the model's eye view. I don't believe, for my own reasons, that the intent was to break the model's eye view rule...you should always use that rule IMHO.

I believe if you allow anyone to fire through 5 or 10 skimmers to shoot one in the back, you are ignoring 1 rule (models eye view) and the assumption is you are meeting the crux of another.

You can still meet the stated requirement of never blocking LOS so long as you can SEE the other model behind it...which is just the same as if it was a hill or non-skimmer in the way. So long as you can SEE, it should not block LOS.
Irregardless of whether you see a hill or a skimmer in the way to your target.

In other words, I don't think skimmers are a free pass to the model's eye view rule, and since the book was written as one I'd daresay there wasn't a conflict intended.

mughi3 wrote:The problem with that is you have 2 different conflicting rules

No you don't.

You have one general rule that applies to vehicles.
And you have a more specific rule that applies just to skimmers.

The more specific rule takes precedence. That's the way rules work. You have a series of general rules that apply to everything, and then more specific rules to give special abilities and restrictions to particular types of models.

So, vehicles block LOS as per their profile... but mobile skimmers, as a specific kind of vehicle with their own special rules, do not.

There is no conflict.

If only GW UK could get the word out, insaniak. Then the world would be at peace...

I think you should look at it from a different angle.
The rules on vehicles blocking LOS is a generic rule that applies to all vehicles. The rule for skimmers not blocking LOS is a specific rule that pertains to only skimmers. There is no conflict, but rather the skimmer rule is an exception to the generic LOS rule for vehicles.

This is similar to the rule on AP1 weapons penetrating vehicles even on a glance. That is a generic rule. Skimmers have a specific rule that when they move over 6" all hits can only glance, even with AP1 weapons. This is an exception to the generic rule of AP1 weapons penetrating even on a glancing hit.

Exactly. Insaniak nails it, as he usually does.

Stelek wrote:If only GW UK could get the word out, insaniak. Then the world would be at peace...

Problem there is that half the time when you ask them, they don't realize there's a problem. That would probably be the case here, it's clear cut to them (and to many of us) so they don't see the need for an FAQ on it. But supposedly Allessio is (finally) working on the FAQs (according to seminar at Balt GT) so we'll see what comes of it.