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I was thinking about the Eldar Vyper. Why is it open-topped? They changed the war walker from open-topped to enclosed. I know I've read peoples opinions being negative concerning the Vyper usefulness vs. points cost. I know the model looks somewhere between open and enclosed to a degree, but in this case open-topped status is nothing but a hindrance to the vehicles usefulness on the battlefield.

The rule for open-topped vehicles only applies in 3 instances:
Disembarking and embarking troops.
Firing points for embarked troops.
Adding +1 to AP rolls vs. open-topped vehicles.
There might be additional rules about destroyed open-topped vehicles and embarked troop casualties, but I don't recall at the moment.

Are there any other non-transport open-topped vehicles? I'm just wondering.

Joram wrote:I was thinking about the Eldar Vyper. Why is it open-topped? They changed the war walker from open-topped to enclosed. I know I've read peoples opinions being negative concerning the Vyper usefulness vs. points cost. I know the model looks somewhere between open and enclosed to a degree, but in this case open-topped status is nothing but a hindrance to the vehicles usefulness on the battlefield.

The rule for open-topped vehicles only applies in 3 instances:
Disembarking and embarking troops.
Firing points for embarked troops.
Adding +1 to AP rolls vs. open-topped vehicles.
There might be additional rules about destroyed open-topped vehicles and embarked troop casualties, but I don't recall at the moment.

Are there any other non-transport open-topped vehicles? I'm just wondering.

The Dark Eldar Ravager. The ork Battlewagon, Looted Wagon are both open topped (I know they have transport capacity, but theyre not dedicated, so I included them), as are the lesser FA vehicles. Memory is failing right now, but i **think** that the basilisk - as was the griffon when it was in the IG 'dex - is open topped as well.

As for the warwalker, the change was made, iirc, to have a less complicated rule that represents the forcefield generated.

Sentinels without the upgrade.

Penitent Engines.

It's meant to be a hindrance.

As for why WWs are closed-top, the fluff reason is that they have an energy field to protect them. It worked like a Wave Serpent energy field in the previous dex, but WWs were open-topped then.

Joram wrote:Adding +1 to AP rolls vs. open-topped vehicles.

This is actually add +1 to the damage result, not the AP roll.............. Also, don't forget that blasts and templates score two hits against open-topped vehicles.

It differentiates Vypers from Landspeeders. It fits the model. Note Landspeeders are actually open topped, but it does not apply if the riders are wearing Power Armour, at least that was the way it was described in 3rd ed, it might not be worded that way in 4th/5th.

A squad without power armor firing out of the top of a chimera or rhino make them open topped.