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This is another issue that came up in my game last night and the rules are pretty unclear.

Here is the scenario:

Squad A is in Area terrain (a big building)

Squad B enters same piece of area terrain, is within 2" of squad A.

Squad B fires on squad A.

Does Squad A get a cover save?

The rules state that a unit in area terrain will always be in cover no matter where the shot came from.

The rules then go on to state that a model firing at a unit through less than 2" of area terrain will not grant a target unit the save from that piece of terrain.

Obviously, this rule is meant to prevent a unit standing outside of the firing unit's area terrain from getting a cover save from the area terrain the firing unit is in.

Which rule overrides the other? One states that the unit is always in cover, the other says at less than two inches they wont get the save.

Raw is unclear, and common sense could go either way too.

Has anyone else encountered this issue before?

The 2" rule only applies to models that are in area terrain firing out of it, in this situation both units will get cover saves when firing on eachother.

That's my take on it atleast, if it didn't only apply to firing out of the area terrain I would say that the rule only prevents the area terrain from blocking true LOS for 2", and being inside area terrain takes precedence, so either way as far as I'm concerned the models are getting saves.

By the RaW, shooting through more than 2" of Area terrain confers a Cover save to the shot at squad. Therefore, if there is more than 2" of terrain between Squad A and Squad B, both units will get a cover save.

Yes, but the two rules contradict each other if two units are in the same piece of area terrain but less than 2" apart from one another.

No, not really.

When both units are in the same Area Terrain piece, they both benefit from the rule saying "Target models whose bases are at least partially inside area terrain are in cover, regardless of the direction the shot is coming from." (page 22), so regardless of the distance, they will get a cover save.

So in actuality, they don't need to be more than 2" to claim the cover save (although that also applies, though it is somewhat redundant)

Actually, yes it does contradict itself.

Target models whose bases are
at least partially inside area terrain are in cover,
regardless of the direction the shot is coming from.

Therefore they may fire through
up to 2" of the area terrain they are occupying
without that terrain conferring a cover save to the
target.

Seems rather contradictory to me.

Trekari wrote:Actually, yes it does contradict itself.

Target models whose bases are
at least partially inside area terrain are in cover,
regardless of the direction the shot is coming from.

Therefore they may fire through
up to 2" of the area terrain they are occupying
without that terrain conferring a cover save to the
target.

Seems rather contradictory to me.

It is two different rules, they do not contradict eachother.
The first rule give cover to a unit in area terrain no matter where the shot is originating from.
The second rule give cover to a unit that is not in cover if the shooting unit is shooting through more than 2" of the area terrain they are occopying.

So if the units are more than 2" apart both rules would give the target unit cover but if it is less than 2" only the first rule would give the target unit cover. The effect would be exactly the same though as you only get one save.

Trekari, the rule you keep quoting is for "Models firing out of area terrain" In your example, they are clearly not firing out of the terrain.

Just to be clear, I did not "keep" quoting anything. I quoted the rules exactly one time.

I see the distinction - I don't believe it entirely makes logical sense, but I do see the difference.

Then you also see you are not firing OUT of the terrain.

Guys, it still does not matter.

Both rules apply.

1st rule: Shooting "out of" less than 2" of Terrain does not give a cover save. Fair enough, a model in Area Terrain shooting at another model in the same area terrain is not shooting out of it, so it wont give the enemy a cover save because of that.

2nd rule: Boiled down "If in area terrain, you get a cover save. End"

So you would get a cover save anyway, because the second rule kicks in.