JotWW - How thick is the line?

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**Cheex**

Something that cropped up in my mind while reading the description for Jaws of the World Wolf: you draw a line from the Rune Priest, but how thick is this line? Is it the thickness of a piece of string? The thickness of your tape measure? The width of the Priest's base? Wider? Thinner?

I'm leaning towards it being the same width as the model's base, but I'd be interested to see what other people think.

**Gwar!**

It's a line, it has no thickness. Since we live in a 3 Dimensional world (Classical sense, Ignore SpaceTime and other weird gak) it's actually impossible to "Draw" a 1 dimensional line.

For the sake of argument, you would be best off using the thickness of a hair to keep things fair, as that's as close to no thickness as is practical in a 40k game.

**Cheex**

Ahh, I see. Cheers, Gwar!

**Witzkatz**

Agreed.

Mathematically speaking, a line with any kind of "thickness" value would no longer be a line. It would become a very, very slender rectangle. Therefore, as Gwar! said, it would probably be appropiate to use a fine piece of string or hair.

On a side note: Where did you get the idea that the line would be as broad as the priest's base? That would easily double the number of models you can get under the line, increasing the power of this power by 100%. Confess, that is what you wanted.

**psf3077**

a lot of friendly games i play in we will use a tape-measure (and what 40K player worth his salt [or paint if you will] doesn't have one) and turn it side ways (so the top view is just a line) and use that. Little more practical than hair or thread.

**Gwar!**

Triple the models if it was a Terminator Rune Priest

And Russ knows how many if he was on a bike

**Cheex**

Witzkatz wrote:On a side note: Where did you get the idea that the line would be as broad as the priest's base? That would easily double the number of models you can get under the line, increasing the power of this power by 100%. Confess, that is what you wanted.

*Shrug* It made sense at the time

And no, I'm not a Wolf player and one of my more regular opponents is one. So, if anything, having a thicker line would have hurt me more.

Still, points all well taken. Draw a line as thin as possible, only being able to hit multiple models if you can't see a gap between their bases from the Priest's point of view etc.

**Tri**

Just use the tape measure edge if any thing is half under then its been hit.

**Darknite**

Don't they teach geometry anymore?

**horsa**

This is one rule where I wonder if the author was smoking something when he wrote it.

The basic fluff is a chasm opens and in fall units touched by this line, if they fail their initiative test. As it stands, it seems fairly simple. The procedure is that a line is drawn along the board and may pass through terrain. Any model touched by the line is attacked. That also seems simple, you simply place a 24 inch line from the Priest in the direction the owning player wishes.

Problem:
Does anyone use hills or buildings with more than a ground floor? If the Rune Priest is at base level then the line will go underneath a unit on a hill, since the line is traced along the board! If the Rune Priest is on a hill, what is the method of tracing a line along the board since he is above it.

My thinking from the fluff part is the rule was meant to generate a plane perpendicular to the board and all terrain along this line would open up, thus effecting all models on the line, even ones on hills or upper floors. However, the rule as written has a simple line, so if one plays to the way it is written, just play with hills or multi-level buildings it seems to me to negate the effect!

**don_mondo**

Hmmmm, need to add a spool of thread to my dice bag...................

**Hollismason**

Does it say draw a straight line?

**Kaaihn**

Hollismason wrote:Does it say draw a straight line?

It says to trace a straight line.

**Hollismason**

Yeah but a line is still straight if angled.

**Orkeosaurus**

**Tri**

Hollismason wrote:Yeah but a line is still straight if angled.

No its bent ... nor can you start the line from the middle though I would laugh if could and failed the initiative test.

**Harkainos**

I think angled and curved are 2 different things.... The line may not be curved.

I would think curved and bent are synonymous

**Shas'O Dorian**

Get a laser-pointer that can create a line or a laser level. IMO that'd be the best thing to use.

**Alpharius**

Wow.

This thread is something special indeed.

And, isn't there already another thread discussing this very same aspect?

Anyway...

...can't we all just use some string?

**Gwar!**

Alpharius wrote:Anyway...

...can't we all just use some string?

String is for the Weak Minded!

**Kilkrazy**

Use a laser pointer.

**Orkeosaurus**

Use a monofilament wire.

**Tri**

Orkeosaurus wrote:Use a monofilament wire.

Any models cut, failed their initiative test right?

**Orkeosaurus**

I suppose. With your fingers it's more of a Toughness test, though.

**jgemrich**

Harkainos wrote:I think angled and curved are 2 different things.... The line may not be curved.

I would think curved and bent are synonymous

A line defined by Euclidean Geometry is a 'Straight curve' of negligible width and heighth and infinate length. A line segement as a beginning and end.

**Orkeosaurus**

Okay, for clarification:

Right

Wrong

**Gwar!**

Orkeosaurus wrote:Okay, for clarification:

Right

Sorry, wrong. That is clearly a irregular polygon, not a Line. It has Thickness!

**Orkeosaurus**

Okay, updated picture:

**Kaaihn**

Orkeosaurus wrote:Okay, updated picture:

Thats clearly a polar bear with it's eyes closed in the snow.

**Iago**

ha. Yeah.

I will be using the tape measure turned. Its just a guideline... wait see the pun?