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Hi guys,

I just want a better understanding on the impaler cannon vs. cover save ruling.

When a hive guard shooting from behind of a friendly, does the enemy unit get cover save? On the rule book, it stated any part of the target model's body is obscured from the point of view of the firer, the target model is in cover. However, impaler cannon don't need line of sight. Quote from the tyranid codex, "The target can only count the benefits of cover they are in or touching if it lies between them and the Hive Guard." Does that mean a terrain piece that the enemy unit is in (inside) or touching?

Thanks

New Player wrote:"The target can only count the benefits of cover they are in or touching if it lies between them and the Hive Guard." Does that mean a terrain piece that the enemy unit is in (inside) or touching?

That is exactly what it means. Hive Guard firing through other units does not allow the target unit to take cover saves unless they are in or touching terrain.

Gwar! wrote:That is exactly what it means. Hive Guard firing through other units does not allow the target unit to take cover saves unless they are in or touching terrain.

Gwar, I'm surprised. You're endorsing the RAI? The impaler cannon rule says nothing about terrain. It says cover and as cover is defined on pg 21 obscuration is cover so by RAW units out of LOS get cover saves from the impaler cannon. Clearly not the intent, but it's the RAW.

Cover they are in /- In cover

One requires something physical, the other doesn't

Cover is cover. Cover they are in. They are in cover. No difference. Well, "cover they are in" is bad English. It's properly expressed as "cover in which they are."

Name that movie quote:

"Isn't that the trailer off in which they were whacking?"

This is very similar to the old Tau smart missile systems debate with two sides: Basically there is Gwar's side which refers to the physical object of cover and there is Arschbombe's side, which refers to the status of being in cover. It's kinda gridlocked if I recall. Do some SMS searches and you can decide for yourself.


Also: Beavis and Butthead Do America

SMS does not say "only", iirc.

But still.

Is there a distinction between being 'in' cover and being able to take a cover save?

TakeABow wrote:Is there a distinction between being 'in' cover and being able to take a cover save?

Yes.

Gwar! wrote:

TakeABow wrote:Is there a distinction between being 'in' cover and being able to take a cover save?

Yes.

Can you elaborate? I'm nowhere near my rulebook at the moment.

If the distinction for 'in' cover means physical terrain, then I agree with your interpretation of the rules here. Also it does specifically mention 'in' or 'touching', notably not 'behind'.

Edit, it appears that they would always get cover from stuff they are behind, since that isn't ruled out by the RAW, only things they are 'touching' or in'' are subject to this special rule.

TakeABow wrote:Can you elaborate? I'm nowhere near my rulebook at the moment.

You can get cover saves from wargear like the KFF or a venomthrope special rule, for example.

If the distinction for 'in' cover means physical terrain, then I agree with your interpretation of the rules here. Also it does specifically mention 'in' or 'touching', notably not 'behind'.

Edit, it appears that they would always get cover from stuff they are behind, since that isn't ruled out by the RAW, only things they are 'touching' or in'' are subject to this special rule.

Behind is a relative term. A unit can be next to a piece of cover and be in front of it with respect to one firing unit and behind it with respect to another firing unit. Physical cover counts as long as the unit is touching it and it lies between the firer and the target unit making the unit behind that cover.