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Is it a fair argument that a Hydra or Chimera will always provide a cover save if firing over foot troops? They seem like, unless the troops are really close to the enemy, there would be no save provided for firing over that unit.

Thoughts?

I guess the TLOS "if you can see more than half of the enemy models, they don't get it" rule would apply.

I wish I had the images I used last time I discussed this, but I can't find them.
Here's a 30 second mspaint mockup: http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2010/4/9/96978_md-.png
Firing through infantry units gives cover, firing over them does not. The inat faq has a pretty nice model view example of how to determine which situation you're in (RB.22A.02).

But it's much narrower field than you'd at first think, and a few inches either way make the difference rather quickly.
Remember that if even a smidge of the targets leg is obscured then it gets cover, and at that point you're probably shooting through the intervening unit and not over it (and hence gaps give cover and you're screwed).
The effect applies in reverse as well, it's often nearly impossible to shoot over screening infantry units (even ones as short as grots) if they're close to what they're screening and at any real range.

Model sizes, elevation, distance to target... tons of factors come into play.
It really just comes down to getting down to model level and checking during the game, but if you want to be safe keep your infantry as close to the tank as you can.

Gorkamorka wrote:I wish I had the images I used last time I discussed this, but I can't find them.
Here's a 30 second mspaint mockup: http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2010/4/9/96978_md-.png
Firing through infantry units gives cover, firing over them does not.

But it's much narrower field than you'd at first think, and a few inches either way make the difference rather quickly.
Remember that if even a smidge of the targets leg is obscured then it gets cover, and at that point you're probably shooting through the intervening unit and not over it (and hence gaps give cover and you're screwed).
The effect applies in reverse as well, it's often nearly impossible to shoot over screening infantry units (even ones as short as grots) if they're close to what they're screening and at any real range.

Model sizes, elevation, distance to target... tons of factors come into play.
It really just comes down to getting down to model level and checking during the game, but if you want to be safe keep your infantry as close to the tank as you can.

Gorkamorka and his Picasso style art are indeed correct.

Other than infantry in area terrain, every situation which begs the question "do I get cover" requires bending over and checking LoS.

Thanks, that picture states much better what I was trying to ask in my original post.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Addendum:

Gorkamorka said: "Remember that if even a smidge of the targets leg is obscured then it gets cover, and at that point you're probably shooting through the intervening unit and not over it (and hence gaps give cover and you're screwed)."

Do you mean that if 50% of the models in the unit have their legs obscured?

Yes, however you determine each model individually, and all it takes for a normal model to be "in cover" (and therefore count towards the total) is for a smidgen of the leg to be covered.