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Fellow Adeptus Astartes! Consulting the Codex Astartes to prepare for a coming battle with the horrible Tyranids, I have tried and failed to fully understand the 'barrage' weapon type. I wish to employ Whirlwinds, you see, but I cannot do so unless I know how best to employ them. Does it use a the small blast template? several? The large one? None at all? Any information regarding this minor quandry would be much appreciated, battle brothers. The Emperor Protects.

"barrage" simply means it is able to fire without the requirement for the target unit to be in LOS. It does not tell you, intrinsically, whether it is large / small / multiple blasts, that is within the weapon description alongside "barrage"

If you have a look in the rulebook, under weapon types, it shoudl mention barrage and how it works. The main difference being no LOS required, but normally Barrage weapons have a minimum range at which they can fire as a Barrage - if you try to aim within this minimum range as a BArrage fire mode you will miss. Additionally cover is owrked out from the hole in the blast marker and not from the firing model.

There are a couple of tricks - firstly if it is "Ordnance Barrage, Blast" then, by default, it uses the Large blast marker, as ALL ordnance blast == ordnance large blast (covered in the Ordnance rules, in the vehicle section), but that should help.

The codex lists the Whirlwind's armament thusly: Ordnance 1, Barrage. My rulebook also states that all barrage weapons use blast markers. But as to which one, the large or small, there is no indication; hence my confusion. I would imagine that to be in the Codex, but if it exists, I see it not.

The answer you are looking for is in the "ordnance" section. Good luck!

As it is Ordnance Blast, it is automatically a large blast. This is covered in the BRB. Since it's Ordnance 1, you get one template at the listed Strength and AP.

Goddard wrote:The codex lists the Whirlwind's armament thusly: Ordnance 1, Barrage. My rulebook also states that all barrage weapons use blast markers. But as to which one, the large or small, there is no indication; hence my confusion. I would imagine that to be in the Codex, but if it exists, I see it not.

....and ALL Ordnance blast is Large blast, as I pointed out in my first response.

So it is Ordnance, Barrage

Meaning it is blast, because of "barrage"
meaning it is Large blast, because it is "ordnance [blast due to Barrage]"

Ahh, thank you!

Goddard wrote:Ahh, thank you!

Also remember that line of site is from the center of the large blast marker for cover, not from the whirlwind itself. Units in area terrain get cover saves regardless, thats why you wanna use incendiery rounds for them.

One more important point to note: Barrage Weapons have a minimum range (in this case, 12"). However, you have the option to fire as a regular shot if you need to fire within the minimum range, like say for instance a brood of hormagaunts has rushed forward and are now 7" away from your whirlwind.

You attempt to trick me twice, foul TYRANID?! But yes, this information will be noted.

Page 58, BRB, Right column, first two paragraphs:

"...Vehicles containing ordnance barrage weapons" (Like the Whirlwind) "can choose to fire them directly or as a barrage - declare before you fire."

"If fired directly...(ignore the minimum distance in the weapon's profile)"

I would love to see tyranids win, but I am a dakkaite first and a tyranid second. I do want you to play your best.

We shall see where your loyalties lie...

Unless, of course, the model itself has a rule that it can only fire indirect like some of the IG arty does.