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Rather than just long fangs, why not allow other units the ability too? Seems like a pretty cool idea that was picked up from leman russ sponson argument and adapted.

Split-fire: A unit with this rule may opt to split its fire during its shooting phase between 2 enemy units. Choose an enemy target unit to shoot at as normal, then roll for leadership. If the unit passes, it may opt to split fire between the original enemy unit and a 2nd enemy unit. Nominate which part of the squad will shoot at which enemy units and then proceed to roll to-hit die as normal. A unit that split fires may not assault.

-If the unit fails its leadership roll it may still shoot but only against the 1st enemy unit. Any hits scored must be re-rolled (The unit’s fire is too dispersed to prove useful) It still may assault the original enemy unit as normal.
-A model that can fire multiple weapons is allowed to split fire between the weapons. Models that can use multiple psychic powers are not allowed to split fire between enemy units, they can only focus on one unit at a time
Examples:
( I.e. A Generic Monster with 3 Guns can choose to split fire 2 of those Guns into 1 Enemy unit and its remaining one Gun into another Enemy unit.)
(I.e. A Leman Russ that splits fire can choose to fire its Cannon, hull Heavy Bolter, and right sponson Heavy Bolter into 1 enemy unit and have the left sponson Heavy Bolter to shoot a 2nd enemy unit)

BRB rules:
-Vehicles with split fire count as leadership 10
-LOS weapon rules still apply (barrage weapons still fire as barrage, direct fire is still direct fire)
-A unit that runs may not split fire


^ most recent update
edit 2: changed the "if unit fails leadership" test from the unit can't shoot to the unit can shoot but only at orginal enemy target.

Tau can also split fire but they have to spend points to give an upgrade to their crisis suits. Also any vehicle with Power of the Machine Spirit can split fire.

Kinda takes away from the units that you can do it with if you just give it to everyone.

Really wouldn't mind this as it makes no sense to have the heavy bolter sponsons on a vendetta as is. I would say that if you fail the Ld you just fire at the first target. I don't see why you couldn't assault after splitting fire...as long as all weapons rules allow it...ie assault, pistols or no shooting.
I would add in one thing that if you run you still cannot shoot and thus not split fire.

@fireknife: thats why i was thinking of giving it to every unit free of charge
units that already have this rule(i.e long fangs, machine spirt, etc.) just have to use their basic rule but if they choose to use this rule they have a chance to lose their turn of fire if they fail their leadership roll. (gameplay balance thing)

@Akroma06: thats a good idea about the assult profile thing, my only worry is how to deal with assults scince the units are able to shoot at 2 targets now.

Just to be clear,I hate this rule.It is not anything to do with the rule,so much,as I simply don't like it.


But,if you want advice on how to handle the assault,they may only assault if they failed their LD test.Splitting fire requires too much focus to do while charging towards an enemy.

I took the suggestions that people have offered and changed the edited the rules to reflect them

Change it from failing cancelling the shooting altogether to forcing the unit to re-roll rolls to hit, and only against one target.

Hmm, sounds resonable and still allows a penelty for those units that dont have split fire that choose to split fire.

Maybe allow this as an additional Dark Reaper Exarch power that can only be taken if he's got a full squad, and give Devastator Sergeants a piece of wargear that'll do this? Except for the fact that we're now starting to make Space Wolves less distinct.

Ah, that sounds like a good restriction! Only if the sargemt(nob,commander,brood leader thingy,etc.) is alive are they allowed to split fire

It always strikes me as odd that thing like tanks with multiple weapons can't split fire. It just doesn't make sense... "Turret gunner's loosing a round waay over there, suppose I'd better just send a few HB rounds that I know won't make it too" or sponsons being used to defend a tank from closing troops and the commander deciding that the best course of action is to loose a battlecannon round to land right next to him.

I don't know so much squads-wise, generally you'd give a fire order for a specific target, especially if moving

You do realize how broken Guard will be know?

Veterans with 3 Melta's can now kill two tanks a turn, plus their transport can kill how many? The Guard Alpha Strike was bad enough already, this will just make it over the top.

The original rule set had that if a unit failed their leadership test, they could not shoot. Im now wondering whether or not to re-introduce it back in.