Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So seeker missiles...and fliers

Pathfinders snapshot the flier on a roll of 6+ because under the snap fire rules, the model counts as BS 1 when snap shooting. Not all shots are resolved at BS 1. And I get 1 hit.

So now I got a handsome Hammerhead with a seeker missile. I use the the markerlight, and fire a snapshot at a Stormraven. It reduces my Hammerheads (the models) BS to 1, but the Seeker Missile is set at BS 5. Also the Seeker Missile has never used a vehicles BS, only for purposes of LoS.

Tau FAQ:

If a vehicle is reduced to BS 1, do its seeker missiles fire at BS 1 or BS 5. Answer is BS 5.

Correct?

Personally, I would say no. However, others, disagree and say yes. Their reasoning is that they fire at BS 5 even when the vehicle is reduced to BS 1, and needing to roll double 6's is ridiculous. YMMV.

Think of it this way, order of operations states that you apply set modifiers last. Ok. We all agree that it means you can't use ML to raise BS when shooting at a flier. Where it becomes sticky is that both the seeker missile and snapshop are set modifiers, so they both get applied last. So which one takes precedence? I would be inclined to say the one in the codex, because the BRB says that codex rule wins.

Recap:
Rule: Shooting at fliers is at BS1.
Exception: Tau codex specifies that seeker missiles always fire at BS5.

That's my interpretation.

That's how I felt.

You are correct, the seeker missiles always fire at BS5, if someone argues "multiple set modifiers, you should roll off" Refer them to the FAQ which states seeker missiles always fire at BS5

Skyrays are made for AA afterall!

Codex over rulebook. Seeker missiles is an advanced rule and would hit at bs5 against the flyer. You just need to have a marker light to hit on a 6 first to do that.