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Are Guess Weapons limited to 36" during Nightfight? I can't find a reference in the rules.

There are no more guess weapons.
And if there were, then yes they would be restricted. You still need to target.

Guess weapons are Barrage weapons.
The rules for night fighting mention something like can't target units more than 36" away. Barrage weapons don't mention any exception to that.

All weapons can only target units within 36 inches during night fighting (unless the unit's lit up, they have some sort of nightvision, etc.), though weapons that scatter may still hit and wound targets further away as if they were the original target.

 PrinceRaven wrote:
All weapons can only target units within 36 inches during night fighting (unless the unit's lit up, they have some sort of nightvision, etc.), though weapons that scatter may still hit and wound targets further away as if they were the original target.

Night Vision yes, Searchlights no. All searchlights do is remove the benefits of Night Fighting from the target unit. You are still restricted on range. Night Vision ignores Night Fighting completely.

Isn't the targeting restriction a benefit of the Night fighting rule?

 DeathReaper wrote:
Isn't the targeting restriction a benefit of the Night fighting rule?

No , it is a restriction. The only benefits from Night Fighting are Stealth/Shrouded based on distance.

So not being able to be targeted at 37 inches is not a benefit of the nightfighting rules?

Something sounds fishy.

Would you claim a being 49" away is a benefit if your enemy has a 48" range weapon?

 Happyjew wrote:
Would you claim a being 49" away is a benefit if your enemy has a 48" range weapon?

Outside of the natural range of the weapon? I see that as being out of the range of the weapon.

Inside the range of the weapon but not being able to be targeted because of the night fighting rules sounds like a benefit that would not be there if it were not for the Night fighting rules.

Page 87 of the basic rule book is where you can find spotlights.

The issue with spotlights, and something I personally do not like, is the fact it is useless against targets further then 36 inch away. It isn't a weapon, so it doesn't technically have a range, but the rules put forth an order of events that require the enemy to be targeted before the spotlight can be used. As the spotlight's ignore night fighting rules come into affect after picking a target, you can not evoke this rule prior to target something more then 36 inches away. After the target is illuminated a different unit can fire at it with no range penalties from night fighting, but the spotlight itself can not do so prior to the target being illuminated.

JinxDragon wrote:
Page 87 of the basic rule book is where you can find spotlights.

The issue with spotlights, and something I personally do not like, is the fact it is useless against targets further then 36 inch away. It isn't a weapon, so it doesn't technically have a range, but the rules put forth an order of events that require the enemy to be targeted before the spotlight can be used. As the spotlight's ignore night fighting rules come into affect after picking a target, you can not evoke this rule prior to target something more then 36 inches away.

the unit with the searchlight needs to target/find the enemy unit before it turns the searchlight on. it makes sense having the initial range restriction. after that i can't remember if other friendly units can targey outside of the 36 inch restriction or if enemy units gain the same advantages on the unit using the searchlight.

The reason I don't like it, personally, is because so many other pieces of equipment do the job a lot better. Not only that but it also puts the same 'negative special rule' on the firing unit as it does the target. This means it is a piece of equipment is crippled compared to similar equipment and has negative effects for using it. If it isn't free to begin with on your vehicle, it isn't worth the points to put it on, but if you are going second then I can see it having a place on the battlefield as most of these negatives vanish.

Back to the rule itself though, it is clear that other units are meant to be able to take advantage of the illumination special rule with their shooting attacks because of the order of events preventing the original unit doing so. Without going into details, illumination has only one purpose and the 'range limitations' of the special rule are clearly part of the benefit package it is talking about. It is a clear benefit for targeted units to be considered out of light of sight, thanks to the night fighting rule, because they would otherwise be able to take wounds. That should be enough in and of itself, but to cement it a little further there is a non-bold line between the two bold section explains why they can not be targeted: because they are concealed by the darkness.

If you are illuminated, are you concealed by darkness?

Well that's the boon of them. While you expose one unit to eneny fire your friendly units can blast away without risking return fire. It's a good opening salvo to take out a major threat.