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I want to start actually making use of focus fire, but there's one aspect of it I'm not sure of. If the target does not need to use cover saves (because it has a better armor or invuln save available), can I still use focus fire shenanigans? I see absolutely nothing in the rules that says no, but it's counter-intuitive enough that I want to double check.

As an example, suppose I have a squad of Space Marines shooting at another that is half in cover, half out. I'm firing nothing but bolters, so the opposing player is going to want to take armor saves instead of cover because he's a smart guy and knows that a 3+ is better than a 5+. Can I still choose to focus fire on the guys that are out in the open. Seems completely above board (although perhaps not the friendliest way to play the game.)

It's a little strange, but that's how it works. It's a nice way to snipe out a non-White Scars biker IC hanging out with the mongols.

 MasterSlowPoke wrote:
It's a little strange, but that's how it works. It's a nice way to snipe out a non-White Scars biker IC hanging out with the mongols.

Does something prevent the IC from having the same cover save?

The White Scars trait doesn't pass on, so he'll be the only one without +1 to his cover save.

 MasterSlowPoke wrote:
The White Scars trait doesn't pass on, so he'll be the only one without +1 to his cover save.

Only one model in the unit needs to have Skilled Rider for it to affect the unit (Page 41, BRB), unless the Chapter Tactic states something specific (like the Raven Guard Bulky bit).

 Quanar wrote:

 MasterSlowPoke wrote:
The White Scars trait doesn't pass on, so he'll be the only one without +1 to his cover save.

Only one model in the unit needs to have Skilled Rider for it to affect the unit (Page 41, BRB), unless the Chapter Tactic states something specific (like the Raven Guard Bulky bit).

That's exactly it White Scars don't have the skilled rider USR, they have another rule who gives the same bonuses but without the wording necessary for it to transfer.

 HoverBoy wrote:
That's exactly it White Scars don't have the skilled rider USR, they have another rule who gives the same bonuses but without the wording necessary for it to transfer.

Ah, don't have the Codex so didn't know the wording. Thanks for that (sorry for the tangent from the opening post).

It makes more sense if you think of it in terms of the target unit has a 5+ armour save but some are in 5+ cover and others are in 4+ cover. If you focus on 5+ or worse with no AP you deny the unit a better cover save.

And cheesily enough, if you are in rapid fire range of guys in cover and focus fire the guys out of cover (and out of rapid fire range) you still get all your rapid fire shots because you just have to be in rapid fire range of one model in a unit to use it.

A better example is a Khorne Lord on a Juggernaut in a unit of Bikes; The bikes get a cover save for moving, but the Juggernaut does not, so you could declare focus fire on things with no cover save, and the Lord would take all the wounds. Sure, he can Look Out Sir, but this would be an example of sniping out a character due to FF rules.

 djdarknoise wrote:
Sure, he can Look Out Sir, but this would be an example of sniping out a character due to FF rules.

He can't actually. FF states that wounds can't be allocated to models with a better cover save, LOS! is an allocation.