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So beams act really oddly, and before we can really discuss them here are some pages in the BRB and errata you need to familiarize yourself with:
PG. 69 BRB, PG. 7 BRB errata

I play 1ksons, and as such beams are an important weapon for me, but several rules regarding them are ambiguous. So here are the points of contention and the relevant rules citations for each side of the case, I'd like to here the communities opinion on the matter:

What target does a unit attached to the character who fired the beam have to shoot at?
Anyone: a beam, as layed out in its entry on pg. 69, says that it targets a point rather than a unit. As he does not specify a target unit for the rest of his squad to fire at, they can elect another unit.
The first unit hit: in the erratas of the BRB on pg. 7, its states that a deny witch for a beam power is taken by the first unit that it comes in contact with. The rules for Deny the Witch on pg 68 of the BRB state that a deny witch is taken by a unit targeted with a power. Using these two rules in conjunction one can arrive at the point that a beam targets the first units it connects with, therefore the rest of the squad must fire at that target.
Anyone (limited): utilizing the above argument(s) it could also be assumed that you could pick any unit that was effected by the beam, as the beam has multiple targets.
Noone: This one seems a little against the spirit of the power, but it can be argued. As the beam does not target a unit, it targets a point, the squad has to fire at the point.

Can Beams target models engaged in Close Combat?
Y: Beams only target a point, not a unit as per the entry for beam on pg 69. Under "Shooting Into & Our Or Close Combat" on pg. 28 of the BRB it says that you may not fire at units in close combat because you may hurt your own models, however; a beam under its own entry on pg. 69 explicitly states that you may in fact hit your own models with it. Likewise, it is a well know fact that blast weapons may scatter onto units in a CC and effect them normally, page 28 also. So than if blast weapons can hit units as collateral damage, it easy to see how a beam could also hit models on either side on it way to its target point.
N: Page 28. says clearly that you cannot shoot at models in CC, taking the part about hitting your own models as simply fluff, the rule as written would not allow you to place the beam over models in CC. Blast markers for example cannot be deliberately placed over CC. Using the above arguments as well, if a unit is actually targeted, than the beam certainly could not target models in CC

Other arguments exist as well, such as "If the first target hit is a model controlled by the casting player, can he elect to not take a deny the with, rendering his opponent defenseless?". So food for thought, I'd like to hear from you guys now though. Until GW puts on errata out I talk it over with my opponent prior to each game, but what do you think?

TLDR version for everyone = "There appears to be a loophole in the rule I can exploit by making sure my unit is the first hot by beam powers to deny my opponent the chance to deny the witch. What do you think?"

In my opinion it just sounds like tfg waac behaviour, this will likely result in less people willing to be your (not as in you) opponent. I'd alway let my oponent a chance to DtW in this situation.

Eh, that's not really my point Bausk, I actually always play it as "I have to shoot 1st unit hit", and also always allow my opponent a deny the witch. I was merely laying out the arguments for all interpretations, because I want to know what people think is the right way to play it.

What target does a unit attached to the character who fired the beam have to shoot at?

You're thinking about this backwards. The beam is a witchfire sub type. It replaces the act of firing a gun when the unit containing the psyker fires. The Shooting unit must still target an enemy unit before the beam can be manifested,then the beam is manifested(or not) simultaneously as the rest of the unit fires. As per the rules for beams on BRB pg69 the beam's target point must be selected in such a way that the 1st model hit by the beam will belong to the target unit.

Can Beams target models engaged in Close Combat?

Beams target points, not models. The firing unit (containing a psyker manifesting a beam) must target a unit and that will preclude enemy units in close combat. The point targeted by the beam will still have to be picked so that the 1st model hit by the beam is in the unit target by the psyker's unit. If the firing unit targets a valid unit and the beam passes through models in close combat after is passes though at least one model in the unit targeted by the firing unit then those models in close combat will be hit by the beam. This includes friendly models.

If the 1st model hit is controlled by the casting player you have not fallowed the instructions for beams on page 69. The 1st model hit will always be an enemy model.

 ruricferrinwheel wrote:
So beams act really oddly, and before we can really discuss them here are some pages in the BRB and errata you need to familiarize yourself with:
PG. 69 BRB, PG. 7 BRB errata

I play 1ksons, and as such beams are an important weapon for me, but several rules regarding them are ambiguous. So here are the points of contention and the relevant rules citations for each side of the case, I'd like to here the communities opinion on the matter:

What target does a unit attached to the character who fired the beam have to shoot at?
Anyone: a beam, as layed out in its entry on pg. 69, says that it targets a point rather than a unit. As he does not specify a target unit for the rest of his squad to fire at, they can elect another unit.
The first unit hit: in the erratas of the BRB on pg. 7, its states that a deny witch for a beam power is taken by the first unit that it comes in contact with. The rules for Deny the Witch on pg 68 of the BRB state that a deny witch is taken by a unit targeted with a power. Using these two rules in conjunction one can arrive at the point that a beam targets the first units it connects with, therefore the rest of the squad must fire at that target.
Anyone (limited): utilizing the above argument(s) it could also be assumed that you could pick any unit that was effected by the beam, as the beam has multiple targets.
Noone: This one seems a little against the spirit of the power, but it can be argued. As the beam does not target a unit, it targets a point, the squad has to fire at the point.

Can Beams target models engaged in Close Combat?
Y: Beams only target a point, not a unit as per the entry for beam on pg 69. Under "Shooting Into & Our Or Close Combat" on pg. 28 of the BRB it says that you may not fire at units in close combat because you may hurt your own models, however; a beam under its own entry on pg. 69 explicitly states that you may in fact hit your own models with it. Likewise, it is a well know fact that blast weapons may scatter onto units in a CC and effect them normally, page 28 also. So than if blast weapons can hit units as collateral damage, it easy to see how a beam could also hit models on either side on it way to its target point.
N: Page 28. says clearly that you cannot shoot at models in CC, taking the part about hitting your own models as simply fluff, the rule as written would not allow you to place the beam over models in CC. Blast markers for example cannot be deliberately placed over CC. Using the above arguments as well, if a unit is actually targeted, than the beam certainly could not target models in CC

Other arguments exist as well, such as "If the first target hit is a model controlled by the casting player, can he elect to not take a deny the with, rendering his opponent defenseless?". So food for thought, I'd like to hear from you guys now though. Until GW puts on errata out I talk it over with my opponent prior to each game, but what do you think?

I would say by this logic, that you cannot feasibly deny the witch, like Bausk said. Likewise, the points you make are all very valid. I believe if you place the point on an actual enemy unit, it can deny the witch. Likewise, you cannot place it so you hit your own units intentionally, similar to the rules for blast/template weapons. From a balance point of view, I would say that you can not shoot into CC, and you cannot place it intentionally over your own models if unengaged. You would also have to sort this out with your opponent before you begin the game, to avoid confusion and "Thats !! Since when?" comments.

 Timmy149 wrote:


I would say by this logic, that you cannot feasibly deny the witch, like Bausk said. Likewise, the points you make are all very valid. I believe if you place the point on an actual enemy unit, it can deny the witch. Likewise, you cannot place it so you hit your own units intentionally, similar to the rules for blast/template weapons. From a balance point of view, I would say that you can not shoot into CC, and you cannot place it intentionally over your own models if unengaged. You would also have to sort this out with your opponent before you begin the game, to avoid confusion and "Thats !! Since when?" comments.

The FAQ makes it clear, the 1st unit hit by the beam (the unit targeted by the firing unit, and therefor technically targeted by the witchfire power that has a beam sub type(this is an arguable point)) gets a deny the witch role. It makes sense when you realize the psyker is part of a unit that targeted an enemy unit then manifested a power instead of pulling a trigger.