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Say an SMS equipped broadside wants to focus fire at an icon bearer that isn't in cover... can it do so with the SMS?

Focus Fire cares not for Ignores Cover. You still would not be able allocate wounds to the models in cover.

Happjew is correct. The models your broadside is firing at still have their cover saves, they just can't use them on wounds inflicted by the SMS. If you shot at a 10 man unit with 9 men in 4+ cover and 1 man in 5+ cover with your SMS and you focus fire on the models with a 5+ or worse cover save then wounds could only be allocated to the 1 man in 5+ cover and while he has a cover save he cannot use it to save those wounds.

well from what i recall about focus fire: a unit of 20 orks is in range (half in cover an half in open ground) you can ether choose to fire at the unit in cover or the unit in open ground, but only wounds can be allocated to the part of the unit you called out. if you choose to focus fire on the half in the open, those wounds can only be allocated to those in the open. so if you score 12 wounds on the 10 orks in open ground an you killed them all with 10 shots those 2 left over wounds cannot be used on the rest of the unit in cover "the last 2 wounds are discarded". also from what i recall from the example in he rulebook: if a unit is in multible covers "10 orks, 4 in the open, 3 in area terrin 5+ cover save, 3 in ruins 4+ cover save" you can ether choose to focus fire on the models in the open or call out "focus on the 5+ cover" this means all ur would will be allocated to models in the ruins "5+ cover" and to the models in open ground. this is because if a unit is in multible cover and you call out a focus fire an choose the cover save value, all wounds will be allocated to the models with the cover save equal to or worse then the cover save value stated

i know i rambled but i hope it helps

 Lobukia wrote:
Say an SMS equipped broadside wants to focus fire at an icon bearer that isn't in cover... can it do so with the SMS?

Short answer is yes, he can focus fire.

Reasons are listed in the 2 posts above. If the icon bearer is the only model in his unit out of cover, he can indeed get over-killed (and you would in no way be able to kill another marine instead)

JoeXTheXJuggalo wrote:
well from what i recall about focus fire: a unit of 20 orks is in range (half in cover an half in open ground) you can ether choose to fire at the unit in cover or the unit in open ground, but only wounds can be allocated to the part of the unit you called out. if you choose to focus fire on the half in the open, those wounds can only be allocated to those in the open. so if you score 12 wounds on the 10 orks in open ground an you killed them all with 10 shots those 2 left over wounds cannot be used on the rest of the unit in cover "the last 2 wounds are discarded". also from what i recall from the example in he rulebook: if a unit is in multible covers "10 orks, 4 in the open, 3 in area terrin 5+ cover save, 3 in ruins 4+ cover save" you can ether choose to focus fire on the models in the open or call out "focus on the 5+ cover" this means all ur would will be allocated to models in the ruins "5+ cover" and to the models in open ground. this is because if a unit is in multible cover and you call out a focus fire an choose the cover save value, all wounds will be allocated to the models with the cover save equal to or worse then the cover save value stated

i know i rambled but i hope it helps

Thanks, I know the rule (use it all the time). I'm helping a friend with some Tau stuff and was trying to teach him all the FF tricks that are out there for sniping out special weapons, icons, PKlaw Nobs, etc. Wanted to make sure that all the Tau "ignores cover" stuff didn't somehow equate to an inability to FF.

My favorite focus fire moments: in a tourney used my own models to give cover to everything but a Banner of Devastation DA vet, and then hit him with 10 sniper scouts, 5 hit, 2 wounded, 1 rend... entire list built around dakka bannering Greenwing = nerfed on turn 1. My other one was in club play. 30k list with Konrad. Konrad left in worse cover than jump squad, I used my StormRaven to skies of fury 3 Grav Centurions in from reserve... FF, dead primarch... lols.

Wow, learning something everyday =P But it does seem really underhanded to get the snipe that way...

 BlackTalos wrote:
Wow, learning something everyday =P But it does seem really underhanded to get the snipe that way...

With ScreamerStars, SeerStars, formation BroadTides, etc. running around, using basic game mechanics to help marines remove threats... just fine with me. Thing I love about FF, if you do it right, no LOS! for any wounds to an IC. Helps a ton

 Lobukia wrote:

 BlackTalos wrote:
Wow, learning something everyday =P But it does seem really underhanded to get the snipe that way...

With ScreamerStars, SeerStars, formation BroadTides, etc. running around, using basic game mechanics to help marines remove threats... just fine with me. Thing I love about FF, if you do it right, no LOS! for any wounds to an IC. Helps a ton

Good look using focus fire on a screamerstar


Templates are the only weapon that ignores the focus fire rules.

MarkyMark wrote:

 Lobukia wrote:

 BlackTalos wrote:
Wow, learning something everyday =P But it does seem really underhanded to get the snipe that way...

With ScreamerStars, SeerStars, formation BroadTides, etc. running around, using basic game mechanics to help marines remove threats... just fine with me. Thing I love about FF, if you do it right, no LOS! for any wounds to an IC. Helps a ton

Good look using focus fire on a screamerstar


Templates are the only weapon that ignores the focus fire rules.

Um, I've FF sniped out the Grimorie 2 of the 3 times I've faced it. After that I didn't really care about the screamers. I started round one dropping barrage's on the grimorie... so the guys spread out to avoid blasts. Then I move to set up cover for the screamers (used Rhinos most times) and bah-bye Herald.

Hmm, so you declared focus fire 5+ because of intervening model? screamers get jink including the herald so always have 5+ cover. I think you do it by blocking LOS to the other models and forcing the saves on the grim herald first which is different to focus fire. If you did declare focus fire you would not have been able to assign any wounds to anything as they all have 5+ cover.

JoeXTheXJuggalo wrote:
well from what i recall about focus fire: a unit of 20 orks is in range (half in cover an half in open ground) you can ether choose to fire at the unit in cover or the unit in open ground, but only wounds can be allocated to the part of the unit you called out. if you choose to focus fire on the half in the open, those wounds can only be allocated to those in the open. so if you score 12 wounds on the 10 orks in open ground an you killed them all with 10 shots those 2 left over wounds cannot be used on the rest of the unit in cover "the last 2 wounds are discarded". also from what i recall from the example in he rulebook: if a unit is in multible covers "10 orks, 4 in the open, 3 in area terrin 5+ cover save, 3 in ruins 4+ cover save" you can ether choose to focus fire on the models in the open or call out "focus on the 5+ cover" this means all ur would will be allocated to models in the ruins "5+ cover" and to the models in open ground. this is because if a unit is in multible cover and you call out a focus fire an choose the cover save value, all wounds will be allocated to the models with the cover save equal to or worse then the cover save value stated

i know i rambled but i hope it helps

If you are shooting at a single unit of 20 orks, half in cover and half in open ground, you can choose to either focus fire on those in open ground or not focus fire at all. You can not focus fire on the orks in cover only. You can only focus fire on models with cover save X or worse. If a unit is in multiple cover saves, 10 orks, 4 in the open, 3 in 5+ cover, and 3 in 4+ cover you can either choose not to focuse fire and wounds can be allocated to the unit normally, or you can choose to focus fire at the 4+ and wounds would only be able to be allocated to the 7 models in open ground and 4+ cover. Another choice would be to focus fire at the models with no cover save and wound would only be able to be allocated to the 4 models in open ground.

{Retracted}

 Quanar wrote:
Just remember that the risk of declaring a Focus Fire of "No Cover Save" is that your opponent will go to ground and laugh...

Except the focus fire rule states this doesn't work.

 grendel083 wrote:
Except the focus fire rule states this doesn't work.

Ah! You are quite right, I'd missed that, thank you.
It also seems you can't pick "no cover save" as you have to pick a number between 2+ and 6+ (despite one of the examples including a "no save" declaration).

I also thought 'Save: - ' was still a valid choice, as - is a value you can find in the save characteristics.

MarkyMark wrote:
Hmm, so you declared focus fire 5+ because of intervening model? screamers get jink including the herald so always have 5+ cover. I think you do it by blocking LOS to the other models and forcing the saves on the grim herald first which is different to focus fire. If you did declare focus fire you would not have been able to assign any wounds to anything as they all have 5+ cover.

True. I guess in the rhino block it was a case of LOS not FF. Same result though.

 Quanar wrote:

 grendel083 wrote:
Except the focus fire rule states this doesn't work.

Ah! You are quite right, I'd missed that, thank you.
It also seems you can't pick "no cover save" as you have to pick a number between 2+ and 6+ (despite one of the examples including a "no save" declaration).

Pg 19 of the BRB. Very 1st sentence gives you permission to focus fire against models with no cover save.

 DJGietzen wrote:
Pg 19 of the BRB. Very 1st sentence gives you permission to focus fire against models with no cover save.

Ugh, I seem to be having a terrible time actually reading this rule. Apologies to all and thanks DJ for the reference.