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I haven't played with basilisks in a long time, and I want to make sure I am doing it right. The earthshaker cannon has a range of 36"-240". Can you not fire the earthshaker if the target is closer than 36"?

I seem to recall hearing you fire indirectly if under the minimum, but I'm not seeing anything like that in the rule book. Clarification would be appreciated. Thanks guys!

Yes that means that you cant place the center of the blast marker colser than 36" but it can scatter closer.

The range is 36'' to 240''
Between those two distances you can fire directly or indirectly. Direct fire requires line of sight, but the scatter is reduced by your ballistic skill. Indirect fire does not require line of sight.
If you're within your minimum range, though, you can only fire directly. You'll therefore require line of sight.

Note that it's still a Barrage weapon, regardless of whether you're firing directly or indirectly. You're still allocating wounds from the centre of the blast, hitting side armour, etc, etc. Also, you can't place the blast marker if it's touching a friendly. This includes the Basilisk, so you do have a minimum direct-fire range. It's two-and-a-half inches.

I seem to recall hearing you fire indirectly if under the minimum

I think it used to be that you could fire within the minimum, but only indirectly (i.e. you don't get the reduction in scatter from ballistic skill). 7th edition flipped it around.

EDIT: From the rules of Barrage weapons (I've got an online copy, so I can't quote page numbers):

If a Barrage weapon has line of sight to its target it can fire directly, even if the target is within its minimum range.

You can place the blast marker closer, however you lose the barrage special rule.

UrsoerTheSquid wrote:
You can place the blast marker closer, however you lose the barrage special rule.

You would think so, but no, there's no rule for losing the Barrage rule.
The barrage rule has two parts - the first is all about the accuracy of direct and indirect fire. The second is about how to allocate wounds. However, it never actually comes out and says that direct fire isn't still Barrage fire.

If you fire direct you can fire below the minimum range.

Direct fire meaning you can still subtract the ballistic skill from he scatter. I'll be damned. Thank you very much for the info gentlemen!

...but needing LOS, so not *all* roses