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I know the definition of beam is a straight tube, like a lightsaber extending outward, but RAW I am confused by how beam weapons work when used to target.

Scenario: A beam psychic power user rests on the top floor of a building and targets a unit on a nearby building on the same level. There is a tertiary model that is on the bottom floor of the psyker's building and is considered 'under the line' for the beam weapon's attack.

Can the tertiary model get hit by the beam weapon since it is 'under the line'? If I recall correctly there are rules for targeting different levels of a building, but the wording of the beam doesn't sound like a beam and is confusing me. It sounds like a thin vertical sheet of energy that originates from the user.

In 7th, levels of buildings are no longer a thing. With Beams, any model under the line would be hit, regardless of how high or low in the building he was.

So when you draw the line for the beam, if you are drawing it from the model it can only effect things under the user or on the same level as the user... right? You do not draw a beam above the caster and thus enable yourself to hit models that are above you?

The beam rules tell you to select a point. It doesn't say the point can't be higher in the air than the model. You could affect something above you by judicious choice of end point.

 Da Kommizzar wrote:
So when you draw the line for the beam, if you are drawing it from the model it can only effect things under the user or on the same level as the user... right? You do not draw a beam above the caster and thus enable yourself to hit models that are above you?

All of the rules in 40k at the moment assume infinite height. You draw the line on the table and any model crossed by that line, regardless of vertical distance is hit by the beam effect.

Fragile wrote:

 Da Kommizzar wrote:
So when you draw the line for the beam, if you are drawing it from the model it can only effect things under the user or on the same level as the user... right? You do not draw a beam above the caster and thus enable yourself to hit models that are above you?

All of the rules in 40k at the moment assume infinite height. You draw the line on the table and any model crossed by that line, regardless of vertical distance is hit by the beam effect.

That's not 100% right... per the official FAQ, ranges on weapons are from the model in a straight line. So if you were shooting up 5 stories, and you can reach it with a flat ruler measurement, but diagonally you are just short, you are now out of range. Since a bear originates from the psyker as a shooting attack, it should have to be connected to the model, like a flamer has to start. can angle anywhere from there, but starting at the base/model. it was same with jump/jetpack units. you used to be able to go anywhere within 6/12" horizontally, and unlimited vertical, now you need to finish within 6/12" in a straight line from your starting position (still jumping over than 45" tall wall, because ending 6" away.)

Now if the beam goes over the top floor model, and the psyker has LOS, and over 45 other models, but the psyker has no LOS, he may technically get 46 hits, but can only cause a wound on the 1 he sees, barring another special rule (magnus you jerk)

 pumaman1 wrote:

Fragile wrote:

 Da Kommizzar wrote:
So when you draw the line for the beam, if you are drawing it from the model it can only effect things under the user or on the same level as the user... right? You do not draw a beam above the caster and thus enable yourself to hit models that are above you?

All of the rules in 40k at the moment assume infinite height. You draw the line on the table and any model crossed by that line, regardless of vertical distance is hit by the beam effect.

That's not 100% right... per the official FAQ, ranges on weapons are from the model in a straight line. So if you were shooting up 5 stories, and you can reach it with a flat ruler measurement, but diagonally you are just short, you are now out of range. Since a bear originates from the psyker as a shooting attack, it should have to be connected to the model, like a flamer has to start. can angle anywhere from there, but starting at the base/model. it was same with jump/jetpack units. you used to be able to go anywhere within 6/12" horizontally, and unlimited vertical, now you need to finish within 6/12" in a straight line from your starting position (still jumping over than 45" tall wall, because ending 6" away.)

Now if the beam goes over the top floor model, and the psyker has LOS, and over 45 other models, but the psyker has no LOS, he may technically get 46 hits, but can only cause a wound on the 1 he sees, barring another special rule (magnus you jerk)

And that is not 100% right, because you are just talking about checking for maximum distance. If you fire a 24" beam weapon at a target you can reach 12" away it doesn't matter if they are on the third floor of a building they will be in range.

In relation to the subject, the game does not specify between multiple floors anymore. There is no rule that says a blast that lands on the top of a ruin doesn't hit every person on every floor of the building. A beam weapon hits every model under the path of the beam. Every model under. Nothing specifies different levels rules wise. Beams are not a pin point line with no width or depth. They are a pin point plane with a set x axis and infinite y axis.

 Lance845 wrote:

And that is not 100% right, because you are just talking about checking for maximum distance. If you fire a 24" beam weapon at a target you can reach 12" away it doesn't matter if they are on the third floor of a building they will be in range.

In relation to the subject, the game does not specify between multiple floors anymore. There is no rule that says a blast that lands on the top of a ruin doesn't hit every person on every floor of the building. A beam weapon hits every model under the path of the beam. Every model under. Nothing specifies different levels rules wise. Beams are not a pin point line with no width or depth. They are a pin point plane with a set x axis and infinite y axis.

The reference to third floor was if your at the very edge of your range, (target is 23.7" out of 24") when you have to angle your beam up, then it might be just short, becuase you do have to get the beam over the unit being targeted, and touching your base/model. Every unit under it on an infinite number of floors will be hit and grant to hit count, but out of line of sight means you cannot allocate wounds to them, barring special rule (barrage, magnus, Homing, etc)

And BRB says if tis helpful, you can use string to approximate a pencil tip thin line up to its range, just handy that everything under it gets hit RAW

 pumaman1 wrote:
Since a bear originates from the psyker as a shooting attack, it should have to be connected to the model, like a flamer has to start. can angle anywhere from there, but starting at the base/model.

Which psychic power has you spewing out bears at someone as a shooting attack? I'd love to use that in a game!

 doctortom wrote:

 pumaman1 wrote:
Since a bear originates from the psyker as a shooting attack, it should have to be connected to the model, like a flamer has to start. can angle anywhere from there, but starting at the base/model.

Which psychic power has you spewing out bears at someone as a shooting attack? I'd love to use that in a game!

I bearly believe i made such a typo. I am just glad it didn't cause too much pandamonium. Glad to see you are all stern as Grizzly Adams.

If it existed, it may be called "equitum sustinere," or "Bear Calvary"