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I'm having trouble determining just when some of the Craftworld **Striking Scorpions** gain the benefit of cover/terrain related abilities.

Visual aid = https://imgur.com/a/bAy4zau

Question 1

SS Ability Shadow Strike: Add 1 to hit rolls for attacks for this unit that target a unit in cover.

Enemy infantry unit in example is standing within 3" an Obstacle that gives Light Cover.

An INFANTRY, BEAST or SWARM model receives the benefits
of cover from an Obstacle while it is within 3" of that
terrain feature unless,

... I can draw clear lines to the base without the Obstacle interfering from attacking model.

In this case, I can draw clear lines to it so the enemy infantry doesn't gain the *Benefit* of Cover, but it still counts as being In Cover for my +1, does it not? Am I correct in this interpretation?

Question 2

SS Ability Stalker : Whilst this unit contains a Striking Scorpion Exarch and is wholly on or within a terrain feature ((Note: Not area terrain)), when resolving an attack made with a ranged weapon against this unit, subtract 1 from the hit roll.

I would argue that the Striking Scorpions could possibly gain the benefit of this if they stand Wholly Within the 3" to the Obstacle, since that possibly also gives Cover. Is this a really farfetched way of reading it? And whether it's a yes/no from you, here's a follow-up question:

If my SS were to stand wholly on top of the Obstacle, would that suddenly qualify them for *Stalker*?

Q1:
Without a FAQ, I interpret this as applying if the target unit receives the benefit of Light Cover. The 9th rules specify that any time "cover" is referenced to interpret it as meaning "light cover". So, for example, if the target unit was benefiting from Heavy Cover but not Light Cover then the Shadow Strike ability would not do anything. If, as in the case of an Obstacle, the unit isn't receiving the benefit of cover, then the ability would do nothing.

Q2:
Area terrain is still a terrain feature. Benefiting from cover is not the same as being in a terrain feature.

Q1:
Your interpretation of the "Rare rules" of 9th is flawed, I think. They do not say "Any time cover is referenced to interpret it as Light Cover", they say exactly this:

Sometimes a rule will tell you that a model or unit gains
the benefit of cover, even while they are not entirely on or
ina terrain feature. If a model or unit is under the effects
of such a rule, and that rule does not specify what the
benefits of cover are, when resolving an attack that model
is assumed to be entirely on or within a terrain feature
with the Light Cover terrain trait

It deals exclusively with models that gain Cover while not actually being in Cover. There is, however, a section that follows with the title "IGNORING THE BENEFITS OF COVER" that has this excerpt that I think strengthens the case for SS:

Ifa rule says that the target unit ‘does not receive the
benefit of cover, without specifying what benefits are
ignored, then, when resolving an attack with that rule,
models in the target unit ignore all benefits received from
all terrain traits, including those that improve its saving
throws, impose penalties on hit rolls and so on (e.g. Light
Cover, Heavy Cover).

Shadow Strike doesn't deal with the removal of any benefits, but it simply states "+1 against units in Cover", which ought to mean any Cover. I would also argue that there's a difference between being "In Cover" and "Receiving the benefits of Cover", that's what the entire Q1 kinda revolves around.

A unit can be standing in Heavy Cover, which doesn't matter for shooting, but still SS would receive +1 to shooting attacks in my opinion simply because the unit is in Cover (whether it's functional or not).



Q2.

"Stalker" is triggered when standing wholly on top of an obstacle though, right? Wholly on or in a terrain feature is what matters, and an obstacle is a terrain feature. Standing on it ought to work, bizarre though it may seem?

If your obstacle has the terrain trait "unstable position", units cannot be set up, or end their move on top of it.

True, but not relevant to the rule.

If the unit is wholly on or within a terrain feature, they get the bonus. If they can't be there because of Unstable Position, then they can't get the bonus.

That seems wonky as all hell, but probably correct. SS wouldn't get Stalker if standing next to the obstacle (since you possibly can't be "Within" obstacles?), but you can certainly be On Top of obstacles and thus get the effect.

I'm not sure I'd play it that way in any game though since it seems like oversight.

Striking Scorpions was missed in the FAQ: new wording for most similar abilities is "while (the target/while this unit) is receiving the benefit of cover...".

So #1, with visual aid and after reading the parts you left off(IMPORTANT FETHING CONTEXT), is no; you do not get and would not get the +1 to hit.

#2: No, you are not wholly on nor within the obstacle terrain feature; this has nothing to do with the benefits that are, or may be granted by the feature; but rather physical placement.