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OK, this is how everyone seems to use the cover rules (including the tournament players and organizers from frontlinegaming)

- If a model is 25% obscured it gets a cover save. That cover save depends on the type of terrain, i.e a model behind a ruin gets a 4+ save, even if the ruins are only intervening:

SHOOTER-------------------------RUIN-------------------------TARGET

Following the letter of the rules, this is wrong. The Target would only get a 5+ save. Let me walk you through it.

1
Determining Cover Saves
If, when you come to allocate a Wound, the target model’s body (see General Principles) is at least 25% obscured from the point of view of at least one firer, Wounds allocated to that model receive a cover save. Unless specifically stated otherwise, all cover provides a 5+ save. Some types of terrain provide better or worse cover saves; when this is the case the cover save provided will be stated in the rules for the terrain.


This paragraph defines the requirements for a cover save and denotes the value of that save: 5+, unless otherwise stated. The following segment is important:

2
When one of the following rules refers to a model being ‘in cover behind’ a piece of terrain, this means that the model is at least 25% obscured by the scenery, and therefore eligible for a cover save. On the other hand, when one of the following rules refers to a model being ‘in’ a piece of terrain, this means that model, or some part of it, is actually standing on the piece of scenery, whether it is obscured from view or not

This paragraph states that there is a clear distinction between being "behind cover" (25% obscured) and being "in a piece of terrain". Now lets look at the rules for ruins (as the most common source of 4+ cover):

3
Ruins are difficult terrain. Models in ruins receive a 4+ cover save, regardless of whether or not they are 25% obscured.

Combining these 3 pieces of rules it becomes super obvious that a target behind a ruin (as in: not IN it) only gets a 5+. The "unless stated otherwise" segment of the first rule (1) does not fire on behalf of the ruins (3) section. The models are not "in" the ruins as per rule 2.

I cannot find a shred of rule that would suggest a 4+ save for being behind a ruin. Am I missing something?

Your missing the RAI that drawing line of sight through area terrain is enough to convey that area terrain's cover bonus. Observe the passage below, I've included emphasis on the important part.

Units in Cover wrote:The Space Marine squad has chosen to fire at the Ork mob ahead of them. The Ork mob is spread out with some models obscured behind cover and some out in the open. 3 Orks (circled in red) have a 4+ cover save as at least one firing model has his line of sight partially obscured by the ruin. 3 Orks (circled in blue) have no cover save as they are in the open, and 4 Orks (circled in green) have a 6+ cover save as they are within a crater.

I'm convinced that that image description is just wonky. The models in that example are in fact IN the area terrain and would get the 4+ in any case. The image also occurs before the more detailed distinction between IN and BEHIND later in the book.

Is there any actual sentence in the book about lines through area terrain being enough?

RAW you are correct, and DJ that picture doesn't help as all 3 Orcs have a toe on the ruins base... So are therefore in cover. And lastly, gw doesn't know what gw meant when asked the rules. If they did faq's would happen.

I was just pointing out the RAI. I agree the RAW does not support it but there is is in your BRB. The reason given for why the orks circled in red get the 4+ cover is because at least one space marine's LoS is obscured by the ruin and not because the orks are within the ruin.

Having read your post twice for clarity, it appears to me that rule 1 explains that unless stated, any cover will provide a 5+ save. Targets beyond it that are 25% obscured receive their save from the cover. As ruins confer a 4+ save (to models in it), and this regardless of whether they are obscured 25% or not, wouldn't a model beyond it receive a 4+ save? It would have to 25% obscured as it is not in the cover.

I'm glad you raised this question. I'm going to do some checking.

edit: Checked. It should be noted that a model must be at least 25% obscured by the ruin from the point of the firer to get a cover save from the ruin. It would get a 4+ save. If less than 25% obscured however though still on the other side of the ruin, it receives no cover save from the ruin. This is how I understand the rules. I realize I could be wrong about this. Point being, simply on the other side of the ruin is no guarantee of a cover save.

 DJGietzen wrote:
I was just pointing out the RAI. I agree the RAW does not support it but there is is in your BRB. The reason given for why the orks circled in red get the 4+ cover is because at least one space marine's LoS is obscured by the ruin and not because the orks are within the ruin.

RAI is exactly my issue mate. I usually don't care about rule lawyers. I think its exactly meant as written. You only get the good bonus when you dig into the ruin and suffer the difficult terrain penalty. You take a hit on your movement (or even take a difficult terrain check on skimmers!) In exchange for a better save. You shouldn't get a better save than, say, standing behind an armored vehicle or building, when your opponent is shooting through a ruined building. The idea is that once you are in the area terrain, there's a lot of stuff to hide in, again in exchange for a hit on mobility.

I think both RAW and RAI are supper clear here and this looks to me like a big oversight.

Cover rules state that you get a 5+ if your 25% obscured from the firer, unless told otherwise.

Ruins state that you gt a 4+ for being in he cover, obstructed or not. keyword is in.

Being behind, but not inside the ruin does not grant you the 4+, its cannot as it doesnt tell you it does, it says you have to be in it. as you are not in it, if you are obscured by it by the 25%, you get the base 5+.

Last edition all you had to be was obscured by a peice of ruin to gain the 4+, they omitted that wording from the rules this edition and just left us with the modifier for "in" cover. wording on cover saves and when you get them and what they are pretty clean cut this edition you are either 25% obscured and get a 5+, or you benefit from the terrain you are inside of for the modified number.

Literally every example and type of terrain that confers a cover save requires you to be in the terrain or on the base (which is technically in the terrain). there is zero mention of gaining the modified save for being obscured behind a peice of terrain but not in it, so you default to the only example you are given, the 5+ default for 25% obscurement.