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I guess it has been a long time since 40k rules actually had a use for spotters.

Video back up and GW put up the guard FF.

https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/p9kg7edm/warhammer-40000-faction-focus-astra-militarum/



We’ve seen a few things where you can spot units so their hidden range is bumped up 3”. How relevant do we think that is going to be? It’s not removing the ability to hide so targets can be shot from anywhere, but is that amount of distance going to make a difference?

I think it’s like they said in the video, some armies want to keep distance from stuff, like tau and guard. A small increase to that detection range will only help. Other armies it won’t matter as much.

If you think the positioning effect could work out to opponents having -3 on their charge rolls then maybe its quite good?

Normal detection range is 15”. I’m not going to say bumping that up to 18” will never make a difference. I just think it’s going to be a fringe benefit, and not a huge deal.

..unless you can further boos the detection range by further bonuses?

 tauist wrote:
..unless you can further boos the detection range by further bonuses?

Let's not hope the trivialise the new cover rules before they're even out.

 tauist wrote:
..unless you can further boos the detection range by further bonuses?

We’ll see. And I say that without sarcasm. I like the concept of hidden units, and the fact that they are willing to hook things off the mechanic to make it more engaging.

Right now, my initial impression, is that it’s probably not worth building for. IF you have a spotter unit deployed forward (possibly exposed and at risk of being charged) then you and spot a target unit, which may let another one of your units that was just barely out of range now target something. You need to have the right unit in your list, placed at the right spot, to support another unit also in the exact right spot.

Just seems a lot of things that need to line up just right for the payout.

If I’m taking the spotter unit for its other merits? Might happen.

Like the concept. But we’ll see how useful it is once we get some plastic being pushed around the table.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Dudeface wrote:

 tauist wrote:
..unless you can further boos the detection range by further bonuses?

Let's not hope the trivialise the new cover rules before they're even out.

Yeah. I’d like the mods to the system to make it worthwhile to include, but not trivialize the whole thing. 3” seems barely worth it, but if we get a hypothetical “spot a unit, it’s no longer hidden” it better be rare and expensive. Otherwise it’s a must take and makes the whole cover system a joke.

Maybe it’s expressed as a positive modifier because other things apply negative ones (e.g. a unit with stealth is detectable at shorter distances). If there’s a night fighting scenario then it could be that +3 is effectively doubling detection range, maybe.

 Mr_Rose wrote:
Maybe it’s expressed as a positive modifier because other things apply negative ones (e.g. a unit with stealth is detectable at shorter distances). If there’s a night fighting scenario then it could be that +3 is effectively doubling detection range, maybe.

We know stealth is simply "gains the benefit of cover".

I'm very concerned about how my Tau are supposed to work in this new edition
It seems pretty trivial to completely hide yourself except at very short range. 15" isn't a hard charge for many units/factions.
Unless we return to 9th edition levels of Tau firepower "will happily remove an entire unit in one volley".
Tau certainly don't have that level of firepower now though.

I'm wondering if markerlight units will end up being more focussed on pushing forward, with ML's removing the hidden status from units? Would mean forcing a more aggressive play with Stealth Suits and Pathfinders, I can't see how else it could function with ease. Going to be very interesting come the Faction focus for them.