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Datasheet schmatasheet, this isn't RAW rules as written but HIWPI How I Will Play It.

First, the poll question:
How many inches of "area terrain" ruins should count as blocking line of sight? 1"? 3"? 6"? Never? Let's assume both sides are infantry models at ground level.


More broadly, True line of sight has some issues. How do you play it? How do you think it should be played?

Most of us have green felt or posterboard as what used to be used to designated 5+ area terrain. Many of us will also have "hills" that in true line of sight scale are about 5' high.

Since hills are bulky and space is often limited for the urban folk, that massive 2 layer hill is a whopping 3" high. It's really hard to get out of line of sight on most of these boards. That weakens assault armies, buffs indirect fire (What's that whirlwind? I can't hear you over the 4 blasts from the TFC?), and the like.

This next question is for the people who aren't lucky enough to have a steep hilled, solid walled urban environment to fight in.

How high is a hill? Do you use actual line of sight, which means even a biker can sometimes see over it, much less a rhino/razorback/skimmer, or assume each layer is 2 - 3"?

Or do you "counts as" the hill to be "infantry" high. So dread can see over it (and be seen) but not one standard infantry/termie squad to another on the far side? A two layer hill will generally block a dread, but what about wraith knights, riptides and GKNDKs? Can they see/be seen over two layers?

I really liked the LOS rules of 4th including the admittedely artificial and unrealistic effect of an inch or less of area terrain blocking line of sight if it was between the target and model. I think models should be able to hide effectively and that a board where every model can always see every other model detracts from the game. And with TLOS only you need bulky or unrealistic terrain features to effectively reduce fields of fire.

I voted 6", but would have voted for a hybrid if the choice was available: 6" if in the terrain, 2" if the terrain is between the models.