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3. Overwatch
Each time a charge is declared against a unit, the target unit can immediately fire Overwatch at the would-be attacker. A target unit can potentially fire Overwatch several times a turn, though it cannot fire if there are any enemy models within 1" of it. Overwatch is resolved like a normal shooting attack (albeit one resolved in the enemy’s Charge phase) and uses all the normal rules except that a 6 is always required for a successful hit roll, irrespective of the firing model’s Ballistic Skill or any modifiers.

Let's assume I declare a multi-charge Unit A and Unit B with my own Unit X.

Since all Overwatches are declared immediately, but resolved one at a time due to the sequencing rules, the order of firing is determined by the charging player. So far so good.

But if Unit A shoots and causes casualties to the charging unit, which then puts Unit B's weapons out of range, can Unit B still shoot or is range and LOS not checked until Unit B actually gets to fire?

I am of the opinion that Unit B would be out of range and no longer be able to resolve overwatch since the sequencing rules tell you to resolve the attacks one at a time, you don't get to do the "check range" step simultaneously. Anyone else have an argument to the contrary?

That feels right.

 BaconCatBug wrote:

3. Overwatch
Each time a charge is declared against a unit, the target unit can immediately fire Overwatch at the would-be attacker. A target unit can potentially fire Overwatch several times a turn, though it cannot fire if there are any enemy models within 1" of it. Overwatch is resolved like a normal shooting attack (albeit one resolved in the enemy’s Charge phase) and uses all the normal rules except that a 6 is always required for a successful hit roll, irrespective of the firing model’s Ballistic Skill or any modifiers.

Let's assume I declare a multi-charge Unit A and Unit B with my own Unit X.

Since all Overwatches are declared immediately, but resolved one at a time due to the sequencing rules, the order of firing is determined by the charging player. So far so good.

But if Unit A shoots and causes casualties to the charging unit, which then puts Unit B's weapons out of range, can Unit B still shoot or is range and LOS not checked until Unit B actually gets to fire?

I am of the opinion that Unit B would be out of range and no longer be able to resolve overwatch since the sequencing rules tell you to resolve the attacks one at a time, you don't get to do the "check range" step simultaneously. Anyone else have an argument to the contrary?

That phrase it's the only tricky one, rules says a unit can fire overwatch asap the charge is declared on them, Sequence kicks in (since you can't resolve 2x units shooting at once) wich means range it's already been measured before and the unit was already in range.


your example it's no different than a unit firing with 2x different weapons at a unit and saying because weapon A killed all enemy models in range of weapon B, those can't be resolved.

I disagree because checking range is part of the sequence for shooting, if you measured range for both at the same time it would suggest doing things simultaneously instead of one at a time.

I agree unit B does not get to fire.

Overwatch uses ALL the normal rules. Checking ranges is done as part of a unit shooting, and therefore is done when the specific unit shoots, after sequencing kicks in. So unit A shoots and kills things, then unit B starts the shooting process, is not in range and cannot fire.

 BaconCatBug wrote:
I disagree because checking range is part of the sequence for shooting, if you measured range for both at the same time it would suggest doing things simultaneously instead of one at a time.

The measuring range happens in the "Choose targets" step. (Well not specifically. It never tells us to measure in the shooting rules specifically but it does mention range).

The unit doing the shooting does not select a target, or does it? (The target is automatically set as the charging unit as per the overwatch rules (Possibly, more on this later)).

Would you skip the "Choose targets" of the shooting rules? Or do you use them?

Visibility does not seem to matter either (possibly) since that is also a part of step 2.

Basically we have conflicting rules as Overwatch says "Each time a charge is declared against a unit, the target unit can immediately fire Overwatch at the would-be attacker." but also says "Overwatch is resolved like a normal shooting attack (albeit one resolved in the enemy’s Charge phase) and uses all the normal rules" with one exception which has nothing to do with target selection.

So we must use all of Step 2 which includes selecting a target, or we cant use any of it as that step is skipped since our target is automatically set as the charging unit

We have confirmation that Overwatch cannot be fired if the charging unit is out of range (eg firing a Flamer at a charging unit 9" away) and also that you cannot fire overwatch at a target that charges from a concealed position.

Therefore there is clear precidence that you don't automatically get to make a shot.

But if they are out of range and your no longer within 12 inch does that unit still remain a valid target for the charge due to being more than 12 inch away and hecne not eligible as a target for the charge.
It depends if you believe overwatch is an interupt step so happens during the declairing charges as each unit is declaired as a target or if all charges are declared then overwatch happens as a seperate phase.

Ice_can wrote:
But if they are out of range and your no longer within 12 inch does that unit still remain a valid target for the charge due to being more than 12 inch away and hecne not eligible as a target for the charge.
It depends if you believe overwatch is an interupt step so happens during the declairing charges as each unit is declaired as a target or if all charges are declared then overwatch happens as a seperate phase.

Basically, no.

Choosing targets and Overwatch are separate steps of the Charge phase. So all targets are chosen and locked in before any overwatch is fired.

It is of course possible that the unit can't in practice make the charge, but that doesn't stop the target being a target. Though remember that a charging unit can still activate in the Fight phase even if it's not within 1" of an enemy, so it might be able to pile in to and fight that unit still.

It follows the normal rules so you would check targeting eligibility when determining range.

Another way to think about it is with rapid fire weapons. You might have had 5 guys within rapid fire range before the first overwatch volley. But now, the second squad only has 2 guys within rapid fire range. So you'd get less dice.

My answer would be no, you cannot fire overwatch if enough stuff dies so you are out of range to legally target something.

Otherwise, how would you handle Celestine's death & reincarnation, for example?

She dies within range of 10 flamer shots, but reincarnates 80" away. Is she still a legal target for those flamers?

So we're worried about multi-charging two units with flamer weapons? Because the player firing overwatch chooses which order to fire in, anyone with a bit of experience is going to fire their short-range stuff first.

As to the question, my gut says no. Just like the shooting phase, hence "all normal rules".