Post by bigpig on Jul 2, 2012 2:10:09 GMT
Tyranids live and die by cover. To the best of my ability, after reviewing them, here is a summary of the cover rules and how they work for us. Please feel free to correct any inconsistencies you see.
1) There are no specific or different rules for monstrous creatures and cover. The same rules apply for trygons and termagaunts.
2) Cover saves are determined on a model by model basis when it comes time to allocate the wound. Trace your LoS from all models in firing unit to the wounded model to determine if you get your save. ( Pg18 Determining Cover Saves).
3) Different models in the unit can have different cover saves. ( Pg 19 Units in Cover inset). This is different from 5th where the entire unit had a cover save or didn't. You can take advantage of this by utilizing "Focus Fire" which I won't go into on this synopsis
4) There is a general concept of being "in cover" which is described as having 25% or more of the model being obscured from the point of view of ANY MODEL in the firing unit. ( Pg 18 Determining Cover Saves ). The 5th edition "majority of firing models" rules does not apply. Note that this 25% rule is a general default rule which is overriden by some specific rules such as some area terrain and intervening units.
5) If LoS to the target model from any model in the firing unit passes through a third unit (friend or foe) the target model receives a 5+ cover save. This overrides the 25% rule. This applies even if LoS passes through gaps between models in the third unit. ( Pg 18 Intervening Models ). Yes, this means a bubblewrap of termagaunts can provide a 5+ to a tervigon or trygon!
6) Models in area terrain receive a base 5+ cover save regardless of whether they are 25% obscured or not. They receive a 3+ if they go to ground instead of 4+. ( Pg 91 Area Terrain )
7) Ruins provide a 4+ cover save if the model is "in cover" (25% obscured). The base of ruins is considered area terrain. I believe this means that you get a 5+ from being on the base and a 4+ if you are 25% obscured. ( Pg 98 Ruins: The basics and Ruins with bases )
8) Forests are area terrain and provide a 5+ cover to models inside them. The 25% rule does not apply. ( Pg 102 Cover Save )
9) If LoS from any model in the firing unit passes through a forest boundary, the target model receives a 5+ cover. The 25% rule does not apply. There is no distinction for "height". This means that if a flyer shoots at a trygon and the LoS passes through the boundaries of a forest, the trygon gets a 5+ save. ( Pg 102 Cover Save )
10) Some mysterious terrain offers increased cover saves for models receiving a cover save from them. ( Assorted Locations )
11) Wreckage and rubble is area terrain and grants a 4+ save ( Pg 105 Wreckage/Rubble )
12) Assorted pieces of terrain such as defense walls, ammo dumps, debris, etc have varied cover saves, but they all require the 25% obscurement rule. Remember, this is checked on a model by model basis and you only need to have 25% coverage from one shooting model.
13) Vehicles: Base obscurement from equipment, such as smoke, is now a 5+ cover save unless stated otherwise. ( Pg 75 Vehicles and Cover )
14) Vehicles: The 25% rules applies at all times. Vehicles do not get a cover save simply for being in area terrain. In addition, unlike other models where you can claim a cover save from 25% obscurement to only one firing model, the 25% cover must be from the MAJORITY of the models in the firing unit, not counting models armed with weapons that can't damage the target. ( Pg 75 Vehicles and Cover )
Summary of effect
The old method of making sure half your models were in cover so the whole unit could get the save does not apply. Cover saves are checked on a model by model basis, closest model first.
Bubblewrapping our Monstrous Creatures will grant them a 5+ save
Monstrous creatures in area terrain do get a cover save
With the exception of intervening units, models have to have 25% obscurement to claim saves from most pieces of terrain if not inside area terrain. Since this is on a model by model basis to all models in the firing movement, this could cause for some fiddly moving
What other thoughts does everyone have?
1) There are no specific or different rules for monstrous creatures and cover. The same rules apply for trygons and termagaunts.
2) Cover saves are determined on a model by model basis when it comes time to allocate the wound. Trace your LoS from all models in firing unit to the wounded model to determine if you get your save. ( Pg18 Determining Cover Saves).
3) Different models in the unit can have different cover saves. ( Pg 19 Units in Cover inset). This is different from 5th where the entire unit had a cover save or didn't. You can take advantage of this by utilizing "Focus Fire" which I won't go into on this synopsis
4) There is a general concept of being "in cover" which is described as having 25% or more of the model being obscured from the point of view of ANY MODEL in the firing unit. ( Pg 18 Determining Cover Saves ). The 5th edition "majority of firing models" rules does not apply. Note that this 25% rule is a general default rule which is overriden by some specific rules such as some area terrain and intervening units.
5) If LoS to the target model from any model in the firing unit passes through a third unit (friend or foe) the target model receives a 5+ cover save. This overrides the 25% rule. This applies even if LoS passes through gaps between models in the third unit. ( Pg 18 Intervening Models ). Yes, this means a bubblewrap of termagaunts can provide a 5+ to a tervigon or trygon!
6) Models in area terrain receive a base 5+ cover save regardless of whether they are 25% obscured or not. They receive a 3+ if they go to ground instead of 4+. ( Pg 91 Area Terrain )
7) Ruins provide a 4+ cover save if the model is "in cover" (25% obscured). The base of ruins is considered area terrain. I believe this means that you get a 5+ from being on the base and a 4+ if you are 25% obscured. ( Pg 98 Ruins: The basics and Ruins with bases )
8) Forests are area terrain and provide a 5+ cover to models inside them. The 25% rule does not apply. ( Pg 102 Cover Save )
9) If LoS from any model in the firing unit passes through a forest boundary, the target model receives a 5+ cover. The 25% rule does not apply. There is no distinction for "height". This means that if a flyer shoots at a trygon and the LoS passes through the boundaries of a forest, the trygon gets a 5+ save. ( Pg 102 Cover Save )
10) Some mysterious terrain offers increased cover saves for models receiving a cover save from them. ( Assorted Locations )
11) Wreckage and rubble is area terrain and grants a 4+ save ( Pg 105 Wreckage/Rubble )
12) Assorted pieces of terrain such as defense walls, ammo dumps, debris, etc have varied cover saves, but they all require the 25% obscurement rule. Remember, this is checked on a model by model basis and you only need to have 25% coverage from one shooting model.
13) Vehicles: Base obscurement from equipment, such as smoke, is now a 5+ cover save unless stated otherwise. ( Pg 75 Vehicles and Cover )
14) Vehicles: The 25% rules applies at all times. Vehicles do not get a cover save simply for being in area terrain. In addition, unlike other models where you can claim a cover save from 25% obscurement to only one firing model, the 25% cover must be from the MAJORITY of the models in the firing unit, not counting models armed with weapons that can't damage the target. ( Pg 75 Vehicles and Cover )
Summary of effect
The old method of making sure half your models were in cover so the whole unit could get the save does not apply. Cover saves are checked on a model by model basis, closest model first.
Bubblewrapping our Monstrous Creatures will grant them a 5+ save
Monstrous creatures in area terrain do get a cover save
With the exception of intervening units, models have to have 25% obscurement to claim saves from most pieces of terrain if not inside area terrain. Since this is on a model by model basis to all models in the firing movement, this could cause for some fiddly moving
What other thoughts does everyone have?
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