How do your groups handle cover from intervening models?

[Threeshades]

If the choices are not clearly understandable look below for what I actually mean.

The eternally debated question how intervening models affect cover saves is one that affects tyranids maybe more than any other army. It means the difference of whether or not we can use termagants and hormagaunts as mobile cover for monstrous creatures, from tiny carnifexes all the way to the towering dimachaerons, even hierophants. Which means a massive difference in the available tactics. Because a couple of venomthropes can make your army incredibly tough even on open ground, if you are allowed to take cover saves for the MCs behind your hormagaunt squads.

This thread is not meant to be another discussion on which interpretation is correct, it is merely here to see a trend on how many groups play which way.

You have multiple choices in case you play in several groups that play it differently.

Explanation of the Poll Choices
1. Any amount of being covered by an intervening model or the gap between models in such a unit will give the target a cover save.

2. If the target is covered 25% or more by intervening models and/or by the "imaginary wall" drawn in the gaps between models of an intervening unit gains a cover save, but not if it is any less covered than that.

3. If the target is either covered 25% or more by intervening models or is only shootable through the imaginary wall between models of an intervening unit and does not jut over that "wall" gets a cover save. But if it juts over the wall AND isn't 25% concealed, it gets no cover saves.

4. Your group actually interprets it some other way that I didn't think of.

[Threeshades]

interesting, I would have thought more groups play version 2, rather than 1.

[Shadowstalker]

I find that it just gets really difficult to accurately measure 25% of a model, and it leads to arguments in my experience. Better to just say that, or use common sense.

[daboarder]

why? the rules are very strongly in favour of the first option.

The problem occurs when you get store managers trying to argue that space marines "shoot over" to hit the trygon.....I mean even without the first interpretation of the rules a line of gaunts WILL be tall enough to cover 25% of a trygon's body.....

[azazel70820]

Iirc correctly the rules about shooting through intervening models/units doesn't require 25% coverage. The 25% rule only applies to vehicles and models behind terrain.

[rroach]

The rules are pretty clear about this: intervening models grant cover.

[wyliedx]

It clear that any intervening model count. If not why won't they say it again a page later

[mattblowers]

Now I know this is a dangerous thing to do, BUT... White Dwarf article on the toxicrene and how to play it clearly used gaunts to screen it to give it a 3+ cover in the open. That's good enough for me. That is a strong indication of the 'correct' way to read it. [cringes and ducks to avoid incoming forum flamers].

[hiveminded]

Was thinking the same thing, actually. Additionally, that matches my reading of the intervening model rules.

[Deleted]

Yeah, also the fact that vehicle rules specifically make a distinction of 25% is pretty suggestive what's intended for other models imo

[bigpig]

Number one, just like it says in the rules

[fleetofclaw]

And now people who argue against option 1 have to deal wtih the fact that the White Dwarf Toxicrene article even specifies GW's intent so.... this should be a pretty dead debate nowadays.

[bigpig]

Nov 25, 2014 21:41:23 GMT daboarder said:

why? the rules are very strongly in favour of the first option.

The problem occurs when you get store managers trying to argue that space marines "shoot over" to hit the trygon.....I mean even without the first interpretation of the rules a line of gaunts WILL be tall enough to cover 25% of a trygon's body.....

Tell them the trygon is rising up preparing to strike in the model pose. Clearly it couldn't travel across the battlefield like that, it would be on the ground like a snake and easily able to be obscured by an intervening model

[abraxxas]

Rule book is pretty clear on this one...I thought. As far as I know only vehicles need 25% coverage.

[nubitron9000]

I'm surprised anyone is selecting anything OTHER than option 1! As for the shooting over thing, the book does say something about that in the intervening models area and gives the example of if the firer is in a heightened firing position... I still get some people trying to pass the fromage regarding that caveat of the rule