Obscure Rules FAQ

[Overread]

Ok we all know - or have heard of those rules that hide within the core game of 40K. Rules that some know are there, others have heard of by word of mouth and yet definy being found. Usually living in an innocent paragraph of text and often overlooked, these rules non-the-less have a major bearing on battle.

Thus I propose that we construct our own list of these rules along with full refrences to find them in the rule book - for nothing is worse than knowing a rule and not being able to prove it to an opponent.

For those who have the rules embeded into thier skull and who have no idea what I am on about - I am refering to rules such as Torrent of fire and the lesser known equivalent in close combat (yes there is one!).

[coredump]

Even better:
Torrent of fire you need one hit per model in the unit.
Torrent of CC, you only need one hit per model in the kill zone.

Cover: *over* half the *visible* models must be in/behind cover to get the cover save

[ragnorak]

Torrent of Fire - Under "Remove Casualties" page 26 of Macragge Rulebook (what's the accepted abbreviation - "MRB"?), second full paragraph of right column, starting at the end of the sixth line:

Prerequisite: Target unit must suffer number of WOUNDING HITS equal to its number of models from the fire of a SINGLE firing unit.
Result: Shooting player chooses one model in the target unit to make a save.
Owning player may choose which wounding hit the model will save against (e.g. lasgun vs. las cannon) and the type of save.

There's a good example in the next paragraph.

Overmind, is this what you were thinking of?

[ragnorak]

Torrent of Close Combat Under "Armour Saves" page 41 of MRB, 1st paragraph, line 6:

Prerequisite: Unit must inflict a number of wounding hits at least equalling the number of engaged enemy models IN A SINGLE INITIATIVE STEP.

Result: Attacker chooses one engaged model to make the first save.

[ragnorak]

Continuing to expand upon Coredump's ideas :

Using Cover: under "Units Partially in Cover", page 25 MRB:

1) Count only those models in the unit which can be hit by the firing unit
2) If a majority of models that can be engaged are considered to be covered (p. 25, MRB), then the ENTIRE UNIT is considered as covered.

[ragnorak]

Monstrous Creatures (MCs)/Tyranid Monstrous Creatures (TMCs) and Cover Saves:

This is important for our TMCs ducking krak missiles and lascannon shots, but it seems as though opponents tend to minimize the effect of area cover on our beauties ("How can those barrels provide cover for that Carne!?! The Rant's too large to benefit from those walls!).

My argument:

1) MCs are Size 3 and receive cover saves from area terrain of size 2 (standard-sized) and size 3. (Specifically stated as an "eg" on lines 5 & 6 of "When do Models Count as in Cover?", page 25 MRB)

2) Look at the Cover Summary Table (also on page 25, MRB) for specifics:

5+ Cover Saves

a. Barrels, Crates, logs, pipes provide Cover Saves for Size 3 creatures.
b. Woods/Jungles
c. Partial Defilade (i.e. the MC is partially obscured by the crest of a hill or ridge) - LOS from shooter is important here. Note also that the MC doesn't have to be obscured to its hips or knees (or equivalent), but I'd suggest that the ankle-equivalent is the max extent of pushing THIS envelope!

4+ Cover Save:

a) wrecks/wreckage
b) vehicles
c) rubble/ruins
d) dug fortifications (trenches/gun pits/emplacements)
e) buildings
f) walls

3+
a) bunkers
b) fortified buildings

3) The rules on Area Terrain is on page 17, MRB

CAVEAT: I know its in the rules under Area Terrain, but I have been in more than a few engagements when the opponent wants to get on with the game and forget to designate area terrain. TAKE the TIME to obtain agreement on for each piece of area terrrain:
a) size (1,2, or 3)
1) Size 1 ("low-lying")
2) Size 2 (whatever isn't low-lying or very high)
3) Size 3 ("very high" the example is woods that can "obscure" vehicles ... I suggest that this should instead read "block sight to" vehicles)
b) Boundaries: In my experience, the most common question deals with buildings/ruins on a base: Does the terrain extend to the edges of the base or to the actual building/ruins on the base? Sounds anal, but without clarification both sides are assuming, and you don't want a roll-off to determine whether that lascannon can get a clean shot on your TMC, do you?

Missing anything?