FMC Rules Questions

[Nightmare20]

So, I know a FMC can take cover saves from area terrain but what about intervening units and terrain? And why is the FMC exempt from the standard flyer cover rules?

Also, does an FMC have to shoot at units directly in front or can they fire like the Heldrake?

[Jabberwocky]

An FMC is NOT a flyer. A flyer is a specific type of vehicle and follows vehicle rules.

FMC follows it's own rules, plus MC rules and thus infantry rules such as cover.

[Nightmare20]

Alright, I was rereading the FMC rules and it states rather clearly they can fire in any direction. Its just seemed weird we get cover when standard flyers are considered too high up. I understand they are not "flying vehicles" but logic would dictate they work similarly.

With that said, intervening units and terrain (forests) provide cover fine I guess.

[Jabberwocky]

Don't think of it as flying high, think flying fast. This provides the hard to hit and possible jink saves.

Afterall we aren't on big flying stems like vehicles are.

[roughjnick]

I find it helps if you think about it in cinematic terms. If you've watched Avatar or even the less well known Dragon Wars you can see perfect examples of flying creatures battling flying machines. The creatures naturally hang on walls or cliffs for brief moments, hiding and using cover and their increased maneuverability to get close to the machines. They can twist and move in a way the machines just can't and naturally use the terrain to their advantage.

The pilots of the machines on the other hand would naturally stay well away from anything that could interupt their flight as catching a rotor or wing on a cliff edge is a sure fire way to lose control. They rely on pure speed to make them harder to hit.

The one place where this really falls down with our 40k rule set is the fact that our montrous creatures can't make an aerial assault. Both the films above have scenes where multiple flying creatures catch and cling on to an enemy aircraft and destroy them. I'd love a rule that allowed our critters to latch on to an enemy flyer and pull them from the sky, even if there was a decreased chance compared to a ground assault (6's to hit comes to mind as fair). Vector strike just doesn't cut it.

[nurglitch]

Yeah, those are Vector Strikes...

[tylertt]

I don't have my BRB on me, and I didn't realize the FMCs use cover saves for terrain and intervening models and such. (Kind of just went by the image of the FMC flying above the terrain and all.)

So now my question to everyone, can you take cover saves on grounding tests? I don't have my BRB here and can't remember the exact working on grounding tests, but curiosity is getting the better of me.

[gryfter81]

That was actually very helpful. I had issues with forgetting about the cover saves and the visuals you guys presented really made a lot of sense....lol kudos.

[Jabberwocky]

Feb 21, 2013 13:47:35 GMT tylertt said:

I don't have my BRB on me, and I didn't realize the FMCs use cover saves for terrain and intervening models and such. (Kind of just went by the image of the FMC flying above the terrain and all.)

So now my question to everyone, can you take cover saves on grounding tests? I don't have my BRB here and can't remember the exact working on grounding tests, but curiosity is getting the better of me.

Grounding tests specifically say no cover saves.

It is however worthwhile to try to keep in cover for the massive amounts of firepower that will turn on you once grounded though.

[coredump]

Feb 21, 2013 7:25:01 GMT Nightmare20 said:

Its just seemed weird we get cover when standard flyers are considered too high up..

You have been misinformed. I can't find any rule that says a flyer is 'too high up'; flyers are just flying vehicles, and thus get cover saves just like any other vehicle. FMCs are flying MCs, and thus get cover saves just like any other MC.

Cover saves help against wounds, not against hits. So no CS for grounding tests. (nor markerlights)

[Lanesend]

Feb 21, 2013 13:47:35 GMT tylertt said:

So now my question to everyone, can you take cover saves on grounding tests? I don't have my BRB here and can't remember the exact working on grounding tests, but curiosity is getting the better of me.

Well, a falling FMC gets his wound from slamming into a big planet, so there's no terrain between him and the source where he get's damage from.

It would be the same as claiming a cover save from an intervening hail of bullets, between firer and target.

[tylertt]

Thanks guys. It all makes sense, I never thought you could take take cover saves anyways (when being grounded), but for some reason I couldn't remember the exact wording on grounding, and curiosity got the better of me at work aha.

I do need to remember about the cover saves once the FMC becomes grounded though, can make for some helpful positioning when those krak and lascannons turn to the freshly landed MC lol.

[ranmafan]

Hang on. You can take area terrain cover saves while SWOOPING?

Or just Gliding?

Reading the BRB... there's nothing to say I can't take cover saves from area terrain while flying over it...

HOLY COW! Revelation!

[jahatch42878]

Isn't the only problem with the area terrain the landing in it part though? If you keep the area terrain between you and the shooters that is fine, but don't you want to avoid landing in area terrain? Or, because you are a MC (or FMC) with "move through cover" you ignore dangerous terrain tests? I need to keep a copy of the rulebook at work... lol.. Josh

[halos]

Yeah, all MCs get Move Through Cover so they auto-pass dangerous Terrain tests; fly 'em into cover all you want, they won't mind.