line of fire

[mulkabu]

A line of fire that passes through the EXACT diagonal between two squares occupied by figures is not considered blocked by those figures.

A line of fire that passes through the diagonal between two
squares of hindering terrain is considered to be passing through hindering terrain.

A line of fire that passes through the diagonal between two squares of blocking terrain is considered blocked.

Ok, thats from the faq, and all seems clear, if messy.
My questions:

1)
Does a line of fire that passes though the diagonal of A figure and blocking terrain BLOCK line of fire?

2)
Does a line of fire that passes though the diagonal of A figure and hindering terrain add +1 to defense of target?

3)
Does a line of fire that passes though the diagonal of blocking terrain and hindering terrain add +1 to targets defense?

Of these, 2) and 3) can be surmised, but the messy ruling leaves 1) wide open as fas I can see.

Brian

[Tsannik]

If I'm correct.... this was ruled thusly...

Blocking/Blocking - Blocking
Hindering/Hindering - Hindering
Figure/Figure - Clear

Blocking/Hindering - Clear
Blocking/Figure - Clear
Hindering/Figure - Clear

[TheSpirit]

So essentially, if it's not perfectly contiguous terrain it's assumed there is a gap separating blocking and hindering, etc.? That the bush next to the building has an open space behind it, just enough to shoot through, for example?

And can I assume that if there's a stealth figure in that bush, that the little gap suddenly disappears, since it's now blocking-blocking, even though it's not the same terrain feature?

[Funky Jett]

Originally posted by TheSpirit
And can I assume that if there's a stealth figure in that bush, that the little gap suddenly disappears, since it's now blocking-blocking, even though it's not the same terrain feature?

I am going to take a guess at this... No, it won't block LoF through the diagonal. Here's my argument:

Stealth only TREATS hindering terrain as blocking terrain; it doesn't turn it INTO blocking terrain. So this situation is either considered hindering/blocking or figure/blocking, not blocking/blocking.

[Tsannik]

You know I keep forgetting to say this...

If there is a Stealth figure in a Bush... the bush will only act like Blocking terrain is Line of Fire is drawn to THAT specific figure...

If Line of Fire is drawn to another figure behind would still be blocked because the stealth figure's base is in the way... but in the case of the perfect diagonal... it's possible for the shot to be clear.

[TheSpirit]

Ah, yes. I was forgetting that the LoF is being drawn past the square. Good catch, Funky.

[mulkabu]

Thanks for the update on the ruling :-)

As for the stealth-ina-bush thing, i do love this scenario, which had us in stitches a few weeks ago.

B: Black panther - has stealth, is in a bush, hindering terrain.
X: Black panthers team mates

Z: Enemy, with ranged attack of doom.

-: Clear terrain



----X
----X
----X
----B
--Z--



Z can't see BP, coz he's stealthed in a bush.
Z can't see the first X coz the linje of sight passes through another figure - Panther.
Z can't see the second X coz the line of sight passes through the first X...

.. and so on :-) I don't know how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, but I do know how many Superheroes can hide ina potted plant :-)

Thanks again for passing on the ruling!
Brian

[feralparrot]

Is the above scenario true and approved?!

So... if BP is in a bush (that is normally hindering terrain for LOS), the Bush becomes Blocking terrain!?

Pretty funny.

----- Wacky rules talk below... not meant to confuse anyone ---

It never made sense to me, that a figure blocks LOF completely.

Hindering makes more sense...

I always thought that the ranged shooter should be able to take the shot past a blocking figure (in BtB with the target), but have a 50% chance of hitting the target and 50% of hitting the blocking figure.

That way if there was a teammate between your shooter and the enemy, you wouldn't take the shot unless you could afford to take the risk.

Also, if Nick Fury were protected by his band of Merry Agents, players could still aim at him, they just might hit his SHIELD instead.... and if Nick wanted to shoot past his adjacent agents, he could... (if hindering rule change)

Basically a shooter could hide behind a big bruiser as a sort of moving peice of hinderring terrain.

Imagine Runnin Cyclops behind the Hulk... the Hulk would take half of the shots and get stronger, while Cyclops would take the other half, but be able to fire (inder Hulk's armpits, or something)

Nice combo, though... Hulk - move 4 toward enemy, Cyclops - move 4 right behind him and fire 10 (RS)... by the time Hulk got close, he'd be pretty big!

Or... send the Hulk in to BtB, and fire at the target also... if you hit Hulk.. no biggy.
--- End Fantasy talk ---


Line of fire can really be a pain in miniatures games... huh?

FeralParrot