Are we shooting our weapons right? Come see how we should be shooting our guns, according to the rulebook!
This week, we’ll attack a rule which seems simple at first but is badly used by many. I’m talking about hull-mounted weapons. Now this is not a post about, for example, is the deathray cannon on a necron doom scythe hull-mounted or not.
The rules states that a hull-mounted weapon can only fire at a total of 45 degrees angle. Now, by experience, most people play it as 90 degrees total. 45 on each side of the gun and sometimes more. How many times have we seen a storm raven fire it’s rockets on “somewhat” side targets way outside the 22.5 degree limit. Even outside 45 sometimes. This is an error. 45 total means 22.5 degrees on each side of the gun. Yea, that is not a lot and limits our shooting possibilities a lot more than most think.
Another mistake made are with weapons that can swivel but are considered hull mounted. Most think when you swivel your weapon, you get that more of a degree to fire. Wrong! You still have a max 45 total as if the weapon can not move at all. The swivel they have is “only” to represent the angle of fire on the model and make them look better on models that you actually can make a visual effect and that they bothered doing it. And if you look at it closely, they don’t swivel more then what? 45 degrees. For those that will mention sponsons, they are not hull-mounted weapons so the 45 degree angle does not apply. The weapons angle on the model does. As an example, here’s a GW image that shows a leman russ’ hull-mounted las-cannon. even if it swivels, it’s still 45 degrees and not 45 + the swivel angle. You can also see the sponsons angle (not hull-mounted)
A good example for limited fire is the taurox. The side guns are hull mounted. Go ahead and put a 22.5 degree angle on that. Why 22.5 you say? Well look at the model, you can’t actually fire through it’s own hull can you? Wow! Talk about limited possibilities.
Ground vehicles give us a 2D dimension on the tabletop and it’s fairly straight forward. But what about flyers. There are no specific rules for these weapons on a 3d basis. Sure, we can say that it applies the same rules. Agreed. The problem with this is what about the angle we put the model on the base. If we put it at an angle where it’s like rushing towards the air, it never shoots ground targets because it’s out of angle? Yea, doesn’t make sense game wise. BUT, what would be the default angle everyone should use as a basis for calculating it 22.5 degree angle? Can we actually consider, like a ground vehicle that logically, the flyer should be at a parallel (0 angle) with the table? Sounds logical right? Lets say this is correct. What is the minimum distance between the flyer (gun) and the target that the flyer can actually shoot. Considering the 22.5 degree angle it takes to fire the weapon down, the target needs to be at least 12″ away from the flyer base (considering your standard 5″ flyer stem). How many of you have actually shot at units 2-3″ away? I bet many have. A valkyrie……, like the taurox, not much angels there.
Now this changes a shit load for flyer effectiveness. Now this said, we all know flyers would in general be somewhat at a down angle to actually fire at something. But what would that angle be to make it all ok with the game? Don’t forget to consider that once that angle is determined, all other angles are at 22.5 degrees. After what 4 years of flyers, still no FAQs on flyers and depending who you fight, that angle can vary. For now, I’ll say lets all be clear at the start of the game on what is what like many other things until, maybe, we’ll have better rules from GW. Afterall, it’s a friends game right? I’M not part of the tournement scene, I’m curious to see how they deal with this.
R: 205 G: 255 B: 111 X:47888 Y:53648 S: 0 Z: 107 F: 184
Get yourself a 45 angle template or you can make yourself one by simply using a piece a paper and folding it once on one of the corners. Use it on your vehicles to give you an idea and you’ll be surprised how many were actually firing a way wider angle then they should. All of this sound fine and dandy and some will say you can just turn your tank a little more in the movement phase. BUT, turning your talk a little bit more will give your side or back armor more to the enemy so it does effect the game a lot. Did I forget something? Maybe, you tell me.
What’s your take on this?
About the Author: Michel Beaulieu
