During our first Space Hulk session, I had a few misgivings about the rules. More specifically, the lack of clarity in a few exceptional circumstances.
In a bid to make it clearer for myself and anyone else that might stumble across these posts, I’m making a plea to anyone out there that might be able to explain this stuff!
I also wanted to take a few photos to show off just how beautiful this game is – such exquisite quality!
Let’s start with some basic stuff that will make me look stupid:
Close Assault
Close Assault - can the Terminator still shoot?
The rulebook states:
A model can take a close assault action to attack a target in the square directly in front of them. It costs 1 Action Point (AP) to take a close assault action once the model is in position.
The important word for me here is “can”. Given that there is no benefit to a Terminator engaging a Genestealer in Close Assault (perhaps unless he’s carrying the Heavy Flamer), can the Terminators shoot at the Genestealer as normal or are they forced to perform a Close Assault action (or expend 2 AP in order to move back and shoot) if they wish to attack?
In the same vein, if the Terminator is in Overwatch (where you get to shoot every time an enemy performs an action in your Line of Sight) and assuming he doesn’t die, does the Terminator get to shoot after every time the Genestealer attacks, given that the Genestealer performed an action in his Line of Sight?
The rules state that a Space Marine can shoot as long as he has Line of Sight to the target, so I assume that what I’ve written above is all correct and above board.
Close Range - Can the Terminator shoot the diagonally-adjacent Genestealer?
If I’ve understood that right, let’s take a look at similar scenario. With regards to movement, the rules state:
A model or blip cannot move through another model, blip or closed door. A model also cannot move diagonally if this means it would pass between two squares containing a wall or model.
Now that specifically talks about movement; there’s no mention of what options are available when it comes to attacking. Obviously the Space Marine can’t engage the diagonal Genestealer in Close Assault as you can only Close Assault models directly in front of you, but can the Space Marine shoot at him or is his Line of Sight blocked by the wall to his right and the Genestealer in front?
I’m inclined to think the answer is no. If the Space Marine can’t move to that diagonal forwards square, I assume he can’t shoot there either.
What do you guys think? Have I got this right? Thanks for reading and please leave a comment below if you can shed some light on this!
Next time: Overlapping Overwatch!
I haven’t played since junior high, so my memory is fuzzy, but I seem to recall the latter assumption to be correct. For the first rule, though, I /think/ we played it such that shooting was impossible at melee range, since this emphasised the need for the Space Marines to take out the Genestealers before they got close enough to shred armor.
Cheers LoTekk. I guess that makes sense – Forcing the Terminators to back up or risk fighting in Close Assault would actually be pretty cool – I imagine it makes it a lot more exciting as well!
The problem is this bit of the rulebook. In combination with the Overwatch section talking about how a Terminator must fire at a Genestealer who performs an action in Line of Sight, I’m left feeling pretty confused about the whole thing! In the diagram posted, it doesn’t say you can’t shoot at the space directly in front of you…
Just checking the rulebook again now, there is a line that states Terminators actually come out of Overwatch if they get engaged in Close Assault, which would negate the second part of my first question.
Posted by mcgeeza in the lovely Eurogamer Board Games thread:
“Interesting – I just flicked through my rulebook and I agree the rules are definitely a bit flakey. FWIW this is how I would play your queries:
1. I’ve always played that you can shoot a GS in the square in front of you and it doesn’t state anywhere in the rules that you can’t so I reckon it’s a fair enough assumption.
2. A SM can Overwatch shoot at a GS every time a GS perfoms an action in the SM’s LOS. So as you point out as a SM loses overwatch if he is attacked he wouldn’t be able to shoot anyway. You could however have another SM behind the first on overwatch who would be able to shoot at a GS that had just attacked and killed the SM in front, because the GS has performed an action and is now in SM2′s LOS. That’s how I’ve always played it anyway).
But in answer to your question, no, unless you use CP’s.
3. I say ‘blocked’ because I seem to remember it being blocked in previous editions (which both had much more clearly written rules IMO).
Moot point for me anyway, as in your situation I’d be moving back and firing (2APs) and then going into guard mode (2APs) anyway. :D”
I think that clears things up!