Saves with intervening terrain

[ValourousHeart]

The cover from terrain rules only seem to cover when a model is standing in terrain.

But I haven't found mention of when terrain is intervening.

 

So how do you treat shots that have to pass through a window and can only see 50% of one infantry model from a squad, but the unit is in open ground on the far side of the ruin from the shooter?

[Amayasu]

You don't get a save bonus in that instance.

 

Your unit needs to be *in* the terrain piece to claim it. Narratively it represents rubble and features for infantry to take cover behind when the bullets start flying.

[ValourousHeart]

That is my point, narratively and physically they are behind a ruin or other piece of terrain trying to use it to block line of sight in order to gain cover.

 

Additionally every model in the unit is 50% or more obscured from the point of view of the shooter.

 

Does line of sight have an effect on cover?

Or is line of sight no longer required?

[Jacinda]

It works exactly as it says in the rule book. See "Choose Target" on page 179 and "Terrain and Cover" on page 181.

 

Like always, codex trumps rule book.  Some units, like the Knight Paladin for example, will have other stipulations about being "in cover."

[Eddie Orlock]

If it's any comfort, the Battlefield Terrain section of the advanced rules starting on Pg. 248 as a general principle tends to detail that for non-infantry models not only do they need to be in the terrain to qualify, but also achieve 50% obstruction.

 

If you want more things to frustrate your sense of immersion, an arguable consequence of the cover side-bar on 179 is that if you've got two near by but separate pieces of cover and a unit that straddles both with no elements not within either that unit would not get a cover bonus until it'd hemorrhaged enough casualties from one half or the other such that it was solely within one feature or the other.