Rules Question: Resolving Multiple Weapons

[Diagramdude]

Forgive me if there is a proper section for this... but this came up in a game and I think I know the correct ruling but I'm not 100% sure.

 

My fire raptor was going to shoot at some pox walkers of which one model was 35" away, the rest were over 36" away. I wanted to put both quad heavy bolters and the avenger bolt cannon into them, but my opponent said I should resolve the weapons one at a time, the idea being once the poxwalker in range was killed, the rest of the weapons wouldnt be able to fire because now the unit is out of range...

 

I'm almost certain that isn't how it works, and that you declare how you are splitting your weapons first and then roll it out, range be damned. Am I right on this or is there another interpretation? I couldn't really articulate a clear enough argument to my opponent and it was in his interest not to believe me, so we ended up rolling off and I lost the roll. 

 

My logic is that the shooting sequence clearly lays out that checking range happens when you "Choose Targets" (Step 2) and that you declare how all your weapons are shooting before you roll anything. Once you start resolving attacks you shouldn't have to go back to the Step 2: Choose Targets again and thus you shouldn't have to recheck range over and over per weapon, especially for a one model unit like the Fire Raptor!

 

https://imgur.com/a/DYyez

 

Could anyone confirm?

 

Thanks

[The Unseen]

A unit firing it's weapons technically fires them all simultaneously, so yeah, if you declare all 3 guns are firing at the poxwalkers, and just 1 guy is in range, it still works.

I believe a previous edition didn't work that way, so he may/may not have been intentionally trying to cheat you.

[Panzer]

Okay so here's the order of things:

1. Choose Unit to shoot with

 -> Pick the Raptor

Note: The text here says "Unless otherwise stated, each model in the unit attacks with all of the ranged weapons it is armed with."

 

2. Choose Targets

 -> Pick the Poxwalker unit

Note: It's this step where you measure for range. You can't pick a unit that's not in range for your weapons. After this step range isn't an issue anymore since you already measured and confirmed it.

 

3. Choose Ranged Weapon

 -> Pick which weapon shoots at which of the targets you've declared. Resolve shots against one target before moving to the next.

 

4. Resolve Attacks

 -> Hit Roll, Wound Roll, Allocate Wounds, Saving Throws and then Inflict Damage. In that order. Ideally weapon after weapon and dice after dice, if different saves (cover) and weapon profiles are involved.

Note: None of those steps require you to check range for your weapons again. You already did that in Step 2 and that still counts for the whole shooting.

 

 

tl;dr you're right. You've already checked whether you're in range and that counts for all weapons of your shooting unit regardless of which models he takes away for casualties. Same goes for Line of Sight btw. The only thing he can affect by taking away specific models is whether his unit gets a cover save or not and whether his unit is still in range of buffs/debuffs.

 

EDIT: typos

Edited February 2, 2018 by sfPanzer

[Diagramdude]

Thank you!!!

[Blackcadian]

Thank you!!!

Slightly OT since this has been resolved - how’s your Fire Raptor been doing in 8th?

 

I hear good things about it but am also very interested in a Leviathan dread (can’t afford both right now). I’m looking at building a list for a tournament if that makes a difference.

[Xenith]

Glad to see this is resolved - for your information, there is indeed a 'Rules' section of the forum here.

 

To further clarify - you choose targets for all your ranged weapons at the same time before any dice are rolled.

 

If the target unit is in range of the weapon, you can declare it as a target. Even if when rolling for different weapons, the target is moved out of range by casualties, the other weapons still get to fire.

 

If the opponent still quibbles, then get a bunch of different coloured dice and roll all of the weapons at the same time. 

[Charlo]

 

To further clarify - you choose targets for all your ranged weapons at the same time before any dice are rolled.

 

If the target unit is in range of the weapon, you can declare it as a target. Even if when rolling for different weapons, the target is moved out of range by casualties, the other weapons still get to fire.

 

Do the other weapons still fire at the same target even though they are now out of range or can/do they choose a new target?

[Panzer]

 

 

To further clarify - you choose targets for all your ranged weapons at the same time before any dice are rolled.

 

If the target unit is in range of the weapon, you can declare it as a target. Even if when rolling for different weapons, the target is moved out of range by casualties, the other weapons still get to fire.

 

Do the other weapons still fire at the same target even though they are now out of range or can/do they choose a new target?

 

Check my earlier post about order of things. You declare the targets for your weapons first and then do the shooting. Means that your weapons, once you declared their target, will never be out of range or lacking LoS. The only thing that could prevent them from shooting is when their target got already wiped out.

 

Ranges and LoS checking is a lot more handwaving than we're used to from 7th. ;)

[Xenith]

 

 

To further clarify - you choose targets for all your ranged weapons at the same time before any dice are rolled.

 

If the target unit is in range of the weapon, you can declare it as a target. Even if when rolling for different weapons, the target is moved out of range by casualties, the other weapons still get to fire.

 

Do the other weapons still fire at the same target even though they are now out of range or can/do they choose a new target?

 

 

As above. 

 

In addition, if you declare all weapons are firing at the same target, and one weapon wipes the target, you lose the chance to fire the rest of the weapons.

 

It's the same as the way PotMS worked in 6-7th. Measure range and declare all targets, then roll dice. 

 

As soon as you start rolling dice you can no longer declare any other targets for that unit.