Blast weapon Rules application Question

[Debauchery101]

So mainly I'm trying to figure out if there is any sort of rules of sequence when it comes to shooting multiple blast weapons from a single unit.

Example

Deathwatch veterans with 4 frag cannons firing in Frag mode...2d6 auto hit blast..im shooting at a unit of 20 pox walkers..do I fire each 1 separately therefor modifying the blast rules in subsequent attacks by each frag cannon due to casualties? Or do I just declare all are firing and get 8d6 auto hits?

I assume I'd get the max hits if fired all together but just wanted to make sure because there is some grey areas we operate in that due to rules pertaining to other situations we have to modify our dice rolling.

Ie mutli damage weapons vs multi wound models who can roll saves/FNP against those weapons.

Edited September 16, 2020 by Debauchery101

[Morticon]

You declare all the weapons of one type at a time.   So, you're good to go.  

[Karhedron]

Agreed, shooting for a unit is resolved in one go. You work out all the hits, then all the wounds, then resolve casualties.

[Dr_Ruminahui]

I agree with the above 2 posters, but thought the OP should have a better response for his/her opponents should the issue come up than "2 people on the internet told me so."

 

Note, while the shooting rules do say that you can still shoot a weapon that is out of range or line of sight due to shooting by your activated unit, it doesn't explicitly say whether the number of attacks generated by a blast weapon can change due to casualties inflicted on a unit by your activated unit.

 

Blast weapons do say that you look at how many models are in the target unit when you determine how many attacks the weapon has - which makes sense.

 

Given that it isn't stated explicitly, it is important to look at how the rules set out how shooting works.  Importantly, the rule book puts determining the number of attacks in the section regarding targeting and before the section on making attacks.  So, if you follow the order that the rules sets out, you determine how many attacks you have against each targeted unit before picking up any dice to start rolling for those attacks.  Which means you determine how many models are in the target unit before making any rolls to attack that unit - so, before any casualties are removed.

 

It would have been nice for the rules to have set this out explicitly, but if you follow the order of resolving attacks as set out in the rule book, it is implicit that you determine the number of attacks to be made by each weapon used by the firing unit against each target before you start rolling to hit and wound with any of those weapons and therefore before any casualties are removed.

Edited September 16, 2020 by Dr_Ruminahui

[Spinsanity]

Agreed, shooting for a unit is resolved in one go. You work out all the hits, then all the wounds, then resolve casualties.

That is definitely NOT how it is done; you resolve all the hits, wounds and then resolve casualties for one weapon, then do the same for all other identical weapons in the unit, and then continue doing this until all weapon types have been resolved...

[Morticon]

First select the target when you want to shoot.

 

"When a unit shoots, you must select the target unit(s) for all of the ranged

weapons its models are making attacks with before any attacks are resolved."

 

So, this step and rule above is enough to indicate that you will so all measuring and declaring before resolution.  Further supported here:

 

"In either case, when you select a target unit you must

declare which weapons will target that unit before any attacks are resolved."

and here:

 

"Only enemy units can be chosen as the target for an attack. In order to target

an enemy unit, at least one model in that unit must be within range (i.e. within

the distance of the Range characteristic) of the weapon being used and be

visible to the shooting model."

 

Then for more info:

 

"If your unit is shooting more than one ranged weapon at a target, and those

weapons have different characteristics profiles, then after you have resolved

attacks with one of those weapons you must, if any other weapons with the

same characteristics profile are also being shot at that unit, resolve those

attacks before resolving any attacks against the target unit with a weapon that

has a different characteristics profile."

 

 

Remember, this is for resolution- not measuring of range and choosing targets which comes before any resolution. 


So, to answer the OP - yeah, you're fine.  You declare and assign what weapons go where before resolution.