My question is: Are the rules in the rulebook for Measurement, Line of Sight and Hunker Tokens & Cover worded correctly, or are they wrong and need changing?
The rules for Measurement on page 16 of the rulebook states (emphasis mine):
This seems quite clear and unambiguous. It specifically states that only 'when measuring distance' is the 'vertical distance' discounted. It goes on further to clarify that players may only use a measurement or range tool to measure distances and "may not use any other device to measure distances". Is the wording and language used here correct?
The Line of Sight rules on page 37 of the rulebook states (emphasis mine):
Again, clear and unambiguous. But take note of the language used, it is specifically talking about 'drawing a line', not 'measuring a distance'. Is the wording and language used here correct?
The fourth bullet point of the Hunker Tokens & Cover rules on page 37 of the rulebook states (emphasis mine):
Note the language used: "a straight line can be drawn". Again, this is 'drawing a line', not 'measuring a distance'. There is nothing here to indicate, or even suggest, that 'vertical distance is discounted' when drawing a line. Additionally, it uses the language 'through' and not 'overlapping', further distancing itself from the Measurement rules. Is the wording and language used here correct?
The rules as written in the rulebook seem clear, unambiguous and intuitive. However, the moderator Thoras, in a forum post dated 15 June, titled 'Cover' stated:
Is this ruling correct? If so, I would suggest the wording and language used in the current rulebook does not in any way reflect that intent.
As an aside, if this ruling is correct, it opens the game up to some truly weird, very unintuitive, and not uncommon circumstances where, say, two characters face each other on a gantry, for example, with literally nothing between them but the floor, and still they get cover? Or, a character could be stood under a gantry that towers many elevations above their head (such as on a very nice Ewok village board I saw)... and still they get cover from it? Whereas in the rules as they are currently written, it is clear they would not.
Thank you for your time and consideration
