Measurement, Line of Sight and Hunker Token & Cover

[Darron]

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):

Quote

"When measuring distance between objects, players should only take the horizontal distance between two objects into account and discount the vertical distance between objects. Vertical distance is only measured to determine the Elevation of terrain."

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):

Quote

"A character has Line of Sight (LOS) to an object if a straight, unobstructed line can be drawn from any part of that character’s base to the object. The line can pass unobstructed through characters […] The line cannot pass through Blocked terrain features […] If the object is on top of a terrain part, the line can pass unobstructed through all terrain parts with the same or lower Elevation as the object."

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):

Quote

"A straight line can be drawn from any portion of the attacking character’s base to any portion of the defending character’s base through any number of those terrain parts."

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: 

Quote

"The line for cover should also be a horizontal check with no vertical component, the same as performing a measurement.

This means the line is effectively viewed from a top down perspective and from that view, “Through” can be considered to mean it touches or crosses or overlaps the terrain."

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

 

[AMG_Plummer]

On 7/13/2023 at 5:53 AM, Darron said:

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 are correct.

On 7/13/2023 at 5:53 AM, Darron said:

The rules for Measurement on page 16 of the rulebook states (emphasis mine):

Quote

 

"When measuring distance between objects, players should only take the horizontal distance between two objects into account and discount the vertical distance between objects. Vertical distance is only measured to determine the Elevation of terrain."

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):

Quote

 

"A character has Line of Sight (LOS) to an object if a straight, unobstructed line can be drawn from any part of that character’s base to the object. The line can pass unobstructed through characters […] The line cannot pass through Blocked terrain features […] If the object is on top of a terrain part, the line can pass unobstructed through all terrain parts with the same or lower Elevation as the object."

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):

Quote

 

"A straight line can be drawn from any portion of the attacking character’s base to any portion of the defending character’s base through any number of those terrain parts."

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 wording is correct, yes.

On 7/13/2023 at 5:53 AM, Darron said:

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: 

Quote

 

"The line for cover should also be a horizontal check with no vertical component, the same as performing a measurement.

This means the line is effectively viewed from a top down perspective and from that view, “Through” can be considered to mean it touches or crosses or overlaps the terrain."

Is this ruling correct?

This ruling is correct.

On 7/13/2023 at 5:53 AM, Darron said:

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?

Provided that the Unit has a Hunker token and meets all other requirements, yes, it would gain Cover [1].

On 7/13/2023 at 5:53 AM, Darron said:

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?

Yes, provided they meet all of the requirements to gain cover from the terrain.