Firing at Assaulting Cavalry Unit

[Mark Prichard]

When a unit is the target of a successful assault, the controlling player may pull a dice and fire at the assaulting unit before they move, with any out of range weapons firing at a -1 to hit. In the case of cavalry they can run at 18 inches and therefore can assault from that extended range or if they encounter rough terrain, from 9 inches. So it is conceivable that when the cavalry initiates its assault it could either be at long range for all weapons except LMGs or be in cover (either soft or hard) or long range for some weapons.

Does the firing unit take in account all the cover and range modifiers just as normal with all out of range weapons suffering an additional -1?

[Stuart Harrison]

The -1 you mention is just the long range modifier, not an additional modifier applied on top of it if out of range (they’re assumed to wait until the enemy reach long range before opening fire).

Other than that, you are correct – firing is worked out before the assaulting models are moved, so cover is as per their starting position. Alternative treatment for models out of range was not getting to fire at all (as in first edition), so don’t feel hard done by having to take into account cover – at least everyone gets to shoot. Cavalry could charge with impunity against a squad of SMGs in first edition…

[Mark Prichard]

Thank you Stuart.

So lets see if I understand this right. Any out of distance weapons fire at -1 for long range and a -1 or -2 if the assault is initiated behind for cover. Any “in distance” weapons that are at long range when the assault is initiated are at a -1 for long range and a -1 or -2 for cover it if it applies. So basically it is the same for “long range” shots as those that are “out of range” shots and you take in consideration any cover that would apply when the assault begins.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by Mark Prichard.

[Stuart Harrison]

Correct. The out of range shots aren’t penalised any more than the long range shots.

If you know you’re going to be charged it’s better to be on ambush rather than rely on reaction fire – You can wait until the enemy are in the open so no cover, you can also wait until the enemy are within point blank and not at long range, that’s up to a four point shift in your ‘to hit’ rolls.

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