Do Models provide cover?

[Karma Kollapse]

Couldn't find an answer to this so just going to ask outright: Do models provide cover, either soft or hard?

I believe the answer is no (and this seems to have been the case in 1.5) but couldn't find a statement anywhere saying that models only block LOS, and don't actually provide cover.

[Omenbringer]

Models do not provide cover. It is implied under the LOS rules and also under the terrain "traits" descriptions.

Unfortunately it isn't clearly stated that models do not provide cover but all the instances of cover do clearly mention "terrain".

Edited January 6, 2014 by Omenbringer

[Tuttleboy]

They can block LoS, but don't give cover. Some models have actions that make an area around them soft cover.

[Karma Kollapse]

Models do not provide cover. It is implied under the LOS rules and also under the terrain "traits" descriptions.

Unfortunately it isn't clearly stated that models do not provide cover but all the instances of cover do clearly mention "terrain".

Yeah, I think that's why we've got caught out, the lack of statement 'models don't provide cover'. We've had the assumption that objects that block LOS = objects that provide cover. Which clearly isn't the case.

Thanks for helping clear it up!

[Lolcanoe]

So since models are not defined as cover granting objects but only block LoS, if one line is blocked when checking LoS, then you can't target the model at all? My group has been playing intervening models as soft cover if you can still trace one line as normal, but blocked if they're actually blocked by a bigger base or something.

[Omenbringer]

No you would still have LOS. Page 40 of the big book under Line of Sight states;

A model has LoS to a target if at least one of the lines drawn between the acting model and the target does not cross intervening blocking terrain or models.

Now if all possible LoS lines were blocked to the target (by intervening "blocking" terrain and/or models) then you wouldn't have LoS to the target at all (also on page 40 but under No Line of Sight) unless "the blocking object (terrain or model) between the Attacker and target has Ht lower than the Attacker or target's Ht" (in which case it is "ignored for LoS quality (but not cover)" page 41 of the big book).

Cover is determined after LoS has already been confirmed (no LoS no need to check for Cover) and has its own set of independent "rules". One of which is the requirement for "terrain with the soft or hard cover traits". Unfortunately these "traits" are (currently) only assignable to terrain and none of the "cover rules" mention "models" as being applicable.

Also consider that even "if" models were to possess the "soft" or "hard" cover traits they would still need to be within 1" of the target model (and have at least one LoS line drawn across their base to the target) in order to provide the "cover" benefit and that circumstance is already covered by the "Shooting into Engagements" rules found on page 45 (of the big book) and results in randomization of the possible engaged targets.

Perhaps eventually a Faq entry will pop up to address this since it is "implied" but not absolutely "clear".