Shooting on back ranks

[Princeps]

Hello,

I have an expanded question following discussions in other media.

On the following schematic, UGs B and X are fighting, but base X2 does not contribute to fighting. UG A has missile weapons, and file A2 is in range of bases X1, X2 and X3.

Point 7.D.3 in PDF (p. 97) states Shooting files must target the nearest base in the target file. As a result, they will generally shoot at the front file unless they are shooting at them from behind their flank or rear. If nearest base is not a valid target, for instance if it is engaged in combat, then the file may not be targeted.

Base X1 is not within 1 MU laterally of file A2 - and thus never could be targeted even if UG B was not present - but it is the closest base of its file to A2.

Is file A2 allowed to shoot at X2 or X3 ?

Best,
Antoine

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[lionheartrjc]

No.  The target file consists of X1, X2 and X3 even though X1 is out of arc.  X1 is the nearest base.   The rule is intentionally written to prevent shooting at the flanks of a combat unless you are shooting from behind.

Richard

[Princeps]

Very clear, thank you Richard.

Antoine

[Jilu]

so the rule means that a file cannot be shot at if the nearest target base is out of range or the shooting is ivalidated by the situation?

[lionheartrjc]

so the rule means that a file cannot be shot at if the nearest target base is out of range or the shooting is ivalidated by the situation?

If the nearest target base is out of range, I am unclear why you would be able to shoot at any other base in the file!
If the nearest base is out of arc, then you cannot shoot at the file, even if the bases behind are within arc.  This is rare but does occasionally happen.  If you have an issue with this, remember that base depths are disproportionate and far deeper than they would be in real life.

Richard