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Hmmm...
It comes down to whether "inflicted a hit" is supposed to refer to "scored a hit" or "allocated a hit." I understand why you think that it has to be allocated, but I think that's not correct.
1.9.5, with relevant stuff bolded, is:
1.9.5 Roll To Hit
The player must decide at this stage whether weapons will fire with their AP or AT values if they have both. Then roll a D6 for each shot being directed at the target formation. You must roll equal to or higher than the appropriate ?to hit? value to score a hit (eg, if the weapon has an AT 4+ , you must roll a 4 or more to hit). The dice roll is modified for the following reasons. However a roll of 1 before modification is always counted as a miss.
That is the only text that deals with whether or not you generate a hit in shooting. The rule for generating a hit in assault is phrased similarly. The allocation text in 1.9.6 speaks only of hits as already existing, never as if the allocation as inflicting or creating hits. There is no text in either 1.9 or 1.12 (assaults) that refers to allocation of a hit as inflicting, creating, scoring, or generating the hit. Nor do the WE or aircraft sections use such a convention. In all cases, the "hit" is scored if the die roll is successful.
I think it's a pretty hard sell to try to claim that "inflicting a hit" means allocation when nothing approaches that in the text. You made a valid grammatical point with the "it says save, not allocate" part, but every rule that deals directly with hits or allocation says differently. I think this can safely be chalked up to a simple writing/editorial mistake, much like the WE critical hit language refers to rolling for possible critical for each "hit" rather than each point of damage.
Perhaps just as importantly, the parallel mechanics are all quite clear that causing damage or "kills" to the unit is not a prerequisite for inflicting BMs. The BM for coming under fire does not require inflicting damage. Disrupt does not require inflicting damage. Barrage bonus BMs do not require inflicting damage. The only bonus-BM rule that requires the ability to inflict damage is Crossfire, and in that case it is stated explicitly that damage is required.
It would seem that in addition to the preponderance of the text supporting die roll = hit, the spirit of the rule is that it would inflict a BM regardless of ability to damage.
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And yes, I agree this can make a major difference in the effective AT ability of the Tau.
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Neal
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). So 9BM