Can the bikeboyz gain cover from the Meka-Dragster?

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Anyone?

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my interpretation is that they can gain the cover bonus, the -1 to hit is not from terrain (vehicles don't count as terrain) so mounted troops behave as infantry in this situation and could benefit from the -1 to hit against them

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warbikes are INF and the speedsta is AV, so if they touch the AV they get the -1 when shot at. I believe the general convention is that an AV may provide cover to 2 inf units (like b2b maximum when assaulting) or 2 units per DC - couldn't find it in the FAQ but remember it from somewhere.

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But the special units "mounted" characteristic rule is pretty clear.

"Mounted units count as vehicles for terrain effects, . . . "

And the -1 to hit modifier for being beside an armoured vehicle is in the 1.8.4 Terrain Effects special rule section. So the mounted stand counts as a vehicle for this modifier under the terrain effect rule?

I'd guess that the bikes/horses/mounts are all too big to allow the vehicle to provide enough cover.
The rules don't let you take the mounted troops into a building or let them swim across a river.

The rule simply states that infantry in base contact with an armoured vehicle recieve a -1 cover bonus, rather than the vehicle counting as terrain though.....I'm quite surprised this hasn't come up before in a FAQ

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The Warbikes (and any Mounted unit for that fact) would gain a -1 to hit modifier (but no cover save) if in base contact with a vehicle (whether friendly or enemy).

It helps to quote the whole sentence from the Mounted rule:

There is no FAQ needed for this.

Mounted simply makes changes to the way a unit moves. Mounted units cannot enter buildings, jungles, rivers etc as mentioned. They also make Dangerous Terrain tests when entering certain terrain types ( ruins, woods etc). That's really all there is to it. For all other purposes they are considered infantry. Infantry gain a -1 to hit modifier for being in contact with an armoured vehicle. Mounted units gain the same bonus. Being in cover is not directly related to being in terrain.

I hope I've explained it clearly enough...

Just to help clarify my first comment a bit more:

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Well, I think it is rather less certain. The -1 to hit is a cover bonus, and hence a terrain effect.
Anyway, this question has appeared twice before and been answered equally positively in the other direction.

Earlier this year where I remember reading it and being surprised.
http://www.tacticalwargames.net/taccmd/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=22675&hilit=mounted+infantry+vehicle

And from a previous discussion in 2010.
http://www.tacticalwargames.net/taccmd/viewtopic.php?f=95&t=18723&p=361795&hilit=mounted+infantry+vehicle#p361795

Personally I'd love to be able to nestle my Shining Spears up to their companion Wave Serpents for a bit of extra protection.

But I'd say such definite, but opposite, answers to the question does deserve a FAQ;
Under "Mounted" in the specialist units special ability section.

I agree with Onyx, as written, the -1 bonus for cover, while in the terrain section, is not from terrain, it's a re-use of an existing rule for convenience sake

But if Nealhunt has spoken, as rules dude for the ERC he tends to carry the most clout......

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Well seeing as I'm a member of the FAQ rules subcommittee, I'll make sure we have this discussion when Neal gets some free time from real life issues so we can clear it up.
It seems as though it's being played in different ways around the world (as are quite a few important rules).

It's amazing how we can read the same rules and come to different conclusions

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I've had my shining spears hug my wave serpents before. Makes sense to me.

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- - - and AFAIK since at least 2009, E-UK have played that "mounted" troops count as vehicles for these purposes and hence do not get the 'Infantry' cover bonus, as per Neal's earlier pronouncements.
(But I agree that WS mounted Guardians flanked by 2x jetbike formations are really cool, even without the additional 'cover').

An FAQ is definitely needed.
I couldn't agree more.

I don't understand the argument that the Infantry-AV effect is not a terrain effect. It's listed in the section titled "Terrain Effects."

It's listed in the same place and fashion as the OW cover save. Even though I don't understand it, surely, the same argument would apply. Would anyone claim mounted troops were eligible for the OW cover save?

Thanks for clarifying the situation Neal.


Seems I'm never too old to learn new things!

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Thanks Neal. However does this need an FAQ to reinforce the position:-
Q. Do "mounted" infantry gain cover when on OW in the open or when touching Armoured Vehicles?
A. No, "mounted" means they count as vehicles for these 'terrain' effects, not infantry.