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2.1.1.3 Skimmers
Some units are noted as being skimmers. These units are equipped with devices that allow them to hover a short distance above the ground, so that they can fly over terrain that would slow other units down. Note that skimmers do not follow any of the rules for aircraft in section 4.0.
Skimmers may ignore dangerous or impassable terrain as they move. They may not end a move on impassable terrain, and if they end a move in dangerous terrain they must take a dangerous terrain test. Skimmers may also move over other friendly units as they move, but may not end a move on them. Enemy units and zones of control affect skimmers normally.
Skimmers may always choose to use their firefight value in an assault, even if there are enemy units in base contact with the skimmer. If they do this then the enemy unit must use their firefight value also. This represents the skimmer lifting off the ground out of reach of enemy ground units.
A skimmer may declare that it is popping up at the start of any action it takes, including when the skimmer goes into overwatch. Popping up is movement, which means a skimmer may not pop up and take a sustained fire action or fire on a hold action or a marshall action. Popping up counts as movement for the purposes of triggering enemy on overwatch. A skimmer that has popped up, ?pops down? at the conclusion of the action. Skimmers on overwatch do not pop down until after they make their overwatch attack. Skimmers with a transport capacity may not embark or disembark units while they are popped up, and if they are destroyed while they are popped up then any units on board will be destroyed with no save.
A skimmer that has popped up is assumed to be flying high enough that nearby intervening terrain, which is closer to the skimmer than the target unit, does not block the line of fire between these units. To check if the line of fire is blocked, simply measure the distanced between the skimmer and the terrain, and then measure the distance between the target unit and the terrain. If the skimmer is nearer to the intervening terrain than the target unit, then the line of fire is not blocked. If the skimmer is further from the intervening terrain then the line of fire is blocked normally (see diagram). If the distances to the terrain is equal, then the partially obstructed view means that both the skimmer and the target unit count as being in cover if they shoot at each other, and the cover to hit modifier will apply.
Diagram
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