I am including these in the 2012 FAQ thread, but we never had a breakout talk on them specifically, so I'm pulling them out in case we need one.

Also, any other suggestions for Fortification-related FAQs are welcome.

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Fortifications

Q: If infantry can gain cover from touching a terrain piece (see previous FAQ), just how many units can gain cover from fortifications?
A: Most of the fortification rules specify a number of units that can fit in a particular fortification. That should be considered the maximum number of units that can gain cover from the fortification. If the unit is claiming cover it is considered “in” the terrain for the purposes of the specified limits, regardless of whether it is claiming it by being fully inside or partially inside.

Note that some fortifications might still allow the -1 to hit penalty for intervening terrain even though the unit is not claiming a cover save from being in the terrain, e.g. an AV in a “hull down” position behind a bunker.

Q: Bunkers are fortifications with a maximum capacity of 3 infantry stands. Do units in bunkers get to use Fire Fight when opponents charge the edge of the bunker but can't enter it to contact the stands inside? This seems implied by the rules but not explicitly stated.
A: If the charging unit is allowed to enter the bunker or other terrain, it can engage the formations in CC by contacting them and the target infantry must use their CC value. Any difficult terrain checks would apply to the attacking unit as normal. If the bunker is impassable to the attacking unit, it would not be able to enter the terrain and both the attacker and defender would use FF value.

That said, be aware that fortifications often have scenario-specific stats. Some bunkers may be considered difficult terrain while others are impassable. Always check the rules for the fortifications in question.

Q: As above, for trenches (which unlike normal terrain have a maximum capacity of 1 infantry stand per 4cm, so opponents may not be able to enter for close combat).
A; The attackers can initiate CC as normal. The maximum capacity of a trenchline is not supposed to force FF. It's based on the room the units need to function in the fortification alongside allied units. It doesn't mean there's literally no room for a crazed nutter to jump in and start a cage match.

Do Bunkers block line of sight?

If an AV can claim hull down on a bunker then can infantry and other units lurk behind it?

This question relates to the 'standard' bunkers presented in lists such as Baran Seige Masters.

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I would think that a bunker which is treated as terrain, like in Baran, would block LoS in the same fashion as any other terrain. Obviously, some numbnut could try to use that to get some sort of funky advantage but I think most players reasoanbly conclude that a "3-unit" bunker should be about the size of 3 infantry units, or roughly 40x40mm, and about the height of a 1-story building, or no more than about 20mm at most.

A WE bunker (one with DC assigned to its stats) would block LoS as a war engine and I would expect the size to be commensurate with a similarly sized WE transport.

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Add to the FAQ?

One other thought; should bunkers or other fortifications have a designated side that is open and so not impassable to units that want to use them or attack at that point? The thing is that unlike trenches which can be entered from any direction, Bunkers etc can only be entered through limited and designated points; all other attacks would be FF.

unless you go through the wall via breaching drill, demolisher cannon, melta bombs, bulkhead saw, wraith mode, warp spider flicker, ventilation ducts ect.

KISS i think.

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Agreed that KISS is definitely the way to go. Obviously there are all kinds of bunkers, emplacements and trenches etc that range from scrape holes all the way up to Vauban style elaborate fortifications, and which afford varying degrees of protection and access. I was referring more to the 'natural' bunkers of the Japanese in WWII or US firebases in Vietnam than the German 'concrete' fortifications on the Normandy beaches.

While this topic would reasonably form part of the 5 min warm-up, it was just a thought that people might consider in passing.

As an aside, the story of fort Douaumont from WWI is very interesting in this context; there are a significant number of cases where otherwise impregnable fortifications were captured virtualy unopposed by enemy who just walked in through an unguarded and unlocked door. For those who want to use an optional rule, throw 2D6 when the first enemy unit touches the relevant fortification; on a 12 the door was left open . . . .
(I will leave the rest to your imagination)

Just a thought Neal, but it is already covered in the FAQ:-

One other thought, triggered by re-reading the Fortifications rule in Sworwind; what is meant by being able to set up Fortifications "anywhere a vehicle may deploy" in the Siegemasters half of the table? Do we actually mean that Fortifications may be set up anywhere a vehicle may move; ie not in terrain that is impassable to vehicles?