Question came up about the placement of the first direct barrage template.

As it relates to placement, my understanding is that you need to have LOS and be in range (the entire first barrage template must be in range) of at least 1 unit in the target formations. As far as I can tell you must place the template so that it covers as many units as possible in the target formation (in LOS or not in LOS) as long as a portion of that first direct barrage template is within LOS and touches at least 1 unit in LOS (as well as the entire first direct barrage template must be in range).

Please correct me if I am wrong on any of these points. Thank you.

Only the unit needs to be in.range, the barrage template must be placed to hit as many units as possible, with at least 1 target unit in the hostile formation within LOF and range being under the template, even if that leads to the template itself "stretching" LOF around the corner of a building/hill that would block LOF, or being placed so that part of the template is further away than the maximum range of the weapon.

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As E&C says, all the firing units must have range to the same unit, which must be covered by the template (LoS is also required if using direct fire). The Template must be placed to cover the most units including the that unit being targeted. Then roll separately to hit each enemy unit under the template, making armour saves as appropriate.

Thank you.
That clears up the question of the first direct barrage template being place so that a potion (even if it is a small portion) is in LOS and range of a unit in the target formation. The rest of the barrage template can be placed out of LOS and out of range so long as it covers the most units in the target formation.

Note that the entirety of the first template can be out of LoF and beyond the maximum range of the weapon, as long as part of the 'target unit' it's affecting is in range and LoF. However it's pretty rare as it needs some very specific positioning of units within the formation.

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