Overwatch and line of sight

[TheBatman]

On a previous ruling given on this forum it was clarified that scorpions can draw line of sight from any part of their tray for purposes of triggering the overwatch order.

Why is this the case? The ignoring line of sight is specifically an ability tied to the attack, I assumed that abilities marked by the ranged or melee attack icon could only be applied to those attacks. If this is not the case, is there a general way to tell when an ability applies to that attack only or whether it can be applied for purposes other than the attack.

For example nothing in the text of the bolt thrower ability says that the 2 wounds for each unlocked hit apply exclusively to the ranged attack but the icon, so I would assume it can't be used in melee, but the rule that lets it trace line of sight isn't exclusive to the ranged attack but can apply for other purposes?

 

[Alliser Thorne]

First, this isn't actually a rules question. This is questioning the answer given to a rule, which I don't actually see as being fully benfifical here.

Second, to your comment about "ignoring melee". No, this is pure extrapolation trying to take one comment and forcing it into another answer (which doesn't work). You cannot perform Ranged Attacks while engaged. The rules state this very plainly. Line of Sight plays zero part in that, which is what you're trying to apply here.

 

[TheBatman]

Sorry if I worded that poorly and I admit it's more of a why it works like this question than a real rules question. I'm not asking whether you can make a ranged attack in melee more making the point that the only thing that ties viscous and it's other abilities to ranged attacks and not melee ones is the ranged icon, so clearly the ranged icon is meant to limit where you can use the abilities in some way(like using them only in a ranged attack and not for anything else) but the drawing line of sight from any part of the tray ability even though it's it's in the ranged icon ability can apply to situations outside of the ranged attack (like triggering overwatch).

So my question put quite plainly is, "why can scorpions trace line of sight from anywhere on their tray outside of ranged attacks"

 

[Winter is coming]

I think it’s a reasonable question given the wording in the rulebook and that he didn’t reference this part in his ruling. I’d also like to understand more about his rationale in case it has wider implications rather than just being case specific.

 

[JahSper]

I agree this issue is not fully answered.
Just trying to get some attention to it.

 

[Hecaton]

First, this isn't actually a rules question. This is questioning the answer given to a rule, which I don't actually see as being fully benfifical here.

When the ruling is in contravention to the text of the card it's worth asking. Is the text in error?

 

[Valenae]

Can you please give link on first question

It is strange that Overwatch uses differen ruling...

 

[TheBatman]

http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums/showthread.php?69575-Nights-Watch-s

 

[MikeTee]

I believe the answer you're looking is that the Bolt Thrower part of the card has the innate ability symbol, and so is always active, not just during ranged attacks. In this case then, measuring range and LoS from any part of the base would always be in effect.

 

[JahSper]

I believe the answer you're looking is that the Bolt Thrower part of the card has the innate ability symbol, and so is always active, not just during ranged attacks. In this case then, measuring range and LoS from any part of the base would always be in effect.

This is not correct. The "innate ability symbol" per se does not apply to everything concerning the unit.

"INNATE ABILITIES: Innate Abilities cannot be
canceled or removed by Abilities or effects."

If this was the case, the Bolt Thrower has Vicious also on its melee attack.

 

[Morticanis]

This is not correct. The "innate ability symbol" per se does not apply to everything concerning the unit.

"INNATE ABILITIES: Innate Abilities cannot be
canceled or removed by Abilities or effects."

If this was the case, the Bolt Thrower has Vicious also on its melee attack.

I believe that MikeTee is correct. The Bolt Thrower ALWAYS has the ability to determine range and LOS from any point on its base due to that being an innate ability.

The Innate abilities are specifically tied to the Bolt Thrower, not "everything concerning the unit".

The Bolt Thrower does NOT get "Vicious" on a melee attack because the Bolt Thrower does not have a melee attack - it is ranged only. The Melee portion of the unit is the Crew, and they do NOT have the Vicious innate ability.

M.

 

[Hecaton]

I believe that MikeTee is correct. The Bolt Thrower ALWAYS has the ability to determine range and LOS from any point on its base due to that being an innate ability.

The Innate abilities are specifically tied to the Bolt Thrower, not "everything concerning the unit".

These two statements are in contradiction to each other.