N18 Ash Waste Nomads and Long Rifles

[Deathwing1983]

I recall reading in the Ash Waste Nomads book that maximum range when they are on the table is 24", something to do with dust storms etc I believe?

If that's the case then what is the point of a Long Rifle with 48" range?

 

[mateyboy3000]

You're thinking of one of their champions abilities to manipulate the Visibility (X") rule.

This rule is not always in play so 48" still has uses but the main thing is that one part of Visibility is always using the long range accuracy modifier regardless of the actual range.

Usually this means not having a modifier (and in some cases having a negative one) but for a select few weapons, including the long rifle, they have a positive long range modifier which is then always active

 

[Deathwing1983]

Oh, I see. Related question then!

If the visibility is reduced to 24" by a Stormcaller and all weapons are using their long range accuracy modifier, does equipping the model with Infrasights restore the modifier to short range accuracy within the 12" covered by the Infrasight (as the rulebook says wargear etc which modify the Pitch Black rules also modifies the Visibility rules)?

 

[mateyboy3000]

No. It modifies the distance at which you can target enemies, it doesn't change anything else about pitch black so it doesn't change anything else about visibility.

Now if we were to negate pitch black entirely, say by the use of the escher Chem night eye. That would be a different story and would completely negate the visibility rule as if it wasn't in play, the same as it does with pitch black

 

[Deathwing1983]

Thanks!

 

[Amarok]

No. It modifies the distance at which you can target enemies, it doesn't change anything else about pitch black so it doesn't change anything else about visibility.

Now if we were to negate pitch black entirely, say by the use of the escher Chem night eye. That would be a different story and would completely negate the visibility rule as if it wasn't in play, the same as it does with pitch black

I agree with your take on the infrasight and/or photo goggles not changing the use of long range modifiers when Visibility (x) is in play. But rules are not 100% clear and an FAQ would be more than welcome. On some battlereports are used the other way around (the excellent double skull wargaming, for example)

Being part (and arbitrator) of an Ash Wastes campaign at the moment, this issue has become essential. It's clear developers' intention is the use of some kind of googles, even the FW head sets for Ash Wastes have them, and they become essential in such campaigns (smoke plays a big role in some vehicle fights).

But if you can also use the short range modifiers, it would really become a must. Some gangs rely on those weapons modifiers, and would change drastically how they are geared up. This is also true for some common vehicle weapons with negative modifiers at long range (mining lasers and heavy stubbers come to my mind at the moment).

Anybody has played extensive Ash Wastes campaigns? Any thoughts on how they should be used?