Bolt Action Battle Report & Mucking about with Lines of Sight

[steharan]

Hi chaps and chapesses.

I've popped another Battle Report on the old blog thingy - http://offtclub.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/bolt-action-battle-report-home-guard-vs.html

One of the things I've tried out is using True Line of Sight as stated in the rules and also lots of high walls that completely block line of sight. Its made ambushes and manoeuvring a lot more critical in achieving the objectives.

What does everyone else think, have you played true line of sight in BA (no area terrain at all) and how did it play out.

[pixelgeek]

We have a house rule that wooded area terrain blocks LOS but we only use it for very dense woods.

I've gotten used to the LOs/terrain rules but I find them a bit simplistic. Doesn't get in e way of e game but it does mean that you have to spend a little more time with your terrain to make sure that you're providing good cover and not leaving huge firelanes across the table

[Cubs]

In a game where weapon ranges and terrain are abstracted, I don't really see why 'true' line of sight is used. What if the model is crouching? Does that mean he is physically unable to stand? Does that mean his standing mates get shot behind a low wall whilst he's safe? It doesn't seem logical to me.

Having said that, I'm sure any sort of system will have its glaring faults, so I guess if it works, then it works.

[steharan]

Its a shame common sense can't be defined in the rules as the prone models issue seems to be a hot one on other forums. I've found it quite interesting to define all terrain as WYSIWYG even though some of the trees we use could be better described as shrubs if you take into account true scale.

You're right though Cubs how can it be true line of sight if you can't see prone models? In a tournament type of environment thats where the conflict will arise, luckily I don't partake in such frivolous activities as common sense seems to get checked in at the door!

[Derek H]

True line of site is really rather strange in Bolt Action.  You can usually manage to see through woods that are longer than rifle range.   

[dijit]

True line of sight is always a rather bizarre thing, as it's a case of treating something as being dynamic that is actually static. Unless all models are in the same pose then it's never going to be fair or equal. It's probably a better idea to treat the model as filling an invisible cylinder from it's base up to 28/32mm if you'd be able to see this cylinder then it's in LoS.