Musket and Tomahawk shoot questions

[gorillacrab]

I'm preparing for some M-T games and have 2 questions.

1. The to-hit shooting stat for Riflemen is 4+ plus the weapons chart lists that Rifle shots add +1 on to-hit rolls; does the 4+ stat ALREADY factor in this bonus or is it actually 3+ to hit (which seems very generous)?
2. if firing at light infantry, do they get a light-cover or any other trait making them harder to hit (as is the case in many other rules)?
Thanks in advance.

[SteveBurt]

Not sure about question 1 (riflemen are very few and far between in the FIW)
For the second one, though, most troops in the game are 'light troops'.
Formed troops are easier to hit (look at the stats for 'firing line').

[gorillacrab]

Not sure about question 1 (riflemen are very few and far between in the FIW)

In response, clarifying my question. In the stats for American riflemen, they hit on a roll of 4+ when shooting. Then, in the to-hit modifiers for shooting in the rules, a rifle gets a "+1 to hit" bonus.

My question, does the 4+ stat for riflemen already factor in the +1 to hit bonus given for a rifle, or is a rifleman's default 3+ to hit (before modifiers for range and cover, of course.

Also, thanks for clarifying the Firing Line rule.

[Gazjones]

4+ is their normal stat. +1 for firing a rifle. So yes they are hitting on 3+. Of course, that would be if the target was at short range and stationary in the open. The added +1 is due to the better accuracy of the long rifle. Once you start including the cover modifiers you'll soon see it's not quite so easy to hit your targets.

I can't see in the book where light troops get a harder to hit bonus. Being irregulars they do gain a -1 harder to spot bonus like the Indians.

[SteveBurt]

Light troops are not harder to hit - formed troops (in firing line) are easier to hit