Shooting arcs

[Valentinian Victor]

Ok, am I reading the shooting rules right? Bw measure from the closest part of their front edge to the enemy element they are shooting at. This implies that Bw elements have a shooting arc in a hemisphere of a maximum of 179 degrees to their front? Or can Bw only shoot directly ahead in a direct line, and cannot fire outside of their 80p zone frontage?

[landmeister]

It is a combination of both. Shooting range is measured from the closest point of the front edge (including corners) BUT limited to the shooting arc. This arc is defined by your front (4 cm) + 2 cm leftwards + 2 cm rightwards = totalling 8 cm. You can shoot any enemy enemy within this "corridor" and within shooting range.

[Valentinian Victor]

Ah, I see.
Another point, the enemy gets a -1 if you have a shooting element to the side of the primary shooter, if this element cannot itself shoot. What if this aiding element cannot shoot because of friendly blocking elements say a base depth in front of it, can it still provide the overlapping shooting support?

[landmeister]

No. Any aiding element must met all conditions applicable to a primary shooter. The target must be within range and withing arc of fire, with no obstruction between them.

[Valentinian Victor]

I thought that might be the case, mind you, if you leave a half base width gap in front of the aiding element for it to shoot through...

[LawrenceG]

Note that:

The part of the target that is within range does not need to be within arc and vice versa.

Aiding shooters need to be able to shoot at the same target (as laid down in the "target choice" section), not "cannot itself shoot" as Valentinian Victor put it (i.e. they ARE shooting and at the same target as the primary shooter).

The gap in front of the aiding element is not the critical thing. You must be able to trace lines from both corners of the aiding (shooting) element to a 40p section of the target element. The gap will normally need to be wider than 40p and the exact width depends on how far it is from target and shooter.

You should find page 34 pretty clear if you re-read it.