Elevated Firing Positions?

[Vegabond]

Besides making it harder for an enemy to get to you, what good is an Elevated Firing Position? I see no benefit unless the enemy is Lumbering.

From the SRD:
Elevated Firing Positions
If a unit is more than 6” above an enemy it makes a shooting attack against, and is within 15” on a horizontal level, it is said to be in an Elevated Firing Position.

If the enemy unit has the Lumbering trait, then it will suffer an additional –1 penalty to its Armour rolls against shooting attacks made by units in the Elevated Firing Position.

 

[Hiromoon]

you get stuff for shooting down on targets...

 

[Vegabond]

such as? The SRD doesn't elaborate.

 

[Hiromoon]

*checks the book and huhs*

I could have sworn it did more than that...

 

[Paladin]

I believe it's supposed to let you use the stats from the Rear Fire Arc of the target.

Even if it doesn't the Lumbering element makes more sense for the MC/W@W flavors of the game than SST as they have stats that fit better.

 

[shotgun-toting chipmunk]

Nope, just the armor penalty. And actually, it's quite nice if you've got enough terrain. Stick a Chinese squad up on a buildings, and those PF-89s combine their Piercing and Elevated Firing Position for a -4 penalty to armour rolls. That means even the Challenger needs to roll a six to avoid taking damage.

Also, don't forget that Air units are considered to be 12" above the table... :twisted:

 

[Vegabond]

Chipmunk, it still only sounds effective against lumbering units. Can you think of any other benefits it grants?

 

[Paladin]

Nothing official. House rule of interest - reduce cover by 1 level. i.e. if you are in heavy cover reduce it to medium.

 

[Wishbone]

Beyond the fact you already hold an important piece of terrain? Chances are it's some sort of building so it's going to be a nightmare to dig you out!

 

[Iain McGhee]

Also, don't forget that Air units are considered to be 12" above the table... :twisted:

Flying units don't get the Elevated bonus, that's on the WAW playsheet.

 

[shotgun-toting chipmunk]

No such limit in MC, though, that I can find.

And Vegabond, it's only against lumbering units. Basically an extra bonus against big targets. Helps even the playing field, especially in urban terrain. (In MC pretty much all the tanks, APCs, and IFVs have the Lumbering trait.)

As wishbone said, if you're in an elevated firing position, more often than not you're in some kind of cover, which will give you a bonus that helps against most non-lumbering (ie Infantry) units.