Why would it be useless?  Most people don't find skimmers useless... and, with "always popped up" you could actually protect your Support Craft from Shadowswords and the like.

Remember that the LOS for popped-up is always measured in relation to the skimmer's position.

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Another Moray discussion?
Have mercy!

Support Craft and the Moray especially were discussed in depth right here:

http://www.tacticalwargames.net/forums/ ... 23;t=13548

I´d suggest commenting there, if you have anything new to add to the discussion.

Ceterum censeo... well, All-seeing must not be allowed on any unit and the Moray is overgunned!

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Any idea when a new list will be published? I've got a game on Saturday and fancied a proxy game using eldar as Tau.

Remember that the LOS for popped-up is always measured in relation to the skimmer's position.

But essentially it remains in the open to all fire, correct? It doesn't gain the benefit of any cover vs incoming fire....? As I see it the only difference between Support Craft and Always Popped Up is that the enemy gets the benefit of cover. Is this a correct analysis?

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Yup...

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Nope.

It means that both sides will have to maneuver to gain LoS.
Moving into a position so that intervening terrain is closer to the APU-skimmer will usually mean going forward, hardly a risk-free endeavour facing Tau firepower.

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I have used them, and did at least two BatReps ~September.

Esssentially, moving to shoot at an APU skimmer means leaving LoS cover vs other skimmers - Hammerheads in this case. Moving forward leaves you wide open to retaliation.

Again, I fail to grasp why Support Craft should need to ignore any LoS restrictions. The old skimmer rule was one of the most annoying bits of the original rules and was duly amended. Reintroducing it for high-firepower Tau WE is just begging for trouble IMO.

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And you consider that *worse* than always being able to be seen and shot at?  *laugh*

With APU, the enemy has to expose themselves (Hey now!) to fire, which is a good thing, as it forces choices.

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Of course, with the original Support Craft, NO-ONE could hide (just like Manticore, Basilisk, Deathstrike etc) - level playing field.

Been there, not doing that argument again.

I'll trial APU (only right and proper to give it a go) but when silly little terrain features (things like pipes, single story buildings, low hills, small walls etc) start bloking LOS when a slow moving aircraft would obviously be able to see the target, I'm gonna get miffed.

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Do you let such things block LOS to towering Titans and such?  Generally "low terrain" should only partially obscure the target and give the -1 to hit... it's specifically mentioned in the rulebook!

DESIGN CONCEPT
Terrain Conventions

It is possible to have all kinds of arguments
about whether terrain partially or fully
blocks the line of fire to a target. Because of
this, you should discuss the terrain on your
gaming table with your opponent before a
game starts and make sure you both agree
on how it will work with regard to this and
any of the other terrain rules. However, the
-1 to hit modifier should be generously
applied, and if in any doubt it should be
counted rather than ignored.

Discuss such things with your opponent and you avoid such "miffed"ness...

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So is there a complete APU definition somewhere? I understand the principle that the target can hide and the support craft cannot, but how is it worded and what else is covered?

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It's just the "popped-up" rule from the skimmer special ability, just that it's always "on".

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