V3: Forward Observer counts as Spotter as per p. 102, regarding being “Down”?

[Fabrizio Anastasio]

Hi,

I was wondering if a Forward obeserver counts “fully” as a Spotter as described at p. 102 of the V3 rulebook. It is stated that Spotters always count as “Down” when without an order dice, as they would spend most of their time lying down.

It stands to reason that forward artillery/naval/airbone observers would do the same. Any opinion?

 

[Stuart Harrison]

They are not spotters. Their rule does not even suggest they act as spotters, it just says friendly units using indirect fire can draw line of sight from the observer.  The spotter rules mention forward observers in brackets for one spotter related rule – that doesn’t make them spotters, it just shows they act the same for that one rule.

[Donald Linn]

On Page 114, it clearly states that “friendly units using the Indirect Fire Rule can draw line of sight from your forward observers.” This is amplified in the FAQ as well

[Stuart Harrison]

@ Donald, that’s not what he’s asking.  He’s asking whether the rest of the spotter rules apply to the forward observers, such as counting as Down when they don’t have an order.  The answer is no.  Spotters and the forward observers are two distinct entities in Bolt Action, with their own rules, just in third edition they overlap in being able to provide line of sight to indirect fire units.

[Master Chief]

While on the topic of spotters, do the new 3rd Edition rules on page 147 regarding the ability of officers and other HQ units on transports mean that spotters on transports can spot? (One of the current 3rd Ed FAQs also mentioned that the spotter’s ability is a passive ability that is “always on”)

[Nat]

I’d say no, they’re not HQ units so why would they get the explict HQ allowance for seeing /working out of transports…. plus their still only 10 points each with multiple buffs from v2.

• This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by Nat.

[Master Chief]

The reason I asked is because in the 2nd Edition FAQs this is exactly the explanation given for spotters not being able to spot from transports … because officers and HQ units’ abilities do not affect units outside the transport (refer to attached section) 🤷‍♂️ I believe in the 2nd Edition there was only one German vehicular unit that can act as a mobile spotter.

 

I would have thought the team at Warlord Games would have gone through the 2nd Edition FAQs to ensure they are adequately addressed in the 3rd Edition. I guess we will have to wait for this to be addressed in the 3rd Edition FAQs. 🤷‍♂️

 

PS: And 10pts is a lot of points, we can add 1 regular man into a squad for an additional shot

• This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by Master Chief.
• This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by Master Chief.

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[Nat]

oh I fully agree that WL could and SHOULD have read through their own v2 FAQ and made sure that every point was covered in the rules…. but they didnt so the v3 FAQ is going to be longer than that of v2 🙁  – although I read that FAQ entry as extrapulating /using the HQ as precedence for not allowing it.  In v3 the rules are that the HQs are the limited exceptions (so yeah its a 180 in what HQs can do but no in spotters)

there was a couple of spotter vehicles in the later campaign books…

My point was that spotters are only 10 points each and not locked to their parent weapon anymore so if you give them more maneoverablity & surivability you are increasing what you get for that 10 points

• This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by Nat.

[Master Chief]

Haha yes, so we shall see whether in 3rd Ed will Warlord Games also “extrapolate” the rules for Officers and HQ Units in transport to that of Spotters in transports as well? Or will they say something else and disallow spotting from soft-skinned and open-topped vehicles?

Yes I had seen in some of the campaign books that US spotters were allowed in jeeps, and German ones in Kubelwagons. But I thought I specifically saw a German vehicular unit being allowed to spot 🤔 Maybe I remembered wrongly 🤷‍♂️

• This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by Master Chief.

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