In other words, can I use coordinate order with one shooting rifle and another declaring forward observer? Peripherals and fireteam ARO can have similar situation. Forward Observer skill says "The use of Forward Observer is a form of Attack with a BS Weapon with the BS Weapon (WIP) Trait", so it seems not a common BS attack skill. However, the requirement of BS attack common skill says "Be using a BS Weapon, or a Skill or piece of Equipment capable of making a BS Attack." and that skill seems to include forward observer skill. I think this is not clear and need some clarification.
Rulebook pg 92: Forward observer has the tags "BS Attack, Optional". Rulebook pg 127: Coordinating Skills: Pg 183, in the weapons chart, you have the Flash Pulse stats jusst over te Forward Observer stats, the difference being Flash Puse causes Stunned state, and FO causes Targeted state. Before, it was called "technical weapon", now the term was removed and they are BS Weapon (WIP). So, Forward Observer is a BS Weapon and the "Forward Observer" Short Order/ARO is a type of BS Attack...
A follow up question is, can you coordinate intuitive attack and speculative attack? As they are all BS attack and long skills?
It's the same "special BS weapon" category, previously called "technical weapons" in N4 (because they were BS weapons that used WIP as shooting stat, and in N3 because those weapons were not valid targets for the Looting skill). Pg 126 rulebook: All participating Troopers must declare and execute the exact same sequence of Skills. Pg 127 rullebook: However, in a BS Attack part of a Coordinated Order, none of the participants could declare Speculative Attack or Intuitive Attack, since these Skills are different than a BS Attack. Pg 47 rulebook: Speculative Attack order requirements ► The user must employ a BS Weapon with the Speculative Attack Trait. Pg 48 rulebook: Intuitive attack requirements ► The user must employ a BS Weapon with the Intuitive Attack Trait. So BS attack is one type of "BS Attack category" order, Speculative attack is a different type of "BS Attack category" order, and Intuitive attack is yet another type of "BS Attack category" order. All three have the "BS Attack" Tag, but are different orders. You can also check the "Order and AROs Reference Chart" in pg 187 of the rulebook.
