As above, can I have two models hit the same target, one shooting at it and the other forward observing?
Hold up, I think you guys are pulling the wrong logical conclusions here. Forward Observer is a BS Attack, that doesn't mean it is the BS Attack skill. We have previously concluded through a withdrawn FAQ that Forward Observer can be used in place of BS Attack when using Triangulated Fire or when applying Fireteam bonuses, but this doesn't mean that Forward Observer, BS Attack, Surprise Attack and Triangulated Fire being the same skills. Triangulated Fire and Surprise Attack can be combined, currently, because those skills call on you to make a "BS Attack" on the target. Coordinated Order requires "All participating troopers must declare and execute the exact same sequence of Skills" and it is not within the game's rule set to allow you to declare "BS Attack or Forward Observer, depending on what the unit can do and what I feel it should do" as a skill declaration. When you coordinate an order, you declare the same skill with everyone and those who can't will not perform that skill. If your second Short Skill is Forward Observer, anyone without Forward Observer will be unable to declare it. Likewise, if you declare BS Attack then you can't use Forward Observer in place of an actual gun, because while Forward Observer acts like a gun, the skill itself is not a gun but a skill. TLDR : Coordinated Order has everyone declare the same Short Skills / Entire Order Skill. Forward Observer is a different Short Skill from BS Attack.
The FAQ that they're referring to has not been withdrawn. N3 Frequently Asked Question FAQ Version: 1.3, Oct 2017 Q: Are Skills with the BS Attack label considered to be BS Attacks or other Skills when declaring a Coordinated Order? For example, could a Coordinated Order be made where one of the members declares Surprise Shot, another Forward Observer and a third troop shoot with a rifle? A: They are considered to be BS Attacks, so can be combined in a Coordinated Order.
I was thinking of a different FAQ that was saying that Forward Observer and a few others were skills and not BS Weapons and as such didn't benefit from Fireteam bonuses nor could be Triangulated Fired. But that's one really weird FAQ right there. I do have to ask, what labels mean they can be combined and what labels can not be combined? Can for example, given the answer in this FAQ it gives the impression that CC Attack and BS Attack can be combined because both are considered an Attack being labelled "Attack". Does this also go second degree where a Surprise Attack and a Surprise Shot on the same target is possible by two coordinated Camouflage troops because Surprise Attack is considered CC Attack is considered Attack?
Okay, so just to make this 100% clear. Even though the FAQ is given in the format of an explanation (<example> therefore <effect>) and not an errata (<specific situation> then <effect>) we are to interpret it as an errata that only applies specifically to BS Attack and never to anything else however similar it is? Do we apply this logic to the entire rule set?
Out of rules forward observer in a coordinate order feels thematic and not broken. Some times the literal interpretation (hard reading) of the rule, s done usually in tournements or on this forum makes the game more static an less fun. Ofc this is basically due CB writing but luckly N4 is near
Obviously not. In the Infinity rule set, the same statement can mean different things depending on the unstated intentions of the writers and/or editing team. You should be able to perform a ritual to astrally communicate with them to divine this information on the night of the new moon.