Hello everyone I had a question about a monofilament mine activating against a nanoscreen. Does monofilament deny effectively nanoscreen? Reading the rules, nanoscreen applies a +3 MOD on Saving rolls. Reading the rule as written, this is not an ARM bonus, so it would seem the monofilament doesn't pass the nanoscreen. Still, monofilament template denies partial cover which is a +3 MOD on Saves, but it is because of template. Monofilament imposes ARM=0. The other similar weapon doesn't apply in this case (Mono CCW) because CC denies nanoscreen. Also nanoscreen applies to the target of a BS attack and a mine template is not a BS attack. I tried to find the question in the forum and I didn't find it, I looked in the rules and there seems to be no specification
Is that just mines or all Direct Template Weapons? I don't see it saying anything about bing a BS Attack.
I honestly don't know, the reason why we came up with the initial question is because Monofilament imposes ARM=0 and I was wondering if a nanoscreen still gets a MOD
What do you mean? Troopers declare skills. Mines do not. To use a template weapon a Trooper declares a skill mostly commonly BS Attack. BS Attack is what triggers Nanoscreen
I understand with the mines. But when you look up direct template weapon, it doesn't say it's a BS Attack and it doesn't have the tag of BS Attack in the rule (example: Forward Observer says BS Attack, Optional). In fact it even says it doesn't require a BS roll to hit. Nanoscreen only works against BS attacks.
Forward Observer is a skill that you declare. Direct Template Weapon isn't a skill, you don't declare it, so of course it doesn't say it's a BS Attack. Direct/Impact Template are traits on Weapons that tell you to use those rules when you declare a skill with the weapon.
It's worth mentioning that cybermines are comms attacks that trigger all the relevant rules for attacks. Personally I think that nanoscreens work against mines and CB just forgot to write that in the rules. Like everyone is just RAW until you point out that troopers can't RAW do f2f rolls against armed turrets. Then suddenly it's not RAW but RAI.
You cannot use a Direct Template Weapon without declaring a skill. The skill you usually declare is BS Attack which triggers nanoscreen
I tend to agree with Iskander, especially if you consider the effect of mines: mines have a trigger area, if we were to consider mines as with mines today, then everything in the area of effect should be affected (a mine blast is 360deg, not just a limited zone of that are of explosion); in Infinity a mine projects a small segment and that is the actual area affected by the blast. This to me sounds more like magnetic mines where the mine actually moves attracted by the metal in the hull of a vehicle and then it blows in a limited, yet powerful, blast. In this case mines are automatic equipment: once met conditions for activation, the mine cannot choose to activate... it just does. Turrets instead have BS stat and effectively declare ARO when you move through its LoF. Chain rifles for example require short skill declaration to fire and that short skill is clearly defined as BS attack. So much so that if you have on your stat card the BS Attack = +1B, then a chain rifle applies 2 templates, not just one. In that regard nanoscreen specifically say: To which BS Attack says: In the Mines description it doesn't say that Mines are pieces of Equipment capable of making a BS Attack. There's another case that is sort of similar: Guard. Guard allows you to do a CC Attack while not in BtB contact. Guard does not trigger Nanoscreen because it's a CC attack... maybe mines do the same? We need somebody from CB to clarify this considering that nanoscreens are becoming more frequent. Before the introduction of JSA there was only one model (Gwailo) that I remember, having nanoscreen, so nobody ever thought of raising the issue. Consider also that in N3 it was not specified that it triggered if the user is a target of BS attack. Now the specification has been made.
Direct Template weapon does not have the Label BS Attack nor does it say it anywhere else in the description. All of these do: Intuitive Attack, Discover, Speculative, Marksmanship. ETC. Direct Templates has no label and says it's just an Attack. I double checked the new rules too. DIRECT TEMPLATE WEAPONS EFFECTS They do not require a BS Roll to hit. When declaring the Attack, the Template must be placed on the table to check that the Main Target is within the Area of Effect, and to determine which Troopers or game elements (Markers, Deployable weapons or Equipment...) are affected by the Attack. The placement of the Direct Template depends on their type: MARKSMANSHIP AUTOMATIC SKILL Obligatory REQUIREMENTS The user may only benefit from this Special Skill when he declares a BS Attack. EFFECTS The user may ignore the negative BS MODs imposed by Partial Cover, and Nanoscreen. FORWARD OBSERVER SHORT SKILL / ARO BS Attack, Optional REQUIREMENTS The user must be able to draw LoF to the target. EFFECTS The use of Forward Observer is a form of Attack with a BS Weapon with the BS Weapon (WIP) Trait, and instead of forcing the target to make a Saving Roll, causes them to enter Targeted State. Place a Targeted Token (TARGETED) beside the target of a successful Forward Observer attack.
I looked up the types of Attacks then found a link to Template:seefaqs and: Fantastic! Your point Space Ranger is actually spot on: FO skill is specifically defined as BS Attack, since it uses WIP and does not impose a Save roll, nanoscreen doesn't come into play. But FO is specifically defined as BS Attack... it begs the question whether it is or not affected by -3 MOD for partial cover given by nanoscreen (I think it does... it's a BS attack)
As I've said several times. You DO NOT DECLARE DIRECT TEMPLATE WEAPON. You declare actual skills and follow the Order Expenditure Sequence. Let's put this another way then. When your trooper wants to use a Chain Rifle what skill do you declare? Here is a link to all the skills in the game you can declare https://infinitythewiki.com/Orders_and_AROs_Reference_Chart
Thank you but I think it still needs to be in a FAQ. It does NOT have the BS Attack Label. Also, as we know. Some things even have the BS Attack still but have a "work around" with ammo (as mentioned the Forward Observer is a BS Attack but bypasses a Saving Roll and goes directly to Targeted). The current one has nothing about this. It still doesn't say it's a BS Attack. Only an Attack. If they wanted it to allow it to affect certain things like Nanoshield, they need to say it. I'm also adding these. This is in the description of Nanoshield: This is a device that generates a thick cloud of nanobots that protects its user against ranged Attacks. Also under Ballistic Skill: Common Skill employed to attack in ranged combat using a BS Weapon or another suitable weapon or piece of Equipment. Direct Templates Weapons are NOT a ranged attack or weapon. It's a Direct Template Attack/Weapon. This needs to be made more clear. Maybe even it's own skill to show that it's different from a ranged BS attack.
