I guess I will just quickly add the reason they are not 'missile weapons'. The second BRB FAQ states that missiles are anything used in the shooting phase, while drop rocks are used in the movement phase. It seems like a rather complicated situation. I personally think GW will decide to call it a shooting attack, but that is just my opinion. It would definitely be cool if you didn't have to randomize attacks from the rocks since they aren't shooting.
Its not close combat either thus you cannot allocate it.... It will be randomised as shooting (Does not mean it is shooting look at magic missles or more importantly damaging spells such as EOTG etc) Ie hits rank and file unless less then 5 then hits characters Keep in mind shitty White lions and Dark elves will not get their stupid bonus armour vs the rocks as you guessed it it isnt shooting Remember that silver lining I mentioned LOL
Just because the attack isn't done in the shooitng phase doesn't mean it's NOT a missile attack. It might not be, but we can't be sure with GW at the helm. Even if it's not a shooting attack, I think you would have to be daft to try to allocate hits. LOL. I believe the only fair way to do it is to distribute hits like a shooting attack. Spells are the same way. Tzeentch Screamers make a special melee attack during the movement phase, and the hits are distributed like shooting, also, for example.
Yeah but their book says hits are distributed like shooting. These are not missile weapons by GW's own definition, missiles are attacks used in the shooting phase and magic missiles. I agree that it would make sense to distribute them like shooting and will play it like that until I hear otherwise, but the rules don't strictly say that. Although there isn't really a rule saying you get to allocate your own hits if the attacks aren't missile. Sart is right though that sea dragon cloaks and lion cloaks and things like that wouldn't work until it is defined though, good point.
it wouldn't work with the sea dragon cloaks anyway... tell me when you can hold a cloak over you when a huge boulder is falling on top of you.
I'll do that when you can tell me when you can hold a cloak over you and stop a bolt of pure energy or a bullet.
i think the point being made is that the DONT state anywhere that they are distributed like shooting attacks, were all other thing with special attacks state they are distributed like shooting attacks, but in all honestly i would distribute them this way anyway, stop arguements when someone loses somthing they didnt want to lose, and plus empire have to pay 25 points to pick out there target with 1 man in a 10 man units, don't think they would include somthing as dirty as that in the points cost. " hummmm is that you level 4 wizard in the middle of that hard block of warriors?" *drops rocks* "Not anymore"
Yeah. A bit too cheesy, eh? I would definately use the rocks as shooting attacks. In cases like this it is simply fair to use logic and common sense. If 10 flying lizards glide over 100 men 300 feet high, drop some boulders on them and hit one guy with 35 rocks and miss all of the others...it just doesn't see right. I would personally HATE the person who played against me like skinkyone described.
I think characters would still get look out sir.... It would mainly be for hitting warmachine crew rather than bouncing uselessly off the actual warmachine. It could also be deadly against a lizardman opponent if targetted on the skinks on a stegadon on the first turn or two. Definitely too powerful, and probably not as intended, but hey it is a bit grey.
Mmmm Just had a read of the Drop rocks attack... You fly over a unit you may drop rocks. The word unit is a key indicator as to how the attack should be used. Unit indicates that the attack would strike the UNIT not a character within a unit (Remember acharacter standing alone or on a mount is a unit) If an attack hits a unit it strikes all rank and file first unless there is less then 5 models or unless indicated otherwise (Ie Cannon shot or template weapon) You would deffinately not get look out sir for rocks and your characters would be safe in a unit with five or more models. Randomisation or allocation of hits would be applicable as usual ie Monstrous mounts or Monsters and handlers as per those units own rules in regards to randomising hits. Thats my understanding of the attack and the rules governing it going by RAW. Cheers Sart (BTW this is how I would and do play it and would groin punch anyone trying any of the crap mentioned on this thread)
I was thinking at this option: You charge something with your saurus unit, and the terradons just fly over them. Can you drop rocks on the enemy unit which is now engaged in close combat ? And if you drop the rocks, what do you think tat the rocks will hit ? enemy unit or both units? Because in the book it says drop rocks on enemy unit, it doesn't say what that unit is doing. Of course i hope that in the official FAQ they will clarify this too, but what are yer opinions on this matter
I don't know, depends on your view of attacking units engaged in combat. If by default you assume an attack can't hit enemies in hand to hand, then no. But the very imprecisely written drop rocks rule does not specify.. I'd probably err on the side of caution myself and not do that. This assumes that drop rocks is a completely new form of attack, thus not falling under missiles, magic missiles, etc.