Monoliths and Ordnance

[Winston P Smallhouse]

Am I right in thinking that a Monolith gains nothing from being a heavy vehicle with regard to it's ordnance weapon re- vehicles and ordnance rule, or does the "always counts as being stationary" mean it can fire everything including its ordnance? Any help greatly appreciated.

[Wildcard]

Hmm, let me see:
- Always counts as stationary: lets you fire always all your guns with your full ballistic skill
- Ordnance: On page 51, rules about weapon types: I cannot find anything that ordnance would affect vehicles shooting.

So: As heavy vehicle, your monolith can move 6" (never more than that) and fire all of its weapons, using its own ballistic skill (although, if it doesn't have a special rule, you have to fire all of its weapons at the same target)
Hope this helps!

[isotope99]

Slightly off topic but the monolith seems to get its jink 5+ skimmer cover save if it moves (thought it might be Faq'd out but no). Some sort of phase shifting technology I suppose, can't really imagine it dodging.

[Lerra]

I interpret "always counts as being stationary" to mean that the Monolith can fire Ordnance even if it moves. I don't think you'd get too many arguments against that as it seems pretty clear-cut to me.

[JamesP]

Under 'moving and shooting with vehicles' on page 71, it says that a stationary vehicle can fire all of its weapons and one that moves at combat speed can fire one weapon using its full ballistic skill and shoot the others using Snap Shots.

Under 'vehicles and ordnance weapons', also on page 71, it says that:

i) vehicles can move and fire with ordnance weapons, unlike other types of unit/model; and

ii) 'a vehicle that fires an ordnance weapon can only make Snap Shots with its other weapons that turn' - note that this says 'a vehicle' and not 'a stationary vehicle' or 'a moving vehicle' so it applies whenever a vehicle fires ordnance.

So if I am reading this right:

- a Monolith being Heavy gives no additional benefit if you fire the Particle Whip: that shot uses its full BS but the Flux Arcs must be fired using Snap Shots (i.e. BS1), as per page 71. This applies whether the 'Lith has moved or not (also on page 71). Also, if the 'Whip has been fired, the Portal of Exile cannot be used as it cannot be fired using a Snap Shot (this is given as a specific example under the Snap Shot rules in the section on Shooting).

- but if a Monolith doesn't use its 'Whip, then being Heavy does help, as it lets it move 6" and fire all four of its Flux Arcs using its full BS and it can also use the Portal of Exile that turn.

Does that sound right to you? In either case, the Flux Arcs can be fired at different targets, as per their entry in the Codex.

[Wildcard]

Hmm, i missed that one about firing ordnance and snapshotting rest..

However, isn't that with flux arcs somewhat stupid, since you still have to shoot all weapons at the same target, and (honestly, i dont know) how many of those can you point at a single target at any given time?

Seems to me like rules for monolith, and the new rules in general are a bit meh in some parts (like this)

And generally so that vehicles cannot fire their weapons to different targets..

[Camerz]

All gauss flux arc can fire at different targets. codex pg81 bottom left. :)

[Winston P Smallhouse]

Hi all, that pretty much confirmed what I thought. I think all in that the 5+ jink save makes up for anything lost by the ordnance rules, and if I'm reading it right, you can still use the portal to phase through with a unit on the turn that you use the particle whip as the portal is then used in the movement phase. Imagine 3 Tomb Spyders or a Ctan, now that would be fun.

Anyway, thanks for the input.