An odd one that has cropped up before with us (usually gets rolled off!) but it came up again in our game yesterday and a quick google couldnt find a definitive answer on how to resolve Overwatch when a Thunderfire Cannon is assaulted. How do you play overwatch from the TFC?
This is what I've got for my argument:
- When an artillery piece is assaulted crew models can fire overwatch with their side arms (if they have any).
- The TFC comes with a Techmarine Gunner with Servo-Harness (Flamer / Plasma Cutter / extra Servo Arm) as standard.
- A model can only normally shoot one ranged weapon, whether it is on overwatch attack or 'normal' shooting, unless it has a special rule which overrules this (such as monstrous creatures).
- Overwatch is a special kind of shooting attack, snapping only, and it works exactly the same as normal shooting for wound allocation / line of sight and range.
- Overwatch happens in the opponents assault phase.
My thought is that the Techmarine Gunner can overwatch, but can only do so with one weapon, the flamer OR the plasma cutter. For me, it is pretty clear wording in Codex Space Marines that "In the shooting phase, the bearer can fire both harness-mounted weapons..."
My opponent and his other playgroup play this the other way though, allow the TFC to overwatch with everything, and they justify it in fluff as "if you are getting charged by a mob you are gonna fire every gun youve got!". I remain unconvinced unless someone can point to something to allow it?