Turning 180 degrees and some other questions

[agelb21]

For units like the nashorn, and especially the archer (since its gun faces backwards)...if these units wanted to turn 180 degrees in a hex to fire but didn't want to move into another hex....does that turning movement cost a movement point..i'm confused about what costs movement. turning, movement, or both? another example, my archer is travelling two hexes north. I want it to be able to fire north as well, so it needs to turn around. can it turn around since it moved twice and has only two movements? or does turning not cost any points? or if a tank was moving west and stops and is facing west...and next turn it wants to drive east. Does turning east take a point, then moveing out of that hex another, or does it turn and move all for one point...i'm probably making it more difficult than it really is. help! The reason why I think turning 180 degrees costs a point is because if it didn't, whats the downside to having a turretless tank if u could turn for free?

Also, does the BAR gunners covering fire also keep units from making defensive fire attacks? I believe it does.

[Lynx7725]

Ok, please check your preconceived notions at the baggage counter...

The SPEED Attribute for units indicate how many hexes it can move in a phase. It does not indicate how fast/ many hexside turns it can make. In any movement (either in the Movement Phase or the Assault Phase), vehicles must face the direction it is moving. You cannot drive backwards, you cannot spin in circles while moving forward, you must face the vehicle in the direction it is driving in.

This is important as it would determine the facing that defensive fire strikes. For the Nashorn, sIG, Brummbar, Ho-Ni (and others) and especially the Archer, this is important as defensive fire can leave the vehicle pointing the wrong direction to shoot.

At the end of movement your vehicle can turn to face any direction. This is provided the end of movement is not as a result of defensive fire. Turning without movement is allowed. I am not too sure of this, but IIRC, turning without movement counts as movement (not that it matters much at the current moment). If this is true though, this means units with Speed 0 would not be able to change facing.. hmm, time to ask Steve.

As for the BAR, I think you are correct, but I would wait for someone more experienced to have a say.

[Kriegshund]

If this is true though, this means units with Speed 0 would not be able to change facing.. hmm, time to ask Steve.

I believe AT guns, which are classified as soldiers are the only units so far with a speed of 0, and being soldiers their facing doesnt matter. As soldiers their defense is the same front/back, and they can fire any direction.

[Lynx7725]

Which is true, just laying the groundwork in case we ever get vehicles with Speed 0, some other weird stuff with Speed 0 and split DEF values.. Or some weird effect that reduces a unit's Speed to 0 (Minefield? Dragon's Teeth? Barbed wire?).

[brzezie]

This is important as it would determine the facing that defensive fire strikes. For the Nashorn, sIG, Brummbar, Ho-Ni (and others) and especially the Archer, this is important as defensive fire can leave the vehicle pointing the wrong direction to shoot.

Don't forget that if you fail the roll to enter difficult terrain, you do NOT get to change facing. So it matter for defensive fire and failed rolls to enter difficult terrain.

Pg 14 of the rules under "Moving Zero Hexes" states that a unit can change facing without moving, but it counts as its movement.

[XAos]

Which is true, just laying the groundwork in case we ever get vehicles with Speed 0, some other weird stuff with Speed 0 and split DEF values.. Or some weird effect that reduces a unit's Speed to 0 (Minefield? Dragon's Teeth? Barbed wire?).
You'll find that trying to get rules answers for possible future units / abilities. Doesn't work, since the correct answer is dependant on the results of the game testing when the ability is designed and the final wording of the ability. And not even A/H staff know what that is until the playtesting is complete.