LOS Question With Map

[FartKnocker]

In another thread, Y2UAsk wrote:

You can trace LOS "down the valley" between blocking hexes, provided the line doesn't actually cross one of those hexes.

Does this mean that tank 1 and tank 2 in the linked .pdf example have LOS to each other? I'm guessing that even though it is unintuitive, it is indeed legal by the wording of the rules.

Please straighten me out if I'm incorrect.

FartKnocker

[Y2UAsk]

I've known this question was coming and have been anticipating it for some time. Yet when it finally comes, you're never quite prepared.

The LOS rules state

Originally Posted by Page 19

If you can draw the line without crossing any part of a hex containing towns, hills, or forest, the unit can see the target and attack. If the line of sight runs exactly along the hex side of a terrain hex that would block line of sight, that hex doesn't block line of sight.

The question of what happens when the LOS runs between two blocking hexes without actually crossing either one is never addressed ... which brings us to the current question.

Technically, then, according to the rules as written, there is a clear LOS between hexes A and B below.




Clearly, this flies in the face of common sense and is not what the designers intended. So the LOS rule, in addition to the conditions listed above, should also state

If the line of sight runs exactly along a hex side between two terrain hexes that both contain blocking terrain, that LOS is blocked.

With this provision, LOS is properly blocked between A and B.

This still leaves one open question. What if the LOS runs exactly along two different hexsides, one forming a blocking hex to the left and one forming a blocking hex to the right, as shown below?



The answer is, there is no clear LOS between C and D. So the final LOS rule should state:

If you can draw the line without crossing any part of a hex containing towns, hills, or forest, the unit can see the target and attack.

If the line of sight runs exactly along the hex side of a terrain hex that would block line of sight, that hex doesn't block line of sight.
If the line of sight runs exactly along a hex side between two terrain hexes that both contain blocking terrain, that LOS is blocked.
If the line of sight runs exactly along two or more hex sides that form blocking hexes to both the right and left of the line of sight, that LOS is blocked.

Note that this also means no clear LOS exists between hexes E and F, below.



This is a situation that has been allowed in some competitions because of the way the LOS rules were worded. For the sake of consistency, however, it should not be.

Steve

[FartKnocker]

I, and I'm certain many others, appreciate the speed and thorough nature of this post. I'm glad that this official response has been posted here.

Sorry for starting an uproar but I needed to see an official ruling on this situation. This is they kind of stuff that can cause complete chaos to erupt in a tournament setting and I'm relieved that is resolved.

Thanks again,

FartKnocker

(and yes, I am Lawful Evil)