Some quick questions from a newbster

[Borgnine]

Hey dudes,

I was under the impression that a model had to be in the back arc of an enemy model for it's entire activation to gain the back strike bonus, is that correct? If so, wouldn't that be pretty darn hard to achieve?

Also, do warbeasts have to be forced and warjacks have to spend focus to do special attacks, like thresher?

Thanks!

[Deadnight]

Hey dudes,

I was under the impression that a model had to be in the back arc of an enemy model for it's entire activation to gain the back strike bonus, is that correct? If so, wouldn't that be pretty darn hard to achieve?

Also, do warbeasts have to be forced and warjacks have to spend focus to do special attacks, like thresher?

Thanks!

(1) yes. and its easier than you think. flankers against a turned model, or telekenises are useful tricks to turn a model around.

(2) yes for some. special attacks (* attacks) require forcing/focus spending. special actions (* actions) like thresher dont require focus. a thresher attack simply replaces a normal attack, provided that the weapon used for the attack has the thresher special action ability

[Dais]

Yes on back strikes, they are quite rare to see.
No on spending focus/forcing on * attacks. You replace all your initial attacks with these and that is enough cost.

(2) yes for some. special attacks (* attacks) require forcing/focus spending. special actions (* actions) like thresher dont require focus. a thresher attack simply replaces a normal attack, provided that the weapon used for the attack has the thresher special action ability

I'm sorry but this is incorrect. Neither *attacks nor *actions cost focus and thresher is a *attack. POWER attacks cost focus but those are not the same thing.

[Morganstern]

you don't have to spend focus/force warbeasts to do a special (star) attacks, only power attacks. If you attack you can use all of your initial attacks or 1 special attack when making your combat action. You also cannot spend focus to buy more special attacks.

[Spirit]

Just to throw this one in there. Only the point of origin of the attack must be in the back arc.

This means you can run an arc node behind something, activate the spellcaster and arc to gain the backstrike bonus.

Also bear in mind there are spells that can place enemies and make them face whichever way you want.


so yea, back strikes can be rare, but there are ways around everything in warmachine!

[Borgnine]

Thanks for all of your input guys! I appreciate the help. Now I just have to think up more things to ask

[Emerett]

It's easier than you think to get in back arcs when battles get up close and you have flanking ranged units.

One shotting a warcaster because they forgot to check their arc is a funny way to win. (thanks Defender with Snipe!)

[silks]

Shooting your own guys in the back (for things like Electro Leap, Chain Lightning e.t.c) is quite common

[Picklechu]

Also remember that you need to turn and face directly towards your charge target after you move, so you can see a fair few models at 60degree angles as they pack around a charged model. This can often leave the rear arc exposed to models on the other flank.