WFB3: Skaven Jezzails

[b_v]

I've always assumed that Skaven Jezails follow the rules for cannons and hit automatically. But reading WD137 I noticed that Andy Chambers laments their BS of 3 and the fact that they tend to miss a lot. I checked the errata in WD127 which neither denies nor confirms the need for a 'to hit' roll.

Opinions on whether they need to check or not?

 

[Zhu Bajie]

I don't think they are exempt from the to-hit roll.

BS 3 means they should hit 50% of the time, which is fine, if you consider muskets and other blackpowder weapons weren't exactly reliable in the early renaissance period, and skaven are more used to tunnel fighting. Think of them as an experimental Clan Skyre unit, a largely untested R&D experiment by a somewhat brain-warped Warlock Engineer. You can add one of the Missile Elite templates to turn them into a crack squad of experienced, well trained gunners.

 

[dieselmonkey]

Yeah, I always used them as ranged weapons, not cannon, so they always had a to-hit roll. They're just long rifles rather than cannon.

 

[b_v]

Yep, I agree that rolling to hit makes sense, and I'll likely play like that in the future. But their rules are in the cannon section of the rulebook and (according to WD127), they penetrate ranks like cannon, so there is some overlap with artillery rules. I thought they were too strong for their points, but what WFB3 artillery isn't...

 

[Snickit]

I thought they were too strong for their points.

I don't know what you mean, they're nothing to be worried about..........................

I think we've played it that they role to hit but after that it's cannon rules.

They never do a lot of damage so always ignore them, yes yes, that's right, ignore Jezzails.