ISSUE: Does the SpaceWolf Rune Priest psychic power Jaws of the World Wolf require a roll to hit?
HOLDING: Jaws of the World Wolf does require a roll to hit, but still takes effect even if it misses.
ANALYSIS:
Justicar GiantKiller delivers the opinion of the court.
The issue arises from Jaws of the World Wolf’s categorization as a “Psychic Shooting Attack” and a FAQ entry indicating that all psychic shooting attacks require a roll to hit. The court is called upon to determine whether a model casting Jaws of the World Wolf must, in addition to passing its psychic test, successfully roll to hit before the power can take effect.
We begin our discussion by analyzing the language of the rule itself. The Jaws of the World Wolf (hereinafter “Jaws” or “JotWW”) codex entry tells us:
“As a psychic shooting attack, the Rune Priest may trace a straight line along the board, starting from the Rune Priest and ending 24″ away. This line may pass through terrain. Monstrous creatures, beasts, cavalry, bikes and infantry models that are touched by this line must take an Initiative test (see Characteristic Tests in the Warhammer 40,000 rulebook). If the model fails the test, it is removed from play. Monstrous creatures may subtract one from their dice roll due to their tremendous size and strength, though remember that the roll of a 6 is always a failure.” Codex: Space Wolves p. 37
This language makes no mention of rolling to hit. We also note that the power does not have a ranged weapon profile. But Jaws does classify itself as a psychic shooting attack with the language “as a psychic shooting attack…”.
So what are the requirements to use Jaws as a psychic shooting attack? The BGB rule book tells us:
“Psykers can use one psychic power per player turn. To use a psychic power successfully the psyker must pass a Psychic test, which is a normal Leadership test.” BGB 5th Ed. p. 50
and…
“Using a psychic shooting attack counts as firing a ranged weapon (an assault weapon, unless specified otherwise). So, for example, the psyker must be able to see his target unit, cannot be locked in combat, or must not have run in the Shooting phase if he wishes to use a psychic shooting attack.” BGB 5th Ed. p.50
So far, we have the following requirements for Jaws to affect a model:
1. Must take place in the shooting phase.
2. Rune Priest must pass a psychic test (leadership test)
3. Rune Priest must have line of sight to target unit (which means, as we’ll learn later in the discussion, that the rune priest must have line of sight to the first model touched by the line)
4. Rune Priest can’t be locked in combat
5. Rune Priest didn’t run
6. Enemy model must be touching the 24″ line drawn from the rune priest
7. Enemy model must be categorized as a monstrous creature, beast, cavalry, bike, or infantry model.
Still no specific mention of a roll to hit, but we do have the language “counts as firing a ranged weapon”. Does the power have to roll to hit simply because it counts as firing a ranged weapon? Many ranged weapons must roll to hit to have any effect, but not all ranged weapons. Take template and blast weapons, for example:
The rules for template weapons tell us:
“Instead of rolling to hit, simply place the template so that its narrow end is touching the base of the model firing it and the rest of the template covers as many models as possible in the target unit without touching any friendly models.” BGB p. 29
And blast weapons:
“When firing a blast weapon, models do not roll to hit, instead just pick one enemy model visible to the firer and place the blast marker (see diagram) with its hole over the base of the target model …” BGB p. 30
Each of these procedures sounds significantly closer to how Jaws is executed on the table. Jaws effects models touched by a 24″ straight line, which is certainly analogous to a template. Instead of a blast-shaped template or flamer-shaped template, the player is using a 24″ straight line-shaped template. And the rules tell us both blast and template weapons have an effect on the enemy models touching the template without requiring a roll to hit. Thus we can conclude that just because something is a ranged weapon does not necessarily mean it must roll to hit.
However, we note that the language “for example, the psyker must…” certainly does not indicate that the list of requirements which follows it is exhaustive or exclusive. This leaves room for other requirements, such as rolling to hit. Accordingly, we must next turn to the applicable FAQ entries to find out if there are any additional requirements. We find that the BGB and Codex: Space Wolves FAQs have several entries which are applicable:
“Q: What psychic powers count as psychic shooting attacks? (p50)
A: Any psychic power with a profile like that of a ranged weapon (i.e. has a range, strength and AP value) and any psychic power that specifically states that it is a psychic shooting attack.” BGB FAQ v1.4 (July 2011)
So that would include Jaws, which specifically states that it is a psychic shooting attack. There can be no question that Jaws is a psychic shooting attack.
“Q: Do psychic shooting attacks need to roll To Hit? (p50)
A: Yes.” BGB FAQ v. 1.4 (July 2011)
The language of this FAQ entry is plain and clear. All psychic shooting attacks need to roll To Hit. Jaws is a psychic shooting attack, therefore it must roll to hit, right? Maybe not. For purposes of this discussion, it is important to recognize that rolling to hit in the 40k rulebook is only relevant as part of the process used to determine whether or not shooting or melee attacks ultimately cause wounds. (See BGB pp. 17, 37.) This FAQ entry does not give us any guidance as to what happens when psychic shooting attacks whose effects do not cause wounds miss?
For that matter, what if the power has an “area of effect” which could impact more than one model and/or unit? These types of shooting attacks generally do not include a “roll to hit” (other than scatter dice) in their resolution. See the Template and Blast weapon rules quoted above.
We further note that an individual psychic power could override this “roll to hit” requirement by indicating that it automatically hits or does not require a roll to hit, much like template and blast template weapons specifically indicate that they do not require a roll to hit.
So the inquiry must not stop here. There are more FAQ entries relevant to our discussion.
“Q: Do psychic shooting attacks grant cover saves? (p50)
A: Yes, as long as they cause wounds. Cover saves are taken against wounds caused by psychic shooting attacks, not against any other ‘weirder’ effects of the psychic power.” BGB FAQ v. 1.4 (July 2011) (emphasis added)
This rule is significant because it creates two basic categories of psychic power effects: those that cause wounds and “weirder effects” which do not. Clearly Jaws falls into that second category, as it makes no mention of hitting or wounding, only “removing models from play” if they fail their initiative test. So, assuming we’re interpreting this correctly, no cover saves will apply against Jaws.
“Q. Does Jaws of the World Wolf allow cover saves? (p37)
A. No – you could take a cover save if the power caused wounds, but as it does not cause wounds, no cover saves are allowed.” Codex: Space Wolves FAQ v1.1 (Dec. 2010)
So far so good. This confirms that Jaws’ effect falls into that “weirder effects” category.
“Q. Does Jaws of the World Wolf allow the Rune Priest to target specific models within squads? (p37)
A. Yes. ” Codex: Space Wolves FAQ v1.1 (Dec. 2010)
This, too, distinguishes Jaws from traditional shooting attacks which roll to hit and wound, as traditional shooting attacks ordinarily cannot target specific models within squads.
“Q. How wide is the line for the Jaws of the World Wolf power? (p37)
A. Itʼs a hairline, it does not really have a specific designated thickness. We like to turn our tape measures on one side and use their edge, keeping it as straight as possible of course.” Codex: Space Wolves FAQ v1.1 (Dec. 2010)
We note that an edge of a tape measure sounds distinctly like a kind of template. This lends strength to the argument that JAWS is a template-based shooting attack rather than a traditional shooting attack which requires a roll to hit.
“Q. Does Jaws of the World Wolf require line of sight? Does it ignore terrain that blocks line of sight (i.e., impassable terrain)? (p37)
A. As a psychic shooting attack, Jaws of the World Wolf requires line of sight. The Rune Priest must have line of sight to the first model that the power affects – in effect he is treated as the target model; the power just happens to hit everybody else on its way through!” Codex: Space Wolves FAQ v1.1 (Dec. 2010)
So the rune priest must have line of sight to the first model touched by the line. That makes sense given the BGB’s requirement that “the psyker must be able to see his target unit” (BGB p. 50). But of particular note is the language “the power just happens to hit everybody else on its way through!”. The wording “just happens to hit” sounds like it is intended to automatically hit these models. The language of this FAQ entry does not seem to leave room for any chance that Jaws won’t affect the models touched by the line.
Taking all of these FAQ entries together, we believe that there is a very strong argument that Jaws does not need to roll to hit to take effect in the same way that a blast or flamer template does not have to roll to hit to take effect. But the Plain Language Canon suggests that the opposing argument is perhaps stronger, as the language of the BGB FAQ entry regarding psychic shooting attacks rolling to hit is very clear, broad, and uncompromising. Psychic shooting attacks, a category which includes Jaws, must roll to hit. And while Jaws doesn’t specifically state that it must roll to hit, Jaws also does not state that it does NOT roll to hit, nor does it specifically categorize itself as a blast template or flamer template attack.
But what does that mean for psychic powers which do not cause wounds? We mentioned earlier that rolling to hit is only relevant to determining whether or not an attack causes wounds. This brings us to the final consideration: does it matter if Jaws hits or not? To resolve this question, we turn to a FAQ entry regarding Murderous Hurricane.
“Q. Does Murderous Hurricane require the power to hit or wound its target to affect them? (p37)
A. No, a targeted unit is affected by Murderous Hurricane even if the power fails to hit or wound.” Codex: Space Wolves FAQ v1.1 (Dec. 2010)
Objection, relevance!
Overruled.
This Murderous Hurricane-related FAQ entry is relevant to our discussion of Jaws because it talks about what happens when a psychic shooting attack with one of those “weirder effects” fails to hit or wound. The rule for Murderous Hurricane tells us:
“This power is a psychic shooting attack with a range of 18″. The target unit takes 3D6 Strength 3 hits with Ap -. Place a marker next to the affected unit – next turn that unit treats all terrain, even clear terrain, as both difficult and dangerous.” Codex: Space Wolves p. 37.
Why is this significant? Like Jaws, Murderous Hurricane has no weapon profile. Like Jaws, it makes no mention of rolling to hit, it simply says “takes 3D6 Strength 3 hits…” and “[p]lace a marker next to the affected unit…”. Like Jaws, it has one of those “weirder effects” we discussed earlier, in that it causes the affected unit to treat terrain as difficult and dangerous.
These findings are quite significant in light of the Murderous Hurricane FAQ entry quoted above.
First, the FAQ’s language “even if the power fails to hit or wound” reinforces the interpretation that even powers which don’t have ranged profiles (like Murderous Hurricane and Jaws) and don’t specifically tell us to roll to hit (like Murderous Hurricane and Jaws) – still have to roll to hit, just because they’re psychic shooting attacks.
If Murderous Hurricane and other psychic shooting attacks like it did not require a roll to hit, the Murderous Hurricane FAQ entry would say “even if the power fails to wound”, rather than “even if the power fails to hit or wound” (emphasis added). That is because the power itself indicates that the targeted unit takes 3D6 hits (which of course results in a minimum of 3 hits). Thus, unless a to-hit roll was required just because Murderous Hurricane is a psychic shooting attack, it could not possibly fail to hit.
However, this entry has a larger significance to our discussion. The language “a targeted unit is affected by Murderous Hurricane even if the power fails to hit or wound” indicates to us that it doesn’t matter if the rune priest hits or not when dealing with an effect that doesn’t directly cause wounds – a “weirder effect” as the BGB FAQ would categorize it. Hit or miss, the target unit still gets the “weirder effect” of the power – in Murderous Hurricane’s case, having to roll for difficult and dangerous terrain next turn.
Applying the same logic to Jaws, we find that it doesn’t matter whether the rune priest successfully rolls to hit his target or not, the “weirder effect” is applied either way. The resulting procedure for casting Jaws is therefore as follows:
1. Must take place in the shooting phase.
2. Rune Priest is not locked in combat and did not run.
3. Rune Priest must pass a psychic test
4. Draw the 24″ line
5. Rune Priest must have line of sight to the first model touched by the line per the FAQ.
6. Roll to hit and determine if wounds are caused. Jaws never causes wounds, so this step automatically resolves to “no”.
7. Decide if armor / cover saves are taken. No wounds are caused, so this step automatically resolves to “no” per the FAQ.
8. Apply “weirder effects” of the power to each enemy model touching the 24″ line, regardless of the outcome of steps 6, 7.
9. Determine whether each enemy model is a monstrous creature, beast, cavalry, bike, or infantry model. If not, no effect on that model.
10. Each model affected must take an initiative test. If passed, no effect. If failed, model is removed.
Hit or miss, Jaws’ “weirder effect” of causing initiative tests to avoid being removed from play will still happen. Accordingly, we hold that Jaws, like every other Psychic Shooting Attack, must roll to hit. However, because Jaws’ effect falls into the category of “weirder effects” that do not cause wounds, the effect occurs whether or not the roll to hit is successful.
Justicar Szafraniec concurs.
CONCURRING ANALYSIS:
While I would agree with the majority’s holding that a roll-to-hit is required, but makes no difference in the outcome of the power, I would reach that conclusion differently. I take issue with the majority’s reliance on comparing JotWW to Murderous Hurricane. For that reason, I believe this discussion would benefit from a more in-depth comparison of the two.
Both JotWW and Murderous Hurricane are Psychic Shooting Attacks. The rules and faqs tell us that Psychic Shooting Attacks must either have a profile or we’re told that theyre psychic shooting attacks. If something is a psychic shooting attack, we know certain additional things from the FAQs and rulebook:
1. They must roll to hit
2. They only grant cover saves if they cause wounds, not if they cause ”weirder effects.”
3. If it requires line of sight from a vehicle, it counts as seeing from the fire point
What else do we know about Jaws per the Space Wolves FAQ?
1. Artillery crew and jetbikes are affected
2. No cover saves due to lack of wounds
3. Hairline thickness
4. Requires line of sight to the first model that the power affects. The power then “just happens to hit everyone else on the way through”.
Now, if we want to compare to Murderous Hurricane:
1. Target is affected even if power fails to hit or wound.
Let’s summarize the effects:
MH – PSA w/ 18″ range. Target unit takes 3d6 hits. Terrain is diff and dang.
Jaws – Trace line, 24″. Models touched, test, remove from play.
This justicar draws his argumentative “line in the sand” with the concept of ‘affected’ units and exactly how they are affected. I note for that reason that rolling to hit is only relevant for one purpose, and that is determining if a shooting attack will cause wounds. Rolling to hit is therefore completely irrelevant to whether or not a “weirder effect” is applied.
With that in mind, as these rules are quite clear, I believe The Plain Language Canon mandates that we need look no further than the plain language of the JotWW rule and the relevant FAQ entries to determine how the power is used. The rules indicate that JotWW “plays out” in the following sequence:
1. Jaws requires line of sight, so determine line of sight. (for argument’s sake, I would note here that if not for the FAQ, I would rule that JotWW didn’t require LOS either.)
2. The model firing Jaws would take up a fire point slot
3. Draw the line “template” using a string, ruler, measuring tape, whatever.
4. Roll to hit and resolve hits. As Jaws does no wounds whether it hits or not, this step is automatically resolved.
5. Apply weirder effects regardless of hit or miss.
6. Models touched must test.
8. Remove each model that fails.
Muderous Hurricane, I think, is less clear than Jaws in its application. I think the unclear part is whether the “3d6 hits” itself is an effect, or should Murderous Hurricane simply be considered an s3 ap- 3d6 Assault power that also applies a secondary effect? The question then becomes, if Murderous Hurricane was intended to have a shooting ”profile” and be used like a standard shooting attack, albeit one that automatically hits, then why doesnt it have a standard “shooting profile box” like living lightning? We know from the FAQs that wounded models can get cover saves against the wounds Murderous Hurricane causes, but more confusing is the idea that the FAQ entry quoted by the majority mentions failure to hit or wound, which indicates that there is a possible scenario in which Murderous Hurricane misses, and causes no wounds, but is still applies its effect to the targeted unit. Does each “effect” of the power require a separate roll to hit? The rules and FAQs fail to adequately resolve these issues. For that reason, I would argue that Murderous Hurricane lacks precedential value and relevance and it should not be cited. I think Jaws stands on its own merits much better.
More relevant to this discussion is the Blood Angels psychic power Blood Lance, which like JotWW requires a line to be drawn and affects units touched by that line. Blood Lance doesnt hit automatically, but it indicates that any unit in the path suffers a hit. I would argue that JotWW is analogous to Blood Lance and will automatically apply its effect to whatever is touched by the line.
Ultimately, I would rule that that Jaws requires a to hit roll because the power is a psychic shooting attack. The FAQs support the argument that Jaws behaves like a shooting attack, and it has to obey some of those rules, but we know that a hit or miss only effects a non-existent outcome: deciding whether or not wounds are caused. And we know Jaws does not cause wounds. Once that portion of the power is resolved, the player must apply the “weirder effect” regardless of the outcome.
Thus this Justicar respectfully concurs with the majority’s holding that the to-hit roll has no effect on whether or not Jaws’ effect is applied.
