Question about Firearm/direct fire ranged units

[PhantomVector]

I feel like I remember in older titles with firearms, or weapons that wouldn't arc over friendly units like bows, if you placed them behind a friendly unit they'd inflict friendly fire. Is this a thing in WH2? And what are some strategies to avoid this if it is?

[Elitewrecker PT]

It can happen but units tend to avoid firing in those situations

[fabiletti96]

you mean units like muskets pistols ?

[PhantomVector]

Originally posted by fabiletti96:

you mean units like muskets pistols ?

Yeah, Free Militia, or Outriders, handgunners. Units like that.

[PhantomVector]

Originally posted by Elitewrecker PT:

It can happen but units tend to avoid firing in those situations

That's good, I used to do wreck my own lines when I was younger.

[chaosbringer42]

Direct fire units wont fire if they cant see the enemy (aka behind allied units), so theres almost never FF from them. However arced fire can FF easily in this game, because many archer types have low accuracy (so shooting into a melee might hit your troops).

[fabiletti96]

putting them above or below your frontline units on terrain enables them to shoot at enemys in front of your lines flanks are good and make use on terrain on sertain hills you can engage the enemy below at the beginnig of the hill, put muskets etc atop the hill and you can shoot them from above try vampire coast

[fabiletti96]

mukets are also nice on flanks or in forrests or behind hills as hidden support

[Falaris]

Direct fire units - gunpowder or warpstone weapons, mainly - cannot shoot over friendly units. If a friendly unit is between them and the target, the 'firing' icon will turn red, signifying they are holding fire because a friendly target is in the way.

Indirect fire units - muscle powered missile weapons, usually - can shoot over friendly units, and will do so. They are fairly likely to cause damage to whatever friendly unit that is in melee with the target, in addition to the main target.

[Sins]

Its worth noting that there's some exceptions to this rule.

For example, taller enemies (like monsters, monstrous infantry or cavalry) can be large enough for gunpowder units to fire at them over the heads of your troops. This gets especially noticeable for dwarves, who have generally good accuracy and shorter models, which gives them a tiny bit more leeway with this than other factions enjoy.

Its also worth noting that the game considers accuracy when its deciding if you can shoot or not. This is particularly apparent for Vampire Coast, whose gunpowder units have such abysmal accuracy the game will often not permit them to shoot over the heads of their front line at all, because the risk of friendly fire is too great. However, if they're buffed by something like Spiteful Shot, suddenly they'll start gunning down the Varghulf tearing through your front line.