targeting friendly units

"You cannot target a friendly unit with a damaging attack."

Note the word damaging...

energy damage special equipment

"FLAMERS: When this unit hits an infantry or vehicle... add 1 click of damage to this units normal damage value. When this unit hits a mech ... the target unit takes 2 clicks of heat ."

Note the word heat.

As you are applying heat, not damage when using flamers, is it then possible to target a friendly mech, using special equipment flamers!?

If that is the real wording...then I guess the answer is yes. That is highly amusing.

I would rule no. Notice the first part that you sidestepped. It is a damaging attack vs vehicles and infantry, and since flamers are optional, they are a damaging attack that is doing heat instead of damage.

Thats how I would rule it.

I would *LIKE* to say no, but grammatically, your lawyering is quite sound. As heat and damage are quite different, and unrelated, it would mean that you indeed can attack your 'Mechs with a Flamer attack. Also, for those who would liken taking heat to damage, for the ranged energy rules they state that if a 'Mech is hit by an energy-based ranged combat attack, that they received damage and one click of heat. If damage and heat were synonomous, then it would say give the affected 'Mech one click of heat damage, or something along those lines. Rather, they say simply one CLICK of heat. This implies 'heat' being measured in 'clicks', and 'damage' being measured in 'clicks of damage.'

I guess you could, but why would you WANT to shut your own mech down....?

As for why, i was thinking along the lines of captured units. If your opponent captures your mech then technically you could still shut it down (especially if a bypass unit is looming) i found rules stating that a captured unit takes no damage, but it doesn't say no heat.

And secondly, scenarios where units defect to the opposing side have come in to play. If you shut your own unit down, before it defects, then it makes for an easy capture, and bypass, and then lo and behold, the defecting unit has come back to it's senses!! At least that is what i was hoping for. (eg. scenario: May 2004- sword of betrayal!)

I had alot of players placing a really #### throw away mech, worth around 200pts. That way when it defects... it's worthless to the opposing team.

I would rather take in a kick ### army, and win my unit back!

Also, getting to TSM is another good use for this potential loophole.

Sounds like a waste of time to me. Wait until the 'Mech is captured to shut it down with heat and recapture it then. Use the time while your opponent is dealing with your 'Mech to kill his other units, or manoeuver into a better position.

Adorabilly is right anyway - flamers are a damaging attack, so the argument fails.

For captives, attention is invited to ROW pg 17, 4th paragraph:
"No unit may target a captive for any purpose except if the unit has the Bypass special equipment."

So flaming the captive mech to discourage a bypass is not allowable.


Still not sure about the other one. I'll have to read some more.