You can only select an enemy unit as a target if your unit can see it. or at least part of it. Obviously, a unit can't draw a bead on their target if there is a hill, a building, or some other large and solid object in the way that stops them. In some cases, it will be difficult to tell if line of sight is blocked or not. so players might have to stoop over the table for a model's eye view. This is the best way to determine whether or not a line of sight exists. The only time you don't use this method is when you want to draw a line of sight into or past Area Terrain, or an ongoing assault combat - this is dealt with later.

Models from the same side do not normally block line of sight (your unit conducts their firing at a convenient moment when their compatriots aren't in the way) and enemy models can be ignored for line of sight purposes (bearing in mind the Choosing a Target rules). However, the following models do block a unit's line of sight if they are in the way:

• All vehicles, vehicle wrecks, monstrous creatures and artillery, friend or foe block line of sight. A line of sight can still be drawn over or past such models, but not through them. Use a model's eye view to determine if you can see past them. Skimmer vehicles only block line of sigh! if immobilised or wrecked.
• Models engaged or locked in close combat block line of sight through them up to the height of the participating models. This is where the model's height matters. If the model doing the spotting, or the model being spotted, is taller than the tallest model in the close combat then the line of sight is not blocked.

Any individual models in the unit that don't have a line of sight to the target unit can't fire, and any models in the target unit that can't be seen by the attackers can't be hit or chosen as casualties (with the exception of barrage weapons - as explained later). If a model represents a weapon, such as an Eldar grav-platform, and there are separate crew figures, there must be a line of sight from both the gun model and at least one of its crew to the target. Sometimes, all that may be visible of a model is a toe or antenna or some other minor part-In these cases, the line of sight is considered blocked. Line of sight must be traced to the body of the target model. This rule is intended to ensure that players don't get penalised for having impressive banners, blades, gun barrels, spectacularly posed models, etc.

Area Terrain does not block line of fire completely. Instead there will be a 'grey area1 where the enemy fades out of sight the further in they are. Equally, a particularly large target may be visible across an area of low-lying terrain. This means that in regards to terrain defined as 'Area Terrain', the usual rules for spoiling targets using the model's eye view is not used. In these cases we say it is possible to see up to 6" into Area Terrain. Models further than 6" in cannot be seen at all. nor can they see out, unless they are taller than the terrain. If both firer and target are within the same area of terrain, they can only see each other if they are within 6", unless one or both of them are taller than the terrain.

Note that although it is possible to see into Area Terrain, you cannot see through it even if it is less than 6" deep. hence if a unit is behind Area Terrain as tall as itself and the spotter, they cannot be seen. Models that are classed as taller than the Area Terrain can see and be seen over it. A model's line of sight will be considerably improved by being on an elevated position, such as a cliff or building, so it can count the height of the terrain piece it stands on for line of sight in regards to other Area Terrain.

All weapons have a maximum effective range that tells you the furthest distance they can shoot. If your target is beyond this maximum range then your shot misses automatically. This is why you have to choose your target before measuring the range. Here are some examples of weapon ranges:

When you're checking range, simply measure from the firer to the nearest model in The target unit. Any models in the target unit which are actually out of range can't be hit by the shooting.

Whether a unit has moved or not can make a big difference to its firing. If the warriors hold a position, take up firing stances and aim at their targets properly, they can hit targets further away than is they are firing on the move. In fact some weapons are so heavy that they can only be used if their firer halts to brace themselves. This is explained in more detail in the Weapons section later, but for the time being it's enough to know that moving can make a difference to a unit's shooting. The most important thing to understand is that the whole unit counts as moving if ANY of its models moved in the Movement phase.