Evading Injuries in Infinity - Feature Friday

Infinity has a reputation for being a very lethal game.  I would claim that it held that title until I watched Endalyon play Wrath of Kings, which has a flat 10% of killing most of the units in the game at all times.  Still, conflict in Infinity is usually resolved in a fast, brutal fashion as soon as two models draw Line of Fire (LoF) with each other.  It's such a big point, I list it as the number one thing a newbie to Infinity needs to understand: everything dies.  So, with so many ways to get sucker punched, what's some ways you can defend against an opponent's onslaught?

The usual first suggestion in Infinity is to use Cover. That isn't a good suggestion because Cover is more used offensively than defensively. I know that is counter-intuitive, which I encompass in the 3 Maxims post.  The safest position is to be in Total Cover aka out of Line of Fire entirely.  This does not guarantee safety, as there are Speculative Fire attacks, Smart Missile Launchers, or just a Airborne Deployment/Infiltration possibility in each faction that can have detrimental effects on the health of your troops.

If you wish to contest a lane, that model is being put to risk.  You should be aware of the possibility that that model may die.  Total Cover is the safest position.  This, coincidentally, is where you'll wish to place your Impetuous units.  Impetuous models never benefit from Cover so they should be hidden when they're not running down the field for a kill.  Who you should leave out or hide in Cover is best by understanding a model's role.

You can't entirely stop your opponent from gaining LoF to one of your models.  The most obvious way to not die is to Shoot back.  Hopefully they attack within a +3 Range Band but if they're devious, it is unlikely.  Furthermore, Camouflage often follows up with Surprise Shot, providing a minimum of -6 against a BS Attack.  This is when you're going to want to use Dodge or a Smoke Grenade to stop attacks, as the enemy's Mimetism, TO Camouflage, ODD and Cover do not apply to your stat in a Face-to-Face roll (FtF).  Smoke Grenades, because they block LoF, are used to oppose ranged attacks unless the attacker is using MSV2+ to see through the Smoke.  Most units don't have Smoke, let's focus on Engage and Dodge.

Hyperdynamic PanO Magister Knights

Modifiers that are applied to Engage and Dodge are follows:
Has Hyperdynamics L1/2/3 +3/+6/+9
Is a Motorcycle -3
Is a Remotes -3
Is a TAGs -6
Target of Surprise Shot -3
Lack LoF to Attacker -3
Deployable Weapon Detonation -3

First, understand that Engage and Dodge are three separate things. My math is right on that one, just hold on a moment.

Engage is a Common Short Skill requiring LoF that allows a model in the Reactive Turn to move 2" into base contact with an enemy. If successful, your opponent decides where your Engaging model is placed.  This can be used to evade all incoming attacks as long as your beat the FtF.  Kinematika enlarges this 2" radius by an inch per level.  Kinematika 2 models would be able to Engage models within 4".  Kinematika requires LoF. Dodge and Change Facing have exceptions that allow their usage without LoF but for a model to be able to use the Kinematika skill, LoF is mandatory.

Dodge is two separate skills.  Dodge on the Active Turn is a Common Skill that can evade all incoming attacks.  Dodge on the Reactive Turn is a Common Skill that evades all incoming attacks  and has a model move 2" - which Kinematika's distance does improve.  Why would you ever Dodge on the Active Turn? Hyperdynamics to avoid attacks is a good reason, but another is you might have messed up and had more AROs than you expected be declared.  Better to avoid all the unexpected attacks than try to get lucky with a shoot out.

These modifiers stack.  This means if a REM lacks LoF to the Attacker, they have a -6.  If this same REM somehow had Hyperdynamics 2 (which no profile currently exists with this), the PH roll would be made with +0 in a FtF against the Attack. A Deployable Weapon would further add a -3 penalty to either situation. Lacking LoF is a severe problem, which is why Change Facing, Alert! and Warning! exist.

Hyperdynamic Dodge Prone

The most dire skill to use is Warning! which is only if your model or a friendly are the target of an attack in Zone of Control (ZoC) but were unable to declare an ARO. This is most common when your enemy has snuck into your side of the board and has shot one of your poor troops in the back outside of the target's ZoC.  If they survive, they may spin for free.  If any friendlies are within ZoC of the targeted model, they may also spin.

Alert! is another common skill in which case a model that has LoF to an enemy on the Reactive Turn may allow any number of your models to Change Facing.  Normally, Change Facing requires an enemy to penetrate your model's ZoC.  With an Alert, each model may attempt to Change Facing at PH-3.  Change Facing is always assumed to be out of LoF which is why it is one of the few skills that doesn't cause any more penalties to stack. Change Facing works almost the same as Dodge but instead of being able to Move, the model spins. A successful Change Facing also evades all possible injuries.

Dodge is applied when a model has LoF but also whenever a model is hit by a Template Weapon.  This includes Direct Template Weapons and Impact Template Weapons.  For example, if a model is hit by a Shotgun's Impact Template or a Chain Rifle's Direct Template, the model is allowed to Dodge.  If a Light Grenade Launcher is used in a Speculative Fire Attack, this is another possibility of Dodging.  In most of these cases, the model using Dodge may have a PH-3 penalty because they're unable to see the attacker.

Smoke is the last way to avoid attacks as it is considered a Special Dodge due to Smoke blocking LoF.  As a nonlethal targetless weapon, Smoke Grenades do not need to target a model but can target a spot on the ground. Once you've indicated where the Smoke originates, that is where the Smoke thrower measures to for Range Bands. The most common way to make sure your model benefits from +3 Range is to declare "Throwing Smoke at feet." The two dangers of Smoke is if your opponent has MSV2+ because they can see through Smoke Ammunition.  The other is Smoke as a Special Dodge does not defend against Template Weapons.

Direct Template Weapons usually trigger ZoC AROs at the least, which could be PH-3 due to out of LoF. Impact Templates, such as from Shotguns or Missile Launchers, use the attacker's values in the FtF against any targets who are also probably lacking LoF to the Attacker and being penalized with PH-3.  Deployable Weapons, such as Mines, cause PH-3 to Dodge as well.  It should also be noted that any Template Weapon strips the victims of Armour from Cover.

To wrap up: if out of LoF and ZoC without using a Template Weapon, your model is helpless. If they're using a Template Weapon outside of LoF, Dodge PH-3. If they're within LoF, that's straight Dodge unless the weapon was Deployed. Smoke Grenades may be thrown at your model's feet, giving PH+3 for this Special Dodge. This has no effect on Template Weapons. If they're within 2" and LoF, Engage on the Reactive Turn is legal. 

Frequently Asked Questions:
Dodge/Engage
Can I Dodge to go Prone?
Yes, you just need to declare during you're going Prone.  This only works on the Reactive Turn as you do not gain Movement on the Active Turn.

Let's say after my opponent declares First Half Move 8" with his Motorcycle, I declare ARO Engage which succeeds and they declare Second Half Move 6". What happens?
Your opponent moves his Motorcycle and then places your Engaging model anywhere in base contact with his Motorcycle. Your Engaging model went for quite the ride while holding on for dear life. This could be applied to Super Jumps and Climbing+ as well.

Five different people shoot at my model. If I Dodge and beat them what happens?
Depends. If you are the Active Player, your model is safe. If you are the Reactive Player, you would be safe and gain the benefit of a 2" Move (or more with Kinematika).

My opponent had TO Camouflage, Cover, out of my +3 Range and Surprise Shot so that my BS became 0. Is that a miss? How can I beat that?
If your BS goes below 0, that's an automatic miss.  If you Dodged, you would only have -3 to your PH from Surprise Shot and any other modifiers - but probably less than the BS penalty from all of those skills. If you survive, have the model get closer and attack with weight of dice and better BS.

Can I Dodge in ARO if I'm not the target?
Yup, if successful you'd get your Move too.

Can you Dodge a Hacking Attack?
No. Use Reset to stop Hacking Attacks. For information on Hacking, click here.

My opponent is a Hacker and I'm a Heavy Infantry on the Reactive Turn.  He Moves to bring within ZoC and LoF, if I declare Reset to avoid the Hack can he Shoot? If I declare Dodge, can he then Hack me?
Unfortunately, you're in a bad situation here because they can declare either Shoot or Hack to counter your ARO declaration - but if you choose to Shoot that would be a FtF.

If you move with Dodge, you can leave your Foxhole. What if you want to Dodge an attack but not leave the Foxhole?
Tell your opponent you're Dodging in place.

Target A Moves, I declare Engage on Target B, Target A Shoots. What happens?
You can't declare Engage on Target B because B did not provoke an ARO, you would need to Dodge which cannot result in an Engaged state. If B did provoke via Link Teams or Coordinated Orders, then you could Engage but only if you beat all the dice.

Smoke
My opponent attacks model A but model B has LoF to the attacker.  If I throw Smoke, does that make it a FtF on behalf of model A?
No.  The Smoke toss would be a Normal Roll to see if they're successful.  If they're successful, then future attacks may be hampered by lack of LoF.

I throw Smoke and get a 9 out of PH 14.  My opponent Shoots and rolls 4, 10 and 13 out of BS 12. What happens? What if I got 10 or 11?
If you roll a 9 vs his 4, 10 and 13, you would take one hit. His 13 is a failure, your 9 beats his 4 but his 10 beats your 9. You would not lay Smoke down. If you rolled a 10, then you would take no hits because you tied but you wouldn't lay down Smoke either.  If you beat all of your opponent's dice, then you lay Smoke down.

Okay, what if I Dodged or Engaged instead of threw Smoke from the example above?
You need to beat all of the dice rolls to gain the benefit of Engage and a 2" Move on a Reactive Turn Dodge.

Smoke Grenades are listed as a Special Dodge but they're also weapons. Link Teams give +1 Burst to weapons. Does this mean they get Burst 2 when throwing Smoke?
Yes.

How tall is a Smoke Template?
Infinite height.

When does Smoke go away?
At the end of every turn.

If Smoke is a Special Dodge due to blocking LoF, what if I toss Smoke out of LoF with my first half and walk into LoF but where the Smoke arrives?
That would be a FtF to see if the Smoke lands.

Since Smoke blocks LoF and models can't Shoot Markers, what happens if I use Smoke as a Marker?
If the Smoke successfully blocks LoF, then your opponent's AROs are cancelled.  This doesn't work if a model has Sixth Sense 2.

I throw Smoke and one ARO has MSV2+ and another one doesn't, what happens?
The Smoke throw would be a FtF vs the non-MSV, the MSV2+ would be a Normal Roll.

I throw Smoke vs MSV2+, is that still a Special Dodge?
No. It would be two Normal rolls, so it is possible to lay Smoke but take a Wound from the MSV2 Shooter.

Template Weapons
My model is attacked by multiple Templates, like a Dog Warrior Dual Wielding Chain Rifles.  Do I have to pass two Dodge rolls to avoid damage?
No. You make a single Dodge roll and if it is successful, you avoid all the Template Weapons.

I lack LoF when I'm hit with a Template Weapon. Is it -3 or -6 to Change Facing? What if it was a Deployable Weapon like a Mine?
-3 in both cases. They do not stack.

My Dog Warrior uses a Direct Template Weapon Chain Rifle against Target A who Dodges. When we put down the Template, target A is out of Range but Target B is. Does B now get an ARO?
If B is within ZoC, they would get a Change Facing whether or not they were the target but because Target A is out of range of the Dog Warrior's Chain Rifle the shot completely fails.

I Shoot my Missile Launcher at a cluster of models. Target A throws a Smoke Grenade.  Is it possible for me to lose the FtF, having Target A place Smoke but then anybody near him fail the FtF vs the Missile Launcher's BS?
Yes.