Special sensors and line of sight

[TrotskyTrotsky]

Do special sensors need to be able to see a target hex - i.e. can they be used on a target behind a planet?

[The Ghost]

I would think they would require a line of sight as the functions are effectively directing energy into that hex to cause the effect.

[TrotskyTrotsky]

I agree - but the rules do not state it does.

[Monty]

They are very special. If the rule doesn't explicitly state it then I would think not.

[TrotskyTrotsky]

That is how i read it Monty - just want to check if that was the intention.

[mjwest]

I really wanted to just leave it as "it isn't addressed in the rules, so isn't affected", but I really can't. While it is a relatively minor case, it is just too glaring to let slide.

Simple ruling: Special Sensors are blocked by terrain as if they were direct fire weapons.

Expanded version: Special Sensors are blocked by planets, pulsars, and black holes as if they were direct fire weapons. This means that if a phaser fired at the target of the special sensor would be blocked, the special sensor cannot be used on that target. Note that this only applies to outright blocking of fire. Asteroids, which degrade direct-fire weapons firing through them, will not affect special sensors. Likewise web, which is not terrain, will not block special sensors, either.

[TrotskyTrotsky]

Thanks mj - I agree it is relatively rare but in our current campaign where a starbase in the same system as a planet needs to be destroyed it is important.