TAG and Light TAG in Alpha Strike

[RABIDFOX50]

OK, is TAG and Light TAG strictly used for artillery in AS or can it be used Mech to Mech/Vee? I'm asking due to the AS books not covering it or I can't find it. One of our players was using TAG and I did not understand where he was getting a -2 to his roles to hit me.

[Weirdo]

-2 with what kind of shot? TAG and LTAG only affect homing artillery(AS, p 75), laser-guided bombs(which do get a -2) (AS, p 79), LRM attacks with semi-guided ammo(LRM-only shots do get the -2, standard shots do not) (AS, p 80), or air-to-ground capital or sub-capital attacks(they get a -2) (AS, p 87).

[Saint]

He was using semi-guided LRMs. His favorite LRM load out  is swarm and semi-guided. Pretty effective combo if you have units with TAG.

[RABIDFOX50]

My question is, how is he rolling to hit on the TAG? Is it a normal roll to hit factoring in terrain, distance and target modifier? I was confused about that when we were playing. I think I may use it next we play. It's a great tactic and very effective.

[Weirdo]

My question is, how is he rolling to hit on the TAG? Is it a normal roll to hit factoring in terrain, distance and target modifier?

Yes.

[Fenwulfr]

I'm unable to find the specific rules for using TAG in the sourcebook. I can find the rules for TAG bombs and Semi-Guided Missiles, but not a an entry for TAG as a special. I see above that all normal conditions are factored in when rolling to hit with it but I'm fuzzy on a few aspects that I hope someone here can help me with. First, does rolling for TAG replace your attack in that phase of the turn? Second, when using SGM's in an indirect fire attack against a tagged target, do you still include the +1 to TN for firing indirectly? Then, because the spotter technically attacked (with TAG) do you include the +1 TN for that? Finally, does TAG work at all ranges? In CBT, the range is fairly short.

[Tai Dai Cultist]

Also keep in mind the Errata doc.

If you're using standard rules, TAG is even easier to use since you don't make a to-hit roll with it.  Just having it (and having it in range) passively gives you the bonus.

However, that wouldn't work with Semi-guided LRMs since alternate ammo is an optional rule.  Still, if you're using standard rules and Arrow IV artillery, TAG is easy peasy lemon squeezy to use.

[nckestrel]

p75
"is an additional attack"
"LTAG works only at short...TAG works at short or medium"

SGM is still an indirect attack, nothing says otherwise, so yes to the +1 for indirect.
If you use the same unit to TAG and spot, then yes there's a +1 for the spotter attacking.  You can have a different unit spot and a different one TAG.

p107 for LTAG also mentions the range limit.
p109 for TAG also mentions the range limit.

[NeonKnight]

Ninjaed By nckestrel!

[Weirdo]

If you're using standard rules, TAG is even easier to use since you don't make a to-hit roll with it.

Oh, this I've got to hear...

[Fenwulfr]

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I was hoping for more favorable answers, but it's good to have a verdict I can take to my games.

[Tai Dai Cultist]

p75
"is an additional attack"
"LTAG works only at short...TAG works at short or medium"

SGM is still an indirect attack, nothing says otherwise, so yes to the +1 for indirect.
If you use the same unit to TAG and spot, then yes there's a +1 for the spotter attacking.  You can have a different unit spot and a different one TAG.

p107 for LTAG also mentions the range limit.
p109 for TAG also mentions the range limit.

I guess this is descending into pedantry.... but I was explicitly talking about standard rules artillery.  What's on pg 75 is irrelevant to that, is it not?  I understood that TAG, when used in standard rules, basically just overwrote the PRB bonus as a higher (and passive) bonus?  Presuming the range was still being met.

[nckestrel]

Yes.

For the standard rules artillery in the errata, TAG is not an attack.  If the spotter for an Arrow IV indirect fire artillery attack has TAG, it's a -2 to-hit on the artillery attack, but the spotter with TAG does have a range limit of 24" (medium range).  In the standard rules artillery, if the spotter, with TAG, makes no other attack, there's no +1 to the artillery attack for the spotter attacking.

[Tai Dai Cultist]

Oh, this I've got to hear...

here you go:

Yes.

For the standard rules artillery in the errata, TAG is not an attack.  If the spotter for an Arrow IV indirect fire artillery attack has TAG, it's a -2 to-hit on the artillery attack, but the spotter with TAG does have a range limit of 24" (medium range).  In the standard rules artillery, if the spotter, with TAG, makes no other attack, there's no +1 to the artillery attack for the spotter attacking.

[Weirdo]

Ah, no wonder it was news to me. I always play with the full arty rules, not the standard-level ones.

[Archer_Wirth]

TAG is such a F$@&^^ng simple thing to use in Classic and AS decided to not even include how to use it in the damn book?!!?

I came up on this post while searchng online on how to use TAG in AS.

do we fire it during the weapon phase?
does it replace any other weapons fire?
is it fired separately?

I found some stuff on it being -2 to hit a target that's TAGed but not HOW to TAG. WTF?

I have both books, so please advise?

[nckestrel]

p75, the part in the artillery rules that explains arrow iv homing rounds, explains how to TAG. The part that begins with "to paint a target.." 

for standard rules artillery, from the errata, there is no painting with TAG. If the spotter has TAG, and the attacker is using arrow iv, the attack gets the bonus to-hit.

[Tai Dai Cultist]

TAG is such a F$@&^^ng simple thing to use in Classic and AS decided to not even include how to use it in the damn book?!!?

I came up on this post while searchng online on how to use TAG in AS.

do we fire it during the weapon phase?
does it replace any other weapons fire?
is it fired separately?

I found some stuff on it being -2 to hit a target that's TAGed but not HOW to TAG. WTF?

I have both books, so please advise?

In advanced play it's literally a "special" attack.  As in an extra attack granted by the TAG special. 

Do note that the -2 to hit TAGd targets is only for standard rules artillery... the presence of the special (and being in range of the TAG type in question) just grants the bonus rather than needing a to-hit roll.  Also, in standard play, it's only granting a bonus to Arrow IV rounds since everything else that can use TAG (Copperheads, Semi-guided LRMs, etc) are in advanced rules.  In advanced rules, a TAG attack is just an extra attack.  Kind of like how an artillery attack or a xNARC attack is.

EDIT: ninja'd by nckestrel

[Archer_Wirth]

p75, the part in the artillery rules that explains arrow iv homing rounds, explains how to TAG. The part that begins with "to paint a target.." 

for standard rules artillery, from the errata, there is no painting with TAG. If the spotter has TAG, and the attacker is using arrow iv, the attack gets the bonus to-hit.

Holy crap, that was hard to find! Thank you!

[Weirdo]

*cough*Gorefreshyourselfontheforumrulesplease*cough*
*hack*hintImtalkingaboutrule2*hack*
*wheeze*gobackandedityourpostsplease*wheeze*
*dies*

Stupid allergies...

[Archer_Wirth]

I've been drinking bruh. Was frustrated while trying to plan my list for a campaign.

[Kit deSummersville]

So just type ******. So much easier and forum does all the work for you.