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{{UnderConstruction|users=Tempest|flavortext=As usual.}} Finding and taking '''cover''' is an essential element of combat in the game, and at the most important element core of combat and stealth.
= Finding cover =
In order to look for coverin the [[Uncivilized Area|UA]], you must use the '''[[Tsuchinoko (bot)|&cover]]''' command. In [[Civilized Areas]], cover types are fixed and depend on the current room you're in.
There can be only one piece of cover per Side of the [[Battlespace]], which means in turn that there can be up to 4 pieces of cover available in a single room, one per Side.
* If you get a result of '''7 or higher''', you will '''maintain stealth''', allowing you to perform an action on the next turn without the enemy being able to see you or target you. As long as you maintain stealth, even if the enemies are technically alerted or aware of your presence, they cannot target you. With some care and a little luck, you can clear an entire room of its enemies without ever being attacked!
* If you get aresult a result of '''6 or less''', then '''stealth will be broken'''; you made noise, an enemy noticed you getting behind cover, or something else attracted their attention and made them aware of your location. You will still be behind cover (and benefit from its protection), and but it is treated as though you took cover without stealth; enemies able to attack will do so on the same turn will still end immediately, allowing you a chance to retaliate.
Other than failing a stealth cover check, the following things '''will break''' stealth:
* Firing an '''unsilenced''' firearm
* Firing a [[Taser]]
* Firing [[Ammunition types|Tracer]] ammunition '''even with a silencer'''
* Whenever you and at least one enemy meet on the same Side (either due to you entering theirs, or them entering yours). As a rule of thumb, melee and Stealth are incompatible, though the GM may apply exemptions to that rule if they feel it's necessary.
* Taking cover and intentionally choose not to make a stealth cover check (see [[Cover#Cover without stealth|below]])
The following '''will NOT break''' stealth; therefore you can do these and still maintain stealth:
* Firing a '''silenced''' firearm(unless also firing Tracer ammunition, which breaks stealth)
* Using a melee weapon of any kind (technically speaking - see above)
* Throwing weapons or items of any kind
* Firing Archery weapons of any kind, [[Ballistic knife|ballistic knives]], [[Nailgun|nailguns]],
* Generally, using any item in your inventory or any special ability that isn't a weapon ''should '' be safe, unless the GM decides for one reason or another that it's too loud /visible and would break stealth. If you're in doubt, ask them; their word is final.
{{GMTip
If you really want to, it's perfectly possible to take cover without regard for stealth. In that case, you do not need to pass a stealth cover check; simply make sure that you have available cover on your side, and declare that you're taking cover without stealth. You will automatically succeed, but you are giving up stealth for the rest of this round of combat.
=== Stealth with multiple characters ===
Allied characters must each make their stealth checks in order to remain undetected from other parties.
If there are allied creatures in multiple states (one in Stealth, another not), then '''all creatures in Stealth act first'''. The order of priority is as follows:
* Creatures in stealth, non-combat actions
* Creatures in stealth, combat actions
* Creatures in the open, non-combat actions
* Creatures in the open, combat actions
=== Moving to another side in stealth ===
Under normal conditions, if you wish to switch to another Side of the battlespace and benefit from the cover on that side, you must spend one turn to make a [[Combat_mode#Non-combat_movement|non-combat move]], then spend the next turn on taking cover as a non-combat action.
However, if you meet both of the following conditions:
* You are behind cover
* You have maintained Stealth
...then you may make a '''stealth cover switch'''. To do so, check for Cover on a Side of the room that doesn't have enemies (as entering a Side with enemies breaks Stealth automatically), then pass another '''stealth cover check.'''
* Success allows the character to switch to another Side, take cover, and maintain Stealth
* Failure lets the character move to cover on the desired Side, but Stealth is broken.
If you activated '''[[Danger Close]]''' beforehand, you can still perform a stealth cover switch, as normal; success simply maintains Stealth but does not place you behind cover.
= Using cover for protection =
* Cover '''does not last indefinitely'''; all pieces of cover have a certain amount of '''health''', which is reduced by [[limb damage]]. If cover health falls to zero, then this piece of cover '''breaks down''' and cannot be used anymore.
* All types of cover have an [[Armor Class]], with appropriate properties, including limb damage reduction. All types have an AC ranging between A1 and A5, therefore they all count as armored targets.
* Cover is of '''limited use against explosives''' - they . They will not protect from splash damage (unless they are '''blast-resistant'''), and bouncing explosives (unless such as [[VOG-25P]] grenades) are designed to ignore cover entirely.** '''Blast-resistant cover''' will protect creatures from an explosion's target damage and splash damage. See [[Explosives]] for more details. == List of random cover types == Legend:* '''BR?''': Is this cover type '''blast-resistant'''? {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:10pt"|-! Name !! Health !! [[AC]] !! BR?|-| Wooden barrel || 24 || A1 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Empty plastic crate || 30 || A1 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Flipped wooden table || 36 || A1 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Wooden crate || 40 || A1 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Flipped metal table || 36 || A2 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Plastic crate full of garbage || 42 || A2 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Metallic file cabinet || 42 || A2 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Dishwasher || 49 || A2 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Wooden crate with metal covers || 53 || A2 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Metallic file cabinet full of papers || 42 || A2 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Pile of garbage || 60 || A2 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Pile of cinder blocks || 67 || A2 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Fridge || 60 || A3 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Washing machine full of destroyed clothes || 66 || A3 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Empty dumpster || 75 || A3 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Static tactical shield, 'Guardian' model || 80 || A3 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Dumpster full of trash || 85 || A3 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Improved tactical shield, 'Super Guardian' model || 100 || A3 || <center>[[File:Yes box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Sandbag nest || 83 || A4 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Static tactical shield, 'Defender' model || 80 || A4 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Block of concrete || 98 || A4 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Block of reinforced concrete || 116 || A4 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Improved tactical shield, 'Super Defender' model || 130 || A4 || <center>[[File:Yes box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Steel crate || 90 || A5 || <center>[[File:No box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Static tactical shield, 'Colossus' model || 150 || A5 || <center>[[File:Yes box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Blast shield || 175 || A5 || <center>[[File:Yes box.png|25px]]</center>|-| Improved tactical shield, 'Titan' model || 200 || A5 || <center>[[File:Yes box.png|25px]]</center>|} == Machine gun emplacements ==''"Machine gun emplacement" and "MG emplacement" redirect here.''
== List A '''machine gun emplacement''' (or '''MG emplacement''') is a special type of cover types ==combining sandbags, defensive shields, and a non-removable machine gun.
(wipAlthough the machine gun can be used like any other weapon on your Side of the [[Battlespace]], raw text list below)you cannot take it or equip it. You may, however, take its [[ammunition]] and [[ammo belt|ammo belts]] and reload it with your own.
No cover MG emplacements are exclusive to select towns. They can typically be found at all!specific [[Town Entrance|Town Gates]], providing [[TownSec]] with a powerful means of defense against invasions, whether from monsters, raiders, or otherwise.
A wooden barrel. Health: 24, AC: A1.
An empty plastic crate. Health: 30, AC: A1.
A flipped wooden table. Health: 36, AC: A1.
A wooden crate. Health: 40, AC: A1.
A flipped metal table. Health{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 36, 10pt"|-! Name !! Health !! [[AC]] !! BR? !! Mounted weapon !! Caliber !! Ammunition|-| 5.56mm MG emplacement || 125 || A4 || <center>[[File: A2No box.A plastic crate full of garbagepng|25px]]</center> || [[M249|Static M249]] || [[5. Health: 4256x45mm NATO]] ([[M27 ammo belt|M27 belt links]]) || 2000 rounds, AC: A2.Standard TracerA metallic file case|-| 5. Health: 46, AC8mm MG emplacement || 125 || A4 || <center>[[File: A2No box.A dishwasherpng|25px]]</center> || [[Norinco QJY-88|Static QJY-88]] || [[5. Health: 498x42mm]] ([[QJY-88 ammo belt|QJY belt links]]) || 1000 rounds, AC: A2. Standard Tracer|-A wooden crate with metal covers| . Health30 cal MG emplacement || 125 || A4 || <center>[[File: 53, AC: A2No box.A metallic file case full of paperspng|25px]]</center> || [[M60|Static M60]] || [[7. Health: 5762x51mm NATO]] ([[M13 ammo belt|M13 belt links]]) || 500 rounds, AC: A2.Standard TracerA pile of garbage|-| . Health50 cal MG emplacement || 125 || A4 || <center>[[File: 60, AC: A2No box.A pile of cinder blockspng|25px]]</center> || [[Static M2HB]] || [[. Health: 6750 BMG]] ([[M2 ammo belt|M2 belt links]]) || 200 rounds, AC: A2.Standard Tracer|}
A fridge. Health: 60, AC: A3.A washing machine full of destroyed clothes. Health: 66, AC: A3. An empty dumpster. Health: 75, AC: A3. A static tactical shield, 'Guardian' model. Health: 80, AC: A3.A dumpster full of trash Health: 85, AC: A3. An improved tactical shield, 'Super Guardian' model. Health: 100, AC: A3, Blast-resistant.=== MG emplacement locations ===
A sandbag nest. Health: 83, AC: A4. A static tactical shield, 'Defender' model. Health: 90, AC: A4.A block The quality and firepower of concrete. Health: 98, AC: A4. A reinforced concrete wall. Health: 116, AC: A4. An improved tactical shield, 'Super Defendera machine gun emplacement are usually reflective of the [[Civilized Areas|town' models population. Health: 130]] As the saying goes, AC: A4"the larger the town, Blast-resistantthe bigger the bullets."
A steel crate* Towns with a '''Very small''' population do not have access to MG emplacements. Health: 90, AC: A5TownSec in these towns relies on an additional block of concrete and their personal weapons instead. A static tactical shield, * Towns with a 'Colossus' model'Small''' population use the '''5. Health: 150, AC: A5, Blast-resistant56mm MG emplacement.'''A blast shield. Health: 150, LDV modifier: -* Towns with a '''Medium''' population use the '''5, AC: A5, Blast-resistant.8mm MG emplacement.'''An improved tactical shield, * Towns with a '''Large''' population use the ''Titan' model. Health: 200, AC: A5, Blast-resistant30 cal MG emplacement.'''* Towns with a '''Very large''' population use the '''.50 cal MG emplacement.'''
[[Category:Abilities]]