Master Engineer and defence, including challenges

Q1: It seems you are implying that characters can join war machines, but that is not the case anymore in the 8th edition. The Master Engineer needs to be within 3" of a war machine for the Master of Ballistics or the Stand Back Sir special rules to work, but ME and war machine remain independent units.

Q2: As an independent unit, you might still use him to redirect a potential threat by charging it (in your own turn), but if (as is likely) he is slaughtered immediately, that unit could simply reform to attack the war machine in its own turn, or (if he is not but flees) might perhaps even immediately pursue him into the war machine. So, that would really be only a last resort use. Giving the ME a repeater handgun or repeater pistol to deal with war machine hunters is probably more efficient.

Okay you are correct in that I had a logic mistake in my thinking. Then let me re-phrase:

If I have a Master Engineer in a somewhat acceptable position, I could turn, move in between and then block the Ambusher (e.g. Gorger) with my Master Engineer. He'd likely die and that would mean my remaining crew would have to master a LD check.. but at least they'd have a proper chance to hold him an extra round, no?

I was actually taught the game (8e) in that way that a ME simply replaces a crew member. 

Well, no not really though. He might shoot once but as soon as that Ambusher goes in for the kill and is engaged in melee, he is useless. I think I would prefer to sacrifice the crew member for the chance of getting another shot with the Helblaster, which will likely obliterate the attacker if I play my cards right.
Or is there yet another flaw in my reasoning?



Two issues here, really, I only have one hill. But yes, it will be unwise to cram everything up there. Number two, I have specifically and for good reason taken a ME each for each Helblaster. The reason being I have to define "who I babysit" prior to opening fire. Not knowing which Helblaster gets a misfire, I need one for each.

Now, perhaps I might put them within 6" of each other, and a great cannon on 3" of each side, that way I can at least use the ability in the rounds where the battlefield situation renders them useless. Or triangulate the ME more forwards Perhaps something like this
.........(ME)........................(ME)
........./...\........................./...\
......./.......\....../.......\....../.......\
(GC) - - - - (HB) - - - - (HB) - - - - (GC)
..............................(on hill)

But then the first question is, cannons or ME on the frontline, I'm guessing it will need to be the cannons for range.

Uhm, not quite sure where you get that from. Do you have the official GW Empire AB? There are number of alternate rule sets (including a fanmade AB in pdf form) available on the internet, but those differs from the official rules. The range of the Hellblaster is 24". If the enemy is not in range from the start, you cannot shoot at him.

The only time you can shoot at something not in range is during a Stand & Shoot reaction against a charging enemy. War machines generally have the Slow to Fire special rule, i.e. they cannot Stand & Shoot.

Since distances "between models and all other objects (which can be other models, terrain features and so on...) are always measured from closest point on one base to the closest point on the other base" and "between units are always measured to and from the closest models in each of the units" (BRB p.6), then, yes, if both the muzzle of the Hellblaster and the base (not the tray!)of the closest model of the enemy unit are exactly on their respective deployment lines opposite each other, the enemy unit would be in range. Of course, easily avoided by not having your units exactly on the deployment line.