Both in the Tactical Map and the Operational Map, certain terrain grants a Hard DM to all ranged attacks. This is considered Natural Cover.
Natural Cover is not exclusive with Half Cover and Full Cover.
The following terrain features are considered Natural Cover:
- Forest Terrain
- Nullified if the enemy attacks from Medium Range or below.
- Nullified by FIRE-DMG attacks.
- Jungle Terrain
- Nullified if the enemy attacks from Short Range or below.
- Nullified by FIRE-DMG attacks.
- Mountain Terrain
- Nullified if the enemy attacks from Medium Range or below.
- Urban Terrain
- Nullified if the enemy attacks from Short Range or below.
The battlefield is considered dark when underground or when it is night-time and there are no sources of light nearby, such as streetlamps, lightbulbs or oil lamps.
All attacks gain a Very Hard DM to their hit rolls or skill checks.
Combat penalties for darkness are not exclusive with Natural Cover, Half Cover or Full Cover. Fighting in a dark forest is a terrible idea.
Darkness can be negated in a number of ways:
- By the Illuminated effect, which is typically imposed by flashlights and other such light-emitting objects.
- By using Night Vision or Thermal Vision.
- By certain SAs such as Darkvision and Perfect Darkvision.
- Turning the lights on.