Engine of the God's is a bound spell, so no wizard is casting this. Can it be cast while the unit is in combat? And if so does it affect the enemy unit I'm in combat with? Or just any other enemy units within range? @Scalenex @NIGHTBRINGER
I think it is one of those weird ones, where it seems like it hits anything within the 4D6 in a circle around the engine, but depending which part of the rules you lean most heavily it, it will do just that or it might only hit stuff in the front arc within the 4D6 and only it the target is not in close combat. Personally I'd play it like it hist everything in a circle around it. Bound spells are not all that great in 8th anyway, so giving it some more power is sorely needed I think. Still you should talk to your opponent beforehand, so you both agree how it works.
Hiya, haven’t seen you in a while! It’s definitely all units within the range of the spell all around, just not sure what happens if the unit is in combat, whether I can cast it at all? (As wizards can’t cast while mid combat) and whether it would affect only the unit you’re in combat with? Or just those around you not in combat? Or affects both?
While not a wizard, I would treat the casting of a bound spell no differently (unless specifically outlined in the BRB, page 37). Unlike Magic Missiles, Direct Damage spells (like Burning Alignment) have no restriction forbidding them from being cast while the "caster" is engage in close combat. This one is a bit more tricky, and players will disagree on it. Some will claim that a direct damage spell can't target a unit engaged in CC, while others will claim that Burning Alignment targets ALL units within 4D6". Personally, I would error on the side of caution and play it that Burning Alignment will only target unengaged units within 4d6". I simply do not see concrete evidence in the Burning Alignment text that would directly override the normal restriction which prevents casting into close combat. Interestingly, in the 7th edition Lizardmen army book, Burning Alignment was specifically stated to be able to target units engaged in CC. Unfortunately, such an entry is not made in the 8th edition book and we have no clue as to whether that omission was made purposely or by error. Your question was discussed over on the EEFL forum, if you are interested in reading more opinions on the topic, you can do so here: https://eefl.freeforums.net/thread/2002/engine-burning-alignment-enemy-combat
The only thing I can find on this in the BRB is that you can't cast DD spells into combat... Am I missing something? Or do you mean that it is cast affecting unengaged units surrounding the caster? Yeah, I think you're right here. Thanks a lot. I checked it out. I'm working my way through all of the EOTG forum threads. There's some great stuff in there!
The "caster" (in this case the Stegadon) can be in close combat while casting burning alignment, but the spell will only effect units in range that are not engaged in close combat. That's the way I would play it.