All missile weapons have a maximum range which indicates the greatest distance they can shoot. If your declared target lies beyond this maximum range then your shots automatically miss. This is why you must pick your target before measuring the range.

For example: The Lizardman player is using short bows, which have a range of 16". He declares he is opening fire on the nearest Bretonnian unit. When he measures the distance he finds the Bretonnians are 17" away. His hail of arrows falls short of the jeering men.

It often happens that some models in a firing unit will be in range and others will be out of range. If this is the case then only those who are in range can shoot and the remainder automatically miss.

These ranges are the maximum distances that the weapons can fire. Missiles lose power and accuracy long before they reach maximum range so ranges are divided into short and long. Short range is up to half the maximum range of a weapon. Long range is between half and maximum distance. As we shall see later, there are modifiers that make it more difficult for a weapon to hit at long range.

For example: Short range for a short bow is up to 8". A target at more than 8" counts as being at long range.