FalloutTTSRPG

Peek Rule

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When a character in Full Cover needs to expose themselves to make a ranged attack against a target that is not already in their line of sight, they must Peek.

Peeking is free — it costs no ⚡ AP or ⚡ MAP. It occurs automatically as part of making a ranged attack from Full Cover when required.

Quick Reference

Peek Rule Summary:

  1. Peek applies when attacking from Full Cover against a target not in line of sight
  2. Peek is free (no ⚡ AP or ⚡ MAP cost)
  3. Full Cover downgrades to Half Cover for the duration of your turn
  4. Peeking triggers Overwatch Attacks and 🤺 Opportunity Attacks, which resolve BEFORE your attack
  5. You Peek once per turn — multiple attacks don’t trigger multiple Peeks
  6. You automatically return to Full Cover at the end of your turn
  7. Prone characters can only Peek sideways, not over cover
  8. Half Cover does not require Peeking

When Do You Need to Peek?

You must Peek when all of the following are true:

  • You are in Full Cover
  • You are making a ranged attack
  • The target is not already in your line of sight from your current position (i.e., the Cover Object is between you and the target)

You do not need to Peek if:

  • You are in Half Cover (you already have an angle to fire from)
  • The target is behind you, on your flank, or otherwise visible without leaning past your Cover Object
  • You are making a melee or unarmed attack (these don’t require line of sight around Cover)

What Happens When You Peek

When you Peek, your Full Cover is temporarily downgraded to Half Cover for the duration of your turn.

This means:

  • Your Concealment Bonus is reduced from +4 ( Full Cover) to +2 ( Half Cover)
  • Only half of your limbs remain Covered. Which limbs become Uncovered depends on the context — the GM determines this based on how you are exposing yourself (leaning left, leaning right, rising above the cover, etc.)
  • The Cover Object still provides material protection (💎 Hardness / ♨️ Energy Resistance) for your Covered Limbs as normal

Returning to Full Cover

At the end of your turn, you automatically duck back into Full Cover. Your full Concealment Bonus (+4) is restored, and all limbs return to Covered status. This costs no ⚡ AP or ⚡ MAP.

You do not remain exposed between turns. Once your turn ends, you are back in Full Cover before enemy turns begin.

Peek and Reactive Attacks

Peeking exposes you, making you vulnerable to reactive attacks.

Overwatch

If an enemy has an Overwatch zone covering your position, Peeking triggers an Overwatch Attack. The Overwatch Attack resolves before your ranged attack. This means:

  • You Peek to shoot
  • The Overwatching enemy fires at you first (while you are exposed at Half Cover)
  • If you survive, your attack then resolves

Opportunity Attacks

If an enemy is adjacent to you and has Opportunity Attack capability, Peeking also triggers an 🤺 Opportunity Attack. The same timing applies — the Opportunity Attack resolves before your ranged attack.

This represents the adjacent enemy exploiting your momentary exposure to strike.

Peeking Examples

Standing Behind a Wall

You lean to the side of the wall to fire. This is a standard Peek — Full Cover downgrades to Half Cover. The limbs on the exposed side (the side you lean toward) become Uncovered.

Crouching Behind a Crate

You lean to the side or briefly raise up to fire. This is a standard Peek — Full Cover downgrades to Half Cover. The GM determines which limbs are exposed based on how you lean out.

Prone Behind Cover

Prone characters cannot Peek over cover. A character lying flat behind a rock cannot raise themselves enough to shoot over it without a Change Stance.

However, a Prone character can Peek sideways if the cover geometry allows it — for example, lying Prone at the edge of a wall and shooting around the corner at ground level. The GM adjudicates whether sideways Peek is possible based on the specific cover layout.

If a Prone character needs to shoot over their cover, they must first Change Stance to at least Crouched. This cost can be reduced by:

Peek and Overwatch Mode

When a character enters Overwatch Mode from Full Cover, they are committing to a sustained exposed state — they need to be ready to fire at anything that enters their zone. Entering Overwatch from Full Cover automatically Peeks for the duration of the Overwatch.

While in Overwatch from Full Cover:

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