"Muskets and Tomahawks questions" Topic

I'm preparing for my first M-T games and have 2 questions.

1. The to-hit shooting stat for Riflemen is 4+ plus the weapons chart lists that Rifle shots add +1 on to-hit rolls; does the 4+ stat ALREADY factor in this bonus or is it actually 3+ to hit (which seems very generous)?
2. if firing at light infantry, do they get a light-cover or any other trait making them harder to hit (as is the case in many other rules)?
Thanks in advance.

1) The way I have read it, the +1 die roll modifier is in addition to the 4+ and Rifle units may also have "sharpshooter" trait, allowing a one time reroll of any "1"s. Rifles were rare, but deadly in fire combat. They also have the drawback of taking 2 actions to reload.

2) Since this is a skirmish(skirmish order is the normal order) rule set, no "cover" for being light troops". However units using the "firing line" trait (ie close order formation), the enemy does not receive the -1 penalty for long range. So no benefit for being in skirmish order, but a penalty for being in close order.

Well done, DwC! I think you got it exactly right.

Thanks for clarifying this – much appreciated.