So Roadblock says "This model provides cover as if it were an obstacle" So does it provide the melee def bonus for models behind it, like an obstacle?
Obviously Raodblock doesn't make it an obstacle because a huge base could remove the model by touching it. Which would be funny, but silly, but RAW. But it makes the model act like an obstacle as far as hiding behind it goes? Why would it work for one part of being an obstacle but not the other ?
If the idea was to give just cover against ranged and arcane attacks, then surely the rule would have saidjust that and didn't need to mention obstacles at all.
#Roadblock acts like an Obstacle ?
plain elm
autumn python
All the rule does is make them provide cover like an obstacle. It doesn't do anything that it doesn't say, like giving a melee bonus.
I'd guess the reason it says "provides cover as if it were an obstacle" is because it uses the same requirements for providing cover (i.e. a portion of the targeted model's base is obscured by the model with Roadblock) and saying "like an obstacle" is easier to parse than writing that whole sentence out again in the ability text.
plain elm
It says cover like an obstacle, when we look up obstacle it says how obstacles provide cover. If it is just cover, it would have been way easier to parse "gives +4 def against ranged/arcane to models behind it" But it doesn't. It calls out obstacles.
So if it wants the model with the ability to act like an obstacle, the rule will say it's like an obstacle, but not really.
If it was just to give a def bonus against ranged/arcane, then there are other rules that do that without any mention of obstacles.
I think it would be best to ask the person that wrote the rule.
timber mulch
Cover is a defined thing that you can have, and it only impacts ranged attacks.
If you look at the obstacle rules, they note that they grant +2 DEF vs. Melee attacks and either Concealment or Cover against Ranged attacks - they're very clearly written separately.
Note that for a game like Warmachine, it is actually extremely important for the model to say that it grants cover, specifically, because if it didn't say that, then you could stack the Roadblock +4 def against Ranged/Arcane attacks with the *normal * cover bonus that's the same thing.
latent jolt
its also important for things that would ignore it, like Sprays or weapons with "From Below"