Using breath weapon from second rank

So if I have my firebelly in the second rank of my gutstar, can I still use my breath weapon outside of combat?
Ie do I place the template from the firebelly (in which case I hit my own models, making it not legal?) or do I use the ogre in front of him as the point from which I place it?

Howdy Golf?No sir!,

I think you had the right of it with your initial thought. You do place the template on the firebelly. If it touches any of your own models it is illegal (cannot target your own models with a template). However, against most enemies the firebelly's toughness and wounds should help him duke it out on the front lines. If your intention is to bring fiery death to your enemies that is.

Also, consider a potion of speed. Its a cheap magic item that will almost ensures you get that fire-breath off before your enemy can strike.

Agreed. What's worse, if you want to use it in close combat, you still have to be in base to base to use it too.

My understanding was though that command has to be placed in the front rank, forcing characters to the second rank. Although characters can then make way in combat, displacing command, this in effect makes it impossible to use the breath weapon outside of combat in a traditional gutstar setup?

Also, consider a potion of speed. Its a cheap magic item that will almost ensures you get that fire-breath off before your enemy can strike.

surely this item doesn't effect the breath weapon, as it has the Always Strikes Last rule, and thus initiative is irrelevant? I can see that potion of speed would be handy for getting his flaming close combat attacks in ahead of other things though.

If you make way you can then use your breath weapon. You're in base contact!

Breath weapons happen at your initiative (even if your attacks otherwise have ASF or ASL).

Does facing matter? What I mean is that if you are hit on the flank and the FB is on the outside and makes contact with the unit causing flanking. Can the FB then use his breath weapon? Or can not use when it on flanks (or rear even)?

If you make way you can then use your breath weapon. You're in base contact!

Breath weapons happen at your initiative (even if your attacks otherwise have ASF or ASL).

Yeah I get that you can make way and then use it in combat. I'm just struggling with the idea that it seems there is no legal way to use it OUTSIDE of combat if you have your firebelly in a gut star.

Thanks for the breath weapon info though, didn't know that. So does that mean the Dragonhide banner goes at I2 if on ironguts?

Make your front rank 4 wide?

Pretty much as above.  If you want your Firebelly using his breath weapon out of combat, you'll need to drop the Musician/Champ or go 4 wide.

Yeah I get that you can make way and then use it in combat. I'm just struggling with the idea that it seems there is no legal way to use it OUTSIDE of combat if you have your firebelly in a gut star.

Yup. Well, as noted you can be wider than 3-wide, or not take a champion, or run your firebelly out of the unit.

Thanks for the breath weapon info though, didn't know that. So does that mean the Dragonhide banner goes at I2 if on ironguts?

Yes, exactly.

Alternatively, buy your firebelly an arabyan carpet and helicopter around the map causing all sorts of fiery hijinks. Flyerbellies are great fun!