Rifleman Archive
Thread: Cover...What does it do, exactly?
basically, it just uses up anywhere from 100-200 pts of action ham. that's pretty much it, from what i've seen. 
Kregi wrote:
Cover and concealshot will let a master sharpshooter take down AT-ST's, and lots of other red cons while taking no aggro.One of the most useful abilities as a riflerman when going solo in my opinion. Concealshot works at 9m or more and while under cover you become basically invisible to every NPC and creature. I can take out an AT-ST in less than 2 minutes solo. Some NPC's have a high alertness and may see thru your cover but most will not. Kimos and krayts will see thru it due to their size and random movements usually, but use it at 50-60m and u can take out just about anything.
If you read the description of Cover, all it says is that it adds to your defensive bonuses, i.e., makes you harder to hit, not harder to see. Nowhere does it suggest you become invisible to anything. Distance and posture will decrease your visibility, but cover only adds to your ranged defenses.
Also, Ihave used Concealshot both in cover and out of cover, and I have never seen any difference between the two. The description does not require it (only Supriseshot requires it, though this is in dispute).
So, I have to agree with Blaster. Although it may make them miss a few more times, the difficulty on getting into cover (usually takes at least two or three tries) and the fact that it uses HAM when you do and the fact that while you are in cover you are prone and unable to heal, the costs of getting into cover far outweigh any defensive bonuses. Right now, I never bother using it; though, I still use Concealshot quite often.
This may not be your experience, but it is mine.