You might house rule this possibility using Line of Sigth rules.
If the Heat-ray squarely hits a plane, with the whole template crossing the base of the nearest target, then only the nearest target is hit, regardless of how many bases the template touches after the nearest.
If the Heat-ray template touches the nearest target's base, but the template also touches (or crosses) another base, there is the potential for damage to another target. Using Line of Sight, if the Heat-ray template is not obstructed by another base, but has a clear view to the other target, damage could be inflicted.
Using the below image from a playtest game at BottosCon 2017:
In the game, the template clearly crosses over the nearest plane's base, but touches a plane at the end of the template (Red outlines). Current rules state that only the nearest plane takes damage.
Even with my modified rules, because the template completely crosses the nearest plane's base, the farther target still wouldn't take damage. However, if the planes were in the Green positions, they could both be considered damaged, as the template would still be in a Line of Sight to the farther target.
Bookmarks