I know the card doesn't list them as a flame weapon, but I'm trying to understand how a glass bottle full of gasoline isn't a flame weapon.  Did they just run out of room on the SSU close combat squads card or what?

 I would make sense especially as they would be thrown through windows etc as grenades and ignore cover that way too.

I might be wrong here, but maybe it's because the Molotov just burns whatever it hits, not expanding in an uncontrolled burst like a grenade or flamethrower… Meaning, you need to hit your target directly with the bottle, otherwise it will be unharmed.

 not to argue, but gasoline doesn't just burn, it explodes.  When the glass breaks the fumes in the bottle explode spraying liquid all around.

I think it's a misprint on the card just like Hans's granate werfer.

fhaugh said:

I once built a granate werfer…….. It didnt work so well though…….

BTW, I confirmed this with FFG, Molotov Cocktails DO NOT ignore cover.

Rules for flame weapons do not apply to Molotov cocktails in Dust Tactics. Therefore, they do not ignore cover.

 I got the same reply.  Sucks, flame weapons, besides the flamethrower, would have made the SSU close combat squad worth the points.

Kind of without the sense - when you hit a man (or even hit a ground beside him) with Molotov Cocktail he will surely be burning.

Anyway, FFG logic says otherwise :D

A model hit and burning from a Molotov is a model that scored a hit for damage.

A Molotov might explode when it hits, or it might simply splatter or puddle an area to varied degrees.  It might wind up as effective as a grenade or flamethrower, but usually won't, simply because it isn't as well designed.

A grenade has an inherent explosive and fragmentation effect that has its effectiveness fully considered within its rules.

A flamethrower is a controlled spray of a larger quantity of burning fuel that fits the same way.

A Molotov is a field expedient flame/explosive device that is not as effective as either of the other weapons, so limiting it within the game's rules makes sense. 

If a Molotov was as good as a flamethrower or grenade within the rules it would be far too powerful for what the weapon is capable of.  It doesn't have the explosive or fragmentation effect of a grenade, nor the stickiness or fuel volume put out by a flamethrower.