I was watching a game on Vassal and I found someone did something unusual. Their TIE Fighter took 4 hits and the player proceeded to draw 4 cards on the table. The rule says when the amount of damage equals to or exceeds the hull value. To me that would mean that you stop drawing cards as you can't be more destroyed than destroyed. In fact, that would alter the odds of individual cards as crits.
Is this legal?
that player did it correctly.
You draw 1 damage card for each [hit] and [crit] (turned face up) that is not cancelled by defence dice THEN you check the game effect, which is that damage cards has equalled or exceeded the hull points of the ship.
Otherwise there would be no need to put the "or exceeds" clause in there.
Technically, you could draw any number of cards although if we're honest the only ones that will matter are the face-up ones.
The reason you'd draw excessive cards is the "simultaneous fire" rules. Those extra cards could contain an effect that will hamper your attacks or those of someone else which is why they are important.
As for drawing those "extra" cards just remember that once/if the damage deck gets empty all the currently discarded/unused cards will be reshuffled to make a new deck.
Excess damage card are always applied to the ship according to the rules.
But in practice, and especially when those cards are facedown and no simultaneous rule will be invoked, people usually just deal enough cards to match hull. In many cases, after calculating damage during casual games, they don't even draw the corresponding damage cards, and a simple 'I'm / You are destroyed" is all that people do to remove the ships.
Pretty much the same happens with critical hit tokens. According to the rules, every ship with a faceup damage card should have one of those. In practice, few people use them at all, or they use for other purposes... like declaring "Marksmanship" or other EPTs.
Edited by Jehan MenasisI find these are great for that.
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Another reason to draw the cards is to further counter damage deck stacking and cheating. It's possible that someone could know the order of his deck, even after you cut it, and then he could "choose" to draw cards or to just say "my ship's dead" and not draw any...
But by being forced to draw cards, he doesn't have that possibility... Not like I really think anyone did that... but just pointing out that it's no longer possible.
From the FAQ:
Another reason to draw the cards is to further counter damage deck stacking and cheating. It's possible that someone could know the order of his deck, even after you cut it, and then he could "choose" to draw cards or to just say "my ship's dead" and not draw any...
But by being forced to draw cards, he doesn't have that possibility... Not like I really think anyone did that... but just pointing out that it's no longer possible.
Damage Deck "stacking" would be considered cheating and could/should result in a forfeiture of the game. The damage deck should be completely randomized and your opponent gets a chance to shuffle and cut the deck after you are done shuffling it (step 3 in squad deployment section of tournament rules). I can't think of one example in X-Wing where a damage deck could legally be stacked EXCEPT in a situation where all the damage cards have been dealt and you need to reshuffle that one discarded card to make a new deck.
Another reason to draw the cards is to further counter damage deck stacking and cheating. It's possible that someone could know the order of his deck, even after you cut it, and then he could "choose" to draw cards or to just say "my ship's dead" and not draw any...
But by being forced to draw cards, he doesn't have that possibility... Not like I really think anyone did that... but just pointing out that it's no longer possible.
Damage Deck "stacking" would be considered cheating and could/should result in a forfeiture of the game. The damage deck should be completely randomized and your opponent gets a chance to shuffle and cut the deck after you are done shuffling it (step 3 in squad deployment section of tournament rules). I can't think of one example in X-Wing where a damage deck could legally be stacked EXCEPT in a situation where all the damage cards have been dealt and you need to reshuffle that one discarded card to make a new deck.
Oh I know it's illegal. Doesn't mean that it can't happen. And this is just one further way to prevent it from being useful. IF one was to stack, he could abuse the system by drawing the # of cards he wants when his ship died... none, to full hull, or full damage. By giving him that "option" if he stacked the deck (read: cheated) he could actually make use of the inside info and successfully cheat. Otherwise, knowing what crits you have coming up doesn't really change anything since you otherwise have to draw the cards anyways. *shrug* Whatever. I'm talking about serious Vegas-style cheating. Who seriously does that while "flying casual?"
NEVER underestimate the desire to WIN by ANY means. Some people are morally bankrupt. They will use small tactics like trying to fudge on ship placement durring movement, or anything else they can get away with. CALL them on the BS right away. If its a tournie, get the organiser, if its a "friendly" match, pick up your things and dont play them. Ive done both. Ive even forfited a match in a tournament cause my opponent was a known rules stretcher. I dont mind not winning, somtimes things dont go your way even when tactics and stategy are on your side. But to try and bend, break, fudge victory? Grow up. And LOTS of adults are sadly guilty of this.