Hi all,

Had a situation come up the other day that we need clarification on.

I was flying Turr Phennir with Veteran Instincts (PS 9) vs a buddy flying Wedge (also PS 9). I had initiative, so I attacked first. Turr's ability lets you immediately boost or barrel roll after attacking. So I wanted to boost, which would have taken me out of Wedge's arc.

Since Wedge also had PS 9, my buddy argued that he should be able to shoot before Turr's ability triggered. It was late and we didn't want to engage in a protracted rules debate so I let him shoot, and he one-shotted Turr. Although I still won the game in the end, it obviously was not what I wanted.

Now, upon subsequent reading of the "simultaneous attack rule," it seems Wedge gets to perform a "simultaneous" attack only if he takes critical damage, i.e., if I shoot first and do enough damage to kill him. If this is accurate, then it would seem to have no impact as to when Turr's ability triggers. Turr shoots first, Turr gets to boost.

Is this right?

EDIT: OH NEVERMIND THERE'S ALREADY AN FAQ ON THIS EXACT THING. Oops...

Yes, there is a FAQ directly for this.

In your case, you were correct and Turr would complete all of the things he would be doing with his turn (shooting then boosting/BR) then Wedge would do his attack. This is one of those instances where having initiative is a good thing.

Even if Wedge had taken enough damage to destroy him but he still gets to hang around for the simultaneous attack rule, Turr would get to trigger his ability and boost/BR BEFORE Wedge gets to attack back. This is the same as if there were a critical damage dealt, which effect would be applied before Wedge's counter attack.

The confusing part of the "simultaneous attack" concept is that it is not simultaneous at all.

"Simultaneous attack rule" is a thematic name for the corner cases where a ship is (1) destroyed by (2) another ship of equal pilot skill (3) before it has attacked that round. Unless those three criteria are met, nothing happens. If they are met, the destroyed ship remains on the board until it is able to resolve its attack (and no longer).

Nothing in this game actually happens simultaneously. The name "simultaneous attack" is a thematic (not mechanical) one.

horsepire, I know you already answered your own question, but I had to put this here in the hopes that someone will see it before becoming confused by the rule.