I have a question regarding weapons with the Ion weapon quality. One of the modifications for this attachment is that the defender can choose the ship component affected by the Ion weapon quality rather than the attacker. However, I can't find any reference anywhere else stating that the attacker can do this - including in the Ion quality. There are vague references to it affecting systems - but no specifics, such as the attacker choosing to do such a thing.

Would this cost advantages to activate? How long are the systems down?

I am curious as to how others handle this or if I am missing something within the rules.

You are missing: Component Critical hits. A roll of 46-54 on the critical hit table allows the attacker to disable a specific component on board the target vehicle. With the modded Hydraulics the defender chooses.

I guess I didn't think the two were necessarily related because the description of the mod is: Defender chooses ship component affected by Ion Weapon quality as opposed to the attacker. This seems to me to refer to something inherent with that quality rather than a result on a crit table. If what you say is correct, that is certainly poorly worded.

It would also come in handy if the attacker takes the Aim maneuver to try to take out a specific component.

Question about this modification

Attaches to: Non-fighter starships.

In other word, does this means " Freighters and Transports" only... since you eliminate anything that is ground vehicle since it says starships, and for what's left you can eliminate, Battleships, Capital Ships, Cruisers, Gunships, Starfighters and Shuttles from the list...because they all fight to some degree...

1 hour ago, Mefyrx said:

Question about this modification

Attaches to: Non-fighter starships.

In other word, does this means " Freighters and Transports" only... since you eliminate anything that is ground vehicle since it says starships, and for what's left you can eliminate, Battleships, Capital Ships, Cruisers, Gunships, Starfighters and Shuttles from the list...because they all fight to some degree...

Pretty sure by "Fighter" they mean starfighter, not any ship capable of fighting, as at that point a freighter turned gunship would no longer be eligible...

But then, if you decide to upgrade first the Hydraulic Control Circuits and then decide to buy a weapon... that would kind of work around the concept?!

I'm sure "fighter" refers to X-wing y-wing and the like. As in small ships that really have not the room for such an upgrade

So, should I say basic Silhouette >= 5 ?

TBH it looks like it was designed for a different version of the rules where ion weapons had disabling effects and somehow missed being edited when that bit was removed. So it's no surprise that the terminology in the description is a bit janky. Honestly, I'd ignore it.

The modern A-10 has triple redundant systems so I don't see why a fighter couldn't use it. But sometimes the reasoning behind FFG's design decisions elude me.

15 hours ago, Mefyrx said:

So, should I say basic Silhouette >= 5 ?

Look at vehicle stat blocks. There's a line for Hull type/Class . A hull type can be "Starfighter."

If the vehicle has the hull type of Starfighter, it's can't take this upgrade.

24 minutes ago, Ahrimon said:

The modern A-10 has triple redundant systems so I don't see why a fighter couldn't use it. But sometimes the reasoning behind FFG's design decisions elude me.

Because the A-10 was built that way, not retrofitted with redundant systems later.

So in game terms it would probably have a special rule specific to the A-10, and not an attachment. How else could they sell you the Cold War aircraft sourcebook

Nice one, thanks. Makes more sense