I apologize for this rookie question our gaming group has just started playing.

The upgrade cards that are listed as an ''action'' do they need to be played after my movement when I would normaly place a focus, evade or target lock or can they be played during an attack or defense depending on the upgrade?

Thanks

Yep, unless you have some other card that allows you to perform a free action. Some even specify a free action from a card with the word 'action' on it.

Rule book page 9:

I knew it did not feel right playing that action card freely.

Is there anything else with the upgrade cards we may be playing wrong?

Possibly lots of things, but you're going to have to give us some examples here.

One rookie mistake is performing the same action more than once in a round, no matter where that action originates from. For example, A ship equipped with Expert Handling cannot perform a barrel roll and use the Expert Handling action in the same round, because Expert Handling has a barrel roll action as part of it.

The other common one is confusing assigning or placing tokens with performing the actions that would normally give you those tokens. There are a number of cards and abilities that merely assign you a token where some allow you to perform the action (which gives you the token). These are two entirely separate game mechanics. You can perform a focus action and later be assigned another token and it doesn't break that rule.

On the X-wing support page you can download the FAQ which will possibly answer most questions and clarify some of the terms used within the game.

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite_sec.asp?eidm=174&esem=4

How do you mark actions from cards? There are some that are carried out at the time of "activation" - for example flipping some crits. But there are lot of them that are active during whole round - R2-F2. Who do you mark them as active? When there are several ships it is really easy to lose track on those active card abilities.

Most people just try and remember. There usually aren't that many upgrades like that in play at once. If that doesn't work, there are several misc tokens in the base set that don't have a function outside of specific scenarios that you can use to mark ships with "active" actions. Some of the 3rd party acrylic people have started making tokens you can buy specific to some of the common upgrades.

How do you mark actions from cards? There are some that are carried out at the time of "activation" - for example flipping some crits. But there are lot of them that are active during whole round - R2-F2. Who do you mark them as active? When there are several ships it is really easy to lose track on those active card abilities.

I'm assuming you mean in the same manner as focus and evade and such, that have tokens. Myself, I have made up some Astromech action tokens (for the likes of R2-F2's action), some Elite Pilot Talent tokens (for Marksmanship, etc.), and some crew action tokens. I use these for any of those actions that last for the round, and they get removed during the end phase clean up.

We tend to put the card next to the ship, same way you would a token.

Tried that, but found the cards were too big to make it practical. Plus, some unscrupulous types would put the cards back with the wrong ship card. Kinda lost track of who had what after a while. My tokens are about the same size as the regular tokens and much easier to use. Same goes for the after-market acrylics.

I've got them in a pdf file if anyone wants them. I'd be glad to email it, just message me.

Tried that, but found the cards were too big to make it practical. Plus, some unscrupulous types would put the cards back with the wrong ship card. Kinda lost track of who had what after a while. My tokens are about the same size as the regular tokens and much easier to use. Same goes for the after-market acrylics.

I've got them in a pdf file if anyone wants them. I'd be glad to email it, just message me.

For a moment I thought you butchered some duplicates...

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I've Sharpied and Painted over a few of my extra "Critical Hit" markers as a reminder that an action occurred from an [Action] card or Boost / Barrel Roll was used.

nowhere near as pretty, but it's functional.

Nah, didn't butcher anything. Started with some good quality graphics, then printed on the inkjet, and glued them onto some thick card. They're about the same thickness as the regulars.