Is it legal to start adjusting your dials before the next planning phase? Let's say you are facing a TIE swarm and have to wait through a lot of attacks. Can you start spinning your dials during that time?

I always thought dials couldn't be manipulated except during the planning phase, but now that I've read through the rules again, I don't see any large support for being either legal or illegal. I'm curious what others think.

Your asking for a rule that isn't going to be covered by the rules.

Nothing I can think of.

You'd gain nothing other than a little time. Once you reveal it, rules wise I don't think the dial has any effect on anything until the next planning phase when you have to set it. So again I can't think of any reason why you couldn't do that.

Plus, if you're going against a swarm, then you'll have plenty of time to set your dials while he sets his. And who knows, something unexpected might happen and changes your mind on what you want to do.

Does it make any real difference?

Out of interest, what prompted the question?

Is there anywhere in the rules that expressly forbids changing a dial between the end of the planning phase and the revealing of that dial during the activation phase?

I looked quickly but couldn't find it anywhere...

Maybe we've been playing it wrong this whole time??

The prompt came from Mr. Froggies' Use the Force blog. He mentioned that he will change his dials during the round so that he can watch his opponent during the planning phase and try to read what the opponent is doing. I tried to think of why I had never done that and it occurred to me that I always thought it was illegal to change your dial until the planning phase. I distinctly remember on Saturday that I picked up my dial at one point, started to change it, then realized my opponent had one more shot left, and I immediately slammed my dial back down on the table, away from my hands. I've always had this notion about dials only being moved during planning, but I'm not sure where that came from, so I thought I'd ask if there really was a rule about it.

That seems a bit ridiculous. Trying to gauge an opponent's maneuver based on how much they turn their dial is **** near impossible. If you're worried about someone trying to do it, just change how you hold it while turning the thing so they can't tell how much it turns.

I see nothing stating that dials can only be manipulated during the planning stage. You may not do anything to them between the time they are set and they are revealed, although can can check to see what you have set, but once they've served their purpose I don't know why you couldn't start getting read for next turn.

I guess the one argument someone could make about setting dials outside of the planning phase is that it may be taking advantage of any measuring currently going on. I think that is a lame argument as those measurement should all be public knowledge so it is there even if you might have some difficulty remembering it.

so that he can watch his opponent during the planning phase and try to read what the opponent is doing.

Wait, people actually try to do that? now I wonder how many of my maneuvers I've given away by reflecting them in my glasses that's seems a little too hardcore for me.

The prompt came from Mr. Froggies' Use the Force blog. He mentioned that he will change his dials during the round so that he can watch his opponent during the planning phase and try to read what the opponent is doing. I tried to think of why I had never done that and it occurred to me that I always thought it was illegal to change your dial until the planning phase. I distinctly remember on Saturday that I picked up my dial at one point, started to change it, then realized my opponent had one more shot left, and I immediately slammed my dial back down on the table, away from my hands. I've always had this notion about dials only being moved during planning, but I'm not sure where that came from, so I thought I'd ask if there really was a rule about it.

surely looking at the positions of your and your opponent's ships, their condition, their maneuvering capabilities and his general strategy up to that point, are far more useful cues as there is some actual information there that you can use.

Ruminating on how long he fiddles with his dial - or not - is just a recipe to second-guess yourself.

The dial isn't really a live component outside of planning and activation. It can't be used for measuring, setting it early doesn't really gain you anything. It's probably not covered in the rules because it doesn't have to be. I don't see it as any different from shuffling your pile of spare tokens around.

In an era where people are complaining about slow play (only had 1 opponant I would say has tried this on me) your complaining about people trying to get things done quicker?

In an era where people are complaining about slow play (only had 1 opponant I would say has tried this on me) your complaining about people trying to get things done quicker?

Who are you talking to? Because last I checked, nobody is complaining about anything.

I frequently plan ahead once I finished with a ship's activation, especially if the next maneuver is a no-brainer. But the concept of doing it just so you can observe the opponent during the planning phase just seems a little cheesy to me. One way to defeat that behaviour is to stack your activated dials face down and nowhere near your ships or ship cards and shuffle them around from time to time, so the "observing" opponent can't really tell which one is which until you place them. When you pick them up to plan, he can't see which ship it belongs to, or if you've already chosen a manuever.

When I play the swarm, I always try to set my dials during the turn (usually possible in the openning of the game as I move first), to gain some time. I also do this during deployement, as I usually put my ships first.

so that he can watch his opponent during the planning phase and try to read what the opponent is doing.

Wait, people actually try to do that? now I wonder how many of my maneuvers I've given away by reflecting them in my glasses that's seems a little too hardcore for me.

I think he means that he looks at which part of the board his opponent is staring at. It's probably not hard to give away your plans when your options are left /right around an obstacle, or when you're trying to decide between a slow straight maneuver and a fast K-turn.

Pretty soon everyone will be decked out in giant hats and sunglasses like poker players. Lol.

just noticed that you are missing the right S-loop symbol on Diggy

oops - posted this in totally the wrong thread