Basic Rules

Ships with the icon in their action bar may perform the barrel roll action, which allows them to move laterally and adjust their position while still facing the same direction. To barrel roll, follow these steps: 1. Take the [ 1] maneuver template. 2. Place one end of the template against either the left or right side of his ship’s base. (The template may be placed anywhere along the side of the ship’s base as long as no part of the template goes beyond the front or back edge of the base.) 3. Holding the template firmly in place, lift the ship off the play surface. Then place the ship at the opposite end of the template, making sure no part of the template goes beyond the front or back edge of the base. The front of the ship must face the same direction it was facing when it started the barrel roll. A ship cannot perform a barrel roll if this would cause its base to overlap another ship or obstacle token. The player may measure to see if his ship can perform a barrel roll before committing to this action.

FAQ:

The rules for performing a barrel roll action near an obstacle are incomplete. The first sentence of the last paragraph in the left column should read: “A ship cannot perform a barrel roll if this would cause its base to overlap another ship or obstacle token, or if the maneuver template overlaps an obstacle token.”

So this means that if my template would cross a ship, but end me in front of it. Not overlapping the base I could barrel through a ship, correct?

I did this the other day, and the guy said, "Nope, your template cannot pass through another ship" It looks to me like it can, but you cannot over lap them which is the end of your move.

So this means that if my template would cross a ship, but end me in front of it. Not overlapping the base I could barrel through a ship, correct?

Yes, you are correct.

Your opponent was wrong.

You're correct. This isn't new either. It's been a FAQ entry for quite a few editions now. My advice is to always keep a copy of the FAQ with your rulebook, or your phone at every game.

There's a lot of people that run on assumptions.

You're correct. This isn't new either. It's been a FAQ entry for quite a few editions now. My advice is to always keep a copy of the FAQ with your rulebook, or your phone at every game.

There's a lot of people that run on assumptions.

Which is expensive and harms the environment, make the switch to facts for a greener tomorrow.

You have never been able to barrel roll onto ships or obstacles. The basic rules say so, and the FAQ hasn't changed it.

You have always been able to barrel roll across ships. The basic rules say so, and the FAQ hasn't change it.

Barrel rolling across obstacles is what changed. It was originally allowed, but the FAQ errata'd it away several versions ago.