Executive order and character abilities/actions

By Jumesyn, in Battlestar Galactica

While playing the new Pegasus expansion, some things came to mind (by the way, the expansion is great, so kudos to FFG, though we do have complaints over Cylon leaders).

In particular, they pertain to XO (Executive Order).

(1) When Kat is XO-ed, can she use her "Hotshot" ability?

(2) When Kat is XO-ed, would she be susceptible to "Stim Junkie" and the end of XO? (My assumption is that if (1) is yes, (2) would be yes, otherwise it should be no, no)

(3) When Helo XO someone else, can he use "ECO Officer" (reroll) on that player's action (e.g. FTL, CIC etc.)? (We've always consider it as yes)

(4) If a player who is XO-ed uses Pegasus CIC and damages Galactica, who chooses whether to draw Galactica or Pegasus token? (We assume current player, that is, the one who played XO)

(5) If an XO-ed player performed an action involving die roll, and more than 1 player wishes to play Strategic Planning/Calculations or any card or ability which affect die roll, who decides on the player to play the card? (We assume current player: the one who played XO)

(6) If Ellen Tigh is XO-ed, can she use her "Manipulative" ability? If so, does she retain the title until the end of the current player's turn (including Crisis Card resolution)? (Our assumption is that she cannot use "Manipulative", as the ability states that it is at the "start of her turn")

(7) Can Starbuck benefit from her "Expert Pilot" ability if she is XO-ed while in a viper? (We assume no, since it is not her turn.)

(8) Can Chief Tyrol benefit from his repair ability if XO-ed? (we assume yes, since once per turn did not state whose turn it should be)

Thanks for reading. Some of them pertain to characters from the original, but my play group seldom discuss it, since they are all suspicious fellows who think an XO is too good to waste on anyone, for the 50% toaster theory.

Jumesyn said:

While playing the new Pegasus expansion, some things came to mind (by the way, the expansion is great, so kudos to FFG, though we do have complaints over Cylon leaders).

In particular, they pertain to XO (Executive Order).

(1) When Kat is XO-ed, can she use her "Hotshot" ability?

(2) When Kat is XO-ed, would she be susceptible to "Stim Junkie" and the end of XO? (My assumption is that if (1) is yes, (2) would be yes, otherwise it should be no, no)

(3) When Helo XO someone else, can he use "ECO Officer" (reroll) on that player's action (e.g. FTL, CIC etc.)? (We've always consider it as yes)

(4) If a player who is XO-ed uses Pegasus CIC and damages Galactica, who chooses whether to draw Galactica or Pegasus token? (We assume current player, that is, the one who played XO)

(5) If an XO-ed player performed an action involving die roll, and more than 1 player wishes to play Strategic Planning/Calculations or any card or ability which affect die roll, who decides on the player to play the card? (We assume current player: the one who played XO)

(6) If Ellen Tigh is XO-ed, can she use her "Manipulative" ability? If so, does she retain the title until the end of the current player's turn (including Crisis Card resolution)? (Our assumption is that she cannot use "Manipulative", as the ability states that it is at the "start of her turn")

(7) Can Starbuck benefit from her "Expert Pilot" ability if she is XO-ed while in a viper? (We assume no, since it is not her turn.)

(8) Can Chief Tyrol benefit from his repair ability if XO-ed? (we assume yes, since once per turn did not state whose turn it should be)

Thanks for reading. Some of them pertain to characters from the original, but my play group seldom discuss it, since they are all suspicious fellows who think an XO is too good to waste on anyone, for the 50% toaster theory.

1) I'd rule no. Since its not really HER action phase, she's just using someone else's action phase.

2) I'd rule no for the same reason I'd rule hotshot a no.

3) We always play this as yes... its still helo's turn, and it keeps in the same line of thought that stops Kat from using her hotshot ability and being effected by stim junkie on an XO.

4) We assume the current player too. Again, it follows the same logic that would allow Helo to use his reroll ability when XOing.

5) We play current player decides too.

6) We play that as a no too... again, it follows the same logic that's been followed for the other conclusions.

7) We play no too.

8) I don't have chief's card in front of my, but we always play it as no... we saw no reason to make him the exception for powers. But perhaps I'll change my mind when I get to see my copy of battlestar again and take a look at the text on his card... my hunch is still that we won't allow it, simply because chief would be awfully powerful with XOs.

stwerner92182 said:

Jumesyn said:

(8) Can Chief Tyrol benefit from his repair ability if XO-ed? (we assume yes, since once per turn did not state whose turn it should be)

8) I don't have chief's card in front of my, but we always play it as no... we saw no reason to make him the exception for powers. But perhaps I'll change my mind when I get to see my copy of battlestar again and take a look at the text on his card... my hunch is still that we won't allow it, simply because chief would be awfully powerful with XOs.

I agree with everything this guy said about your other questions. But just to clarify, the reason Chief can't use his ability when he is XOd is because of the first three words in his Maintenance Engineer Ability: "During your turn,".

DCAnderson said:

stwerner92182 said:

Jumesyn said:

(8) Can Chief Tyrol benefit from his repair ability if XO-ed? (we assume yes, since once per turn did not state whose turn it should be)

8) I don't have chief's card in front of my, but we always play it as no... we saw no reason to make him the exception for powers. But perhaps I'll change my mind when I get to see my copy of battlestar again and take a look at the text on his card... my hunch is still that we won't allow it, simply because chief would be awfully powerful with XOs.

I agree with everything this guy said about your other questions. But just to clarify, the reason Chief can't use his ability when he is XOd is because of the first three words in his Maintenance Engineer Ability: "During your turn,".

Wonderful, that clears everything up.

Yes, thank you both.

One more.

(9) Can Ellen Tigh utilize her "Politically Adroit" ability when XO-ed and she actually make a movement? (We'd rule no based on (1) and (2), Kat's case).

(10) Not related to XO, but since we're on "Politically Adroit"... Can Ellen Tigh utilize "Politically Adroit" if during the movement step, she played 'Critical Situation' while in the brig, and broke herself out using the first action to move herself somewhere where another player is?

To rephrase that, please picture this. Ellen is in the brig. During her movement, she plays 'Critical Situation (a movement ability which allow her to use an action instead of moving)' and declare the action to be to activate brig. She succeeded, and move herself where another player is. As her movement step only just ended (as her action is derived from 'Critical Situation'), she can use "Politically Adroit". Following that, she take another action.

Thank you for your time once again.

Jumesyn said:

Yes, thank you both.

One more.

(9) Can Ellen Tigh utilize her "Politically Adroit" ability when XO-ed and she actually make a movement? (We'd rule no based on (1) and (2), Kat's case).

(10) Not related to XO, but since we're on "Politically Adroit"... Can Ellen Tigh utilize "Politically Adroit" if during the movement step, she played 'Critical Situation' while in the brig, and broke herself out using the first action to move herself somewhere where another player is?

To rephrase that, please picture this. Ellen is in the brig. During her movement, she plays 'Critical Situation (a movement ability which allow her to use an action instead of moving)' and declare the action to be to activate brig. She succeeded, and move herself where another player is. As her movement step only just ended (as her action is derived from 'Critical Situation'), she can use "Politically Adroit". Following that, she take another action.

Thank you for your time once again.

Ellen Tigh's ability says "When you end your movement step" so what matters is not that she moved, but that that she completed the part of her turn where you move.

So the answer to the first one would be "no" since she moved, but didn't actually do the "Movement step" on her turn, and yes to the second one since when you check at the end of her movement step she is in a location with another character.

For number 4, Pegasus CIC specifically says to damage Pegasus, not Galactica, so I don't think there's any choice involved.

Here's another question regarding XOs:

Can an infiltrating cylon leader use an executive order to allow a revealed cylon to take two actions? (i.e. Make a boarding party move two spaces along the track by activating 'heavy raiders' at the cylon fleet location twice.)

(I don't have the rules in front of me, I'm not even sure if activating heavy raiders from the cylon fleet location moves the centurion boarding party, but it sounds right...)

Thanks!

Osyluth said:

Here's another question regarding XOs:

Can an infiltrating cylon leader use an executive order to allow a revealed cylon to take two actions? (i.e. Make a boarding party move two spaces along the track by activating 'heavy raiders' at the cylon fleet location twice.)

(I don't have the rules in front of me, I'm not even sure if activating heavy raiders from the cylon fleet location moves the centurion boarding party, but it sounds right...)

Thanks!

If you check the FAQ they specifically say no to this.

This was one that drove me nuts for a long time since by the rules and by the wording of the card there should be no reason you can't.

Thanks! I missed that in there. Gotta read more carefully next time.

I would believe the note in the FAQ is to specifically state that XO cannot benefit revealed Cylons, since revealed Cylons already cannot normally benefit from skill cards (except Treachery).

However, this lead to the great debate on whether a Cylon leader, when XO-ed while infilitrating, can spending his first action un-infiltrating, followed by a second action.

Now, Critical Situation plays a role too. I think the consensus is that the Cylon leader can still play a second action if uninfiltrating via Critical Situation, but XO is more questionable.

Jumesyn said:

However, this lead to the great debate on whether a Cylon leader, when XO-ed while infilitrating, can spending his first action un-infiltrating, followed by a second action.

If you are XO'd and use the first action to Reveal, you become a Revealed Cylon and lose your section action you would get from XO. I would say that using the first XO action to un-infiltrate would also void the second action.

DarkPrimus said:

Jumesyn said:

However, this lead to the great debate on whether a Cylon leader, when XO-ed while infilitrating, can spending his first action un-infiltrating, followed by a second action.

If you are XO'd and use the first action to Reveal, you become a Revealed Cylon and lose your section action you would get from XO. I would say that using the first XO action to un-infiltrate would also void the second action.

The reason you don't get a second action when you reveal, is because the last step listed in the main rulebook for revealing is to end your turn.

With Cylon Leaders there is no such last step for when they stop infiltrating.

Cylon Leaders follow the rules for revealed Cylon players, with a few exceptions. And it states right in the Pegasus rules that when you return to the Resurrection Ship, you are no longer Infiltrating - which means the rules for revealed Cylon players apply.

DarkPrimus said:

Jumesyn said:

However, this lead to the great debate on whether a Cylon leader, when XO-ed while infilitrating, can spending his first action un-infiltrating, followed by a second action.

If you are XO'd and use the first action to Reveal, you become a Revealed Cylon and lose your section action you would get from XO. I would say that using the first XO action to un-infiltrate would also void the second action.

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/443759

Ok, we have an official ruling on this, and apparently you were right, he would lose the second action.