Assume:

CR90 has two upgrade cards, both quad laser cannon.

CR90 is currently at max energy capacity of 5 (5 energy tokens are on the Aft CR90 card)

Both quad lasers (each with an energy capacity of 2) are currently empty. There are no energy tokens on these upgrade cards.

I reveal my maneuver dial and perform a maneuver for the CR90 which results in 3 energy tokens. Can I allocate these 3 tokens directly to the quad laser cannon upgrade cards? Can I for a very brief moment have 8 energy tokens and then quickly allocate to the quad laser cannons?

Or do I just get screwed over and lose the 3 energy generated because I did not allocate energy into the quad laser cannons on previous turns?

I've read the FAQ and rules and searched and could not find a strong consistent answer

Thank you.

Or do I just get screwed over and lose the 3 energy generated because I did not allocate energy into the quad laser cannons on previous turns?

This.

Because you gain energy prior to the allocate energy step. The imporant part is this rule...

" If at any time a card has a number of energy tokens that exceeds its energy limit, immediately return the excess energy tokens to the token supply."

Step 1 is Gain Energy, so you gain your energy here, if you have more energy tokens then the ship is allowed, you have to discard them.

The extra energy is lost.

It may not be what you want but you can look at it ways.

1. Because you already start with full energy there is nothing to keep you from moving out when the game starts to get things going.

2. Your 5 energy is still +2 above the Energy the maneuver would have gained you if you didn't start with Energy on the ship which is how it was originally implemented. That starting energy allows you to allocate to you upgrades faster than if you just slow rolled when starting with no energy.

Thanks for the clarifications guys!

Sounds like energy planning has to be taken very carefully. I have never played epic before (nor with the CR90) but it sounds like there may be energy issues with the ship.

The issue is that there's never enough!