Ok so I'm brand new to IA and need some clarification about information on character cards. So for instance looking at "rebel saboteur" it looks something like this:

+2 accuracy | ~:Pierce 2

~:stun | ~: Blast 1

So a few questions here. First, the +2 accuracy, is that a buff that's always in effect when he attacks with his blaster? Also the 3 surge abilities, if I roll 1 surge I can use one of those 3 abilities? If I roll 2 surges I can use 2 of those 3 abilities? I'm pretty sure this is the case but just wanted to double check.

Yes, the +2 accuracy is always in effect.

Normally you can only use a surge ability on the card once per attack. So if you got 1 surge you could use one of the abilities, two surges allows 2 of the abilities, etc. However, the Saboteur's special ability allows them to use a surge ability twice. They are the ONLY units currently with this ability. What this does it allow them to use 2 surges on a single ability to double its effect. For instance if you roll 2 surges you could activate pierce 2 twice which would equal a pierce 4.

Again, the Rebel Saboteurs are the only units able to use a single surge ability multiple times in a single attack.

Ok thanks!!!! That's what I figured, I wish the rules showed a card and broke down what each thing was, that would have really helped. I had to just assume. Another question, Han Solo has this on his card:

~: +2 ac., +1 hit | ~:+2 hit

So if I read this right it's saying I can spend a surge to either increase my range and add a hit or just add 2 hits.

Also he gets:

Return Fire, Distracting and cunning. Are these passive effects? As in they are always active and I don't need to strain myself in order to activate them? They are free abilities from that specific character?

Yes, Han can spend 1 Surge to get either +2 Acc & + 1 hit, or +2 hits. He can also spend 2 surges to activate both qualities to gain a total of +2 Acc, & +3 Hits.

Return Fire, Distracting & Cunning are always available, as long as the required conditions are met. the only exception is Return Fire which is once per round.

Also strain only works for the Heroes in the campaign mode, not allies/villains or the skirmish game. In skirmish strain dealt from attacks, like the Trandoshan's Relentless, discard a Command card from the top of the deck, or deal 1 damage if there are no command cards left to discard.

Yes, Han can spend 1 Surge to get either +2 Acc & + 1 hit, or +2 hits. He can also spend 2 surges to activate both qualities to gain a total of +2 Acc, & +3 Hits.

Return Fire, Distracting & Cunning are always available, as long as the required conditions are met. the only exception is Return Fire which is once per round.

Also strain only works for the Heroes in the campaign mode, not allies/villains or the skirmish game. In skirmish strain dealt from attacks, like the Trandoshan's Relentless, discard a Command card from the top of the deck, or deal 1 damage if there are no command cards left to discard.

Ok awesome! Thanks so much for helping out, I doubt I'll do skirmish anyways im more interested in campaign with friends so I haven't even bothered to look at skirmish rules haha. Anyways thanks again for helping out with these rules. I'm mainly an xwing player so I was basing my assumptions off of my xwing experience.

Yes, Han can spend 1 Surge to get either +2 Acc & + 1 hit, or +2 hits. He can also spend 2 surges to activate both qualities to gain a total of +2 Acc, & +3 Hits.

Return Fire, Distracting & Cunning are always available, as long as the required conditions are met. the only exception is Return Fire which is once per round.

Also strain only works for the Heroes in the campaign mode, not allies/villains or the skirmish game. In skirmish strain dealt from attacks, like the Trandoshan's Relentless, discard a Command card from the top of the deck, or deal 1 damage if there are no command cards left to discard.

Ok awesome! Thanks so much for helping out, I doubt I'll do skirmish anyways im more interested in campaign with friends so I haven't even bothered to look at skirmish rules haha. Anyways thanks again for helping out with these rules. I'm mainly an xwing player so I was basing my assumptions off of my xwing experience.

Discarding the Command Card is actually a choice. If you take strain you can choose to suffer one damage on the affected figure, OR burn a Command Card.

When a figure suffers strain, it suffers an equal amount of damage instead. The player controlling the figure can prevent any of this damage by discarding one Command card from the top of his deck for each strain that he wishes to prevent. Rules Reference, pg23.