Thanks in advance for any help.

I'm unclear on how an upgrade card that requires a certain command is activated and what it costs. I'll work through an example with Engine Techs which has a little Navigate icon at the start of its description. My understanding based on Rules, pg. 5 "Effect Use and Timing" is as follows:

• I can activate Engine Techs once per activation when I have either chosen a Navigate dial for that turn or if I spend a navigate command token. I cannot activate it if I have done neither of these things.
• I could select Concentrate Fire for that turn on my command dial but if I spent a Navigate command token as well, I would still be able to activate Engine Techs.
• Activating Engine Techs doesn't cost me the normal effect of a command dial or token, those are just a requirement to be able to activate it. So if I spend a command token to change my speed, or I use a Command Dial to change yaw/speed instead of banking a token, I get the activation of Engine Techs as an extra on top of those effects, not in place of.

Is my understanding in the above correct? If not, what have I got wrong. I've used Engine Techs because it's easier to talk with an example, but it's a general question really.

Really appreciate any help with this.

Your point 1 hits it spot on:

I can activate Engine Techs once per activation when I have either chosen a Navigate dial for that turn or if I spend a navigate command token. I cannot activate it if I have done neither of these things.

Note that you can "spend" a command dial or command token for no effect and that still counts as being spent so Engine Techs can trigger from that.

So if you have a Concentrate Fire dial but spent a Navigate token (for it's effect or for no effect), Engine Techs can trigger.

Your point 1 hits it spot on:

I can activate Engine Techs once per activation when I have either chosen a Navigate dial for that turn or if I spend a navigate command token. I cannot activate it if I have done neither of these things.

Note that you can "spend" a command dial or command token for no effect and that still counts as being spent so Engine Techs can trigger from that.

So if you have a Concentrate Fire dial but spent a Navigate token (for it's effect or for no effect), Engine Techs can trigger.

Thanks. Is there anywhere in the rules that actually clarifies this? I kept reading through for anything which said one way or another, but could find nothing.

Check the 3rd bullet point under Effect Use and Timing on Page 5 of the Rules Reference.

There's also a line in the FAQ that essentially says you can execute a command without actually getting an effect from it. So you can use a navigate command to activate Engine Techs but not actually change your speed or yaw.

Specific to Engine Techs, might want to read this thread

As Mike said, cards with command icons as headers, check out Effect Use and Timing, p5 RRG.

For Engine Techs, check out Ship Movement, p11 to see the first step where you can use your Navigate dial or token.

check out Ship Movement, p11 to see the first step where you can use your Navigate dial or token.

To emphasize Intys point here a little.

There is a particular time during the activation when you perform navigate commands, that is the only time you can spend a navigate dial or token.

Check the 3rd bullet point under Effect Use and Timing on Page 5 of the Rules Reference.

There's also a line in the FAQ that essentially says you can execute a command without actually getting an effect from it. So you can use a navigate command to activate Engine Techs but not actually change your speed or yaw.

It's not so much whether you can spend a token or dial and not claim an effect that I'm looking for, but that you can spend them and claim two. I.e. that you can spend a navigate token to adjust your speed AND get the Engine Techs effect at the same time. The rules are very well written if you have no preconceptions at all, but they are very sparse when it comes to dispelling or clarifying things you think might be the case. So I see that you can spend a token to get an effect, but it's never spelled out anywhere that using it for Engine Techs doesn't replace that. It seems to be just a case of saying "well, it doesn't say you don't get both".

Check the 3rd bullet point under Effect Use and Timing on Page 5 of the Rules Reference.

There's also a line in the FAQ that essentially says you can execute a command without actually getting an effect from it. So you can use a navigate command to activate Engine Techs but not actually change your speed or yaw.

It's not so much whether you can spend a token or dial and not claim an effect that I'm looking for, but that you can spend them and claim two. I.e. that you can spend a navigate token to adjust your speed AND get the Engine Techs effect at the same time. The rules are very well written if you have no preconceptions at all, but they are very sparse when it comes to dispelling or clarifying things you think might be the case. So I see that you can spend a token to get an effect, but it's never spelled out anywhere that using it for Engine Techs doesn't replace that. It seems to be just a case of saying "well, it doesn't say you don't get both".

From the RRG, section on effect use and timing

Effects with a command icon as a header, such as “[Navigate]:,” can be resolved once while the ship is resolving the matching command.

My reading is that the token is spend, allowing you to resolve the command. While resolving the command you have the option of triggering the upgrade card.

If it was an either use engine techs or change speed situation, I would expect the above quote to say something like "can be resolved by spending the token". Since in this hypothetical example the token can't be spent twice, you would have to choose its effect.

Check the 3rd bullet point under Effect Use and Timing on Page 5 of the Rules Reference.

There's also a line in the FAQ that essentially says you can execute a command without actually getting an effect from it. So you can use a navigate command to activate Engine Techs but not actually change your speed or yaw.

It's not so much whether you can spend a token or dial and not claim an effect that I'm looking for, but that you can spend them and claim two. I.e. that you can spend a navigate token to adjust your speed AND get the Engine Techs effect at the same time. The rules are very well written if you have no preconceptions at all, but they are very sparse when it comes to dispelling or clarifying things you think might be the case. So I see that you can spend a token to get an effect, but it's never spelled out anywhere that using it for Engine Techs doesn't replace that. It seems to be just a case of saying "well, it doesn't say you don't get both".

From the RRG, section on effect use and timing

Effects with a command icon as a header, such as “[Navigate]:,” can be resolved once while the ship is resolving the matching command.

My reading is that the token is spend, allowing you to resolve the command. While resolving the command you have the option of triggering the upgrade card.

If it was an either use engine techs or change speed situation, I would expect the above quote to say something like "can be resolved by spending the token". Since in this hypothetical example the token can't be spent twice, you would have to choose its effect.

Okay. Seems that's the consensus. Thanks for all replies. I'll go with it this way.

Peace!

Yep, using Engine Techs does not mean you have to sacrifice the effect of your command, simply that it triggers as well when you do the stated command via dial or token.