I'm just a little confused by the wording on this rule, so wanted to make sure.

If one ship attacks another and scores two hits plus one critical. The defender has 3 shields, so it could absorb the three hits. Does it still get a face up critical card if there are enough shields to absorb the hit?

If on the other hand you did 3 hits and a crit and still only 3 shields the face up card should be the only one that strikes?

Thanks!

The Standard Critical effect is: "If you would be dealt a damage card, the first one is dealt face up..."

The key component there is "If you would be dealt..."

In the case of 3 damage vs 3 shields, you would not be dealt a damage card, and thus, the fact there's a critical there is irrelevant (unless, of course, you decide to override the critical effect and do something else)

If there is a critical showing at any stage, then you may deal the first card face up... Hit-Hit-Hit-Crit vs 3 shields will do it...

Hit-Crit-Hit-Hit vs 3 Shields will Do it.

Hit-Hit-Crit-Hit vs a Brace and 1 Shield will still do it...

Perfect, that's what I thought, but I wanted to make sure.

That's the other thing - some Critical effects will go off if there's still shields there... You just have to have an upgrade card taht gives you one... Dodonna's Pride, for example, will work even if there's shields...

Think of it this way: A crit is simply a hit that has a chance to trigger a special effect. 3 hits and a crit? That's 4 hits and a chance to trigger a special effect, whether that be a normal "crit effect" or one from an upgrade card like ACM.

If it helps, imagine every ship and bomber has an upgrade with the text, "[CRIT]: The first damage card you deal is dealt face-up. A ship that has rolled a crit result can resolve any one critical effect. The default one only works if you get through the shields since it only takes effect if you deal a damage card. Many crit effects available through upgrades, however (Like Dodona's Pride, Overload pulse, and Assault Concussion Missiles) work even if you don't get through the shields.

The default one only works if you get through the shields since it only takes effect if you deal a damage card.

I hate to contradict you, here, but this wording is part of what is causing confusion to players. The default critical effect works if you don't punch through shields. It just dosn't matter. You still get to turn the first damage card, of zero cards delt, face up. This looks an awful lot like "the crit dosn't work," but I assure you, the crit works fine.

Critical hit icons and shields do not interact in any whatever.

That's why I say "you have a chance to trigger a crit effect."

For a normal crit effect, it cannot trigger if you do not get past the shields.

On other crit effects, it may not matter if you do not get past the shields, you can still get that effect. Dodonna's Pride, ACM, Overload Pulse, etc. still work.

For a normal crit effect, it cannot trigger if you do not get past the shields.

The point JgzMan is makeing is that it does trigger regardless of shields. The effect just happens to result in nothing happening if the attack doesn't deal atleast one damage card. It still very much triggers and resolves.

Standard crit: IF the defender is dealt at least one damage card...

Your attack does not get past the shields, therefore he is not dealt a damage card, therefore the phrase after IF does not kick in, therefore the standard crit effect does not trigger.

You might have chosen to apply the standard crit effect IF you have gotten past the shields but you haven't so the standard crit effect cannot happen.

We can argue this, but the effect is the same.

Standard crit: IF the defender is dealt at least one damage card...

Your attack does not get past the shields, therefore he is not dealt a damage card, therefore the phrase after IF does not kick in, therefore the standard crit effect does not trigger.

You might have chosen to apply the standard crit effect IF you have gotten past the shields but you haven't so the standard crit effect cannot happen.

We can argue this, but the effect is the same.

Technically the trigger for the Default Crit Effect is still just having a die result with a crit face on it. The "If the defender..." part is within the wording of the effect. The crit -can- be triggerred even if no damage is dealt, its just that nothing actually occurs.

I would say there isn't some sort of "secondary requirement" to activating the default crit effect. Its just that during the course of the resolution of the default crit effect, nothing happens.

That said, this is utterly pedantic, and as far as I'm aware, -nothing- so far triggers off merely "did a crit activate this attack?"

The trigger for being able to choose a crit effect is the crit icon on the dice. Sure, you can choose the default crit effect but the trigger for THAT is the defender is dealt one damage card, ie you get damage into his hull. For comparison, the trigger for an ACM is a black crit being rolled, the trigger for Overload Pulse is a blue crit being rolled.

Similarly (but nothing to do with crits), the trigger for General Dodonna is the defender being dealt one damage card.

I just think it's needlesly complex to try and remember special rules for when the standard critical effect can "trigger". If you have a crit on your dice you can trigger it. When you do you follow the instructions, and they tell you to do something if at least one damage card was dealt. Very simple.

Saying that it only triggers if you dealt a damage card will only lead to people stating to think the same is true for all critical effects (and we have seen that question pop up every now and then in here). In my opinion it just gets confusing (as well as being technicaly wrong).

Like I said, we can argue this to infinity but the effect is the same. Whatever best helps you to remember and understand the game.

I don't think it is that complex. It is pretty simple. You pick the critical effect you want to use and then follow the instructions for that effect.