I have a few questions on when it is and isn't permissible to check firing arcs during play. There doesn't really seem to be very much solid guidance out there on the topic. Most of it concerns the idea that players should limit how often they check firing arcs because it can slow game play down to a crawl.

The immediate situation happened during the Combat Phase. My opponent was flying a Decimator and had his choice of B-Wings to fire upon.

While making his choice of target-- he started measuring my firing arcs (and what was in those arcs) to determine who the Decimator would fire on.

Is this legal during game play?

While my mind was on the same subject, as few other questions popped into my head:

Could a player measure their own firing arc prior to executing a boost or barrel roll? (To determine whether an opponent was in arc).

Could a player measure an enemy's arc prior to a boost or barrel roll? (To determine whether they were in/out of the enemy's arc)

Could a player measure their own firing arc on an enemy during the Activation phase when they were selecting an Action (ie Marksmanship.)

Basically the only time you can use the range ruler is:

1) When taking the Target Lock Action

2) Performing another action that required the range ruler

3) whenever an effect may trigger that has a range restriction (lone wolf, Roark etc.)

4) When the active ship is firing during combat you may measure to any enemy ship in arc.

I may have missed some but that's the basic gist.

Outside of those times you should not be using the range ruler.

One thing you most certainly cannot do is check your opponents ships firing arcs, at any point (as your opponent did)

I think that basically covers it

No. You may check the firing arc of the currently active ship only. He can only check his decimator while his decimator is firing. Since his decimator has a turret primary weapon, he should only be checking the decimators arc if he has a front arc secondary weapon he is considering firing, or, if he has an arc dependent ability on board (eg Tactician).

The times that you may use the range ruler are very limited, as Mace Windu pointed out. Any other time, you must use the old Mark I eyeball for estimation. The same goes for the maneuver templates. They should only be on the play area when you are making the appropriate maneuver. Any other estimations must be done by eye.

X-wing is a game of guessing and estimations. Sometimes you'll get it right and sometimes you won't. That's all part of the game.

The times that you may use the range ruler are very limited, as Mace Windu pointed out. Any other time, you must use the old Mark I eyeball for estimation.

"Pick up your visual scanning."

Is this legal during game play?

A: No

Could a player measure their own firing arc prior to executing a boost or barrel roll? (To determine whether an opponent was in arc).
A: No

Could a player measure an enemy's arc prior to a boost or barrel roll? (To determine whether they were in/out of the enemy's arc)
A: No

Could a player measure their own firing arc on an enemy during the Activation phase when they were selecting an Action (ie Marksmanship.)
A: No

From the FAQ on Competitive Play - Measuring Range

0. Players may only measure range and/or use the range ruler to determine whether a ship is inside or outside of a firing arc at the following times:

   • When a ship becomes the active ship during the combat phase, the active player can measure range from the active ship to any enemy ships before declaring one as its target.

   • When a player declares a ship’s ability that requires another ship (or ships) to be at a certain range, the player trying to resolve the ability can measure range from their ship to any valid ships before resolving the ability.

   • After declaring the intended target of a target lock action, the active player may measure range to the intended target, and only to the intended target.

Yeah, your opponent was guilty of range ruler abuse which slows the game tremendously and takes a lot of the fun out of it. Everyone's covered it very well, the only thing I would add is you can only check your opponent's arc when an effect may be triggered by being inside or outside of that arc. When it's an offensive effect (e.g. Outmaneuver) you should have to declare your target before measuring without the ability to switch your attack if you don't like it. And then, only if it's close. In other words, declare your attack and no take back :-). BUT, only because it's predicated on the defender's condition and not the attacker's. If the attacker declares a target and it happens to be outside his arc after measuring then he can switch to another target IAW Da rules.

I appreciate the feedback, but I must admit that I am a little confused. Hopefully, with a little bit of clarification I can get this steered in the correct direction, or someone might be able to fill in the gap and bring everything together for me.

My questions were specifically about "checking firing arc."

The answers I got were typically about "using range rulers."

And that actually did seem to be a lot of the feedback. People were quoting the FAQ or rulebook and actually substituting the words "check firing arc" for "checking for range."

Ie, the general underlying theme seemed to be "Whenever you check for firing arc, you must use a range ruler. Therefore, all of the rules that apply to measuring for range also apply for measuring firing arcs."

The thing is, I am scouring the core rulebook, FAQs, and forums to find something that says something to that effect, and I am coming up empty handed. Something that specifically states that a range ruler must be used to measure firing arc, or something that says "all of the range ruler rules apply to firing arc."

The closest thing I have found is the "Firing Arc and Range Example" from pg 11 in the core rulebook.

To confuse the issue further, he didn't use a range ruler. He used a laser....

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Anyway... this is my guess:

You may only use a range ruler to measure firing arc.

Therefore, all of the rules and conditions that apply to a range measurement apply to the measurement of firing arc.

A laser can be substituted for a range ruler, but it is a substitute for a range ruler and therefore all the above applies.

So, that all being said, is this the correct interpretation of what everyone is saying?

And if possible, can someone actually find it in print?

It sounds like you're playing with someone who might be taking the game a bit too seriously. Kinda knocks the fun out of it. At any rate, I've seen folks use a laser which I don't see a problem with as it eliminates model bumping when you use a physical straight edge. But to answer your question: I don't think you'll find it written in so many words. For the game developers to have to write every example and every nuance of the core rules in a book would require … well a book.

However, the rules are pretty clear IMHO and that is to say; you don't get to measure anything (maneuvers, range or firing arcs) until you declare your intent to perform an action. Now, there are provisions for certain actions/effects/traits to be "redeclared" as it were. For example, you declare you're going to attack a ship at the very edge of your firing arc and range 1. After checking, it turns out the target's maneuver nub touches the straight edge but the base doesn't. You may then declare another target. But if your friend is just going around the board outside of his ships' combat actions checking firing arcs, he's wrong and not following "the intent" of the rules.

Now, your friend sounds like the type who will say, "Show me in writing where it says that!" To which you can reply with the pages from the rule book and FAQ then have a polite discussion about the intent of the rules. If they still aren't convinced, point them to this board and the majority opinion of other seasoned players. Then, if they still want to stick to their guns, you have a choice to make: either continue to play or politely pick up your ships and leave (or ask them to leave). I know what I'd do. I know your pain and it's never any fun when someone is taking the game so seriously that they feel they need to cheat or bend the rules to the breaking point. Good luck.

Oh, and you don't have to use the range ruler exclusively to check the firing arc. Any straight edge is fine e.g. straight maneuver template, ruler, laser line, etc. The range ruler is required, however to check range and so everyone just goes for that. I've had several instances where a ship was a range 1 from the two closest points of the bases but was at range 2 where their base landed within my firing arc. And, we only measure the firing arc when it's close and then only during that ship's combat activation.

It's more of a since the rules tell you when To check arc. Measuring it out side of those times would be premeasuring.

Unless a future ability requires a check outside of the combat phase you can only check an active ships firing arc.

For the game developers to have to write every example and every nuance of the core rules in a book would require … well a book.

Okay, I am with you!

And the idea that it is "premeasuring", both of these concepts drive the point home of how SWXWM works. There is a short rulebook. And a short FAQ. And that is one of the major beauties of the game!

Actually, my opponent wasn't taking things too seriously, and he didn't really make an issue about it when I brought it up.

It is just in my nature... to well, strap on the hip waders and step right into issues. I like understand not only what I am doing but also "why" so that it sticks.

This thread was more for my benefit than any idea that I was going to have to go toe-to-toe with him over it!

Thanks all for the help, and I will continue to follow the thread to see if there is anything else other players might add!

In a casual game (i.e.: not a sanctioned tournament), the rules have a lot more leeway in them. Play to have fun for the most part. This is also a great way to learn the tactics of the game, and to better understand how to eyeball a situation.

In a tournament setting, especially the highest levels, strict adherence to the rules is required.

The thing is, I am scouring the core rulebook, FAQs, and forums to find something that says something to that effect, and I am coming up empty handed. Something that specifically states that a range ruler must be used to measure firing arc, or something that says "all of the range ruler rules apply to firing arc."

The closest thing I have found is the "Firing Arc and Range Example" from pg 11 in the core rulebook.

Not only is the diagram on page 11 the closest thing, it's the exact thing you're looking for. That is the best example of how to check for firing arc and range and you'll notice that the range ruler is used in both instances. It's just easier.

Using a laser can be less intrusive on the table top, but I've found it can take longer. And if it's not being used to check the firing arc of the active ship, it's still considered pre-measuring which is disallowed under the rules.

For the game developers to have to write every example and every nuance of the core rules in a book would require … well a book.

Okay, I am with you!

And the idea that it is "premeasuring", both of these concepts drive the point home of how SWXWM works. There is a short rulebook. And a short FAQ. And that is one of the major beauties of the game!

Actually, my opponent wasn't taking things too seriously, and he didn't really make an issue about it when I brought it up.

It is just in my nature... to well, strap on the hip waders and step right into issues. I like understand not only what I am doing but also "why" so that it sticks.

This thread was more for my benefit than any idea that I was going to have to go toe-to-toe with him over it!

Thanks all for the help, and I will continue to follow the thread to see if there is anything else other players might add!

I'm happy your opponent wasn't being contentious and I must say you're after my own heart when it comes to the rules. I'm having difficulty with ion effects … but that's neither here nor there.