--snip--

I see both sides of the argument. And thus, I wait for an FAQ patiently

I see only one side, and doubt it will appear in the FAQ.

If they rule that the range limits don't apply in this case, it may open up a can of worms for any of the other similar abilities. But I guess we'll have to wait and see.

I see only one side, and doubt it will appear in the FAQ.

Why? Any number of incredibly obvious things have been included in the FAQ. I see no reason this should be any different.

I see only one side, and doubt it will appear in the FAQ.

Why? Any number of incredibly obvious things have been included in the FAQ. I see no reason this should be any different.

Ha ha. So very true!

OK, rereading the rule book, "Acquire a Target Lock" is the name of an action, with specific steps, including measuring range. With that being said, is this considered a free action?

No, it's not a free action. Check the Rules Ref under the fourth bullet point. Acquiring a target lock, and performing the action to do the same, use the same mechanic. Although it's not an action, it still doesn't mean the range limits are ignored.

If an ability instructs a ship to “acquire a target lock,” this is different than performing an acquire a target lock action. The ship acquires the target lock without performing an action, and it may do so even if it has already performed the acquire a target lock action this round.

Funny, I'd always assumed Tarn would get the target lock on a range 4/5 attack. Rereading his ability it simply allows him to "aquire a target lock". Aquiring a target lock you should be measuring to see if you have at least range 3. Same with fcs and dutch both allow you to "aquire a target lock". Fcs you don't normally measure but with dutch you must. As tracers are worded no different than these abilitys I would say all ships in range of tracer shooting ship would still need to check range when they "aquire a target lock".

The one exception to the above that I've noticed? "Dutch" Vander, who is worded in a similar fashion to the S-Thread Tracers. The ruling of the latter will also catch the former, and the old boy needs a buff.

I had no idea Dutch's ability is worded so similarly to S-Thread. What's the ruling on Dutch?

The one exception to the above that I've noticed? "Dutch" Vander, who is worded in a similar fashion to the S-Thread Tracers. The ruling of the latter will also catch the former, and the old boy needs a buff.

I had no idea Dutch's ability is worded so similarly to S-Thread. What's the ruling on Dutch?

There is no ruling on Dutch, because he merely passes the ability for another pilot to acquire a target lock as per the normal rules for target locks. When he acquires a target lock, it's still on a target at Range 1-3.