Am I missing something with Omega Leader?

By Duck of Doom, in X-Wing Rules Questions

I'm just curious if I've missed some errata on Omega Leader or if I'm just over thinking RAW with his pilot ability.

His pilot ability states 'Enemy ships you have locked cannot...'

I understand the implication is for a target locked enemy ship, but as it is written the ability specifies a non-defined condition: a 'lock'

If Omega Leader cannot 'lock' an enemy because there is no lock action/condition doesn't that essentially nullify his ability and make him an overpriced F/O Tie?

Apologies if this has been asked before. I couldn't find or missed the answer when doing a forum search.

It actually mentions locked on page 3 of the RRG.

When a target lock is acquired, assign the blue target lock token to the ship performing the action (the locking ship), and assign the red target lock token on the target (the locked ship).

<snip>

I bet you're really fun at tournaments!

Thanks for the quick reply and clarification VanorDM.

I like to think I'm fun and fair at tournaments jonboyjon1990. I certainly try to help others understand when they have questions.

Yes. Fantasy Flight games, rather than print a well-balanced card with a fun ability, actually printed a prank card that seems like it has a pilot ability, but actually doesn't so that players can be disappointed mid-game, when their opponent decides to point it out.

Or maybe they forgot to print the word "target," thus forcing everyone to ignore the pilot ability. It would be, of course, impossible for anyone to choose to play as if the word "target" was present, even in a casual game. This is because The Rules are an unbreakable law set forth from the heavens, not something players agree to follow for fun. This is why no one has ever player Heroes of the Aturi Cluster or a furball.

You have discovered the secret. Have a gold star.

not something players agree to follow for fun.

What you do in casual games is up to you. But at competitive tournaments, the rules aren't followed for fun, they're followed because they are the rules.

If you're playing against some random person at a LGS, you can't expect them to know what your house rules are, so you play by the standard rules.

The OP's question was legit, because if Locked isn't defined somewhere then the card is in fact broken, even if we can easily tell what the RAI is. It would require errata to fix the problem.

Finally, the rules form is a place where we discuss the Rules as Written, and debate the RAI when the RAW isn't correct. We do not however look kindly on people posting snark or belittling people with honest questions.

not something players agree to follow for fun.

What you do in casual games is up to you. But at competitive tournaments, the rules aren't followed for fun, they're followed because they are the rules.

If you're playing against some random person at a LGS, you can't expect them to know what your house rules are, so you play by the standard rules.

The OP's question was legit, because if Locked isn't defined somewhere then the card is in fact broken, even if we can easily tell what the RAI is. It would require errata to fix the problem.

Finally, the rules form is a place where we discuss the Rules as Written, and debate the RAI when the RAW isn't correct. We do not however look kindly on people posting snark or belittling people with honest questions.

This, as many times as necessary to get it through.

I think the golden rule of the Rules form should be. If you can't say something useful don't say anything at all.

RTFM is not useful in case anyone was wondering...

To the OP just be aware if you plan on running with OL your opponents can spend evade tokens and other crew or ships can modify the dice. E.g. Palp can modify the defenders dice. Hope that also helps clarify. :)

If you can't say something useful don't say anything at all.

...but what if I want to say something really funny*?

The problem is that if this isn't the place for even very simple questions, I'm not sure how those questions get answered. Emails to FFG do usually get responses, in my experience, but on a schedule that's unknown and potentially quite long. You might get an answer on Reddit or Facebook, but those tend to be fairly noisy and don't have an easy way to differentiate rules questions from other posts. (/r/xwingtmg does have a weekly rules thread, but I'm not a huge fan of the format in comparison to a full board.)

*Like this:

Q: Why shouldn't you ask a cheetah for stock tips?

A: Because cheetahs never prosper.

...but what if I want to say something really funny*?

Then you accept that we all get to stand in judgement over how funny it is. ;)

And in your case I chucked so you get a pass this time.

To the OP just be aware if you plan on running with OL your opponents can spend evade tokens and other crew or ships can modify the dice. E.g. Palp can modify the defenders dice. Hope that also helps clarify. :)

No, they cannot spend evade tokens, spending evade tokens adds dice results, which is a modification, which is forbidden. (strictly speaking they can spend the tokens to no effect if they want, which might matter for some putative future pilot or upgrade)

Palpatine works specifically because the ship he's on is the one modifying the dice. He doesn't work attacking or defending against OL if OL locks and attacks his ship.

There are a couple of other things that arguably do affect OL that make OL modify his own dice, too, but they're both pretty uncommon.

Edited by thespaceinvader

There are a couple of other things that arguably do affect OL that make OL modify his own dice, too, but they're both pretty uncommon.

Edited by StephenEsven

4fzbeg.jpg

I think Omega Leader may have taken the top spot away from Howlrunner as crowning Tie Fighter Ace in the game.

4fzbeg.jpg

I think Omega Leader may have taken the top spot away from Howlrunner as crowning Tie Fighter Ace in the game.

Howlrunner was never really an Ace.

​She's a force multiplier.

Backstabber and Mauler Mithel were the dps carries of the TIE squadrons.

But if you don't have 33 points to spend on the two of them, Omega Leader will get you good results, in games he doesn't die in the 2nd turn.