There's already a rule in place for this issue. Page 5 of the X-Wing FAQ:

"After the Planning phase, if a player wishes to look at one of his dials, he must inform his opponent first. Manipulating dials after the Planning phase will not be tolerated."

Ask your TO's to clear this rule up at tournaments, and remind your opponents. If your opponent tells you before he picks his dial up, there's less doubt of his intentions.

This is no longer in the new FAQ they just released V 4.1.1 which goes into effect April 2nd.

God dammit FFG. Way to remove a core rule that limits cheating. I'm sending them an email to add it again. I would suggest everyone else does so too.

Oh my! Yes, this opens a can of worms, unless the rule is changed as I have suggested!

Not the way you suggested. The way it was before.

I don't think removing part of a faq changes any core rules. It just suggests that the issue in question is no longer considered worthy of inclusion in the faq.

I don't think removing part of a faq changes any core rules. It just suggests that the issue in question is no longer considered worthy of inclusion in the faq.

The FAQ is meant to clear up rules and card abilities or add to the rules. When one of them is removed, it no longer applies and since this isn't written anywhere else, it would appear that you are free to handle your dials as you see fit until you actually flip them over for your opponent to see them and move your ship. I personally don't like this especially at a competitive level.

I am all for fair play and every rule that helps keep things that way gets 2 thumbs up from me.

If feel the need to cheat to win a game then go for it as long as you're playing solitaire or some other solo game. That way the only person you are cheating it yourself.

There's nothing wrong with looking at your dial prior to activation. Deliberately altering that dial is unquestionably cheating and should result in penalties. What should those penalties be? Here are my thoughts in order of severity:

Opponent now gets to set dial.

Ship is automatically destroyed.

Cheater is forced to concede game at that point.

Cheater is ejected from tournament.

Cheater is banned from playing at that location/any local locations/anywhere.

I like being able to look at a dial before you move, properly informing your opponent of course. Lost in a top8 round of a regional last year because I forgot to barrel roll a ship (that I was planning on barrel rolling, and forgot!) and bumped whisper with no shot. At a certain level, the game is mistakes so being able to reference what you did 4 minutes ago is actually pretty important.

I agree with needing a penalty though for certain infractions. Someone posted binder clips as a way to stop dials moving which is a great idea. Loose dial? Could be risking something. I can only imagine that the ability to easily change a dial with one hand via the new dial guards is going to be more of a problem.

I can only imagine that the ability to easily change a dial with one hand via the new dial guards is going to be more of a problem.

I was coming in to post the exact opposite. The new holder looks like it would make "edge spinning" harder, except the small part where the cardboard protrude. It would be ridiculously easy for FFG to mandate those holders and have a rule about just picking them up by the non-live part of it if you want to check a maneuver.

I can only imagine that the ability to easily change a dial with one hand via the new dial guards is going to be more of a problem.

I was coming in to post the exact opposite. The new holder looks like it would make "edge spinning" harder, except the small part where the cardboard protrude. It would be ridiculously easy for FFG to mandate those holders and have a rule about just picking them up by the non-live part of it if you want to check a maneuver.

I really hope this is the case. I would love to see something like this.

The easiest way? Yea. Plan your maneuver, set down, don't frikin touch it til it's your turn to move. Easy.

What if FFG included a password to access additional DLC for an App. You linked to your opponent's device via Bluetooth/wifi and you set dials on that. You both hit SET and the game locks the dials and progresses to the next stage. It then shows the order in which ships move, etc. It eliminates any doubt and still allows players to look at their dials.

Sorry but that's a bad idea. If I have more than one ship with same PS I should be able to look at them all so I know which one I want to move first.

While it may be more exciting for you and your group, it would have a huge impact on competitive play.

So, it is bad idea. Would you like to provide more than just your feelings?

And no, it would not have any impact on competitive play, it easy enough to remember a few things and even easier to make notes. It would have about as much impact on competitive play as requiring all players to lace their shoes on their own.

You mean like in the rules already, except when your opponents allows you to do it? If you check your dial then you are manipulating it, even when you do not change your movement.

What if FFG included a password to access additional DLC for an App. You linked to your opponent's device via Bluetooth/wifi and you set dials on that. You both hit SET and the game locks the dials and progresses to the next stage. It then shows the order in which ships move, etc. It eliminates any doubt and still allows players to look at their dials.

This'd work if there was some guarantee that everyone had up to date cellphones/tablets. Not everyone can afford these (especially if they're forced to choose between that and plastic crack). So that's kind of terrible to solve a rare problem.

What if FFG included a password to access additional DLC for an App. You linked to your opponent's device via Bluetooth/wifi and you set dials on that. You both hit SET and the game locks the dials and progresses to the next stage. It then shows the order in which ships move, etc. It eliminates any doubt and still allows players to look at their dials.

This'd work if there was some guarantee that everyone had up to date cellphones/tablets. Not everyone can afford these (especially if they're forced to choose between that and plastic crack). So that's kind of terrible to solve a rare problem.

It is not even solving the problem, because you still can manipulate the dials, now not only yours, but the opponents ones as well. Network and app security comes not for free and FFGs are struggling already with hiring enough editors. ;-)

And even under the previous FAQ that is how most ship activations go 99% of the time. However, there is nothing wrong with the previous entry that stated that a player could instruct his opponent that he is looking at his dial. I ALWAYS makenit clear to my opponent AND make sure they are paying attention when I say, "I'm going to look at my dial" pointing to said dial. Then I make sure they are looking at me and if not, I'll say it again.

Only when I know they are paying attention will pick up my dial carefully and obviously with one finger and my thumb and up high enough so that they can see I'm not changing, only looking at the dial.

Flying casual is not hard. Flying uptight requires effort and attitude, and then the game is no fun.

If you are playing a game with people who cheat regularly, maybe you need to start playing with other people.

Sorry but that's a bad idea. If I have more than one ship with same PS I should be able to look at them all so I know which one I want to move first.While it may be more exciting for you and your group, it would have a huge impact on competitive play.

That would be the death of swarms.

I see both of these as "good things!" And Swarm players just have to concentrate more on flying, it wouldn't be their death...

Whats wrong with making people remember how their ships are moving? It makes everybody concentrate a bit more on flying and reduces the chance of cheating! WIN-WIN!

Try remembering what moves your ships are doing while running a TIE Swarm and you are 9 hours into a store championship.