Just wondering if you have to spend your maneuver(s) for every attack or once per encounter?

It's setup to use it, then game on.

Not sure what you mean by spending maneuvers(s) once per encounter.

For each turn, a PC gets 1 Maneuver and 1 Action to use as they see fit.

A PC can get a second Maneuver by downgrading their 1 Action, resulting in 2 Maneuvers for that turn.

OR

A PC can get a second Maneuver by spending 2 Strain. Resulting in 2 Maneuvers and 1 Action for that turn.

Now, a PC does not HAVE to use a Maneuver during their turn if they do not want to (not recommended, but it is an option)

If a PC elects not use their Maneuver for their turn, it is lost. A PC cannot bank/store Maneuvers from turn to turn. e.g. Get 5 maneuvers after 5 rounds of not using them.

However, their are certain abilities that use maneuvers (Aim for example) that can be "banked" so to speak, but they have very rigid rules.

And there are certain Talents that are once an encounter/session that use maneuvers. Those two are very specific on what they can do.

I just neglected to carry the post title in to my question. Sorry!

I was just wondering in regard to the Prepare Quality in particular.

Prepare reads - "The user must perform a number of Prepare maneuvers equal to the weapon's Prepare rating before making attacks."

I was unclear on if you needed to use (x) number of prepare maneuvers before each attack or just once an encounter to 'prepare' the weapon and then attack as normal from the remainder of the encounter.

It's set up, once it's setup you're done.

For things with Tripods that have this quality I would require the maneuvers only once then attack like crazy. My personal problem arises when you decide you want to move the weapon. Do you need to "Unprepare" it to move? Or just pick it up whole and plonk it down again like a camera on a tripod? I think it's situational dependent, but you may need some Athletics/Coordination checks to do more than walk with it.

For things with Tripods that have this quality I would require the maneuvers only once then attack like crazy. My personal problem arises when you decide you want to move the weapon. Do you need to "Unprepare" it to move? Or just pick it up whole and plonk it down again like a camera on a tripod? I think it's situational dependent, but you may need some Athletics/Coordination checks to do more than walk with it.

Yeah, in case of the Missile Tube for example, I would require the PC to prepare the weapon once more IF they moved between setting it up and making an attack.

In case of like a tripod weapon, I would probably say, that it is too unwieldly to just carry it with one person if it has already been set up, thus maybe taking a "prepare"-maneuver to pack it up again.

What is your take on the prepare from the overcharge valve? Not really a mobility issue so do you see it as getting all the switches and dials set correctly or as more of a charge up time? If it is a charge up time would you want a new prepare after each reload?

Yes, after each reload, which since it's an Incidental is no big deal, it's just forcing the reload Maneuver.

Which is an incidental? Prepare and reload are both maneuvers so I may have missed something.

That attachment the Prepare is an Incidental. Although reading it over and over maybe they meant for that be a sort of on/off optional thing. It's worded goofy.

Oh, gotcha. I missed that. Just saw prepare and missed the incidental part. Thank you!