The Advanced Slam wording is in the past tense.

"After performing a SLAM action, if you did not overlap an obstacle or another ship, you may perform a free action."

Does this mean if the template overlapped an obstacle or another ship during the SLAM you can't perform an action?

Otherwise it would read,

"...if you are not overlapping an obstacle or another ship..."

A ships overlaps with another ship or obstacle, when its base overlaps. Template does not matter, you can still get your free action.

A ships overlaps with another ship or obstacle, when its base overlaps. Template does not matter, you can still get your free action.

You need to re-read the section on obstacles. Page 14 of the rules reference guide (pdf edition) specifically mentions template overlap and losing actions.

A ships overlaps with another ship or obstacle, when its base overlaps. Template does not matter, you can still get your free action.

You need to re-read the section on obstacles. Page 14 of the rules reference guide (pdf edition) specifically mentions template overlap and losing actions.

You skip the "Perform Action" step, but you can still perform free actions (as it is pointed out on the same page of the Rules Reference):

A ship can still perform free actions even if it moved through or overlapped an obstacle, as long as the ship is not stressed.

A ships overlaps with another ship or obstacle, when its base overlaps. Template does not matter, you can still get your free action.

You need to re-read the section on obstacles. Page 14 of the rules reference guide (pdf edition) specifically mentions template overlap and losing actions.

You skip the "Perform Action" step, but you can still perform free actions (as it is pointed out on the same page of the Rules Reference):

A ship can still perform free actions even if it moved through or overlapped an obstacle, as long as the ship is not stressed.

True, normally but that was modified by the Advanced Slam Action card.

A ships overlaps with another ship or obstacle, when its base overlaps. Template does not matter, you can still get your free action.

You need to re-read the section on obstacles. Page 14 of the rules reference guide (pdf edition) specifically mentions template overlap and losing actions.

You skip the "Perform Action" step, but you can still perform free actions (as it is pointed out on the same page of the Rules Reference):

A ship can still perform free actions even if it moved through or overlapped an obstacle, as long as the ship is not stressed.

True, normally but that was modified by the Advanced Slam Action card.

Partially. It modifies the overlapping part, but not the move through part. If you land on an obstacle than no free action from Advanced SLAM, but the original question was about moving through an obstacle or ship (= template overlaps, but not the ship base).

Edit: Actually Advanced SLAM does not even modify the core rule. It just does not trigger when you overlap with ship or obstacle, but the free action rule stays intact.

OK, I think I may have the same question the OP has here. But why would the movement template passing over another ship cause you to not be able to use the free action. As long as the ship base clears the other ship base at the end of the move, in every other rule I can think of, there is no effect from the template overlapping the other ship. Yes obstacles are handled differently and I know the template matters there, but it has never mattered for any ship (ie my ships or my opponent's) unless the base didn't clear and you have to go back along the template and end up "bumping" in which case you don't get any action anyway so there wouldn't be a slam to begin with.

A ships overlaps with another ship or obstacle, when its base overlaps. Template does not matter, you can still get your free action.

You need to re-read the section on obstacles. Page 14 of the rules reference guide (pdf edition) specifically mentions template overlap and losing actions.

You skip the "Perform Action" step, but you can still perform free actions (as it is pointed out on the same page of the Rules Reference):

A ship can still perform free actions even if it moved through or overlapped an obstacle, as long as the ship is not stressed.

True, normally but that was modified by the Advanced Slam Action card.

Partially. It modifies the overlapping part, but not the move through part. If you land on an obstacle than no free action from Advanced SLAM, but the original question was about moving through an obstacle or ship (= template overlaps, but not the ship base).

Edit: Actually Advanced SLAM does not even modify the core rule. It just does not trigger when you overlap with ship or obstacle, but the free action rule stays intact.

The portion you quoted about taking a free action if not stressed is correct but the AS card changes that condition for the AS maneuver.

OK, I think I may have the same question the OP has here. But why would the movement template passing over another ship cause you to not be able to use the free action. As long as the ship base clears the other ship base at the end of the move, in every other rule I can think of, there is no effect from the template overlapping the other ship. Yes obstacles are handled differently and I know the template matters there, but it has never mattered for any ship (ie my ships or my opponent's) unless the base didn't clear and you have to go back along the template and end up "bumping" in which case you don't get any action anyway so there wouldn't be a slam to begin with.

You end your maneuver almost touching another ship, let's say after a 3 straight. A 3 straight or 3 bank SLAM will most likely clear. You've moved and taken an action, the SLAM. In the case of the Advanced Slam the fluff might be you're too busy trying not to ram the guy that you just blew buy to do a free action. The disagreement that Ubul and I have is the wording on the card and how it is affected by the rules.

A ships overlaps with another ship or obstacle, when its base overlaps. Template does not matter, you can still get your free action.

You need to re-read the section on obstacles. Page 14 of the rules reference guide (pdf edition) specifically mentions template overlap and losing actions.

You skip the "Perform Action" step, but you can still perform free actions (as it is pointed out on the same page of the Rules Reference):

A ship can still perform free actions even if it moved through or overlapped an obstacle, as long as the ship is not stressed.

True, normally but that was modified by the Advanced Slam Action card.

Partially. It modifies the overlapping part, but not the move through part. If you land on an obstacle than no free action from Advanced SLAM, but the original question was about moving through an obstacle or ship (= template overlaps, but not the ship base).

Edit: Actually Advanced SLAM does not even modify the core rule. It just does not trigger when you overlap with ship or obstacle, but the free action rule stays intact.

The problem is FFG uses the term "overlap" to denote two different conditions. The first is the 'moving through' where the template overlaps an obstacle or ship. The second is when a ship's base at the end of movement is sitting on an obstacle. The card for AS is very specific about the conditions that prevent a free action, that being the overlap of a ship or obstacle.

The portion you quoted about taking a free action if not stressed is correct but the AS card changes that condition for the AS maneuver.

Actually, under the Moving Through rules, the word "overlap" is only used to describe the placement of the template. The game-term " overlap ", is more defined and more specifically refers to a ship's final placement. If it is just the template that overlaps the obstacle, it's termed as " moving through " instead.

With Advanced SLAM, it also uses the word "you" which always refers to the active ship. There's no mention of the template at all, so it shouldn't come into play. If your ship lands on a obstacle or another ship, then you get no free action from Advanced SLAM. It doesn't rule out a free action from another source either. However, because a SLAM action counts as a manoeuvre, it's subject to all the normal manoeuvre rules, so if you SLAM through a debris cloud and don't stop on it, you're still going to pick up a stress token, and thus not get a free action from Advanced SLAM anyway.

A ships overlaps with another ship or obstacle, when its base overlaps. Template does not matter, you can still get your free action.

You need to re-read the section on obstacles. Page 14 of the rules reference guide (pdf edition) specifically mentions template overlap and losing actions.

You skip the "Perform Action" step, but you can still perform free actions (as it is pointed out on the same page of the Rules Reference):

A ship can still perform free actions even if it moved through or overlapped an obstacle, as long as the ship is not stressed.

True, normally but that was modified by the Advanced Slam Action card.

Partially. It modifies the overlapping part, but not the move through part. If you land on an obstacle than no free action from Advanced SLAM, but the original question was about moving through an obstacle or ship (= template overlaps, but not the ship base).

Edit: Actually Advanced SLAM does not even modify the core rule. It just does not trigger when you overlap with ship or obstacle, but the free action rule stays intact.

The problem is FFG uses the term "overlap" to denote two different conditions. The first is the 'moving through' where the template overlaps an obstacle or ship. The second is when a ship's base at the end of movement is sitting on an obstacle. The card for AS is very specific about the conditions that prevent a free action, that being the overlap of a ship or obstacle.

The portion you quoted about taking a free action if not stressed is correct but the AS card changes that condition for the AS maneuver.

Actually, under the Moving Through rules, the word "overlap" is only used to describe the placement of the template. The game-term " overlap ", is more defined and more specifically refers to a ship's final placement. If it is just the template that overlaps the obstacle, it's termed as " moving through " instead.

With Advanced SLAM, it also uses the word "you" which always refers to the active ship. There's no mention of the template at all, so it shouldn't come into play. If your ship lands on a obstacle or another ship, then you get no free action from Advanced SLAM. It doesn't rule out a free action from another source either. However, because a SLAM action counts as a manoeuvre, it's subject to all the normal manoeuvre rules, so if you SLAM through a debris cloud and don't stop on it, you're still going to pick up a stress token, and thus not get a free action from Advanced SLAM anyway.

Instead of an FAQ, FFG should release a Glossary of Terms and Definitions. This is starting to get really old.

I agree. There's been too many arguments over a particular words in the rules and whether or not they are just convenient language or an actual defined game term. But the Rules Reference is actually a Glossary in itself. See the top of page 3

I agree. There's been too many arguments over a particular words in the rules and whether or not they are just convenient language or an actual defined game term. But the Rules Reference is actually a Glossary in itself. See the top of page 3

They need help with a rewrite.

I agree. There's been too many arguments over a particular words in the rules and whether or not they are just convenient language or an actual defined game term. But the Rules Reference is actually a Glossary in itself. See the top of page 3

They need help with a rewrite.

Not necessarily. What they do need, is more definitions. Things that have needed explanation via the FAQ, should have been clearer in the rulebook to start with. I think the attack timing flowcart was a step in the right direction.