Boba crew vs. Ghost title with a docked Phantom

By ParaGoomba Slayer, in X-Wing Rules Questions

So you use Boba crew to get rid of the Ghost title for the VCX-100.

The Phantom title specifically references the 'Ghost'. Since you're no longer the Ghost since the Ghost title card was discarded, this prevents you from performing the freebie end phase attack with an equipped turret upgrade, right?

Yep.

Counterpoint: The FAQ on this currently reads --

Boba Fett cannot affect docked ships. If Boba Fett is used to discard the Ghost title while the Phantom is docked, the Phantom remains docked and cannot deploy until the Ghost is destroyed (forcing it to deploy).

I submit that if FFG intended Boba to affect the Phantom's ability to fire while docked, this FAQ entry would also mention that. I read "cannot affect docked ships" to equal "cannot affect docked ships abilities." If FFG intended otherwise, they should update the FAQ.

The effect of allowing Boba to impact the Phantom's firing means that by ejecting the Ghost, you have effectively neutered two cards with one effect, which I don't believe is the intent of the Boba crew card. To delete the Phantom's second attack and rear arc, it's just as easy to have Boba eject either the Phantom title, or the equipped turret.

Transparency: PGS brought this up because it came up in a game I was playing that he was observing. I was playing the Ghost/Phantom. My opponent, after learning that the Phantom would still deploy if the Ghost was destroyed after using Fett to affect the Ghost title ultimately decided to space the Ghost's TLT instead, so the situation had no impact on the ultimate outcome of the game.

Edited by Hawkstrike

Counterpoint: The FAQ on this currently reads --

Boba Fett cannot affect docked ships. If Boba Fett is used to discard the Ghost title while the Phantom is docked, the Phantom remains docked and cannot deploy until the Ghost is destroyed (forcing it to deploy).

I submit that if FFG intended Boba to affect the Phantom's ability to fire while docked, this FAQ entry would also mention that. I read "cannot affect docked ships" to equal "cannot affect docked ships abilities." If FFG intended otherwise, they should update the FAQ.

Transparency: PGS brought this up because it came up in a game I was playing that he was observing. I was playing the Ghost/Phantom. My opponent, after learning that the Phantom would still deploy if the Ghost was destroyed after using Fett to affect the Ghost title ultimately decided to space the Ghost's TLT instead, so the situation had no impact on the ultimate outcome of the game.

The Phantom has NO ability to fire whilst docked. Its title allows the Ghost to fire when docked. if the Ghost no longer has its Ghost title, it's no longer the Ghost, so the Phantom's title no longer does anything. AND the Phantom can no longer undock.

Of course, it's arguable whether junking the TLT isn't a better option anyway, since it takes away more of the Ghost's options, but that largely depends on the stage of the game and the attacking list. If the Ghost is nearly dead anyway, getting a free point of damage on the Phantom is great. If this is its first hull point, getting an early crack at the Phantom and not having more TLTs to contend with is better.

The Phantom has NO ability to fire whilst docked. Its title allows the Ghost to fire when docked. if the Ghost no longer has its Ghost title, it's no longer the Ghost, so the Phantom's title no longer does anything. AND the Phantom can no longer undock.

I understand your logic and acknowledge the point -- so if that's what's intended why doesn't the FAQ say that, since it specifically addresses this interaction?

Of course, it's arguable whether junking the TLT isn't a better option anyway, since it takes away more of the Ghost's options, but that largely depends on the stage of the game and the attacking list. If the Ghost is nearly dead anyway, getting a free point of damage on the Phantom is great. If this is its first hull point, getting an early crack at the Phantom and not having more TLTs to contend with is better.

Exactly.

The Phantom has NO ability to fire whilst docked. Its title allows the Ghost to fire when docked. if the Ghost no longer has its Ghost title, it's no longer the Ghost, so the Phantom's title no longer does anything. AND the Phantom can no longer undock.

I understand your logic and acknowledge the point -- so if that's what's intended why doesn't the FAQ say that, since it specifically addresses this interaction?

Of course, it's arguable whether junking the TLT isn't a better option anyway, since it takes away more of the Ghost's options, but that largely depends on the stage of the game and the attacking list. If the Ghost is nearly dead anyway, getting a free point of damage on the Phantom is great. If this is its first hull point, getting an early crack at the Phantom and not having more TLTs to contend with is better.

Exactly.

Because the interaction is clear enough that it doesn't need to, whereas the docking interaction isn't actually clear by RAW, it's arguable that docked ships can undock generally.

Docked ships don't do anything when they are docked. The Ghost title may allows the ship to do something special when there is a ship docked but that is still because of the title instead of something the docked ship is actually doing.

Docked ships don't do anything when they are docked. The Ghost title may allows the ship to do something special when there is a ship docked but that is still because of the title instead of something the docked ship is actually doing.

Actually, the Phantom title on the docked attack shuttle is what gives the VCX-100 its extra attack in the end phase and ability to make primary attacks out the rear.

Since it references the Ghost, if the Ghost title card is discarded by Boba crew, then the Phantom title is seemingly disabled also.

You need the Ghost title to fire because the Phantom title look for it... this is important, because the card does not say "the ship you are docked to" and using Ghost in the Phantom title is not another way "implied" to say "the ship you are docked to"

Why, because they want to make sur that you will never be able to have the Phantom docked to another ship that could be created in the future and have this potential ship shoot when the Phantom is docked to it.

So yes when you loose the Ghost title you are not the Ghost anymore. end of story. No need to FAQ everything in the game. When this is clear, this is clear...

Edit: They also did not use generic VCX-100 in the Phantom title to prevent someone fielding two VCX-100 and have only one Ghost but the two benefiting from the Phantom title.

Edited by muribundi

So yes when you loose the Ghost title you are not the Ghost anymore. end of story. No need to FAQ everything in the game. When this is clear, this is clear...

It's still worth asking about, because we don't actually have a precedent for referring to a ship by the title name and whether that reference stops being valid if the title is discarded. We do have precedent for equipped cards not checking whether they're still legal to equip once the game has started (R4-D6 R2-D6 and Integrated Astromech, Royal Guard TIE and Injured Pilot).

For my money it's most likely that they said "While you are docked, the Ghost..." instead of "While you are docked, the ship you are docked to..." because there's not enough room on the card. But that's just a guess, and I'm mostly glad I've not yet had to rule on this interaction at a tournament. Hopefully we'll have some guidance by the time I do.

Edited by digitalbusker

ffgswx39.jpg

The "Phantom" title could be referring to the expansion's "ghost" title as opposed to "the ship with the Ghost" title card. It can be read either way.

Edited by Tybrid

ffgswx39.jpg

The "Phantom" title could be referring to the expansion's "ghost" title as opposed to "the ship with the Ghost" title card. It can be read either way.

No, it really can't. The ship isn't the Ghost by RAW unless you have the title equipped. Until you have the title equipped, the ship is called 'VCX-100'.

This is really stretching.

Edited by thespaceinvader

ffgswx39.jpg

The "Phantom" title could be referring to the expansion's "ghost" title as opposed to "the ship with the Ghost" title card. It can be read either way.

No, it really can't. The ship isn't the Ghost by RAW unless you have the title equipped. Until you have the title equipped, the ship is called 'VCX-100'.

This is really stretching.

So is trying to shut down a MINIMUM 20 point combo with a 1 point crew card.

So yes when you loose the Ghost title you are not the Ghost anymore. end of story. No need to FAQ everything in the game. When this is clear, this is clear...

It's still worth asking about, because we don't actually have a precedent for referring to a ship by the title name and whether that reference stops being valid if the title is discarded. We do have precedent for equipped cards not checking whether they're still legal to equip once the game has started (R4-D6 R2-D6 and Integrated Astromech, Royal Guard TIE and Injured Pilot).

For my money it's most likely that they said "While you are docked, the Ghost..." instead of "While you are docked, the ship you are docked to..." because there's not enough room on the card. But that's just a guess, and I'm mostly glad I've not yet had to rule on this interaction at a tournament. Hopefully we'll have some guidance by the time I do.

The card you quote never reference something that cease to exist. If the Elite talent you equip with R2-D6 would say: "if you have an elite upgrade slot, do blablalbl" then yes loosing R2-D6 would make your other upgrade stop working.

When they don't want you to be screw they write it like Outrider. "if you have an upgrade type, you can't do bla bla but can do blabla". so when you loose the upgrade, the "can't" do not hinder you anymore.

And sorry to the other, but no they never reference expention name, always real ship name. Yes 1 point card could screw your 20 point. If you see it on the other side, then undock right away.

Edited by muribundi

Outrider is written the way it is precisely because it has a cannot clause. The Ghost/Phantom titles don't have any cannots, so Outrider isn't super relevant.

You may still be right. The eventual clarification may have been so long in coming because it didn't occur to Alex and Frank that anybody wouldn't understand that "the Ghost" means exactly and only "a friendly VCX-100 with the Ghost title equipped".

But in a world where "immediately suffer the effects of the obstacle" is apparently supposed to mean "check for all the bad things that can happen from an obstacle right now, despite the fact that those things are all tied tightly to timing windows that aren't relevant right now, and don't overthink it," I think it's just as likely, no, more likely, that the clarification is taking so long because they think we're overthinking this too.

ffgswx39.jpg

The "Phantom" title could be referring to the expansion's "ghost" title as opposed to "the ship with the Ghost" title card. It can be read either way.

No, it really can't. The ship isn't the Ghost by RAW unless you have the title equipped. Until you have the title equipped, the ship is called 'VCX-100'.

This is really stretching.

So is trying to shut down a MINIMUM 20 point combo with a 1 point crew card.

Not remotely, any more than killing palp is. And it's not a 1 point card, it's a 1 point single use card with very tough conditions to fulfil, doing one of the things it was designed to do.

The Ghost happens to be a prime target for this, but... that's one of the risks of running the titles.

RAW is clear, and RAW has NEVER referred to the name of the boxed set a thing came in.

I still don't like the fact the Fett can remove a ship's name. That just seems so illogical. But then, why am I trying to bring logic into this anyway? :)

I agree. I think it's silly that he works on titles. But he does.

You find it silly that Boba Fett can remove a title but not an Elite Pilot upgrade... Or that you could fly Emperor Palpatine in the Kylo Ren shuttle... Most pilote and crew are not even in the same time space when in the height of skill so...

Never try to bring "flavor" in rules... yes when it is possible we fit flavor but if not rule are first.

You find it silly that Boba Fett can remove a title but not an Elite Pilot upgrade... Or that you could fly Emperor Palpatine in the Kylo Ren shuttle... Most pilote and crew are not even in the same time space when in the height of skill so...

Never try to bring "flavor" in rules... yes when it is possible we fit flavor but if not rule are first.

I agree entirely, FWIW. it's silly, but it works, and I don't much care that it's silly.

Ok, I think people are missing the point of the Ghost/Phantom titles and how Boba Fett(crew) can affect them.

1) Boba can only affect 'Phantom' title once the Phantom has deployed from from the Ghost, which has little or no effect on the ship because the title is written as to how the Ghost operates with an equipped 'Phantom' onboard.

2) The 'Phantom' title card can only be included in a game only if a VCX-100 has a 'Ghost' title card equipped to it. (This is for "SET UP PHASE" purposes only!)

3) If Boba attacked a A-wing with the 'Test pilot' title, or a Firespray-31 with the 'Andrastra' title or M3-A with the 'Heavy Scyk' title on them; those ships would still be able to carry their added upgrades even if the titles were removed because they were equipped with those upgrades during the "set up phase" of a game.

The same holds true with with the Ghost. The 'Ghost' title allows the Phantom to be equipped onto the Ghost during the "set up phase" of the game, removing the 'Ghost' title will only prevent the Phantom from deploying after a maneuver. The Phantom can still deploy if the Ghost is destroyed. The Phantom's abilities while docked are still in effect even if the 'Ghost' title is removed.

The same holds true with with the Ghost. The 'Ghost' title allows the Phantom to be equipped onto the Ghost during the "set up phase" of the game, removing the 'Ghost' title will only prevent the Phantom from deploying after a maneuver. The Phantom can still deploy if the Ghost is destroyed. The Phantom's abilities while docked are still in effect even if the 'Ghost' title is removed.

The Phantom title reference the Ghost title in its effect...

The same holds true with with the Ghost. The 'Ghost' title allows the Phantom to be equipped onto the Ghost during the "set up phase" of the game, removing the 'Ghost' title will only prevent the Phantom from deploying after a maneuver. The Phantom can still deploy if the Ghost is destroyed. The Phantom's abilities while docked are still in effect even if the 'Ghost' title is removed.

The Phantom title reference the Ghost title in its effect...

The Phantom can still deploy if the Ghost is destroyed.

The Ghost no longer exists. The Phantom can still deploy if the ship to which it is docked is destroyed.

The Phantom's abilities while docked are still in effect even if the 'Ghost' title is removed.

Yes, the Phantom's abilities while docked are still in effect. However, those abilities only apply to the Ghost. The Ghost no longer exists.

Edited by Rawling

The same holds true with with the Ghost. The 'Ghost' title allows the Phantom to be equipped onto the Ghost during the "set up phase" of the game, removing the 'Ghost' title will only prevent the Phantom from deploying after a maneuver. The Phantom can still deploy if the Ghost is destroyed. The Phantom's abilities while docked are still in effect even if the 'Ghost' title is removed.

The Phantom title reference the Ghost title in its effect...

That is because the "Phantom" can only be equipped on the "Ghost". The Phantom cannot work on any VCX-100, it can only be equipped on one that started out with the "Ghost" title on it.

Nope, the reference to the Ghost in the Phantom text have nothing to with the fact that Phantom title "can only be equiped" with the Ghost. The Ghost can only be equiped if you put Phantom also on a shuttle. But you could totally uselessly put only the Phantom title on a shuttle not docked at the start of the game. This is as legal as putting Munition Failsafe on Lieutenant Blount even if this do absolutly nothing.

There is many reason why they reference precisely Ghost as the receiver of the bonus of the Phantom title and they are already stated in a previous post.

This is the exact same thing as the Extra Munition card. If you loose the card, then all the OrdnanceToken mean nothing anymore because they don't have a rule related to them in the game. Same thing with the Ghost. The Phantom can't relate to it anymore.

Edited by muribundi