I would need a rule confirmation here.

If I have the initiative, can I look at my opponent objective cards before deciding if I go first or second?

I can't find the rule in the rulebook or tournament rules, so if you could show me where it is, it would be really appreciated.

Thanks!

Game Setup essentially goes like this:

2. Gather Components: Each player places his ships, squadrons, and cards next to the play area and near his edge. Set each shield dial and squadron disk to its maximum shield and hull values. Then set the activation slider of each squadron to display the blue end of the slider with the a icon. Assign the appropriate defense tokens to each ship and unique squadron. Gather enough command dials and speed dials for the fleet. Assign ID tokens to ships and squadrons as necessary.

3. Determine Initiative: The player whose fleet has the lowest total fleet point cost chooses which player is the first player. The first player places the initiative token next to his edge with the a side faceup. If the players are tied in fleet points, flip a coin to decide which player makes the choice.

4. Choose Objective: The first player looks at all three of his opponent’s objective cards and chooses one to be the objective for the game.

So effectively, the Enemy shows you his Fleet. His Fleet including his Upgrade Cards and Such. That is open.

However, you must determine if you are going FIRST or SECOND (Deciding Initiative), BEFORE you get to see their Objective Cards.

Only the First Player looks at his opponents objective cards... So you must determine who is first player before that to happen, so the decision must be made..

Short Answer:

See and Show Fleets.
Determine who Chooses First Player (Initiative)
Determine First Player.

See Second Player's Objectives.

You don't get to see Objectives before you choose who is first or second.

Technically, First Player never actually shows his objectives to the Second Player. This can matter in somewhat hyper-competitive events, where you could be trying to game advantage in follow-on games by scouting out what other players have.

Alright, thanks!

All of that is page 10 of the rule book for future reference.

Yes I know, but it's not clearly written that objectives must be kept hidden until the first player is chosen. So I wondered if there was another place where it was more obvious that it is the correct intent.

In the gather components part, it says that each player places his ships, squadrons and cards next to the play area. Nothing specifically mentionning that objective cards must still be hidden, or could we argue that the ships, squadrons and upgrade cards must still be kept hidden at this point.

Then in the choose objective part, it says that the first player look at the second player objective cards and pick one, but nothing specifically mentionning that he could not take a look before. If it said that the second player reveal his objective cards to the first player at this point, there could not be any confusion. But written as it is, I could see the argument going both ways.

So, I came asking if there was another place to look at in the tournament rules, FAQ or rulebook where it is clarified. Looks like there is not and I'll have to do with just that part for future reference in case a player would argue against it.

Further clarity is within ommission:


From the Tournament Rules:


2. Players reveal all of their ship and squadron components. Players set each shield dial and squadron disk to its maximum shield and hull values. Players also set the activation slider of each squadron to display the blue end of the slider with the a icon. Players assign the appropriate defense tokens to each ship and unique squadron. Players then assign flagship tokens and ID tokens to any duplicates of ships on the same team. If both players are fielding fleets from the same faction, they assign ID tokens to all ships and squadrons. One player must exclusively display the white side of his or her ID tokens; the other player must display only the black side.

Note. Ship. and. Squadron. Components.

This includes Upgrade, but excludes objectives by ommission.

Thank you Dras, that's the part I was looking for.

I find it to be one of the great nuances of the game especially when you're deciding on initiative. I also thoroughly enjoy watching my opponent (if I'm second player) fret over selecting one of three really bad choices since I've picked objectives that compliment my fleet so well. It makes tournament match ups more interesting as well.

Hopefully the extra tournament legal missions in the Correllian expansion will give second payer even more of a watertight selection to test the skills of the first player. wWe may see less emphasis on initiative bids or players more often using bids to select second player.