Quickdraw vs Shadow Caster Tractor Beam

By Goseki1, in X-Wing Rules Questions

Seen some debate over this due to the wording of when Quickdraw can shoot back (after losing a shield rather than "after defending").

My understanding if following the new timing chart is that regardless of the wording, if the Shadow Caster shoots Quickdraw, and removes a shield, the Shadow Caster hands out a Tractor beam token, then moves Quickdraw as per tractor beam rules, and then if Quickdraw can, she shoots back.

Regardless of the Wording of her ability, shooting back as part of an ability is resolved in step 9 after step 8 in which the tractor beam is resolved. Is this correct or is the wording of Quickdraws ability a special exception? Or have I misunderstood the timing chart altogether?

Flow chart for reference (best shot I can get on my phone)

Cs7CVG8.png

I'm not an expert, but it seems that removing the shield token would occur in step 7, before it even reaches step 8. Removing the shield token occurs before the "after attacking" or "after defending" check.

As Quickdraw's ability specifically states "after losing a shield token" and not "after defending", I would say the attack would be an immediate riposte to the the resolution of the first attack, in between volleys of TLT and before any other effects have taken place.

Edited by Arttemis

I would assume it will fit in at step 9, personally, but it'll need an FAQ to be sure.

Seems pretty clear cut from that flowchart screenshot. Shadowcaster triggers at "Did the attack hit" between steps 6 and 7, (Shadowcaster text: After you perform an attack that hits, if the defender is inside your mobile firing arc and at Range 1-2, you may assign the defender 1 tractor beam token. ) while Quickdraw triggers after step 7 (Quickdraw text: Once per round, when you lose a shield token, you may perform a primary weapon attack.)

Not thinking straight this morning, but the order is still right. Resolve tractor token, then resolve shot.

Edited by Zefirus

I believe Arttemis has this right. Attack is fired, hits successful in step 6. Move to step 7 and remove a shield token, triggering the counterattack. Move to step 8, resolving the after the attack ability of the title. If quickdraw said 'after defending against an attack that removed at least 1 shield token' or something similar then quickdraw would be step 9.

Would it not say "you may immediately attack" in there somewhere if it meant outside of the steps specific in their new timing flow chart?

Like, losing the shield is the checkbox that allows you to shoot back, but must stick to the steps in the chart, so the attack doesn't take place until step 9n otherwise why did they create a new flow chart to manage all these timing issues and then immediately release something that contravenes them? I guess it's not that unimaginable XD

I believe Arttemis has this right. Attack is fired, hits successful in step 6. Move to step 7 and remove a shield token, triggering the counterattack. Move to step 8, resolving the after the attack ability of the title. If quickdraw said 'after defending against an attack that removed at least 1 shield token' or something similar then quickdraw would be step 9.

It really bothers me that they went to all the effort of making a very clear flowchart... then introduced something which didn't fit in the usual place within like... 2 months.

Step 9 reads: "abilities trigger that occur 'after attacking' or 'after defending' that perform an attack". Quickdraw ability is neither. It triggers when first losing a shield, so doesnt follow the usual flow of the chart.

I think it resolves right after losing the shield.

But BTL A4 upgrade cards reads that after a primary weapon attack you "immediately" perform a secondary weapon attack. But it still takes place in step 9, as per the timing chart. As cool as it would be, (I just picked up a Tie/SF, my only wave 9 purchase todat) and I think this sets precedent for Quickdraw shooting back at step 9 too?

The difference is that the BTL-A4 title (and Dengar's payback shot, and the salvaged astromech that shoots back, and and and...) is an "after attacking" ability, which is what the flowchart is talking about. The flowchart doesn't say anything changes about abilities that trigger off something other than "after attacking" or "after defending".

I could se it going either way:

- An oversight in Quickdraw's wording and that it should happen in step 9 in order to maintain the integrity of the flow chart.

- That it indeed happens in step 7, as written.

It's worth submitting the question to FFG if you wish to get a definite answer.

Ugh. I guess thats true, in which case they'd need to add in a caveat or extra step to resolve abilities that occur like Quickdraws do, as there's bound to be more conflicts as more ships/upgrades of that type are released.

It just doesn't make sense for then to make their flow chart inaccurate so soon. Like to me, you have rolled defense Dice, compared results, lost a shield, then move onto the next steps as appropriate. The ability is still taking place after defending, it's just not explicitly stated as such.

I was Basing a lot of my thoughts on the fact that ruthlessness procs after the tractor beam movement but given the wording of the card that makes sense in the new flow chart.

Silly FFG and their wording XD

I've sent a rules clarification request so hopefully gear back soon. Not sure how long it usually takes.

Edited by Goseki1

Quickdraw's ability doesn't break or invalidate the flowchart any more than Red Ace's does. The flowchart is not trying to be the be all and end all of how you resolve abilities in X-Wing. It's only trying to clean up the mess that was the various conflicting "after attacking/defending" abilities.

Quickdraw's ability doesn't break or invalidate the flowchart any more than Red Ace's does. The flowchart is not trying to be the be all and end all of how you resolve abilities in X-Wing. It's only trying to clean up the mess that was the various conflicting "after attacking/defending" abilities.

Precisely this. It was intended to and does clear up any confusion around the large number of before and after attack intersections that exist. The timing on quick draw is clear and doesn't conflict with anything, it's just lose a shield immediately into attacking, no odd timing interactions at all.

I think the real impetus for the flow chart is dengar and valen rudor because their abilities were both after attacks and got very confusing quickly, especially vs. Tlt or tactician or gunner.

Rules as written, I agree with Arrtemis and Nigeltastic:

Quickdraw's ability triggers immediately after step 7.i or 7.ii of the timing chart.

IMO, it actually happens before Quickdraw is dealt any damage cards, meaning you can't strip her shields and deal a Blinded Pilot crit to stop the counter-attack.

Would it not say "you may immediately attack" in there somewhere if it meant outside of the steps specific in their new timing flow chart?

The word "immediately" doesn't actually mean anything rules-wise.

It really bothers me that they went to all the effort of making a very clear flowchart... then introduced something which didn't fit in the usual place within like... 2 months.

I agree that Quickdraw's ability would've been much clearer if it had said:

"Once per round, after defending, if you lost a shield token, you may perform a primary weapon attack."

It changes the timing window of Quickdraw's ability, but are there any cases where it'd actually make a difference?

Edited by Klutz

I agree that Quickdraw's ability would've been much clearer if it had said:

"Once per round, after defending, if you lost a shield token, you may perform a primary weapon attack."

It changes the timing window of Quickdraw's ability, but are there any cases where it'd actually make a difference?

Yeah: you couldn't attack during the Activation phase by running over a rock or self-stressing and triggering Electronic Baffle.

I agree that Quickdraw's ability would've been much clearer if it had said:

"Once per round, after defending, if you lost a shield token, you may perform a primary weapon attack."

It changes the timing window of Quickdraw's ability, but are there any cases where it'd actually make a difference?

Yeah: you couldn't attack during the Activation phase by running over a rock or self-stressing and triggering Electronic Baffle.

Good point.

The word "immediately" doesn't actually mean anything rules-wise.

Tell that to Heavy Laser Cannon.

The word "immediately" doesn't actually mean anything rules-wise.

Tell that to Heavy Laser Cannon.

Hey, HLC! The word "immediately" doesn't actually mean anything rules-wise.

Crits are allowed on HLC re-rolls because a roll and re-roll are 2 different things. The "immediately" doesn't mean anything.

Just wanted to update this to say Quickdraws ability will always trigger at step 9 as per the new faq.

Edited by Goseki1

Also, "rolls" and "re-rolls" are officially, explicitly 2 different things.

No more leaning on the HLC ruling to show it!

Quickdraw's ability doesn't break or invalidate the flowchart any more than Red Ace's does. The flowchart is not trying to be the be all and end all of how you resolve abilities in X-Wing. It's only trying to clean up the mess that was the various conflicting "after attacking/defending" abilities.

So, if Red Ace shoots at QD, stripping a shield...does Red Ace have the evade token when she shoots back?

Quickdraw's ability doesn't break or invalidate the flowchart any more than Red Ace's does. The flowchart is not trying to be the be all and end all of how you resolve abilities in X-Wing. It's only trying to clean up the mess that was the various conflicting "after attacking/defending" abilities.

So, if Red Ace shoots at QD, stripping a shield...does Red Ace have the evade token when she shoots back?

No, because Red Ace needs to lose a shield in order to assign an evade token, and that's not going to happen when Red Ace is the one doing the shooting.