Snipe and engagement rules of distance 1

By thanosazlin, in Star Wars: Armada Rules Questions

so if i have a squadron with Snipe and it is engaged within Awing at distance 1 , then it also has a Bwing within distance 2 BUT NOT within distance 1. it is of my opinion i am forced to attack the Xwing because the rules state any squadrons at distance 1 i am engaged with i MUST attack, and given it is an Awing and not a heavy bomber i must attack the Awing. I cannot attack the Bwing as it is not engaged with me and within distance 1.

so if i have a squadron with Snipe and it is engaged within Awing at distance 1 , then it also has a Bwing within distance 2 BUT NOT within distance 1. it is of my opinion i am forced to attack the Xwing because the rules state any squadrons at distance 1 i am engaged with i MUST attack, and given it is an Awing and not a heavy bomber i must attack the Awing. I cannot attack the Bwing as it is not engaged with me and within distance 1.

Ok, so engagement means you can't move and you have to attack a squadron.

There's no rule about which squadron you attack, so you could snipe.

Unless something like escort gets in the way.

the RR says


While a squadron is at distance 1 of one or more

enemy squadrons, it is engaged with all of those enemy

squadrons.


It says at distance 1, so see my pic i attached. In that example, which is what i originally stated, the interceptor (imagine it has snipe ) HAS to attack the Xwing as the Xwing is at distance 1. the rules for "engagement" are distance 1 NOT distance 2. Snipe allows you to attack someone at distance 2, BUT if you are locked into engagement with a squad that is distance 1 like in my example, THEN YOU CANNOT attack the Awing that is distance 2, as you are NOT technically engaged with the Awing at distance 2. yes it is at distance 2 for the Snipe ability but not engaged.


UdlNFWJ.jpg

Edited by thanosazlin

You are engaged with them, but not obliged to attack them. Snipe is an ability that lets you attack at range 2, and bypasses the normal attack protocol for squads. And this has already been discussed in the link Dras posted.

Well, it doesn't...

Snipe allows you to Attack at Distance 2.

That is all it does.

All of the Normal Rules for Attacking still apply.

However .

It is actually the FAQ that states, if you elect to Attack Squadrons, you do not have to attack a Squadron you are Engaged with... You could attack any Enemy Squadron that was at Range 1. Even if you are Engaged by a different squadron.

So the Snipe applies there.

The only thing that is going to stop you from using Snipe at a Range 2 Target, is if you have an Escort at Range 1 to shoot at.

Well, it doesn't...

Snipe allows you to Attack at Distance 2.

That is all it does.

All of the Normal Rules for Attacking still apply.

However .

It is actually the FAQ that states, if you elect to Attack Squadrons, you do not have to attack a Squadron you are Engaged with... You could attack any Enemy Squadron that was at Range 1. Even if you are Engaged by a different squadron.

So the Snipe applies there.

The only thing that is going to stop you from using Snipe at a Range 2 Target, is if you have an Escort at Range 1 to shoot at.

Technically attacking at range 2 does bypass the normal protocol for squadron attacks since you are not attacking at the normal range.

Well, its a semantic on Attack protocol, I guess :D


GOT TO LOVE TECHNICALLY CORRECT :D

...

But at least the answer is there, and the reasoning behind it, too...

Took me forever to remember that FAQ piece, though, that sealed the deal.

The FAQ answer is: " A squadron can attack another squadron at distance 1 regardless of whether it is technically engaged with that squadron"

So by this ruling you can attack another squadron at distance 1.

Thus you can't use Snipe at distance 2.

Not how I would rule it in casual play, of course.

The FAQ answer is: " A squadron can attack another squadron at distance 1 regardless of whether it is technically engaged with that squadron"

So by this ruling you can attack another squadron at distance 1.

Thus you can't use Snipe at distance 2.

Not how I would rule it in casual play, of course.

So, your assumption is that there is no precedence for rules?

The precedence was, you could attack anyone you were in range of (as the answer was stated with the rules as they are).

Snipe gives you a Range 2 attack.

That's a simple flow of rules on...

I mean, sure... The call is now "Well, the FAQ has to be updated"... Sure., it does, but that's not happening until a new FAQ... Because Snipe isn't even a rule in the game, yet...

The Rule is logical, makes sense, and honestly - won't make a huge difference in the end.

So, I say, go for it.

I just feel that if you don't accept rule precedences, and expect everything to be spelled out, then you expect everything to be spelled out, and you can't really add things at all :D

I mean, Valen Rudor + Instigator is another example of that.

If you don't accept the previous rule rulings as precedences, then you have no answer to what happens when you are Engaged by Valen Rudor, alone, with Instigator Nearby...

By at least accepting rules precedences, we can get an answer, at the very least.

The FAQ answer is: " A squadron can attack another squadron at distance 1 regardless of whether it is technically engaged with that squadron"

So by this ruling you can attack another squadron at distance 1.

Thus you can't use Snipe at distance 2.

Not how I would rule it in casual play, of course.

good call, it really for when you have 2 squads at distance 1 of you and 1 happens to be obstructed, there was always alot of arguments at tourneys regarding this bit. Snipe is still different as i mentioned about. until it's FAQ i'm not letting anyone snip me in the situation from the pic i posted :) , even if the Xwing was say another Awing, escort or not. the interceptor is not "engaged" with the Awing at distance 2.

again think of like this, you have 2 Awings that are clearly distance 2 away from your sniper squad. he is in sniper mode and NOT engaged with them and can snipe them all day long, the moment 1 of the Awings moves up on him is loses his sniping ability per say :) until he deals with the encroaching enemy squad at distance one.

Edited by thanosazlin

The FAQ answer is: " A squadron can attack another squadron at distance 1 regardless of whether it is technically engaged with that squadron"

So by this ruling you can attack another squadron at distance 1.

Thus you can't use Snipe at distance 2.

Not how I would rule it in casual play, of course.

good call, it really for when you have 2 squads at distance 1 of you and 1 happens to be obstructed, there was always alot of arguments at tourneys regarding this bit. Snipe is still different as i mentioned about. until it's FAQ i'm not letting anyone snip me in the situation from the pic i posted :) , even if the Xwing was say another Awing, escort or not. the interceptor is not "engaged" with the Awing at distance 2.

again think of like this, you have 2 Awings that are clearly distance 2 away from your sniper squad. he is in sniper mode and NOT engaged with them and can snipe them all day long, the moment 1 of the Awings moves up on him is loses his sniping ability per say :) until he deals with the encroaching enemy squad at distance one.

You sound like trump

The FAQ answer is: " A squadron can attack another squadron at distance 1 regardless of whether it is technically engaged with that squadron"

So by this ruling you can attack another squadron at distance 1.

Thus you can't use Snipe at distance 2.

Not how I would rule it in casual play, of course.

good call, it really for when you have 2 squads at distance 1 of you and 1 happens to be obstructed, there was always alot of arguments at tourneys regarding this bit. Snipe is still different as i mentioned about. until it's FAQ i'm not letting anyone snip me in the situation from the pic i posted :) , even if the Xwing was say another Awing, escort or not. the interceptor is not "engaged" with the Awing at distance 2.

again think of like this, you have 2 Awings that are clearly distance 2 away from your sniper squad. he is in sniper mode and NOT engaged with them and can snipe them all day long, the moment 1 of the Awings moves up on him is loses his sniping ability per say :) until he deals with the encroaching enemy squad at distance one.

Thing is, my Guy can already choose to ignore the guys encroaching at Distance 1 and engaging him, to go dally off through an asteroid field to shoot some other guys who just happen to be nearby, and aren't threatening or engaging me...

So what's the difference?

The FAQ answer is: " A squadron can attack another squadron at distance 1 regardless of whether it is technically engaged with that squadron"

So by this ruling you can attack another squadron at distance 1.

Thus you can't use Snipe at distance 2.

Not how I would rule it in casual play, of course.

good call, it really for when you have 2 squads at distance 1 of you and 1 happens to be obstructed, there was always alot of arguments at tourneys regarding this bit. Snipe is still different as i mentioned about. until it's FAQ i'm not letting anyone snip me in the situation from the pic i posted :) , even if the Xwing was say another Awing, escort or not. the interceptor is not "engaged" with the Awing at distance 2.

again think of like this, you have 2 Awings that are clearly distance 2 away from your sniper squad. he is in sniper mode and NOT engaged with them and can snipe them all day long, the moment 1 of the Awings moves up on him is loses his sniping ability per say :) until he deals with the encroaching enemy squad at distance one.

Where are you pulling this from? No where does it say engagement means you must target that squadron, unless it has escort. Snipe allows you to target another squad at range 2.

It's like you are ignoring the arguments that have been made and substituting your own rules and not providing references to your argument. Prove to me you are correct. Copy/paste the RRG and FAQ. I'm not trying to badger you, but I literally can't see your logic in what you are saying, and I can guarantee you are going to catch a lot of flak for making the statement " until it's FAQ i'm not letting anyone snip me in the situation from the pic i posted :)" because you sound like an entitled no-it-all who won't share your ruling with us peasants.

I want to know why you think this way.

it's simple to me. like said the RRs says

While a squadron is at distance 1 of one or more
enemy squadrons, it is engaged with all of those enemy
squadrons.
so, there are all kinds of different scenarios. i'm going clearly by the pic i posted. go back and look at the pic, imagine any other squad int he game is like distance 5 away :) ... and let's replace the Xwing with an Awing, bad example on my part as Xwings have escort. with that said, i have to attack the Awing at distance 1, per the rules i'm not engaged with the Awing at distance 2, you are only engaged with squadrons at distance 1.. so i have to attack the squadrons i am engaged with FIRST, before i can use the new Snipe ability at distance 2.

Ok I think I know where you're going with this. From RRG "When a squadron attacks, it must attack an engaged squadron if possible rather than an enemy ship." and since you are at range 1, you are engaged, and thus you believe you must attack that squad instead of the range 2 squad. Correct?

Here is why I don't think that works with Snipe. Snipe is an ability that replaces your normal attack, and thus you can ignore the range 1 squad. Also, the RRG does not say you must attack a squad you are engaged with, it says you can't attack a ship.

It is possible they might errata that quote so you must attack an engaged squad when a squad attacks, but I find that unlikely.

it's simple to me. like said the RRs says

While a squadron is at distance 1 of one or more
enemy squadrons, it is engaged with all of those enemy
squadrons.
so, there are all kinds of different scenarios. i'm going clearly by the pic i posted. go back and look at the pic, imagine any other squad int he game is like distance 5 away :) ... and let's replace the Xwing with an Awing, bad example on my part as Xwings have escort. with that said, i have to attack the Awing at distance 1, per the rules i'm not engaged with the Awing at distance 2, you are only engaged with squadrons at distance 1.. so i have to attack the squadrons i am engaged with FIRST, before i can use the new Snipe ability at distance 2.

As Undead just mentioned - you are hinging your argument on the fact that "you must attack a squadron you are engaged with."

Except, that's not the full rule.

The rule is:

"you must attack a squadron you are engaged with instead of a ship. :

And I have demonstrated that you do not, indeed, have to attack a squadron you are engaged with.

The FAQ answer is: " A squadron can attack another squadron at distance 1 regardless of whether it is technically engaged with that squadron"

So by this ruling you can attack another squadron at distance 1.

Thus you can't use Snipe at distance 2.

Not how I would rule it in casual play, of course.

good call, it really for when you have 2 squads at distance 1 of you and 1 happens to be obstructed, there was always alot of arguments at tourneys regarding this bit. Snipe is still different as i mentioned about. until it's FAQ i'm not letting anyone snip me in the situation from the pic i posted :) , even if the Xwing was say another Awing, escort or not. the interceptor is not "engaged" with the Awing at distance 2.

again think of like this, you have 2 Awings that are clearly distance 2 away from your sniper squad. he is in sniper mode and NOT engaged with them and can snipe them all day long, the moment 1 of the Awings moves up on him is loses his sniping ability per say :) until he deals with the encroaching enemy squad at distance one.

Where are you pulling this from? No where does it say engagement means you must target that squadron, unless it has escort. Snipe allows you to target another squad at range 2.

I want to know why you think this way.

The FAQ specifically states that you can attack another squadron at distance 1. It doesn't say "another squadron within range of your abilities".

The FAQ answer is: " A squadron can attack another squadron at distance 1 regardless of whether it is technically engaged with that squadron"

So by this ruling you can attack another squadron at distance 1.

Thus you can't use Snipe at distance 2.

Not how I would rule it in casual play, of course.

good call, it really for when you have 2 squads at distance 1 of you and 1 happens to be obstructed, there was always alot of arguments at tourneys regarding this bit. Snipe is still different as i mentioned about. until it's FAQ i'm not letting anyone snip me in the situation from the pic i posted :) , even if the Xwing was say another Awing, escort or not. the interceptor is not "engaged" with the Awing at distance 2.

again think of like this, you have 2 Awings that are clearly distance 2 away from your sniper squad. he is in sniper mode and NOT engaged with them and can snipe them all day long, the moment 1 of the Awings moves up on him is loses his sniping ability per say :) until he deals with the encroaching enemy squad at distance one.

Where are you pulling this from? No where does it say engagement means you must target that squadron, unless it has escort. Snipe allows you to target another squad at range 2.

I want to know why you think this way.

The FAQ specifically states that you can attack another squadron at distance 1. It doesn't say "another squadron within range of your abilities".

Yes, you can attack another squadron. But it doesn't say you must attack them, therefore you can use Snipe to attack at range 2.

So we have:

If you're engaged, you have to shoot at squadrons (if you want to shoot at all).

But you can already shoot at a squadron you're not engaged with (obstruction).

So here is the precedent.

So if you're engaged, you can snipe too (if there are targets), since nowhere is it disallowed.

You just cant shoot at ships.

Unless everyone and their mother are heavy. Or you're Tycho.

I think there needs to be a FAQ entry for this to clear up any confusion (currently lots), but right now I think you can snipe out of engagement.

It feels weird, but still.

Unless you're engaged with an Escort.

Then you can't Snipe.

Unless your Snipe target is an Escort too :ph34r:

Now it got really weird...

i disagree IMO, RRs says

When a squadron attacks, it must attack an engaged
squadron if possible rather than an enemy ship.

that was written before we had the Snipe ability and no squad could shoot past distance 1 (not talking rhymer here as he uses close/med range) . i read it as "When a squadron attacks, it must attack an engaged squadron IF possible." the part about "rather than an enemy ship" was there from the start before Snipe was added so the only other way it would apply would be against ships :) . IMO Snipe falls into that "ship" portion of the comment from RRs

I consider it as:

When a squadron attacks, it must attack an engaged
squadron if possible rather than an enemy ship "or squadron beyond engagement distance"
because, it states "When a squadron attacks, IT MUST attack an engaged squadron"
Edited by thanosazlin

Currently, the FAQ has stated that if you are engaged you can attack another squadron at distance 1.

i disagree IMO, RRs says

When a squadron attacks, it must attack an engaged
squadron if possible rather than an enemy ship.

that was written before we had the Snipe ability and no squad could shoot past distance 1 (not talking rhymer here as he uses close/med range) . i read it as "When a squadron attacks, it must attack an engaged squadron IF possible." the part about "rather than an enemy ship" was there from the start before Snipe was added so the only other way it would apply would be against ships :) . IMO Snipe falls into that "ship" portion of the comment from RRs

I consider it as:

When a squadron attacks, it must attack an engaged
squadron if possible rather than an enemy ship "or squadron beyond engagement distance"
because, it states "When a squadron attacks, IT MUST attack an engaged squadron"

That's a very reasonable way of thinking, and I would like for it to be the case.

But currently it's just not RAW.

In fact the line quoted by Democratus points in the opposite direction.

FFG should do like Han and apologize:

"Sorry about the mess."

"Apology accepted FFG."

Edited by Green Knight

Currently, the FAQ has stated that if you are engaged you can attack another squadron at distance 1.

yes, but that is "specific" to obstructions and at distance 1, hard to apply it to Snipe , but i get where you are going for sure :) . i guess we going to have to wait a few months for FAQ i hope FFG addresses Snipe.

Q: If a squadron is at distance 1 of two enemy squadrons, one
that it is engaged with and one that it is not engaged with
because it is separated by an obstacle, does the original
squadron have to attack the engaged squadron?
A: No. A squadron can attack another squadron at distance 1
regardless of whether it is technically engaged with that
squadron.

Just another 6 months until we get to hear about the FAQ, unless they see the turmoil they created and change the text for Snipe.