Slicer Tool on 1 Command Ships

By Rocmistro, in Star Wars: Armada Rules Questions

If I Slicer Tool a 1 Command ship that has already activated this turn, do I set it's dial for the next turn?

For reference

"After you execute a maneuver, you may exhaust this card to choose an enemy ship at distance 1-3. You may choose a new command on its top command dial".

Essentially, my opponent's argument was: If I don't have a top command dial (because it's been spent), then there is nothing for you to change.

think i agree with your opponent.

Your opponent would be correct.

Fire your slicers. Worst Slicers ever :)

I think I agree with you all as well, but respectfully, I'll wait for Drasnighta to make an official Constitutional decision from the Bench, as it were.

I think I agree with you all as well, but respectfully, I'll wait for Drasnighta to make an official Constitutional decision from the Bench, as it were.

Our "non-non-Rules-Guru" ideas not good enough for you?

1. PM Dras if you just want Dras answers. :)

2. I'll transfer 2000 Galactic Credits into your Coruscant account if Dras "overturns" these thoughts. (That's a lot of money with interest from a long time ago.)

I think I agree with you all as well, but respectfully, I'll wait for Drasnighta to make an official Constitutional decision from the Bench, as it were.

Our "non-non-Rules-Guru" ideas not good enough for you?

1. PM Dras if you just want Dras answers. :)

2. I'll transfer 2000 Galactic Credits into your Coruscant account if Dras "overturns" these thoughts. (That's a lot of money with interest from a long time ago.)

I want everyone's answers, C-Ninja! (come over here and give me a totally non-partisan hug, bro!) But I also want/like the breakdown/analysis, which I think Dras might provide.

I can easily see the argument going either way:

1. "There is no top command dial anymore, because it's been used, therefore there is no trigger."

2. "Despite the fact that it's been used, there is a top command dial (the process of revealing the top command dial does not stop it from the state of being the top command dial). Thus, I can choose a new command for that top (revealed) command dial, which, implied in the card's instructions, is that that command will be sticking into the next activation for that ship."

Granted, #2 requires a stretch and some mental gymnastics. I'm like 90/10 on certainty that you guys are right. Still, no harm ever came about from a thorough examination of the rules.

Edited by Rocmistro

If there is not a command dial, you don't get to do anything. You can still trigger it, but you don't get to set a new command for them.

Per the RRG:

"When a command dial is spent or discarded, it is placed faceup on the ship’s ship card and remains there until it is assigned as a new command during the next Command Phase."

We know when we "spend" something, it is gone/removed from the game, essentially. When you spend an Acc, you get its effect and cannot do anything else with it. Same with command dials. You spend it for 1 of 2 effects, and set it on top of the command stack.

If we were able to Slicer a 1 command ship and set a new command dial, an argument could be made it would be able to activate again because the RRG states "A ship with a faceup command dial on its ship card cannot be activated." Via Slicer Tools, you just gave it a non-faceup command dial.

For these 2 reasons, I don't think you can set a dial on a 1 command ship that has already activated. You simply don't have a legal target.

Good analysis Undead.

Yeah, see this is what I mean. Been playing so long that I forgot there are "official" words/procedures in play for using/spending command dials. (I also tend to leave my command dials next to my ships so opponents can see what is what and so I don't get them confused.)

Edited by Rocmistro

If the top command dial wss still the top command dial even after use, then this would affect all ships not just command 1.

Fortunately it isnt.

Undeadguy has the money on the breakdown.

...

Even the wording "The Top Command Dial" is referring to a Command dial stack. A command Dial stack is face down.

If a Command Dial is not face down in its appropriate place. Its not a Top Command Dial. Its something else. Either a Dial in play, or a discarded Dial, or something else .

Slicer Tools explicitly targets a top command dial .

Doesn't stop you from doing it... But it does stop you actually doing anything with it...

Just the same as NK-7 Ion Cannons blue-critting someone with no defense tokens... Nothing stops you from Exhausting that card and forcing them to discard a defense token... But if they have no defense tokens, you don't actually do anything with it...

...

But this does reinforce that there are standard places and procedures in place, and that when you shortcut them, you risk adding complexity or breakings to a game.

The biggest one for me, at the moment, are people who do not set all of their command dials... "Oh, its Turn 5, I only need to set 'x' dials..."

No, no you don't. You need to set them all. The Rules say, to set them all. All the time. because there are now cards that do make that a difference.... There's Critical Cards that make you discard dials, Slicer Tools that lets you change enemy dials... Skilled First Officers that let you switch out and change dials......... There should never be a situation where your multiple-command ship doesn't have a Top Dial, unless there has been some serious shenanigans going on.....

It shouldn't happen by "Accident".

I regularly dont bother setting dials at the start of turn 5 on command 2 ships. I dont even know why, but its a regular occurrence. Playing round 6 without dials isnt usually disastrous fortunately.

I regularly dont bother setting dials at the start of turn 5 on command 2 ships. I dont even know why, but its a regular occurrence. Playing round 6 without dials isnt usually disastrous fortunately.

So long as you admit that the possibility may occur in the future, and when and if it does, you will amend your ways on your death bed... I will forgive you, Brother-Gink.