Now I'm sure there is another topic on this but I was hoping someone could explain the intricacies of the Instigator title along with how it interacts with an Intel ship.

I fully anticipate having a rules dispute about this tomorrow night so I would really appreciate it if someone could point me toward an official FAQ on the matter so I can go in there with more than "this guy called Dras said so on the rules forum."

You mean like:

FAQ, PAGE 9, "Instigator"


Instigator Squadrons can attack this ship if they are not engaged by an actual enemy squadron without heavy in the play area.

The intel keyword does not affect this ship’s ability.

Don't think you can go anywhere since the squad is treated as engaged by 2 other squads. Those engaging squads don't exist on the board state, so they can't be given Heavy.

You mean like:

FAQ, PAGE 9, "Instigator"

Instigator Squadrons can attack this ship if they are not engaged by an actual enemy squadron without heavy in the play area.

The intel keyword does not affect this ship’s ability.

So if my opponent activates squads covered by the Instigator title, and I have no real squads there, than he can attack the Instigator with his squads, but he can't move and/or attack a different ship?

So, right on, to follow up: (EDIT: As your Question was asked while I was typing this)

Instigator means, if you are within a certain distance of Instigator, you are treated as if engaged by 2 additional squadrons...

You cannot shoot these squadrons. I refer to them as Spectral (as to not infringe on Ghost and/or Phantom at some later stage - and this is for my own ease of reference, it is NOT an official Keyword, so keep that in mind...)

If you elect to shoot "Squadrons", then you can shoot any squadron within your range.

If you elect to shoot "Ships", then as long as all squadrons engaging you are either heavy or, spectral , then you may shoot any ship in range... Not just Instigator, any ship , as Instigator itself does not Engage. This was stated as part of an Email answer, as the 'must shoot x' restriction is only in application to Squadrons, and not Ships... And Ships do not Engage.

Remeber the Keyword:

If you are ENGAGED. Then you must Shoot Squadrons, if you elect to Shoot... And you Cannot move...

If you are engaged with Heavy (and only heavy), then your restriction of cannot shoot ships is removed, as is your cannot move . Restriction.

Grit allows you to ignore the cannot move if you are engaged with only ONE squadron. It does not remove the cannot shoot ships restriction.

If you are Engaged by a Heavy Squadron, are within distance 1 of Instigator, and have grit , you still cannot move, This is because Engagement is a Yes/No, not a +/-, as defined by:

Q: Is a squadron with grit prevented from moving while engaged with two squadrons, one with heavy and one without heavy?

A: Yes

Intel will provide those physical squadrons on the table heavy , but because spectral squadrons are not on the table, they cannot be given the keyword (because you cannot say where they are, you cannot measure to prove they are within distance 1 of the intel ship - you may infer it, but you cannot measure it...)

I think that covers most of it.

The rules for Escort still apply...

If you are surrounded by Squadrons that have both Heavy and a mix of Escort or not, because of your friendly intel ship, you may choose to shoot at Squadrons or Ships .... If you shoot at Ships, then as long as eveyrone is heavy, you are allowed to, but if you choose to shoot at Squadrons , then Escort still applies, and you must choose a Squadron with Escort as your Target.\\

So what is the point of the Instigator title if it doesn't stop the enemy squads from bombing your other ships? Does it just stop them in their place?

So what is the point of the Instigator title if it doesn't stop the enemy squads from bombing your other ships? Does it just stop them in their place?

Basically.

It stops even Intel from being able to move (the ONLY THING THAT DOES THAT IN THE GAME), allowing you to shoot said intel ship with instigator, as well as bring in your fighter cover while it is pinned in place.

So what is the point of the Instigator title if it doesn't stop the enemy squads from bombing your other ships? Does it just stop them in their place?

Holds them in place, awaiting double black aa fire next turn. Best to team it up with a couple of tir advanced or tie fighters

So it shuts down movement and prevents intel from allowing enemy Squadrons to move. Got it.

So what if I have some TIE Fighters in the mix?

Obviously if my opponent doesn't have an Intel ship to make them heavy than his fighters have to attack my TIES. But if he has Intel and makes my Squadrons Heavy, he can then attack any ship or squadron he wants but still cannot move? Is that correct?

So it shuts down movement and prevents intel from allowing enemy Squadrons to move. Got it.

So what if I have some TIE Fighters in the mix?

Obviously if my opponent doesn't have an Intel ship to make them heavy than his fighters have to attack my TIES. But if he has Intel and makes my Squadrons Heavy, he can then attack any ship or squadron he wants but still cannot move? Is that correct?

Correct.

If everyone has Heavy (or spectral), than the Restriction on shooting Ships is removed.

But " Spectral" does not remove the restriction on Moving, even though heavy does - If there's one person out there without Heavy (including Spectrals , who can't get it), then you cannot move...

So it shuts down movement and prevents intel from allowing enemy Squadrons to move. Got it.

So what if I have some TIE Fighters in the mix?

Obviously if my opponent doesn't have an Intel ship to make them heavy than his fighters have to attack my TIES. But if he has Intel and makes my Squadrons Heavy, he can then attack any ship or squadron he wants but still cannot move? Is that correct?

Correct. So you want to move instigator into squadron ball, tying down the intel units. And then, throw a couple of tie fighters in, making sure they are outside intel range.

Now you have a fustrated opponent.

Thanks for all the help guys

so, squadrons that are "engaged" by Instigator can only attack Instigator, right? That's always how I interpreted that card.

No.

In fact, its been said 3 times above that's not the case, for multiple reasons.

Primarily, it is because Instigator does not Engage .

No.

In fact, its been said 3 times above that's not the case, for multiple reasons.

Primarily, it is because Instigator does not Engage .

sorry, just had 3 hours of sleep last night and I feel like I drank an entire bottle of whisky. So, this means squadrons close to instigator can't attack anything other than other nearby squadrons as long as instigator is alive?

No.

In fact, its been said 3 times above that's not the case, for multiple reasons.

Primarily, it is because Instigator does not Engage .

sorry, just had 3 hours of sleep last night and I feel like I drank an entire bottle of whisky. So, this means squadrons close to instigator can't attack anything other than other nearby squadrons as long as instigator is alive?

Nope.

All it means is squads close to instigator cannot move.

Usual rules with heavy and non heavy apply

No.

In fact, its been said 3 times above that's not the case, for multiple reasons.

Primarily, it is because Instigator does not Engage .

sorry, just had 3 hours of sleep last night and I feel like I drank an entire bottle of whisky. So, this means squadrons close to instigator can't attack anything other than other nearby squadrons as long as instigator is alive?

I'll spell it out again

You always have a Choice:

Do I Shoot Squadrons

Do I shoot Ships .

If you are Engaged. You Must shoot an enemy Squadron If Able .

However, you do not have to shoot Squadrons, if all of the Squadrons that are engaging you are Heavy , or they "do not exist" because they are from Instigator. (You are "Not Able" to shoot at those Instigator Squadrons)...

A Single, Real, Non-Heavy Squadron will stop you from Shooting Ships.

However, if you are not stopped from Shooting Ships, because your Enemy Squadrons are Heavy or "do not exist".... Then you can shoot any ship in Range.

Regardless of how you slice it, however... The Presence of Invisible Squadrons from Instigator will Prevent you From Moving... Even if you are an Intel Ship yourself .

AND AT NO POINT IN ANY OF THE RULES, DOES IT STATE THAT INSTIGATOR CAUSES ENGAGEMENT. IT CAUSES YOU TO ACT AS IF YOU ARE ENGAGED BY 2 ADDITIONAL SQUADRONS - NOTE THE WORDING, THOSE 2 ADDITIONAL SQUADRONS ARE DOING THE ENGAGING, NOT INSTIGATOR.

No.

In fact, its been said 3 times above that's not the case, for multiple reasons.

Primarily, it is because Instigator does not Engage .

sorry, just had 3 hours of sleep last night and I feel like I drank an entire bottle of whisky. So, this means squadrons close to instigator can't attack anything other than other nearby squadrons as long as instigator is alive?

I'll spell it out again

You always have a Choice:

Do I Shoot Squadrons

Do I shoot Ships .

If you are Engaged. You Must shoot an enemy Squadron If Able .

However, you do not have to shoot Squadrons, if all of the Squadrons that are engaging you are Heavy , or they "do not exist" because they are from Instigator.

A Single, Real, Non-Heavy Squadron will stop you from Shooting Ships.

However, if you are not stopped from Shooting Ships, because your Enemy Squadrons are Heavy or "do not exist".... Then you can shoot any ship in Range.

Regardless of how you slice it, however... The Presence of Invisible Squadrons from Instigator will Prevent you From Moving... Even if you are an Intel Ship yourself .

I doubt this can be any clearer. My current asleep state thank you.