I just played a game against X/d defenders with ion cannons. As if the legal game mechanics were not brutal enough, my opponent insisted that ion tokens deny actions after the white 1 straight maneuver. I hesitated to push the issue and didn't want to appear to be a rules lawyer but upon reading the rules after the game, I confirmed my correct knowledge of the rules. I'm certain it cost me the game, or at least made it far worse than it should have been.

Anyhow, my opponent was a nice person and I can't believe he did so out of any malice, but I learned 2 hard lessons: 1) ion tokens are bad but not THAT bad, and 2) if you are pretty certain about a rule, go ahead and dig out the rules.

the only type of thing in the game that gives ion and disables actions is from the conner net.

Not on their own, sure. But can under certain circumstances.

For instance, if you are stressed, then - no actions for you. (The ion maneuver you do is, by definition, a 'white' maneuver - regardless of the color that the maneuver would normally be on your dial. So you don't get to clear stress from it.)

An ion token also prevents you from doing a free action via the 'advanced sensors' upgrade - as that upgrade is contingent on your "revealing a dial"...and with an ion token, you never reveal a dial.

etc

But those are corner cases - indeed, as you note, generally there is nothing about an ion token that prevents you from taking an action.

Is it really a PSA for something we already knew? You were right. You should have stuck to your guns and asked your opponent to show where in the rules it says ion tokens deny actions.

ion is a white 1 move so you can preform an action ..... unless stressed

It's on the reference card too: "it may perform actions as normal"

I am furthest thing from a rules lawyer but if I am not sure on a rule, I always look it up (mid-move, if needed) to ensure fairness. I don't want to win via a misunderstood mechanic and certainly don't want to lose because of it. Aurora makes it easy to check reference cards too, one of the many reasons I love it.

(The ion maneuver you do is, by definition, a 'white' maneuver - regardless of the color that the maneuver would normally be on your dial. So you don't get to clear stress from it.)

(The ion maneuver you do is, by definition, a 'white' maneuver - regardless of the color that the maneuver would normally be on your dial. So you don't get to clear stress from it.)

Unless you have Nien Numb crew or R2 astormech. Those both make the 1 straight maneuver green.

Nope. The 1 straight that you perform is a white, per the reference card. Nien and R2 don't get the chance to do their thing.

(The ion maneuver you do is, by definition, a 'white' maneuver - regardless of the color that the maneuver would normally be on your dial. So you don't get to clear stress from it.)

Unless you have Nien Numb crew or R2 astormech. Those both make the 1 straight maneuver green.

Nope. The 1 straight that you perform is a white, per the reference card. Nien and R2 don't get the chance to do their thing.

You're incorrect; check the FAQ entries for R2 Astromech and Nien Numb.

(The ion maneuver you do is, by definition, a 'white' maneuver - regardless of the color that the maneuver would normally be on your dial. So you don't get to clear stress from it.)

Unless you have Nien Numb crew or R2 astormech. Those both make the 1 straight maneuver green.

Nope. The 1 straight that you perform is a white, per the reference card. Nien and R2 don't get the chance to do their thing.

You're incorrect; check the FAQ entries for R2 Astromech and Nien Numb.

I stand corrected! Foot is firmly in mouth. Apologies all around!

The real PSA here is to know the rules and have the confidence to insist on playing by them.

Another wrinkle was that my opponent was not familiar with pattern analyzer and tried to argue that the card didn't work as it should (reveal green, execute maneuver, delay check pilot stress step, perform action, PTL perform another action, get stress, check pilot stress -green maneuver executed, shed stress) until we called over a store employee who said yes I was correct.

While not contentious, he was again adamant but here I KNEW he was wrong. In retrospect this exchange was probably why I didn't challenge him (but should have).

(The ion maneuver you do is, by definition, a 'white' maneuver - regardless of the color that the maneuver would normally be on your dial. So you don't get to clear stress from it.)

Unless you have Nien Numb crew or R2 astormech. Those both make the 1 straight maneuver green.

Nope. The 1 straight that you perform is a white, per the reference card. Nien and R2 don't get the chance to do their thing.

You're incorrect; check the FAQ entries for R2 Astromech and Nien Numb.

I stand corrected! Foot is firmly in mouth. Apologies all around!