Saw these awesome squadron management decks on an Etsy site shared to a Facebook group I'm in, and I'm hinged on getting them over one not so simple thing: Whether they'd be legal for use in Organized Play. Figured you rules gurus would know best.

Not legal, as they're not FFG product and they modify FFG product.

If it's a local tournament and the organizer doesn't mind, then they're fine. In my experience, local organizers are pretty easy-going, but they might just say "no" and you need to be ready for that possibility.

Well, i do not see any problems in using these.

Quote

Component Modifications
During tournament play, each player is required to use the components included in official Star Wars: Armada products (see “Legal Products” on page 9). Questions about a component’s eligibility should be directed to a marshal. If a necessary component is ruled ineligible and the player cannot locate a replacement for it, that player is dropped from the tournament.

Players must identify copies of the same ship in his or her fleet—and its corresponding ship card—with a token, a sticker, or any other form of marking.

Players are welcome and encouraged to personalize their fleet according to the following rules:
• Players may paint their ship models. They cannot modify a ship model in any way that would create confusion about which ship the model represents.
• Players cannot modify ship or squadron bases to alter their size or shape . Weight may be added to a ship or squadron base if it does not alter the shape of the base. Ship fins or pegs (including the connecting pegs affixed to ship models) may be modified or replaced with a different connecting method.
• Cards must remain unaltered, though they may be sleeved for protection. Sleeves for damage cards must be identical and unaltered.
• Players may mark their tokens, maneuver dials, and command dials to indicate ownership as long as the function of the component is not compromised . Players may mark obstacles to indicate ownership, but cannot otherwise alter them in any way.
• Players may mark dice with a permanent or indelible marker to indicate ownership in an unobtrusive manner, but cannot otherwise alter them in any way.
• If two or more models in play could potentially touch causing conflict with movement or placement of ships (e.g. two Imperial-class Star Destroyer ships are placed with their models touching), players must remove one of the models and place it on its ship card until the ship models are no longer in danger of touching.

Because you are not changing the squadron base at all (size or shape), and because you are not compromising the function, it seems fine.

All what you are doing with the Squadron plates is making it easier to handle the squadrons. So i don't see any rules against it.

Basically it is even helping the game, because you are not damaging the game by taking the squadron of the board to change the HP all the time.

It's DEFINITELY NOT allowed.

Function IS indeed compromised, as your opponent can no longer track changes to your squads by looking at the squadron bases.

Not allowed because the "face plate" is gone so your opponent can no longer glance at the table to see where the aces are, cannot see the health left, and who is activated/ready to go. You shouldn't expect your opponent, who may have driven several hours or flown, to have to walk over to your side of the table to understand the current board state.

1 hour ago, Tokra said:

• Players may mark their tokens, maneuver dials, and command dials to indicate ownership as long as the function of the component is not compromised

This refers to ships, not squads. The major issue is the slider, which does not fall into any of the 3 items listed.

It might not be immediately apparent if you followed a link from from Facebook or somewhere other than the thread on the front page that explains them, but this system replaces the cardboard token on the squadron's base with a plastic marker referencing the command deck sitting on the owner's side of the table. While I can see the convenience of this system for the owner, it definitely changes the functionality and as such is not allowed by RAW.

Now, if you, your opponent, and the TO all agree to it at a tournament, there's nothing stopping you from using this system. Just be prepared to swap them out if at any point any opponent objects, because he will be absolutely within his rights to ask you not to use this system, because it does have a meaningful impact on how accessible critical information is to your opponent.

11 hours ago, Destraa said:

Saw these awesome squadron management decks on an Etsy site shared to a Facebook group I'm in, and I'm hinged on getting them over one not so simple thing: Whether they'd be legal for use in Organized Play. Figured you rules gurus would know best.

It all depends on your TO.

I've had a judge from worlds 2016 say they would allow without a second thought.

I've been hit with a few folks saying "well you can't track the fighters" and having used them myself and had others play test them in both casual and tournament environments I can say tracking has yet to be a complaint.

The Marshal could of course decree that stuff in the regs are not to be followed. That's his prerogative.

I'm sure that in many cases there would be no real problem, and that players and TOs alike would say ok.

But strictly speaking it's still NOT tournament legal.

4 minutes ago, Green Knight said:

The Marshal could of course decree that stuff in the regs are not to be followed. That's his prerogative.

I'm sure that in many cases there would be no real problem, and that players and TOs alike would say ok.

But strictly speaking it's still NOT tournament legal.

You're not wrong.

I'm hoping that with enough exposure and player demand that these pieces eventually become something TO's just accept.

As someone who has actually used them and watched them used, the relief they apply to gameplay is immeasurable.

I had a play tester stop me and thank me for coming up with these.

Right now the big issue is "tracking" but it's been my experience that the activation slider and HP dial can both be seen clearly from 3 feet away, and when play testers were unsure they said the time and effort saved from not digging around in squadrons all day was well worth the few seconds of asking "what's this unit at?" or "have these activated?" per round.

All in all, they're not Tournament legal, TO's and Marshals can override that though so that's a wash.

My advice, as it's always been with the tracking question is this, they're not for everyone, some people are going to need to see everything right in front of them, but if you have the opportunity to try them, give them a test, you may change your mind.

All in good humor, these posts have had me like:

The cool thing is that all is not lost when you run into the grump (like GK ) that poopoos your trackers. You just have to pop them on your squads and you are good to go. I say they are legal! But I am usually wrong and make ridiculous rules comments to my liking.

Just now, CaribbeanNinja said:

The cool thing is that all is not lost when you run into the grump (like GK ) that poopoos your trackers. You just have to pop them on your squads and you are good to go. I say they are legal! But I am usually wrong and make ridiculous rules comments to my liking.

That is a good point, switching from plate to standard base takes only a few minutes... I hadn't thought about it.

4 hours ago, Green Knight said:

It's DEFINITELY NOT allowed.

Function IS indeed compromised, as your opponent can no longer track changes to your squads by looking at the squadron bases.

This is exactly why I would object to their use. I would not be able to read the information on the decks from across the table. It IS a pretty slick idea but I would lose anything gained from their convenience by the inconvenience of everything being too far away to see.

1 hour ago, Frimmel said:

I would lose anything gained from their convenience by the inconvenience of everything being too far away to see.

Well, not everyone will enjoy them, but if you see them around, I encourage you to give them a try if nothing else. The 10 or so folks I used to play test these found that having to occasionally ask about a unit was better, in their opinion at least, than running the risks and annoyances of bumping other ships and squads just from adjusting dials and sliders.

I won't get into my personal thoughts on it, but just an FYI:

It should also be noted that, under previous tournament regulations, they would have been completely and utterly illegal, as you could not modify any component other than to indicate ownership.

This, at the time, included any modifications to shape or position - and even, in the strictest of readings - prevented you from painting them.

So it is a case of "Be Aware" that such rules can, and do, exist. They may seem stupid, and occasionally arbitrary - or even taken and copy-pasted from other games rules - but they don't stop them being the rules .

It is up to the Marshal/Judge to determine the legality of any 3rd Party Component. Always presume illegal, doubly so when they modify an existing component.

I mean, anecdotally, My Ship-Trays were determined to be "illegal" at one game day locally...

... Mostly because I have history with said person and they did so out of spite, but, it happens.

3 minutes ago, Drasnighta said:

I won't get into my personal thoughts on it, but just an FYI:

It should also be noted that, under previous tournament regulations, they would have been completely and utterly illegal, as you could not modify any component other than to indicate ownership.

This, at the time, included any modifications to shape or position - and even, in the strictest of readings - prevented you from painting them.

So it is a case of "Be Aware" that such rules can, and do, exist. They may seem stupid, and occasionally arbitrary - or even taken and copy-pasted from other games rules - but they don't stop them being the rules .

It is up to the Marshal/Judge to determine the legality of any 3rd Party Component. Always presume illegal, doubly so when they modify an existing component.

I mean, anecdotally, My Ship-Trays were determined to be "illegal" at one game day locally...

... Mostly because I have history with said person and they did so out of spite, but, it happens.

I'd be interested in your personal thoughts on the matter.

Man, this is one of those legalities that warded me away from playing tournament folk for 20 years. Thank God I've never actually run into these kind of creatures in the wild, and I really hope they don't exist except for in theory. After all, I'd absolutely argue Tokra's point, the function isn't impeded (tracking ship health and activation status without changing the base shape): if you can't see, get better glasses. Same argument as 'No, the command token may not be placed on the ship card or the ship base, they must be beside the ship in the play area. That's the rules.'

Darth's squadron plates are awesome and improve game play and flow, full stop. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

Legal or not, I have to admit this way of tracking squadrons is MUCH less disruptive than the okay, let me pick up every single one and sort of place it back where it was. I'd almost rather have this that the constant squadron shuffle of whoops, now you don't have a double arc and other problems with picking up a model each time it takes damage.

5 hours ago, Caldias said:

Legal or not, I have to admit this way of tracking squadrons is MUCH less disruptive than the okay, let me pick up every single one and sort of place it back where it was. I'd almost rather have this that the constant squadron shuffle of whoops, now you don't have a double arc and other problems with picking up a model each time it takes damage.

The exact reason they were designed. I was running an Avenger pulse tap fleet and I had the enemy double arched with side and front. They activated some fighters and the tie advanced I was running near the hull as defense had to be adjusted, bumped the ISD, lost the double arc, opponent wouldn't give it to me cause he didn't see it measured, costed me a game. Over a freaking tie advance...

I love these dockers, but hadn't considered how to easily identify aces from non-aces. I suppose a quick fix is to put some sort of sticker on the bases of aces (boooo-yeeaah!). All of my aces are uniquely painted and are VERY easy to distinguish from non-aces but not everyone does this. Ideas?

11 minutes ago, Thraug said:

I love these dockers, but hadn't considered how to easily identify aces from non-aces. I suppose a quick fix is to put some sort of sticker on the bases of aces (boooo-yeeaah!). All of my aces are uniquely painted and are VERY easy to distinguish from non-aces but not everyone does this. Ideas?

I paint my bases. Black for generics, red for aces, and going to paint grey or white for unique non-aces.

5 minutes ago, Thraug said:

I love these dockers, but hadn't considered how to easily identify aces from non-aces. I suppose a quick fix is to put some sort of sticker on the bases of aces (boooo-yeeaah!). All of my aces are uniquely painted and are VERY easy to distinguish from non-aces but not everyone does this. Ideas?

The single plate is the key to unique units. They are they only plates that come in black or white, and each individual plate can be given a number 1-8. This design allows for players to field up to 16 unique units. (Black 1-8 and White 1-8) It also doesn't lock players into buying more than they need.

For instance, my favorite wave 5 fleet is:

-ISD II (179 total)
>Screed
>Needa
>Gunnery teams
>ECMs
>SW-7s
>Turbo reroute circuits
> Avenger

-Goz cruiser (25 total)
>JF

-Goz cruiser (25 total)
>JF

-Goz cruiser (40 total)
>Tua
>ECMs
>BCC

-Jendon Lambda
-Maarek Defender
-3x Tie Bomber
-3x Tie Advanced
-2x Jumpmaster 5K

So for my fleet I'd have:
-2x singles for Jendon and Maarek (black 1 and Black 2)
-1x 4 piece-wide for my tie bombers (Grey 1, grey 2 and grey 3)
-1x 4 piece-wide for my tie advanced (blue 1, blue 2, and blue 3)
-1x double for my jumpmaster 5ks (Green 1, green 2)

TLDR: the singles only come in neutral colors and can be numbered 1-8

10 hours ago, Thraug said:

I love these dockers, but hadn't considered how to easily identify aces from non-aces. I suppose a quick fix is to put some sort of sticker on the bases of aces (boooo-yeeaah!). All of my aces are uniquely painted and are VERY easy to distinguish from non-aces but not everyone does this. Ideas?

I paint my ace squadrons differently than my generics, and I can't really see myself (at this time) using the singles. Did order a quad to use with my Corellian Campaign list (3 generic X-Wings with Wiggs [Biggs+Wedge] and Jan). Most of my lists have 3+ Aces and I think these would clutter up the table with that many singles, don't mind it for generics though.