The EMP assigns all ships in range with TWO ion tokens and the rules for ion weapons explain that at the end of the round, ALL ion tokens are removed.

What is the purpose of two ion tokens if they are both cleared at the end of the round.

Shouldn't only 1 ion token be removed at the end of the round and the second token is removed at the end of the next round?

thanks for the guidance.

Stephen

You need to read the rules for Ion Tokens again. Ion Tokens are not removed until a ship suffers the effects of being ionized, unless they have other ways to remove them, like Electronic Baffle.

Jmswood is correct that you have the timing off on when the tokens are removed, but he didn't really answer your question.

It takes 2 tokens to ionize a large ship, that's why it gives out 2, they wanted the card to effect both sizes. There are also some interactions with epic play, 2 ions is more debilitating to huge ships than 1.

Rules Ref., page 13.

Ion tokens do not clear at end of turn.

A [small] ship is ionized while it has at least 1 ion token assigned to it. A large ship is only affected by ion tokens if it has at least 2 -- if it only gets 1, it keeps it indefinitely, until it gains more (or something else happens, like getting destroyed).

An ionized ship follows special rules during the following phases:
• Planning Phase: The owner does not assign a maneuver dial to this ship.
• Activation Phase: The owner moves the ship as if it were assigned a white [straight-1] maneuver. After executing this maneuver, remove all ion tokens from the ship.

Thank you all for your quick responses. Very much appreciated.

Ahh! It's good to know that a large ship keeps its ion token until the "ionization" can take place. I thought it was a little strange and pointless to blast the Ghost with an ion cannon if it were to just lose the token at the end of the round. I guess ya' learn something new every day.