I was playing some HotAC two days ago and we came up to the question: Can Squad Leader let a stressed ship take an action? My initial thought is no, it can't, because stressed ships can't even take free actions, but simply seeking clarification. It may change how we fly a bit going forward.

No. Squad Leader gives someone the opportunity to perform another action, it does NOT remove the requirements for performing an action, i.e. they can't be stressed.

There may be some other combo what can allow a stressed pilot to take advantage of the free action, like a tech slot with primed thruster that allows for boosts or barrel rolls.

You are correct. Stress prevents all actions, free or otherwise.

You are correct. Stress prevents all actions, free or otherwise, unless you have Primed Thrusters (for boost and barrel roll only), 'Chopper' crew (and take a damage per action), or are named Tycho Celchu.

Note that stress only prevents things which are specified as actions, so for instance, Fire Control System works if you're already stressed.

Thanks! These were the responses I was looking for!

2 hours ago, Whackamatt said:

No. Squad Leader gives someone the opportunity to perform another action, it does NOT remove the requirements for performing an action, i.e. they can't be stressed.

There may be some other combo what can allow a stressed pilot to take advantage of the free action, like a tech slot with primed thruster that allows for boosts or barrel rolls.

Squad Leader doesn't allow a ship to get around Stress restrictions.

Free Action do NOT allow a ship to get around Stress restrictions either! However there are some things that give the effects of actions without actually having you perform the action although most of those involve acquiring tokens.

14 hours ago, StevenO said:

However there are some things that give the effects of actions without actually having you perform the action although most of those involve acquiring tokens.

Indeed. That's the difference between "acquire a target lock" and "perform a free target lock action". Squad Leader is explicitely an action, though, so as @StevenO

says, it doesn't apply in this case.

As a fun little side note, ships that overlap an asteroid or another ship as part of their maneuver must skip their perform action step, but don't get stress. They are then completely allowed to gain a free action through squad leader, as long as there is no other effect limiting them.