EDITED TO FIX THE GRAMMAR ERROR - Thanks, @ ZealuxMyr!

(Looking at the FAQ, I think I know how this interacts, but I thought I'd ask to be sure...)

If my ship with Hotshot Co-Pilot is defending against a Twin Laser Turret attack, when does the defender attacker need to spend a focus token?

1. Only once, during either shot of the two-shot attack
2. Only once, during the first shot of the attack <-- My assumption
3. Up to twice, once during each of the shots of the attack

The FAQ states:

Quote

When a ship with Hotshot Co-pilot equipped defends, the attacker must spend a focus token after the "Declare Target" step and before the end of the "Modify Attack Dice" step.

Technically, there is only one Declare Target step, but two Modify Attack Dice steps. I'm guessing that I force the focus (if any) to come out on the initial shot... but that since no new target is chosen, it can't trigger again on the second shot (if it somehow had 2 tokens).

Your thoughts?

I d say option 2 . Tlt is one attack... At start of the attack...

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Hotshot Co-pilot

When a ship with Hotshot Co-pilot equipped attacks , the defender must spend a focus token after the "Declare Target" step and before the end of the "Modify Defense Dice" step.

When a ship with Hotshot Co-pilot equipped defends , the attacker must spend a focus token after the "Declare Target" step and before the end of the "Modify Attack Dice" step.

When spending a focus token this way, it can be for the cost of an effect such as Calculation or Weapons Guidance.

If the defender has Hotshot Co-pilot equipped, and the attacker cannot modify his dice such as from Snap Shot or after resolving Accuracy Corrector, the attacker is not able.

Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures FAQ v4.4.1 - Effective 01.22.2018 - Page 18

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26 minutes ago, emeraldbeacon said:

If my ship with Hotshot Co-Pilot is defending against a Twin Laser Turret attack, when does the defender attacker need to spend a focus token?

The attacker would have to spend the focus token to modify the first of the two Twin Laser Turret attacks, when they first encounter "before the end of the 'Modify Attack Dice' step."

47 minutes ago, ZealuxMyr said:

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The attacker would have to spend the focus token to modify the first of the two Twin Laser Turret attacks, when they first encounter "before the end of the 'Modify Attack Dice' step."

Assuming this is right if a ship with TLT attacks a ship with HsCP then the attack needs to spend a Focus but there is no clear indication where. It would trigger once for the entire attack but it seems to me the focus could be spent with either attack or for some alternative affect. That FAQ entry doesn't actually say WHICH "Modify Attack" step closes the HsCP effect so while most will assume it's the first I could easily see either one being used.

Going with the OP's choices it seems to me that option #1 is just as valid as #2.

8 hours ago, StevenO said:

Assuming this is right if a ship with TLT attacks a ship with HsCP then the attack needs to spend a Focus but there is no clear indication where. It would trigger once for the entire attack but it seems to me the focus could be spent with either attack or for some alternative affect. That FAQ entry doesn't actually say WHICH "Modify Attack" step closes the HsCP effect so while most will assume it's the first I could easily see either one being used.

Going with the OP's choices it seems to me that option #1 is just as valid as #2.

I think it's pretty safe to say that we agree HsCP triggers only once (per attack), not twice (per shot). What makes me think it has to be on shot #1 is that they have to spend the token between declare target and modify attack dice... which means they can't let that first "modify attack dice" step go by without spending their focus token... unless, of course, they're actively forbidden from spending it for some reason (Rebel Fenn Rau stress-locked the token, for example).

12 hours ago, emeraldbeacon said:

I think it's pretty safe to say that we agree HsCP triggers only once (per attack), not twice (per shot). What makes me think it has to be on shot #1 is that they have to spend the token between declare target and modify attack dice... which means they can't let that first "modify attack dice" step go by without spending their focus token... unless, of course, they're actively forbidden from spending it for some reason (Rebel Fenn Rau stress-locked the token, for example).

We definitely agree that it is a one time thing. If you play it as happening with the first shot you are very clearly within the rules however I see nothing in those same rules that says it HAS to be used in that shot instead of a later part of the same overall attack. You can meet the letter of the FAQ entry either way although it probably is the less common way of interpreting it.

As I said before I'm afraid that option #1 seems just as valid as #2 and while I don't think the FAQ provides a definitive answer if you are in a tournament or something with a "higher power" to plead with I figure you should take it there to begin with if you are worried about it.

DP

I agree with the letter of @emeraldbeacon 's argument. The FAQ gives a hard stop/last chance (introduced in the previous edition 4.4.0) that just happens to come up during the first half of the tlt.

On 2/2/2018 at 11:28 AM, D34d guru said:

I d say option 2 . Tlt is one attack... At start of the attack...

Incorrect. Twin Laser Turrets and Cluster Missiles are treated as two attacks.

FAQ entries regarding this:

Quote

Captain Jonus
If another friendly ship performs multiple attacks with a secondary weapon (such as Cluster Missiles), Captain Jonus may use his ability for each attack.

Cluster Missiles
See "Timing Chart for Performing an Attack" on page 8.
If a ship is equipped with Cluster Missiles and Munitions Failsafe, both attacks must miss for Munitions Failsafe to activate.

Twin Laser Turret
Effects that occur "after performing an attack" (Maul, Darth Vader [crew]) do not resolve until both attacks have been resolved, per the "Timing Chart for Performing an Attack" on page 8.

The logical conclusion I come up with in this scenario is the attacker must spend a single focus token at some point after the Declare Target step, and before the end of the second Modify Attack Dice step, because that's still within the " when defending " window. There's no hard and fast requirement for it to be on the first TLT attack, but if it's not spent then, it must be spent by the end of the Modify Attack Dice step on the second attack. It doesn't matter how it's, just that it must be spent.

If you manage to roll a good first attack and decide the focus is not going to be used, simply advise your opponent that you're saving it for the second attack. That way, both players are aware that it will (and must) be spent during the second attack.

Keep in mind that you can still spend a focus token even if you didn't roll any focus results, so if you miraculously roll a handful of crits both times, then spending the token is still required even if it's useless to you, but it will meet the HSCP requirement.

6 hours ago, Parravon said:

Captain Jonus
If another friendly ship performs multiple attacks with a secondary weapon (such as Cluster Missiles), Captain Jonus may use his ability for each attack.

By this FAQ ruling, it can be argued that HsCP should trigger on both attacks... "If defending against multiple attacks from a single weapon, HsCP may use its ability for each attack." Not saying this is how it does or should work, but that's what this FAQ ruling implies.

I don't buy it, though, because "when defending" only happens once - during the declare attackers step of the timing chart. Seems to me like it should only trigger once. That said...

6 hours ago, Parravon said:

The logical conclusion I come up with in this scenario is the attacker must spend a single focus token at some point after the Declare Target step, and before the end of the second Modify Attack Dice step, because that's still within the " when defending " window. There's no hard and fast requirement for it to be on the first TLT attack, but if it's not spent then, it must be spent by the end of the Modify Attack Dice step on the second attack. It doesn't matter how it's, just that it must be spent.

A reasonable argument. As you say, there's a clear ruling in the FAQ regarding that the focus must be spent before the end of the Modify Attack Dice step. To me, though, it seems like it would have to be spent before the first of those Modify Attack Dice steps pass. As the rules don't specify "the next" step, or "before the last modify attack dice step", it's unclear which one we have to go with. In my opinion, then, once that first step comes along, you hit the deadline, and HAVE to spend it - beneficial or otherwise.

I think both are valid interpretations, and needs either an official FFG ruling in the FAQ, or at least an explicit TO ruling for a given tournament.

1 hour ago, emeraldbeacon said:

By this FAQ ruling, it can be argued that HsCP should trigger on both attacks... "If defending against multiple attacks from a single weapon, HsCP may use its ability for each attack." Not saying this is how it does or should work, but that's what this FAQ ruling implies.

I don't buy it, though, because "when defending" only happens once - during the declare attackers step of the timing chart. Seems to me like it should only trigger once. That said...

A reasonable argument. As you say, there's a clear ruling in the FAQ regarding that the focus must be spent before the end of the Modify Attack Dice step. To me, though, it seems like it would have to be spent before the first of those Modify Attack Dice steps pass. As the rules don't specify "the next" step, or "before the last modify attack dice step", it's unclear which one we have to go with. In my opinion, then, once that first step comes along, you hit the deadline, and HAVE to spend it - beneficial or otherwise.

I think both are valid interpretations, and needs either an official FFG ruling in the FAQ, or at least an explicit TO ruling for a given tournament.

The wee flaw in this logic is the assumption that "when defending" happens only during the Declare Target step. A quick look through the FAQ tends to indicate that it extends well past that step. Examples of cards that state they trigger "when defending":

• Dark Curse triggers during the Attacker Modifies Attack Dice step.
• Autothrusters triggers during the Defender Modifies Defence Dice step.
• Countdown triggers during the Compare Results step.
• Prince Xizor triggers during the Deal Damage step

Now look at the Timing Chart, specifically Step 8. It states " Identify abilities that trigger “after attacking” or “after defending” ... This would tend to indicate to me that the window for "when defending" is closes here. So defending would last from the moment you are declared as the target of the attack until you have Compared Results ( and not suffered damage ) or Dealt Damage ( if you have suffered damage ).

When defending with Hotshot Co-pilot, I would say there are two opportunities to spend that focus token, because you run through Steps 2 and 3 twice. As you say, neither the rules or the card or the FAQ specify which particular Modify Attack Dice step you must use, therefore you can't really stipulate that it absolutely has to be the first one. There's no rules basis that can enforce that argument, whereas there is one for holding it for the second attack. At least, that's the way I see it.

This brings up more unusual possibilities, that makes me now think HsCP should trigger for every attack made against them... both first and second. If we're going to look at HsCP triggering "when defending" against a two-shot attack, we should look at other "when X is attacking/defending with a two-shot attack" abilities:

• Captain Jonus triggers on both shots for a friendly TLT/Cluster Missile attack.
• Autothrusters triggers while defending against both shots of a double-attack.
• Dark Curse prevents modifications on both attacks.
• Xizor can pass off 1 damage result on every attack.
• If Countdown has stress mitigation like Captain Yorr nearby, he could trigger against each of the attacks.

Given those examples, is it possible that HsCP follows the same principle, and forces a focus to be spent against each incoming attack?

I think that there's a requirement to spend only 1 focus token somewhere during the two attacks. HSCP tells you 1 token must be spent "when defending" and that window stretches from Steps 1-7, and then again from 2-7 before it finally ends. So the attacker now has Steps 2-3, and then 2-3 again to spend the 1 token.

The examples you've given above have very restricted timing triggers; Jonus and Dark Curse (3.ii), Autothrusters (5.ii), Xizor (7) and Countdown (6). They all run through their respective triggers twice , and thus are allowed to trigger twice.

Hotshot Co-pilot has a somewhat larger and slightly more undefined window in which to trigger as well as a set number of tokens to spend, namely 1. So conceivably, one could argue that if Hotshot Co-pilot does indeed trigger twice during a TLT attack, you would be spending 2 focus tokens and the card says only 1. The requirement is the focus token must be spent "when defending" and as I've described above that's one large window because it effectively doesn't end until you hit Step 8.