Recent game playing Rainbow TIE/D (Defenders with one each of Tractor Beam/Ion Cannon/Flechette Cannon), and after he unloaded plenty of damage onto my poor PS1 defenders, I had my shots. First up, the tractor beam dude. I eek out 2 hit results against Vader, who rolls evade-focus-blank, with a focus token. I just shrug at him and say...

"You can spend the focus to dodge this attack, but there are more shots coming in... and really, it's just a tractor beam token."

He nods and lets the token hit, and Vader gets pulled a little closer... turning all my R3 attacks into R2, and Vader into a glorified X-Wing. By the end of the turn, his TIE Advanced has ion, stress, and only 1 hull remaining. The rest of the game went about the same - I lost my Tractor D in the first crossover, but his other 2 ships - a Bomber and a TIE/SF - didn't fare well against the other two troublemakers. Once I had them pointed away from me, the combinations of Ion and Stress were enough to ensure that the only shots coming in were mine.

On a side note... THIS SQUAD IS SO FUN in casual play! I can't see it having much luck competitively, of course (too many turrets out there that can stay out of low PS arc) but for league night, I think it's going to be one of my longterm staples.

If ethics in gaming = not cheating, then yes. If you're opponent is dumb enough to let you talk them into doing something that's good for you, that's on them.

However, if you have a motive other than defeating your opponent (like teaching a newer player or making a lifelong friendship), then maybe that is not the best way to play the game.

Totally agree with Tvboy here. There's nothing really wrong with it, it's a legitimate strategy... usually.

The big exception would be if it's a casual game, and your opponent is still learning the game. If you're exploiting a relative beginner's lack of experience by intentionally teaching them to make bad decisions so you can win a casual game, then that's pretty unsportsmanlike. Other than that specific scenario, though, I don't really see a problem with it.

It was all in good fun in this situation, honestly. They were an experienced player who admittedly "brain farted" on all the effects of a tractor beam (their words: "I totally forgot that tractor beam isn't just side to side, but forward too"). I totally agree that legal-but-deceptive playing is not the way to go when you're playing against someone with a lot less experience... this was a semi-competitive scenario between seasoned players who should know what they're doing.

Then ya did good!

Ha i've been around plenty of players who try to "casually" influence your decisions by talking nonchalantly about potential moves or attacks. "hmmm if you move here im gonna be forced to move here... or well hmmm..." I'm pretty sure everyone has played someone like that.