I was hoping the latest FAQ would make a ruling on this, but alas.

I’ve heard multiple interpretations on how to play this combination, and I think there are two solid possibilities.

Example A:

Focus (Action) -> Barrel Roll or Boost (Pilot Ability) -> Focus (Intensity) -> Flip Intensity -> Barrel Roll or Boost (Pilot Ability)

Example B:

Focus (Action) -> Barrel Roll or Boost (Pilot Ability) -> Focus (Intensity 1st Trigger) -> Barrel Roll or Boost (Pilot Ability) -> Evade or Focus (Intensity 2nd Trigger) -> Flip Intensity

The argument becomes, can you choose the order in which the actions occur as with PTL and the stress token, or do Dual Sided Cards fall under different rules?

As a huge fan of Jake Farrell and A-Wings in general, I’m hoping the answer is example B, and word on the forums is that’s how it’s been ruled at major tournaments. Can anyone confirm or deny?

Example A is fine.
Example B....
Focus (action) -> BR/Bst (PA) -> Focus (Int) (flip card) -> BR/Bst (PA)*depending on which you preformed first...end of action sequence (unless you have PTL). Intensity can only trigger once.

You do choose the order in which the cards trigger. However Intensity states that "...If you do, flip this card." So you would Flip the card as the end of it mechanic. The card is triggered (with Boost/BR) and then its mechanic runs. The wordage in PTL is the use of "then" which implies "after" (which allows for the nesting effect stated in the FAQ), Intensity does not do this, it states that if you choose to use the mechanic, flip the card.

As far as I know there's been no official FFG ruling on this but I would say Example A is the correct interpretation for pretty much the same reasons SkullNBones gives. The "If you do" wording indicates to me that the assigning of the token and flipping of the card are simultaneous. It's not "Step 1: Assign token. Step 2: Flip card." It's "Step 1: Assign a token and flip the card." The "Then" wording on PTL and EI means it's two different steps on those cards so something else that triggers from the Step 1 moment can activate at that time temporarily interrupting the card.

Honestly even Example A is pretty ridiculous. Jake is getting the equivalent of 4 actions with no stress and since he is going to have 2 tokens he can probably flip the card back down and do it again next time. Attempting to milk a 5th action out of a single interaction is a bit gratuitus.

1 hour ago, sharrrp said:

Honestly even Example A is pretty ridiculous. Jake is getting the equivalent of 4 actions with no stress and since he is going to have 2 tokens he can probably flip the card back down and do it again next time. Attempting to milk a 5th action out of a single interaction is a bit gratuitus.

I would tend to agree with all of this. However, I’ve seen instances of people here on the forums claiming that it’s being ruled as Example B at regional tournaments. Even if Jake is allowed a fifth action, which would be amazingly ridiculous, I wouldn’t particularly claim it to be OP. After all, it’s still just an A-wing.

Jake with Intensity can be an action tramp:

1. Focus (action) -> 2. Roll (PA) -> 3. Focus (Intensity) -> 4. Boost (PA) -> 5. Target Lock (PTL) and only comes out with 1 stress after 5 actions *)

On 10/3/2018 at 9:54 PM, SkullNBones said:

Jake with Intensity can be an action tramp:

1. Focus (action) -> 2. Roll (PA) -> 3. Focus (Intensity) -> 4. Boost (PA) -> 5. Target Lock (PTL) and only comes out with 1 stress after 5 actions *)

Yes, but you have a stress, and are now PS7...

On 10/3/2018 at 8:50 PM, Phelan Boots said:

I would tend to agree with all of this. However, I’ve seen instances of people here on the forums claiming that it’s being ruled as Example B at regional tournaments. Even if Jake is allowed a fifth action, which would be amazingly ridiculous, I wouldn’t particularly claim it to be OP. After all, it’s still just an A-wing.

I played 3 Regionals this year in Spain (Asturias, Barcelona, Madrid), and ALL of them allowed for “B” to happen. There was another Regional I couldn’t attend in Zaragoza, where they said option “A” was the correct one...

I was also expecting a faq clarification, but I guess it was a missed opportunity...

While that only emphasizes the need to have this question addressed, I appreciate the response.

1 hour ago, Phelan Boots said:

While that only emphasizes the need to have this question addressed, I appreciate the response.

B as you originally posted it does not work, as intensity flips as soon as its full condition has been met. The assignment of the token after the first relocation completes the card's effect, so it's flipped before Jake's pilot ability takes over. You do then get to "jake" again for the other relocation effect.

However, If you have PTL, you can bounce a 5th action off of the 4th (second relocation), but there's no way to trigger intensity twice.

I’ve always seen it played as Option A. With VI as the second EPT, he’s quite potent.

On 3/10/2018 at 2:19 AM, Phelan Boots said:

I was hoping the latest FAQ would make a ruling on this, but alas.

Example B:

Focus (Action) -> Barrel Roll or Boost (Pilot Ability) -> Focus (Intensity 1st Trigger) -> Barrel Roll or Boost (Pilot Ability) -> Evade or Focus (Intensity 2nd Trigger) -> Flip Intensity

As of April, 2018, I believe example B is correct.

As a judge, I'd have to rule under the precidence set by the FAQ of Push the limit on page 20 of the FAQ.

The "Then" part of the upgrade card can be interrupted by other game effects, which then resolve in a "nesting" fashion before the "then" of the original trigger resolves.

It's silly, and a one-time exception, but I believe Jake would rightfully trigger Intensity twice and end with a total of three focus tokens.

Until FFG deems it necessary to errata the Intensity card to once per round, or Jake's ability to once per round, or tell us that dual-sided cards are an exception to the nesting precidence set by push the limit, or they change how nesting actions work....

Have fun with Jake, guys.

He's just an A-wing.

There is no 'then' on Intensity

It's not unbalanced, for sure, but it's pretty transparently (to me at least) not the intention of how the interaction works.

43 minutes ago, thespaceinvader said:

There is no 'then' on Intensity

It's not unbalanced, for sure, but it's pretty transparently (to me at least) not the intention of how the interaction works.

Definitely shouldn't work, due to the aforementioned lack of a "then". No nesting/interrupt opportunity. Even though I would love a Jake buff!

6 hours ago, thespaceinvader said:

There is no 'then' on Intensity

It's not unbalanced, for sure, but it's pretty transparently (to me at least) not the intention of how the interaction works.

Ahh! Thank you!

When in doubt, read the card, right?

Then this would actually be my ruling on this (prior to any potential FaQ)

A variation on Example A:

Focus (Action) -> Barrel Roll or Boost (Pilot Ability) -> Focus (Intensity) ->Barrel Roll or Boost (Pilot Ability) -> Flip Intensity

Based on previous interrupt precidence, I don't see any reason why Jake's ability would NOT trigger immediately after the assignment of Focus from Intensity and before the card flip. However, because of the phrasing without a "then", it makes a repeat trigger of Intensity seem quite not-the-intent of the upgrade card.

Thanks, guys!