So I had a discussion with someone last night about wings, and how to make a wing.

My understanding was, you pick a guy, you buy him the "veteran wing leader" upgrade and that gives you the start of a wing.

His understanding was, you pick a guy, and you declare him the wing leader. And done. And that the "veteran wing leader" upgrade was just there to give you the option of distributed damage.

I didn't go back to the rulebook, which I probably should have done. But I'm lazy and I have all of you to look through rules for me.

So can wings simply be declared, with the actual upgrade card being an additional bonus?

Basically he just wanted to move ships as a wing to save time and dailing for an epic game. Which makes sense. Also, the vet wing leader is only 2 points, for which you actually get a very strong ability. So I could see a valid argument for just "declaring" someone a wing leader and going with it.

Vet Wing leader, first thing it says

"You are a wing leader ."

Without that card, no ship is a wing leader, and thus cannot lead a wing. You need that card, or one like it that says that ship is the wing leader.

Just now, Lyianx said:

Vet Wing leader, first thing it says

"You are a wing leader ."

Without that card, no ship is a wing leader, and thus cannot lead a wing. You need that card, or one like it that says that ship is the wing leader.

That's what I thought. Just confirming. Thank you.

You can also point to this line from the Epic Battles Rules Reference (1.0.6) on p5 under Wings :

" The wing positions are as follows:

• Wing Leader: The wing leader, (designated by an upgrade card). "

And also this whole paragraph I somehow didn't notice earlier:

" Squad Building
A player can select a wing leader and form a wing by equipping specific upgrade cards. These upgrade cards nominate a small ship as a wing leader, contain parameters for choosing that wing leader’s wingmates, and provide the wing with an ability to use during the game. "