Edit: Okay, based on another discussion, special weapons don’t add firing arcs. So, much of the discussion is moot.

An example, I have Vader (crew) on a VT-49 with torpedoes equipped, but the turret arcs are to the side. Now, normally this means he can use all three arcs for his ability (unless I have made a fundamental error).

But what if the torpedo has exhausted its charges? Does it still exert a firing arc out the front?

Yes.

The card adds the arc and weapon characteristics to the ship.

The charge spend is simply a requirement within the card text to perform the attack, functionally no different from the lock requirement.

Okay, based on another discussion, special weapons don’t add firing arcs. So, much of the discussion is moot.

Wait......

So does Vader work with a spent torp arc?

14 minutes ago, JBFancourt said:

Wait......

So does Vader work with a spent torp arc?

Vader doesn't work with an unspent "torp arc", see @meffo 's post above yours, so no.

1 hour ago, Hiemfire said:

Vader doesn't work with an unspent "torp arc", see @meffo 's post above yours, so no.

More specifically, Vader never works with a "torp arc" at all, charges or not; he only works within a ship's "firing arcs," which are explicitly defined (thanks @meffo !) as turret arcs and primary weapon arcs (whether innate to the ship, or granted by a card ability, e.g. Moldy Crow).

Imagine a hypothetical Imperial ship that had a 2-attack double-sided turret, a 3-attack bullseye arc, a crew slot, and a missile slot (we'll call it the TIE Unicorn ). With Vader (crew) and Concussion Missiles equipped, and the turret arc pointed left-right, Vader would have three firing arcs to choose from, to use his ability: Left arc, Right arc, or Bullseye arc. The standard front arc would NOT apply, even if the Concussion Missiles still had charges, because the ordnance card does not create a firing arc ; rather, it uses a specific attack arc , which is a similar but distinct thing.

Does Moldy Crow add a firing arc since it's a primary weapon? It's neither shaded nor a turret, so I'm assuming that it does not.

10 minutes ago, Yank01 said:

Does Moldy Crow add a firing arc since it's a primary weapon? It's neither shaded nor a turret, so I'm assuming that it does not.

Again, refer back to @meffo 's rule post above. If an upgrade gives a ship a primary weapon in a given arc, that counts as a firing arc for that ship...

49 minutes ago, emeraldbeacon said:

Again, refer back to @meffo 's rule post above. If an upgrade gives a ship a primary weapon in a given arc, that counts as a firing arc for that ship...

Technically Moldy Grow does not then.... it’s not a shaded section on the ship card.... PALOB AND JAN ARE DEAD!!!

..... and what’s a “ship’s ship token” anyway??? Lol 😂

1 hour ago, JBFancourt said:

..... and what’s a “ship’s ship token” anyway??? Lol 😂

The cardboard piece you put on the plastic base when assembling the miniature for play that has the pilot name and arcs on it.

4 hours ago, JBFancourt said:

Technically Moldy Grow does not then.... it’s not a shaded section on the ship card.... PALOB AND JAN ARE DEAD!!!

Reread the bullet point:

If the image is having trouble loading for you, the full bullet point statement is "If an upgrade card gives a ship a <Turret Arc> or primary weapon with a specified arc , those arcs are also firing arcs ."

If you want to check the RR for yourself, the entry is on page 4 of the v110 version of the RR. Right Column.