Hey, my group of noobs (myself included) got into a big ol argument on this the other night.

First of all, we were using the original game, not the expansion.

The Warfare card was played. Our Mentak player wanted to use the Secondary strategy of that card to move two cruisers to two adjacent systems. But, in this move, he also wanted to pick up a ground force and place the ground force on new, previously unowned planets.

I thought that this was not supported by the rules. I argued that planetary landings, etc, are spawned only in the Activation Sequence, and that the secondary of the Warfare card did not initiate an activation sequence, it only initiated a special movement and system activation (by the placing of a command counter in the new systems).

The Mentak player argued that, in fact, the placement of a command counter in a new system effectively initiated an activation sequence, and hence he could pick up and move ground forces, and then drop off the ground forces.

He also questioned me on this point... if there had been a PDS w/ the extended range capability within range of the target system for someone using the Secondary of the Warfare card, wouldn't that PDS get to fire? And aren't PDS's only allowed to fire during the Activation Sequence?

So, I looked at the rule, and saw that yes, PDS only get to fire during the Activation Sequence of either your own turn or someone else's turn.

My response was this, the PDS should NOT get to fire at this point, because the only thing stated in the rule book that starts an Activation Sequence is a "Tactical Action". Using the Secondary of Warfare is NOT a Tactical Action, and hence does not start an Activation Sequence. Hence, you can't pick up ground troops, you can't drop off ground troops, and PDS's within range could NOT fire on you during the use of the Secondary of the Warfare card.

The only real "cite" i had for this was that the only place in the rule book that it talks about something that starts an Activation Sequence is a Tactical Action.

His response was effectively that activating a system also started an Activation Sequence, and that there was no where that said differently.

Who is right? And, can you point me to a statement in the rules or the FAQ or anywhere else that would definitively prove who's right?

Thanks much

From Page 7 of the FAQ:

Q: Does the Stasis Capsules technology allow a player to load
or land a Ground Force as part of the Warfare Strategy’s secondary
ability?
A: No.

So you are correct.

I also belive that the PDS wouldn't fire from Warfare Secondary. (Note however that Space Mines from the Expansion would go off in this case)

Yep, you are in the right on this one, and correctly surmised that the issue hinges on the secondary ability of Warfare not being a Tactical Action.

Thanks guys! I shall pass this info on.

You were correct, activating a system does not grant a full Tactical Action. If your friend's interpretation was correct, then Diplomatic Immunity (I think that's the one) would grant EVERYONE ELSE a Tactical Action in the declared system. Quite the opposite of the card's intended purpose!