Side Step and similar talents are used while "on foot" only and not while "on vehicles"?

LukeZZ said:

I would think that it depends on the talent. In regards to the Side Step talent, I don't believe it's effect can be applied to vehicles. First, I don't think it's 'in the spirit' of the game that Bodyguards and Scoundrels (the specs in which Side Step appears) can somehow move their vehicles out of the way of attacks better than other specializations (e.g. Pilots)

Second, it's not supported by the rules. In the description of the Side Step talent (p.98), it states "… add a [setback] to any ranged combat checks targeting the character." If an attack is targeting a vehicle that the character is piloting, that attack is not targeting the character. Even if the character did make a side step maneuver, it wouldn't have any effect since the character is not the target of the attack.

-WJL

Sam Stewart addressed this on the latest Order 66 podcast, as part of that show's discussion on starships in EotE.

Short version, pay attention to the wording of those defensive talents. If they're meant to be used with starships, it'll say so pretty clearly. For instance, Lethal Blows says it applies to Critical Injuries , but vehicles and starships deal in Critical Hits (emphasis mine). And while Sixth Sense might seem a good case for why Jedi and Force-users are such good pilots, said talent also doesn't work in starship combat, though the 'Sense Danger' Upgrade for Sense does. Also applies to quite a few offensive talents as well, particularly those that allow you to add a Characteristic value to a damage total.

That said, if you would prefer to house-rule that Side-Step, Lethal Blows, and similar talents do work in starship/vehicle combat, nothing's stopping you from exercising some GM fiat and doing just that.