The two were playing.

LS and DS both had cards with force icons galore, but there were NO fate cards to play, so no count down cards. We didnt have edge battles becuse of that. Was that right or can they stack up cards with force icons and just reveal them and biggest force icons win?

Thanks

Every engagement has an edge battle. Any cards from hand may be used in the edge, but Fate cards are unique in that their text is activated / used IN the edge battle itself. No fate cards in hand, that's okay, use emperor.

There is always an Edge Battle phase in an engagement. In addition, playing cards into the Edge Battle is voluntary.

From page 19 of the rulebook under "Resolving The Edge Battle"

"At the start of the edge battle, the attacking player has the first option of placing one card facedown from his hand in front of him, forming his edge stack. He may instead choose to pass. (emphasis mine)

The defending player may then place one card facedown from his hand in front of him (if he controls at least one defending unit), forming his edge stack. He may instead choose to pass. (emphasis mine)

In this way, players alternate, each placing one card facedown into his edge stack or passing, until both players consecutively pass."

So if both players cannot (or chose not) to put cards in the Edge Battle the Edge Battle is still resolved. If neither side has any force icons in their Edge Battle stack that would be considered a tie. Ties in the Edge Battle are always won by the defender.

At least that's the way I view it…

Nazz has it completely right.

Also, if LS has the speeder objective out and a speeder in the engagement, he/she would win a 'no cards placed face down' edge battle because the speeder adds one.