Question for the community...

Has anyone found data that suggests the pilot of a YT-1300 can or cannot fire one of its turrets as an action? In previous editions of Star Wars RPGs, the rules have often stipulated that ship's weapon can be fired either by the pilot, a gunner or sometimes both. Edge of the Empire seems to relax these restrictions somewhat, with the caveat that any given weapon can only be fire once in a round.

In Episode, Han has to leave the cockpit to operate one of the turrets while Luke mans the other, but it's not out of the realm of possibility that one of the turrets could be fired from the cockpit through some computer linking mechanism.

Thoughts?

The Millennium Falcon does have that capability.

Wookieepedia states:

"In addition to the hidden laser cannon, the Falcon was equipped with a pair of dorsal and ventrally mounted Corellian Engineering Corporation AG-2G quad laser cannons...

These cannons, though typically manually operated, could be remotely accessed and controlled from the cockpit by Solo."

So I would say you most definitely could mod your YT-1300 to do this.

Well the Millenium Falcon is a little different than a stock YT-1300. Those quad-laser turrets were added to it and must be manned by gunners (apparently not, damned EU). There is actually a smaller laser cannon turret that is standard issue on stock YT-1300s. It can be controlled by the pilot or a gunner. It is usually located atop, but I have also seen pics with it underneath.

I would guess it affects the operation to some degree. Like maybe a setback dice to accuracy?

If something like that could be done, I'd limit it to a forward firing arc. Much like looking at a cell phone while driving, firing a turret while piloting a spaceship would be a very bad idea.

If something like that could be done, I'd limit it to a forward firing arc. Much like looking at a cell phone while driving, firing a turret while piloting a spaceship would be a very bad idea.

I would agree, lock it down to a forward firing arc AND add a setback dice...

If something like that could be done, I'd limit it to a forward firing arc. Much like looking at a cell phone while driving, firing a turret while piloting a spaceship would be a very bad idea.

Very true. As I recall, that's exactly why single-seat Y-wing pilots lock the ion cannons in either a forward- or aft-firing position.

I would be wary of allowing a single player to be both Pilot and Gunner, as it can make the others feel rather useless in space battles.

I would be wary of allowing a single player to be both Pilot and Gunner, as it can make the others feel rather useless in space battles.

Well, that ship's got two turrets. In our campaign, there are three players. One of these is a pilot, another is a Hired Gun who has a rank in Gunnery and 3 Agility, so he's the most capable of effectively manning a turret. The third character is a good mechanic who could be helpful in repairing the ship. If the mechanic character wants to do, say, the damage control action on her turn, and the gunner wants to fire a turret on his turn, that means one of the ship's weapons is available for the plot to operate, should he want to commit an action to do so.

I don't see any rule that would prevent the pilot from being able to fire it, even though in the movie, Han actually gets up from the cockpit and leaves to go and man the turret. I just wanted to see if anyone had found a rule in the book that would prevent the pilot from firing the turret on the YT-1300.

So far nobody has said that they have, so I see no reason to forbid it. I do agree that it should be forward-only, though, as the pilot cannot see anywhere else.

There is something somewhere that says that even on stock, you can lock the turrets to forward position, and fire them that way. But yeah, you lose the versatility of a turret. Not the best thing to do unless you are dealing with larger, slower ships, or are just really desperate.

Do whatever makes the best sense, roleplaying-wise. Two players? Let the pilot fire one laser. Three players or more? Let the other players man the turrets. Or give the ship an extra forward firing gun. Just make sure everyone has something to do.

Here's just another bit of evidence that the Millennium Falcon could fire guns from the cockpit::

3:00 - 3:10 & 3:44 - 3:46

It seems reasonable that this would restrict the guns to a forward firing arc. Then, the freighter would fly a bit more like a fighter.

I always thought Chewie was in the gun turret.

I always thought Chewie was in the gun turret.

Would he even fit?

I always thought Chewie was in the gun turret.

Would he even fit?

Do I remember Chewie firing one of the turrets once or twice in the old Brian Daley novels? It's been so long that I'm not sure.

I always thought Chewie was in the gun turret.

I considered that, but that's why I pointed out 3:44. Sure, it's possible that he could've just gone from the turret to the cockpit, but it didn't seem that much time had passed, so that wouldn't make a lot of sense to me.

I always thought Chewie was in the gun turret.

I considered that, but that's why I pointed out 3:44. Sure, it's possible that he could've just gone from the turret to the cockpit, but it didn't seem that much time had passed, so that wouldn't make a lot of sense to me.

Good point. I forgot about the wider shot.

I don't have the book yet, but did they make the player ownable version of the YT-1300 a clone of the Falcon? That ship is supposed to be ridiculously modified, and the stock 1300 is supposed to be pretty crap as far as ships go(The Falcon itself drawing unfavorable commentary in the movies).

EDIT: Apparently the Wookieepedia is claiming it's a popular model, but doesn't list any sources backing that up. I stand by the opinions of Luke("What a piece of junk!"), Leia("You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought") and Han("She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid. I've made a lot of special modifications myself.").

No, the starting version will have two turrets, but not two quadlaser turrets, its got a stock (i.e. lot slower than the falcon). I'd think the Falcon would have a higher speed too.

No, the starting version will have two turrets, but not two quadlaser turrets, its got a stock (i.e. lot slower than the falcon). I'd think the Falcon would have a higher speed too.

And it is BYOW...Bring Your Own Wookiee.