Jan Ors and cluster missles

By Son0fGun, in X-Wing Rules Questions

Ruled at our table Jan would only give an extra dice to the first shot on a cluster missle attack from another ship. But want to confirm if others would agree.

That's been the general consensus. There are some dissenting voices, of course, but most analysis points to Jan boosting only a single attack, and the Cluster is two distinct attacks.

Indeed, the rules are clear in treating each attack from Cluster Missiles as separate attacks.

Note that this means that Jan Ors could choose which one to boost, but not both.

Yes, this is the majority, but until ruled as such, not official or unanimous opinion.
Most of us believe it to absolutely be the correct one, however.

I appreciate it all. That's how we read it also

I agree with the others.

Cluster missiles is two attacks. Jan can't take two stress tokens, so she can only boost one of the cluster missile attacks.

I could see this one going either way. I certainly understand the thought that the re-rolls are only applied to the first rolls. However I can see where there is room to consider the re-rolls are applied to both rolls. Cluster missiles say "perform this attack twice". FFG could very well decide "this attack" refers to one attack. I'm fine with it either way. Maybe FFG will pipe in soon.

They already did pipe in, though, on the Gunner issue. They made it pretty clear in the July 23 FAQ that Cluster Missiles is two distinct attacks, and the reason it states "this attack twice" is to indicate that both attacks must be made against the same target. If the first roll kills the target, you forfeit the second.

More key is Gunner: if the first CM attack misses, you can opt to use Gunner/Luke Skywalker - but they stated very clearly that doing so ALSO forfeits your second cluster missile roll, because the text states 'you may make no further attacks this round.' So it'll actually shut down CM halfway through - that ruling makes it pretty ironclad clear that cluster missiles are two distinct attacks, and that nothing carries over between them but the target.

No focus, no spent Target Lock, no Jan Ors, no nothing.

Gunner: You cannot perform another attack this round (emphasis mine).
If the second cluster missile was in any way, shape, or form, a continuation of the first attack roll, and not a completely separate entity, Gunner would not prevent you from finishing your attack. The fact it prevents you from making another attack, combined with the fact that the FAQ states emphatically that if you use Gunner after missing with CM attack roll 1 you do not get a roll 2, makes it pretty empirically clear that they are distinct in every way but what they're targeted at.

A reroll wouldn't carry over from CM attack roll 1 to CM attack roll 2 any more than it would carry over from CM attack roll 1 to a subsequent Gunner roll after the first attack missed.

I did see the faq reference also crooked, albeit after the fact. I think it will be ruled as the majority see it. Two distinct attacks. Choose one as long as you don't have a stress. Think that ends the discussion pretty solid.

I was not considering the gunner ruling. I was still leaning towards the first/majority ruling but thought there may be wiggle room there. Who knows, FFG may come back and rule for the later anyway.

FFG coming in and ruling it only works that way on TUESDAYS wouldn't shock me at this point.

Nevertheless, the ruling in relation to Gunner sets a seemingly clear precedent as far as how CM is to be treated. That said, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see them flat out rule it interacts differently with other specific abilities. Until they do; though, the rule seems to be handling it as two distinct attacks made against the same target.