Can someone explain to me the ruling on just what happens to a ship when it is hit by an ion cannon before the imperial player has had its turn to activate its combat, ie a 1 skill tie academy pilot?

I believe it doesn't take any effect until the following turn, during the planning phase.

Thanks. I actually expected it to play out l little like it would do in the films. The Ion hits (after dice have been negated etc..), takes effect and this stops the next player from firing his/ her weapon since it's systems are out of commission. then the game turn is over and then the steps from the ion card take effect ie: no planning; drift, ion is off and then the player can then fire.

Maybe I am reading too much into it, but that is how I read an Ion in relation to skill numbers

The ion token has no impact until the planning phase. Effectively, the only thing it does is pre-select your next movement to be one ahead (white maneuver, so no getting rid of a stress token). It doesn't stop you from taking actions or from shooting, though you may not be in arc to shoot anything.

Thanks sable, wow the Ywing was really getting many advantages in our last game. We counted the +1 dice at range 1 and the range 3 situations.

Heh yeah, no, the turret gets no +1 at range 1 and can't REACH range 3.

Also don't forget that while it preselects a white 1-forward for them (zapping stressed ships is hilarious, btw, if you haven't tried it), it does not prevent actions. So a ship (unless stressed already) may still be able to boost, barrel roll, etc, and wind up somewhere other than where you expected him to be. Keep his actions and such in mind when estimating where he'll land after that 1 forward.

Also, the ship that was hit suffers one damage, which may be absorbed by shields (if present) or result in a face-down damage card being dealt. I know this is probably obvious, but the original question was "what happens to a ship when it is hit by an ion cannon", and the damage part had not been mentioned.

@crooked... why would zapping stressed ships be funny?

@ziggy... thanks anyway, but I did figure that

All of your help is really helpful

@crooked... why would zapping stressed ships be funny?

It's because the ship has to move forward 1 but doesn't lose the stress, so they can't take actions. Interceptors with PtL hate Ion's because if they use it once, they may be stuck being stressed for rest of the game.

And if you catch them in a bad spot you can potentially tail along behind them, Ioning them right off the map.

I find myself using Ion Cannons more and more on the Lambda.

If you can't maneuver like them... make them maneuver like you.

It also stops some bombs as you never reveal your dial, and they are placed when you reveal your dial