I put my focus, evade, ect... tokens on the ship base/table because it's easier to keep track of who has what. Shields go on the card.

I don't understand why anyone would need to put the dial on the table next to the ship. After it's moved, what difference does it make where it started from or what maneuver it made? If for some reason you have to know, you can look at the card it's sitting on.

FFG includes 3 of each number for a reason, 2 on the base, and one next to/on the card for that ship.

My guess is that the rules, at least in part, specify that the dials go down on the table as a clear signal that the dial is set, to avoid any confusion or shenanigans there. I think it's marginally more efficient, as well, just saving a second here and there pulling the dial off the card and then locating that ship on the board again quick. But mainly my guess is that it's one of those things where you're basically showing there's nothing up your sleeve and putting the dial out on the table, in clear view of both players.

My guess is that the rules, at least in part, specify that the dials go down on the table as a clear signal that the dial is set, to avoid any confusion or shenanigans there.

I'm not sure I understand the difference...

I pick up the dial and set my move, then set it face down on the card that will make that move. Then when everyone is done I turn it over put it back down on that card and move the ship. No real room for shenanigans there.

I suppose it could be a bit quicker if it was next to the ship itself... But after the ship has moved, does the move it made really matter any longer? How often during the combat phase do you check to see what move a given ship made?

Well AFTER the ship executes its move I usually pull the dial back over by me, so that I know it's moved and I have it handy to set again with a new move following combat. I don't keep it by the ship the entire round. I just set it, place it face down by the ship it corresponds to, signalling that it's set.

I don't know that you HAVE to place them by the ships, and I've certainly just placed them on the edge of the mat on occasion, in the same order left to right that the ships are at on the board, usually when space is at a premium. But for me at least, much as I place it on the table to show it's set, I flip it, reveal it, then place it back by my 'hand' once I execute the move in question, precisely to get it out of the way and have it ready to reset next round.

My guess is that the rules, at least in part, specify that the dials go down on the table as a clear signal that the dial is set, to avoid any confusion or shenanigans there.

I'm not sure I understand the difference...

I pick up the dial and set my move, then set it face down on the card that will make that move. Then when everyone is done I turn it over put it back down on that card and move the ship. No real room for shenanigans there.

I suppose it could be a bit quicker if it was next to the ship itself... But after the ship has moved, does the move it made really matter any longer? How often during the combat phase do you check to see what move a given ship made?

In the FFG competitive rules I thought I remembered reading that dials can be placed next to ship cards.

Placing shields on the cards is also in the rulebook (p.4 "Activate Shield"). I think for both the dials and the shields there are clear reasons they can be on or next to the cards and there are rules that support that.

I haven't read any rules that support other tokens on the cards and I think that there are reasons there isn't a rule that allows that, all of which have been mentioned here.

Well AFTER the ship executes its move I usually pull the dial back over by me, so that I know it's moved and I have it handy to set again with a new move following combat.

Ok that makes more sense... You put them face down next to the ship then after you move you put them somewhere else. I was thinking people were leaving them there after they've been revealed, which made little sense.

I guess I see it like this.. on the board next to the ship shows you are ready fornthe turn to begin... if the dialmis on the sideboard, it can be confusing because everyone is then waiting for you to be done.. this happened at a game one night and we asked the player to place the dial on the board next to the ship.. sometimes he still forgets and sets them at the edge of the board in line with hos ships...

There is, in my opinion, too much room for shenanigans in this process.. maybe you have 4 ties out and with confusion of dial you trade maneuvers between 2 ships to gain an advantage.. well.. that's cheating, and no one likes a cheater.. call it fudging or possible mix up.. still cheating and brings disorder and loss of fun..

Look, I know we are all looking to have a good time playing this awesomely fun game.. just remember to be courteous and open with your placement of dials and tokens.. the designers suggested concepts because they probably thought they made sense.. I agree that they do.. remember that we are all here to enjoy the game.. not argue about which move was for which ship or which one had a focus or evade token on it.. honesty, and openness will go far

Ah yeah no that wouldn't make a lot of sense. I mean even the way I do it, I grant, you occasionally have to slide one out of the way of a movement template or whatever but it works.

It's kind of funny; when I started playing hockey as an adult a number of years back, one of my favorite things was hopping the boards. It's just such a uniquely "hockey" thing that it's this tiny thing that made me feel like a 'real' hockey player. I'd jump the boards to get on the ice, I'd climb back over the boards when my shift was done - often even if the guy in front of me was standing there holding the door for me. Don't judge.

In a weird way I think setting the dials down is a similar, tactile thing for me. Don't know why. Not saying everybody has to do it the same way, I'm not the dial police. But to me, setting the dial and then plunking it face down on the play surface just feels right in some strange way. I'm not sure I'd feel quite as 'set' if I just stuck it on the ship card next to me, for some reason.

In several games I play we do this.. I agree, it feels.. 'set and ready' .. game on Garth...

I'm not sure I'd feel quite as 'set' if I just stuck it on the ship card next to me, for some reason.

That's cool

But a thought just occurred to me. When you have a tight furball going, isn't it easier to "accidentally" shift a dial to another ship then if you have it on the card that's one way or another clearly marked?

I mean if you got 5 Tie's and 3 X's at range one, there's not a lot of room to put a dial down near the ship itself. But if I have Tie 1 though 5 with a 1 though 5 marker on each card, it's just as hard to do something underhanded.

For me personally in that situation what I do is put my dials down on the mat, just clear of the furball, ordered the way the ships are,left to right. Kind of a compromise and its still clear to my opponent just looking at the table which dial lines up with what ship.

All my Imperial dials have the ship type and number on them, all my Rebels have the ship markings and type on them. So I generally don't have an issue if space is tight.

Also it really helps stop dials getting mixed up when you are both playing the same faction. You can buy sheets of small stickers which are perfect size to go on the plastic pivot on the back. so you just need to write on them, though mine are painted.

hmm those pictures are really old, most of them look very different now.

I'm a new enough player that, when I'm playing multiples of the same ship type, it is a little too easy for me to put the wrong dial on the ship cards. So I'm in the habit now of setting a dial and then placing it by the ship for the move I just decided. It's actually less confusing for me.

I think I will take that one step further. I will customise the models and then customise the dials to match. Sweet idea!