ACTA - initiative sink in the attack phase?

[Burger]

There are certain rare situations that it may be better to fire last, or to hold a certain ship's fire back.

Can I declare one of my ships to fire, even if it has no valid targets (nothing in range or arc, etc), much like I can declare a speed 0 ship to "move" in the movement phase?

 

[E Nicely]

I don't see why not. I don't have a rulebook handy.

 

[lastbesthope]

I'd say yes, I know I've declared a WS with 'one random arc' (Guess which) disabled as firing first on ocassion.

Just out of curiosity, what situations would you want to hold fire back?

LBH

 

[Burger]

Just out of curiosity, what situations would you want to hold fire back?

Sorry thats classified

Oh alright, Border Dispute... wait til my opponent fires "fake" damage, then make it real with my big guns!

 

[Reaverman]

Just out of curiosity, what situations would you want to hold fire back?

Sorry thats classified

Oh alright, Border Dispute... wait til my opponent fires "fake" damage, then make it real with my big guns!

Burger the members that concurred with you, are not rulesmaster...just members off the forum

 

[Burger]

Burger the members that concurred with you, are not rulesmaster...just members off the forum

Yeah I know, I didn't specify "official answer only please"

 

[Greg Smith]

I was thinking along the same lines. If I win initiative, do I let the other guy fire first, so that I'll know whether he's shooting blanks or not?

 

[katadder]

but then he shoots for real and kills one of your ships maybe? or at least could crit it. if i win init i am gunning for their ships with real stuff, cant let people get within 8" except on my terms.

 

[Voronesh]

But id concur with Burger and LBH.

Since you can move a ship that obviously cannot move. (Speed 0)

You could also declare to ship to fire that cannot. (No fire crit)
Or simply a ship that is out of range.

 

[lastbesthope]

OK, I reread the Turn description on P5 of Rule Book 1.

Here's what it has to say about movement:

Movement Phase
The player who won the Initiative Phase by rolling higher than his opponent will now decide whether to move a ship first or force his opponent to do so. Players then alternate the moving of their ships.

Fair enough, this we all knew, the initiative winner gets to pick who moves first. however, on the same page when discussing the order of firing:

The player who won the Initiative Phase nominates one of his ships and then attacks with it, resolving all damage dealt by that ship. His opponent then nominates one of his ships and attacks.This continues until all ships have attacked, or had a chance to attack. Note that it is not compulsory for a ship to attack, even if it has a viable target. The player may simply nominate it and choose not to fire. However, he may not select it again that turn and choose to fire – he must make the decision to attack then and there; there is no holding back!

So by the letter of the rules, if you win initiative, you have to fire first, no choice in that one. but you can nominate any ship and choose not to fire, so nominating a weapons disabled/out of range/etc. ship would in effect allow you to fire '2nd'

LBH