Fighter movement ranges and timing...

[Ripple]

Since it recently came up, can I get a ruling on the sequence of fighter movement.

Specifics -

a - if a fighter is on support, and moves with the ship, can he move in the fighter movement phase. (in effect can an ISA Nial move 30 inches in a turn)

b- if a fighter is put on support during the fighter movement phase, does the fighter still move to intercept flights attacking the supported ship during the fighter attack step. (in effect do you have to be on support in the previous turn to protect a ship)

Ripple

 

[Greg Smith]

a. No.

b. Yes, you are immediately in support. You don't need to be so in the previous turn.

Up to four flights may be moved onto the base or counter of a friendly ship, and one may be moved in contact with another flight. When this happens, the flights are automatically considered to be supporting the ship or flight and will be moved whenever the ship or flight is moved (though they will be forced to leave its base if the ship or flight travels further than their Speed).

It is implicit that a fighter cannot move more than its movement (it doesn't say so explicitly).

If you want a fighter to move independantly just leave it behind when the ship moves.

 

[Burger]

a) I thought a fighter could use any remaining movement it has, to leave support. For example a Nial supporting a Sharlin, moves 8" with the Sharlin. But in the fighter movement phase, it can leave support using its remaining 7" movement.

 

[Greg Smith]

No reason why not. Either way works.

 

[Ripple]

Didn't want to get into the debate aspect, was hoping there had a been a definitive ruling, at least a case of 'at mongoose it's done this way' type of thing.

As to Burger's remark, the only issue I see is it could be tedious in larger games to know how far each ship had moved.

The either way works in some situations but in a close game could be the difference between winning and losing, and I hate to see if come up then. Especially important in an environment of open playtest that we all are working from the same playbook. House rules can make whole groups opinions on things fatally tainted if their rules change the way things work.

Chris Z here in chicago didn't use the fighter pentacon rule for the Dilgar for a long time in our pick up games, but he has to for our playtest games or we don't know if the Dilgar are really vulnerable to fighters.

Ripple

 

[JTL109]

...
The either way works in some situations but in a close game could be the difference between winning and losing, and I hate to see if come up then. Especially important in an environment of open playtest that we all are working from the same playbook. House rules can make whole groups opinions on things fatally tainted if their rules change the way things work.
...
Ripple

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I normally do not move fighters with ships, I move them only in the
fighter phase. This allows me to position the fighters as I desire,
I.E. two fighters that were in escort move to the far left to attack a ship,
while two fighters from the center replace those in escort.