Since Stratuscloud does not follow the rules of disposable weapons, and instead follows the rules of one-use equipment such as Albedo, can you please remove the Disposable trait from the equipment? All it does is cause needless confusion and bloat. @Koni
There is no requirement that prevent you to activate this skill again if you reload it. However if you try to execute the effects for a second time, you will try to activate the Stratuscloud but for the cancelation clause it won't work. There is nothing that stop you for reloading and using it again, but the state will only trigger once. As you see the FAQ state that the State cannot be activated for a second time, not the equipment. If you try to do that you will only waste 2 orders.
If any given model can only activate the StratusCloud State once per game, why is the StratusCloud Equipment reloadable in the first place? Treat it like Albedo and call it good! The Active Albedo state wording is much less likely to cause confusion!
I agree that there are other ways to do it, in fact in this same thread I adressed that. I'm just explaining how this works after the new FAQ, don't shoot the messenger :P From the FAQ 1.7 thread:
@Ogid The Unloaded state does a poor job of reminding players the Stratuscloud state can't be activated by a particular trooper again. The Unloaded state is only referring to the numbers of uses left for a piece of equipment the trooper carries. It doesn't directly speak to what conditions have been met regarding a particular game state. What if a trooper or future trooper carries more than one disposable piece of equipment. What if the troopers gear is reloaded. The marker is removed so there is no longer an indicator the game state was used once already. So if CB's intention was to use the disposable and Unloaded state to track this kind of thing... I'd say they didn't think it all the way through. This doesn't even mention the confusion added as most people expect a reloaded piece of equipment to be reusable. Although that expectation would be removed as more and more gear works like this.
Just make up a marker that indicates (to you and your opponent) that the clouds are gone. Sometimes making up your own markers makes it easier to keep track of things than writing everything down on paper or trying to remember it.
Or a double-sided marker (like most of us use for Impersonation). StratusCloud State lasts for the activating player's active turn and the activating player's ARO turn.
For this same thread, before the FAQ: The Disposable (1) without being able to use the state again is a bit strange for being the only effect in the game like that, but it kind of make sense because albedo can't be activated in the middle of a game, but Stratuscloud can. The big adavantage of having already beaten this topic to death is I don't even have to write now XDD. This is how I think the rules should handle this kind of effects Did you think we are done with you, Stratuscloud? Nevah!
I don't think the timing of when either Albedo or Stratuscloud state is activated should have any baring on the other rules surrounding them. What's the difference between forced activation at the beginning of the game on turn 1 versus choosing to activate on turn 1-3. These are simply activation clauses and the both can easily share the same rules regarding their number of uses. I see this purely as a design choice: Reloadable and Reuseable items use the disposable trait. Limited use items use disposable with an appropriate clause preventing reloading. (this should include Albedo) Reloadable and Reuseable items use the disposable trait. Limited use items do not use disposable, instead having an appropriate clause limiting them. (like Albedo). I really don't care which one the game wants to use. But I'd opt for #1.
This would fill in my "Equipment (can only trigger once) -> State" that is the way that make more sense to me. This way the state won't have to include clauses like "Once this state is cancelled, the player cannot activate it again." However I'd use a different label than disposable to don't mix them up.
I want to make sure I understand correctly before commenting further. You want the Stratuscloud equipment to be labelled not as disposable, but rather (a new name to identify that it can't be reloaded and has a limited number of uses)1. The Stratuscloud state to then be removed entirely and its rules/effects placed under the equipment instead? Similar to how various grenades create their own zone once used?
Not exactly. You got right the first part: I'll avoid using disposable(1) to make it less confusing; I'll use a new label, let's say it's called "Irreplaceable", with the same wording than disposable (for both the equipment of Albedo and Stratuscloud). But not the second part, the state will remain; but only with rules about the state itslef, not about the limitations of the equipment which causes it. This would change the mechanic; but taking in count these states are supported by a piece of equipment, i'd also add clauses to cancel the state if the equipment is disabled (by E/M basically, because as it's not a comms equipment blackout/Isolated won't disable it) Baggage and Unloaded only rules disposable, so Irreplaceable couldn't be reloaded by it. To remember it, the player should note it or use any kind of marker as @daszul suggested (a new state similar to unloaded could be created, but for only 2 effects it could be overkill) Then we'd get a equipment with a limited number of uses; so now we can eliminate the clauses about "this effect could never ever be activated again" in the effect. Which is more coherent and leaves the design open for a future equipment for Albedo and Stratuscloud which the Disposable trait instead of Irreplaceable. To see the changes more easily, it'd be this: Spoiler: Irreplaceable (label) Irreplaceable. This weapon or Equipment has a limited amount of ammunition or uses, and one is expended every time you declare its use, regardless of the success or failure of the Roll involved. The profile indicates, by means of a figure in brackets after the Irreplaceable trait, the number of uses for that weapon or Equipment. Spoiler: Stratuscloud (Equipment) STRATUSCLOUD SHORT MOVEMENT SKILL, ARO Irreplaceable (1), NFB, Non-Lootable, Optional REQUIREMENTS To be able to declare this Special Skill in the Reactive Turn it is compulsory that the enemy be in LoF or in Zone of Control. EFFECTS By spending one Short Movement Skill or ARO it allows the user to enter the Stratuscloud (State) state. Also, this piece of Equipment allows the user to deploy in the Stratuscloud (State) state. During the game, it allows the use of the Stratuscloud (State) state. This equipment is affected by the Disabled state. Spoiler: Stratuscloud (State) Activation Automatic during the Deployment Phase (see stratuscloud (Equipment) This state can be activated by expending one Short Movement Skill or ARO (see stratuscloud (Equipment). Effects A trooper in Stratuscloud state will place a Low Visibility and Saturation Zone the size of a Circular Template (see Infinity N3) of infinite height, centered on the trooper. This Stratuscloud template will move with its bearer while they are in Stratuscloud state. A trooper in this state doesn't suffer the effects of the Low Visibility and Saturation Zone this piece of Equipment generates, whether it is their own state or another trooper's. However, any other trooper inside the Circular Template will suffer the effects of the Low Visibility and Saturation Zones, unless possessing any Special Skill or piece of Equipment that ignores them. In the same way, any Skill, Special Skill, piece of Equipment or BS Attack which LoF crosses the Stratuscloud template must apply the effects and MODs imposed by Low Visibility and Saturation Zones. The Stratuscloud state will be applied during the entire Order in which it was activated. Cancellation If activated during the Deployment Phase, the Stratuscloud state is automatically cancelled at the end of the second Player Turn, removing the Stratuscloud Template from the game table. If activated by an Order or ARO, the Stratuscloud state is automatically cancelled at the end of the following Player Turn, removing the Stratuscloud Template from the game table. A trooper in Stratuscloud state can cancel this state by declaring so, without spending Order or ARO. If Stratuscloud (equipment) enters in the disabled state, the Stratuscloud state is automatically cancelled.
It definitely makes sense to use a new term. For every skill that can't be reloaded the rules will need to repeat that written exception. That can add up. Of course there's always that delicate balancing act between adding a new rule vs adding only a few exceptions. In this case I'd add the the new skill. I really don't like exceptions. With regards to changing the mechanic, I'd probably need to think about it more to form an opinion. Not all active effects are represented by a game state marker, ODD for example. Its cancellation results in a marker lol. There's a lot to consider and possibly streamline here. I also find the use of Stratuscloud as a Short Movement Skill strange. I'd really need to sit back and review the entire spectrum of skills and equipment first. Sort them, identify patterns, exceptions, etc.
Yeah, this is how I'd do it, the mechanic works right now. I'm fine with it, it's a movement skill but it doesn't have the movement label. It's a way to say it can be used with Short Skills (Activate Albedo + BS attack for example)
