Field Commander and AI

[TsuminoTora]

Under the keyword ruling, a field commander (FC) only counts as a commander for the sake of issuing orders. But if you have no other commanders (either from commander being defeated, or if your list never had one), a commander token is given to the FC. Under the rules of Promote, this unit's order token would be replaced with a commander order token, and counts as a commander for all trooper units. Under promote, would the FC then override AI? Would the FC in a list with no other commander, who gains a commander token, also count as a commander for all trooper units, and thus still override AI (and also be given a commander order token) ?

 

[Seth]

Hi there,

On 10/15/2024 at 6:08 PM, TsuminoTora said:

if you have no other commanders (either from commander being defeated, or if your list never had one), a commander token is given to the FC. Under the rules of Promote, this unit's order token would be replaced with a commander order token, and counts as a commander for all trooper units.

This is all not quite correct. To parse two items out:

As described in the Field Commander keyword entry, if a player's army contains no Commander units during setup but does include a Field Commander unit, you will mark that unit with a Commander token. This is not an Order token; the united will continue to use the Order token it would normally. The Commander token is displayed in the Components glossary, on page 4 of the Star Wars: Legion Core Rulebook at time of writing.

If a player is to Promote a unit during the course of the game, because their Commander units are defeated and they do not control a Field Commander unit marked with a commander token (as above), then they will Promote a Trooper unit to change its Rank. A player may not choose to promote a vehicle unit, with or without the Field Commander keyword.

On 10/15/2024 at 6:08 PM, TsuminoTora said:

would the FC then override AI? Would the FC in a list with no other commander, who gains a commander token, also count as a commander for all trooper units, and thus still override AI

As explained above, a Field Commander unit is not a Commander-type unit; their unit type will not change during Setup if the player has no Commander units.

As such, a unit with Field Commander within Range 3 of a unit with AI: Action will not prevent a unit without a faceup Order token from performing their specified AI action.

Hope this helps,
Seth