Sorry but imo the debate is a bit silly (the question isn't just the debate).

1. They specifically covered movement "rmeasuring" limitations and allowances.  If there were similar restrictions to fire ranging there would be specific mention of that.  At least in my opinion.  I agree with most here… movement measuring no, fire measuring yes… simple and easy.

2. Does it matter if someone thought themselves clever and memorized movement distances to the range ruler?  Not really, cause if you "ban" range measuring during planning that doesn't stop someone from doing it anyways during the combat phase for the next turn when most ships are in their final place already.   There are a million ways to get "around" the measuring rule, from the human fingers to mats with star fields.

Lets also forget that the time it would take to memorize and be skillful enough to use the firing range ruler for movement, chances are you know the distances anyways and don't need them.

That said… I would not play with someone that did movement measuring like that all the time.  Wouldn't care so much once in a while.  I just don't want to play a game with people like that.

"Hi, you may know me as Hothie on the FFG boards"
"Hi, I'm Ziggy2000 on there."
"Here's my squad"
"Here's my squad"
"Let's determine initiative." Initiative determined.
"Okay, asteroid placement" (Grabs Range Ruler)
"Okay, now ship placement" (Grabs Range Ruler)
"Ok, planning phase" (if you grab your Range ruler, I look at you skeptically and ask why you're grabbing your Range ruler.)
"Ok, activation phase" I move my Dutch-(Grabs Range Ruler)
"Ok, start of Combat Phase" Swarm Tactics-(Grabs Range Ruler)
"Ok, combat phase" (Grabs Range Ruler for determining Range of each attack of each ship)

Yeah, I'd say Planning Phase is the only time when I DON'T use the Range ruler for anything, well, I guess and technically End phase…

hothie said:

So basically you only use the range ruler when an ability or rulebook forces you to or says you can? 

More like, basically use the range ruller anytime you feel like it, but don't used it during the planning phase because there is no actual reason to other than to use it as a proxy for a maneuver template.

ScottieATF said:

Not necessarily. I was just pointing out how often it is actually required to be used. If someone wanted to mark out a barrel roll and determine ranges from the endpoint of the roll, I wouldn't care at all, and I've likely even done something like that myself. In fact, I know I have, after doing a Turr Phennir barrel roll and boost after attacking, I went from Range 2 to Range 3 of a ship behind me.

Is it wrong to check ranges of ships to each other? I don't think so. And if a ship is barrel rolling, I see checking ranges as gathering information to determine if you want to perform the barrel roll or not. But it should be something that takes a few seconds. If someone is taking minutes to check every range of every ship before/after rolling, I might get a little peeved about him slowing down the game and say something. But a quick check to see if he wants to perform the roll or not, I'm fine with it.

hothie said:

totally agree!

hothie said:

My point is simply there is nothing in the rules that gives you the ability to use the range ruler in that manner.  You are clearly allowed and frankly required to check certain range dependant abilities when they trigger (Target Lock, Swarm Tactics, Draw Thier Fire, Biggs, etc) and you can certainly check range before you attack, as it's illustrated in the rules.  But checking the range to another ship while premeasuring a possible barrel roll/boost position is another thing.  There are plenty of games that do allow every manner of premeasuring, but they are explicit in allowing that.. This rulebook is not, and mentioned only a few specific cases when you are premitted to premeasure.