How does the "Heavy" squadron ability actually work?

[Thenightgaunt 18]

Ok so according to the description in the Reference book the Heavy ability does the following

 

"You do not prevent engaged squadrons from attacking ships or moving"

 

So is this a boon or a hindrance? Does this mean that a "heavy" ship cannot be engaged and can keep moving and attacking other targets even if an enemy squadron is close enough to be engaged. Or does it mean that the "heavy" ship is so slow that if it gets engaged by say a TIE fighter, the TIE can just fly off whenever it wants?

 

I read it to mean that the "heavy" status is a hindrance and if engaged with another squadron, the "heavy" ship is stuck following the rules of being engaged while it's opponent can basically ignore a good chunk of those same rules.  

[DarthSidious 847]

It's a hindrance.  What it means is that they are vulnerable to being engaged, but can't engage other squadrons.

[Jochmann 88]

It is a pure hindrance.You do not hinder enemy squadrons from attacking ships and/or moving out of "engaged-distance" - in fact, you do not hinder their movement at all. Yourself on the other hand can't attack sips or move, if you are engaged with enemy squadrons, unless they are "heavy" themselves.

[Thenightgaunt 18]

Gotcha, so you really should protect any "heavy" squads by either bringing in a squad with "escort" or keeping them away from enemy squads.

[DarthSidious 847]

Gotcha, so you really should protect any "heavy" squads by either bringing in a squad with "escort" or keeping them away from enemy squads.

Yes.

[Goknights12 123]

It is a pure hindrance.You do not hinder enemy squadrons from attacking ships and/or moving out of "engaged-distance" - in fact, you do not hinder their movement at all. Yourself on the other hand can't attack sips or move, if you are engaged with enemy squadrons, unless they are "heavy" themselves.

Heavies can't attack other non-heavy ships? I think if you are in range one of a ship you can attack, you just can't hold anyone there, but they can hold you there.

[wonderpug 219]

 

It is a pure hindrance.You do not hinder enemy squadrons from attacking ships and/or moving out of "engaged-distance" - in fact, you do not hinder their movement at all. Yourself on the other hand can't attack sips or move, if you are engaged with enemy squadrons, unless they are "heavy" themselves.

Heavies can't attack other non-heavy ships? I think if you are in range one of a ship you can attack, you just can't hold anyone there, but they can hold you there.

 

If you're engaged, you can't shoot at anything other the squadron that's engaging you.  If a TIE Fighter engages your heavy Y-wing, the Y-wing isn't allowed to move away or shoot that juicy Star Destroyer that's in range.  The TIE Fighter, on the other hand, can shoot at whatever it wants or move away, since the Y-wing is too heavy to restrict the TIE.

[Soltis 5]

I think he might just be confusing the word "ships" with the word "squadrons".

Edited May 12, 2015 by Soltis

[BeardedBaron 81]

 

It is a pure hindrance.You do not hinder enemy squadrons from attacking ships and/or moving out of "engaged-distance" - in fact, you do not hinder their movement at all. Yourself on the other hand can't attack sips or move, if you are engaged with enemy squadrons, unless they are "heavy" themselves.

Heavies can't attack other non-heavy ships? I think if you are in range one of a ship you can attack, you just can't hold anyone there, but they can hold you there.

 

Ship in this case meaning the "capital ships" of the game as opposed to fighters which are called squadrons in the rules.  In short the Heavy bombers can attack non-heavy squadrons, but if they are engaged by a squadron then they cannot attack capital ships.