If the cost is reduced in other ways (such as by the effect of Elite Pilot Training), can you reduce the cost below 3?

No. When a minimum is specified, it's absolute.

Not obvious for me though... at first glance i got it like cost can be reduced to a minimum of 3 with this current effect (i.e. for each Black Squadron card you control), but there is no restriction for further reduction with other effects. I mean as for me card doesn't state that 3 is the minimal cost of unit.


How does it interact with Kuat Reinforcements ("Interrupt: When you play a Vehicle unit, discard X cards from your hand to reduce its cost by X (to a minimum of 1).")?

For LS: couldn't you play Capital Ship for free using The Defence of Yavin 4 ("Interrupt: When you play a Vehicle unit, discard X cards from your hand to reduce its cost by X (to a minimum of 1).") and Mon Mothma ("While this unit is committed to the Force, reduce the cost of the first [Rebel Alliance] card you play each phase by 1."), or Independence ("Reduce the cost to play each other friendly Capital Ship unit by 1."), or Well Paid ("Action: Reduce the cost and pilot cost of each Pilot and each Vehicle card you play this phase by 1.")?

It's not explicitly stated in the FAQ either way, so feel free to ask FFG if you disagree with the community ruling.

It's not explicitly stated in the FAQ either way, so feel free to ask FFG if you disagree with the community ruling.

Just sent them a message about it; I'll be sure to post the official response when it comes in.

It's not explicitly stated in the FAQ either way, so feel free to ask FFG if you disagree with the community ruling.

 

In many cases i feel like i'm more interested to discuss such freaking issues in this great community than just get the "right answers" from FFG. A process is often as inspiring as a result.

And it's official now:

"Anytime a minimum (or maximum) is placed on a value, that minimum (maximum) applies no matter what else might affect the value. So, with Black Squadron, no combination of effects can reduce the cost below 3."
-Erik Dahlman

Mario, would you mind posting that in the Official Rules Clarification thread?

So, if i got it right, Black Squadron's text was supposed to state 3 as the minimal cost of that unit. That's why you can't trigger Kuat Reinforcements to reduce Black Squadron's cost below 3.

 

Interesting thing though that even after you trigger Kuat (say, in order to reduce cost to 3) and it states another minimum for Black Squadron's cost ("to a minimum of 1") you still can't reduce cost below 3 (for example with the second copy of Kuat). It looks like text on Black Squadron have priority over text on Kuat for some reasons.

So, if i got it right, Black Squadron's text was supposed to state 3 as the minimal cost of that unit. That's why you can't trigger Kuat Reinforcements to reduce Black Squadron's cost below 3.

 

Interesting thing though that even after you trigger Kuat (say, in order to reduce cost to 3) and it states another minimum for Black Squadron's cost ("to a minimum of 1") you still can't reduce cost below 3 (for example with the second copy of Kuat). It looks like text on Black Squadron have priority over text on Kuat for some reasons.

It basically comes down to how modifiers are applied.  Any time a new modifier is applied, the entire quantity being modified is recalculated (see FAQ 2.10).  So when you attempt to add another discount to the cost to play Black Squadron you go back to the base cost and apply all of the modifiers.  As one of those modifiers sets a minimum cost of 3, the minimum final cost is 3 (lower minimums also apply, but effectively do nothing as the minimum of 3 keeps you from getting to them anyways).

It basically comes down to how modifiers are applied.  Any time a new modifier is applied, the entire quantity being modified is recalculated (see FAQ 2.10).  So when you attempt to add another discount to the cost to play Black Squadron you go back to the base cost and apply all of the modifiers.  As one of those modifiers sets a minimum cost of 3, the minimum final cost is 3 (lower minimums also apply, but effectively do nothing as the minimum of 3 keeps you from getting to them anyways).

 

Yes, that what i kept in my mind - when you trigger Kuat Reinforcements at the first time the only modifier of Black Squadron's minimal cost is "to a minimum of 3".

 

But at the moment you use the second Kuat (at the same triggering condition - playing Black Squadron) there are two modifiers ("to a minimum of 3" from unit and "to a minimum of 1" from the first objective).

 

For some reasons we don't say that as soon as one of those modifiers sets a minimum cost of 1 that's the final value. Instead, we must primarily use the unit's text like it has kind of priority over objective's one.

Yes, that what i kept in my mind - when you trigger Kuat Reinforcements at the first time the only modifier of Black Squadron's minimal cost is "to a minimum of 3".

 

But at the moment you use the second Kuat (at the same triggering condition - playing Black Squadron) there are two modifiers ("to a minimum of 3" from unit and "to a minimum of 1" from the first objective).

 

For some reasons we don't say that as soon as one of those modifiers sets a minimum cost of 1 that's the final value. Instead, we must primarily use the unit's text like it has kind of priority over objective's one.

It's not that the unit's text has any sort of priority.  It's that all of the minimums apply (no matter how many there are).  The end result is only the highest minimum (or lowest maximum) will matter.

In this case, there's both a minimum of 3 and a minimum of 1 (regardless of how many copies of Kuat you trigger).  Both apply, but the minimum of 1 never matters because the minimum of 3 keeps you from getting there.

It's not that the unit's text has any sort of priority.  It's that all of the minimums apply (no matter how many there are).  The end result is only the highest minimum (or lowest maximum) will matter.

In this case, there's both a minimum of 3 and a minimum of 1 (regardless of how many copies of Kuat you trigger).  Both apply, but the minimum of 1 never matters because the minimum of 3 keeps you from getting there.

 

I got the idea, thank you for clarification!

Mario, would you mind posting that in the Official Rules Clarification thread?

Done.