Learn how to play - the cards

In this ship to ship combat game players control a capital ship by playing Action Cards. This simulates the captain issuing orders to the crew. There are two may dynamics to action cards: Color and Icon.

Summary

Card types
Card forms
Vessel cards
Upkeep icons
Counters
Ship abilities

Color indicates care TYPES. Card types are referred to in card text by ALL CAPS. Card types pertain to types of actions the ship will perform. Icon indicates card FORM. Icons show players how to play the cards. See this page from the rulebook addressing card types, card forms, and some game keywords such as SET and ACTIVATE.

In general, if the card's artwork is located in the top half of the card, it is to be set face down in the tier row and will later be flipped face up (activated). If the artwork is located in the bottom half of the card, that card is to be played in some other way.

The primary mechanism in Dog Fight: Starship Edition is to set card face down in the player area. These are programmed actions. Other cards can be played face up in the player area or discarded to the discard pile for immediate actions.

Dog Fight: Starship Edition rulebook card type card form

Each player in Dog Fight: Starship Edition will control one capital ship. Each ship card indicates its combat statistics (Attack power, attack Range, Mobility, Hull, and starting Energy counters). A vessel's inherent abilities are defined in the bottom half of the card. Ship statistics are indicated in card text as underlined terms. See this page from the official rulebook describing vessels and vessel abilities.