I played a tourney today, and my last game hinged on the very last move my opponent made... and I had no idea it could be done.

My question is, can you use ranged combat expertise while being adjacent to 2 opposing figures if you're a flyer?

this baffles me because whats the point of calling it ranged expertise?? when it does the same thing as close combat expertise if you happen to be a flyer... what would be the point of basing a character with RCE?

You still need to break away, unless the flier has Phasing or Leap/Climb. And there are no fliers with Leap/Climb. And they can only attack people they are based with, so if you based someone's Firelord with a Thug, he would have to either breakaway, or attack the Thug. He could still use RCE though.

A flying character can make a ranged combat attack even if he is adjacent to the opposing figure. I guess the idea is, because the character is technically "flying" he is at a range. Non-flying characters can not make ranged combat attacks against adjacent opponents.

From the Rulebook and FAQ!

Hovering: Hovering figures can attack or be attacked using ranged combat, even if the hovering figure occupies a square adjacent to the attacker.
1. Grounded figures may perform ranged combat actions against adjacent hovering figures, but only if they are NOT ALSO adjacent to any opposing non-flying figures. [FAQ]

so then why would a hovering flying character have to make a break away roll? When this rule apperently makes it seem like flyers arent adjacent... sorry, I think I'm alittle confused!

Does any body have a link to the ruling that says flyer's can make RCE attacks on adjacent figures?

thnx machine.

It doesnt need to make a breakaway roll, to attack. Hovering are adjacent to Enemies. This is called game balance. Plus I jsut gave you the rule and its in the rulebook, Page 15, plus in the FAQ's. As I said.

What Skandranon meant was, if you were facing a flyer that had RCE, base him with some Thug. That flyer would either have to roll breakaway to get away from the Thug, or he would have to attack the Thug. You can bring your own ranged attackers in to attack while your opponent is tied up.

But doesnt any else body think that the rules condradict them selves by saying, a flying character can use ranged combat expertise when adjacent to a grounded character... yet a hovering flyer still has to make a break away when next to a grounded character? This must mean that the flying character is tangled up with the grounded figure, and there for has to roll a 4,5, or 6 to break away... and if the flying character is tangled up, how the hell is he able to make a ranged combat attack??
and my other question: why would you bother with Close Combat Expertise, when RCE works exactly the same way as long as the character is a flyer?

example: I can use firelord who has a base damage of 3 with RCE adding 2 to do 5 damage from 8 squars away. and what do you know, because Firelord can fly I can also do 5 damage to my oponent when adjacent to one of his figures.

can some one please explain how this makes sense?

As I said X-Inferno Game Balance. Rules are not always made to make sense. They are there to keep a balance.

Something to keep in mind: RCE requires you to make a ranged combat attack. This means that you can't use it when attacking an adjacent stealthed character and if the character has energy shield they get +2 to their defense. There are other ways in which they don't work the same even if the character is a flyer.

Also grounded figures, if not adjacent to any opposing grounded figures, can make a Range attack against fliers that are adjacent. So Cyclops is really powerful Vs only fliers.

Ah I take you're point... and rules are rules, time to adjust!