No, as you would have to use Opportunist first before you can shred stress.

Finally the rebels get something .

Uhm... seriously?

Seriously. TIE swarms are still better than anything the Rebels get.

Even if we ignore for the moment whether I agree that the previous Rebels were no good (and they're terrifying), the problem with this approach is that it closes off the design space for Imperials. BADLY.

If the Swarm is the best option for Imperials (and I'll grant it is) then upping overall Rebel capability in a broad manner shuts down other Imperial options. That's what this is doing. The Rebels are getting spectacular standalone pilots who aren't just good against a swarm - they're good against EVERYONE. Compare that to the Imperial Aces, whose superstar pilots is best against... TIE swarms. And the new stress-inducing options, which hose PtL Interceptors pretty badly.

Just posted a review on the Rebel Aces preview they gave us.

There is no denying that Keyan is amazing. But I don't see why it causes such a whoa is me type reaction. I really think some of the Interceptors are being taken a bit for granted. He is still an expensive pilot with a big target on him.

I think the thing that's catching people off guard is that the B-wing simply doesn't need any help right now. It's absolutely flooding the meta, Advanced Sensors is right there with PtL in the "Probably Broken" category, a lot of the numbers guys think it's underpriced compared to the X-wing and should be running it out... and into this they decide to drop what may possibly be the best pilot ability in the game.

Interceptors for Imperial Aces made sense. Boosting the A-wing made sense. But the B-wing??? Seriously?

Anyone seen the b wing title that grants a crew slot? That is filth

Interceptors for Imperial Aces made sense. Boosting the A-wing made sense. But the B-wing??? Seriously?

Agreed. I would have really liked some more Y-wing options... although the new astromechs & flechette torps go a long way towards that, already.

Hmm..what about taking this combo out for a spin?

Tycho Celchu - Prototype Veteran - Push the Limit - Daredevil/Expert Handling/Expose - Missile (Optional) - Stealth Device/Shield upgrade?

I mean since he can work with stress tokens, giving him that second Elite Pilot slot for 0 cost, and adding onto Push the Limit is pretty good option.

Anyone seen the b wing title that grants a crew slot? That is filth

I'm curious as all hell to see what the cost will be. Nien & Ten will be pretty awesome...

So, am I processing this right?

Farlander with advanced sensors gains a TL then performs a red maneuver for a stress and then can drop advanced proton torps, potentially with opportunist for 5-6 basically guaranteed hits and end the turn with no stress, able to do it again next turn. Granted, that is crazy stupid amount of points in one ship, but still.

Or he does any maneuver he wants, uses PTL to Lock and then either barrrel roll or focus, if he's lucky putting him out of arc and effectively with two focus to spend.

The only thing he falls short of Fel on is that he can't spend the second focus defensively. From there it's differences in the ships.

If he starts the next round with a Stress token, he effectively can't use things like Advanced Sensors until he clears it.

I think people are being too quick to forget that Stress tokens have downsides. You don't want to stack them on this guy like he's Tycho and find yourself unable to barrel roll.

This is literally a game changer. I love me my A's and B's. This I going to be huge. I can easily see picking up 3 sets. Now I just wonder how long it will take to get the set into our hot little hands.

With so much stress going around, Ion cannons/turrets/missiles are going to be a lot more common...

I don't know what's going on, but how come it feels like that Imperials are lagging behind.

First the B-Wing, and then we get Imp Aces to what I think is a good equalizer. Then we get the Rebel Convoy and then the Rebel Aces? Come on man.

It would depend on when you lose the stress for his ability and gain the stress for Opportunist. You would still have a stress at the start of the turn as his ability only removes one.

You gain the stress before Step 2, and spend token to modify in Step 3. So Farlander can use Opportunist, gain the stress and the extra die, then spend that stress on the same attack.

The only limiter there is that he's relatively high PS, which means targets have a good chance of not being vulnerable to Opportunist.

Given that there are Crewmen in this set, and that no set thus far has been unable to use an upgrade that came with it, there's a strong possibility that B-Wings can get Crew now.

Farlander could Opportunist with Gunner... and use the Opportunist effect both times. And emerge unstressed.

Look at the card right beside Jan Ors' (Crew) card......It is a B-Wing title that you can plainly see adds a crew slot.

Good post Hanu, I agree with you.

I don't know what's going on man, but there's some noticeably strong Rebel bias here at this point.

If he does a red maneuver, then he can't take an action, let alone Push the Limit.

If he starts the next round with a Stress token, he effectively can't use things like Advanced Sensors until he clears it.

I think people are being too quick to forget that Stress tokens have downsides. You don't want to stack them on this guy like he's Tycho and find yourself unable to barrel roll.

Addressing in order:

1. Not if he has Advanced Sensors

2. As long as he can attack, he'll never start the round with a stress token

Sure, you can't take advantage of both PtL and a red maneuver in the same turn, but that's really the only limitation. Advanced Sensors+PtL on Farlander means you're effectively guaranteed 3 actions per turn, every turn, no matter what you want to do.

So does stress have downsides? Sure it does - which is exactly the problem, since Farlander can bypass every one of them.

TIE Defender (if it even has the rumored white-K, I doubt) I'm starting to feel unconcerned.

I'm solidly on record as saying we'd never see a white K-turn. But after seeing this.. with two rebels who can so effectively shed the stress from the K-turn, making it effectively white, I'm not so sure it's all that unrealistic any more.

I think it would be a horrible thing for the game, but I don't know that FFG agrees with me at this point.

The rebel aces preview seriously has some awesome love for the A-wing!

So, am I processing this right?

Farlander with advanced sensors gains a TL then performs a red maneuver for a stress and then can drop advanced proton torps, potentially with opportunist for 5-6 basically guaranteed hits and end the turn with no stress, able to do it again next turn. Granted, that is crazy stupid amount of points in one ship, but still.

Stick Biggs in with him (and you should still have room for one or two cheap AWings or Z95s) and he should be able to deal out some massive damage before even a swarm can take him down!

If he does a red maneuver, then he can't take an action, let alone Push the Limit.

If he starts the next round with a Stress token, he effectively can't use things like Advanced Sensors until he clears it.

I think people are being too quick to forget that Stress tokens have downsides. You don't want to stack them on this guy like he's Tycho and find yourself unable to barrel roll.

Addressing in order:

1. Not if he has Advanced Sensors

2. As long as he can attack, he'll never start the round with a stress token

Sure, you can't take advantage of both PtL and a red maneuver in the same turn, but that's really the only limitation. Advanced Sensors+PtL on Farlander means you're effectively guaranteed 3 actions per turn, every turn, no matter what you want to do.

So does stress have downsides? Sure it does - which is exactly the problem, since Farlander can bypass every one of them.

Not quite - he still can't do a red manoeuvre after Advanved Sensor Pushing the Limit can he?

Is Keyan's ability not balanced out by the fact that the carrying the stress 1) limits your manuevers and 2) makes him vulnerable to I'm-Not-Tycho Syndrome (stacking stress)?

I'm glad Keyan is in the game now by the way.

And as an A-wing lover, UGH. I could kiss a Mon Cal. SO GUUD.

I keep thinking about crew upgrades for the B-Wing.

Chewbacca would be amazing to help survivability

So would R2D2.

Also C-3PO.

Maybe use all three for a BBB build.

But Gunner with FCS.... Ooooh...

Or Mercenary CoPilot with HLC....

After looking at the Aces pack, and then seeing this release information.. I am suddenly underwhelmed by the Imperial version.. and I have 2 more sets coming... I love some aspects of the imps Aces, but comparing to what this rebel one is getting... I'm just dumbfounded that FFG is letting some of this happen.. had this released on April 1st.. I'd have called april fools joke... bypassing stress.. glad that isn't a pilot skill... some of the A wing only stuff, should have been on the Interceptors as well.. just a crazy release..

My biggest confusion is the rebel heavy aspect... when the rebels are arguably the stronger faction, why are they making them more powerful.

I realize many of the upgrades are useable by the empires forces, and I think the A wing only 2nd pilot skill ability is to counter the interceptors 2nd upgrade slot.. but it just seems to be too much rebels too soon...

Kyle Katarn crew card says:

After you remove a stress token from your ship, you may assign one focus token ______________________.

So, Keyan Farlander can spend a stress token on his attack that behaves as a focus token, and then he receives a free focus token to use in his next evade...

Similar ability to Night Beast for other pilots, move a green and get a focus. However, there is obscured additional text.

So, am I processing this right?

Farlander with advanced sensors gains a TL then performs a red maneuver for a stress and then can drop advanced proton torps, potentially with opportunist for 5-6 basically guaranteed hits and end the turn with no stress, able to do it again next turn. Granted, that is crazy stupid amount of points in one ship, but still.

Stick Biggs in with him (and you should still have room for one or two cheap AWings or Z95s) and he should be able to deal out some massive damage before even a swarm can take him down!

If he does a red maneuver, then he can't take an action, let alone Push the Limit.

If he starts the next round with a Stress token, he effectively can't use things like Advanced Sensors until he clears it.

I think people are being too quick to forget that Stress tokens have downsides. You don't want to stack them on this guy like he's Tycho and find yourself unable to barrel roll.

Addressing in order:

1. Not if he has Advanced Sensors

2. As long as he can attack, he'll never start the round with a stress token

Sure, you can't take advantage of both PtL and a red maneuver in the same turn, but that's really the only limitation. Advanced Sensors+PtL on Farlander means you're effectively guaranteed 3 actions per turn, every turn, no matter what you want to do.

So does stress have downsides? Sure it does - which is exactly the problem, since Farlander can bypass every one of them.

Not quite - he still can't do a red manoeuvre after Advanved Sensor Pushing the Limit can he?

Yeah, that's why I said he can't do both in the same turn

Is Keyan's ability not balanced out by the fact that the carrying the stress 1) limits your manuevers and 2) makes him vulnerable to I'm-Not-Tycho Syndrome (stacking stress)?

He should never carry the stress. Whatever you do to gain stress during a turn - PtL, K-turn, Opportunist, whatever - can be shed as long as he has an attack.

Which is nice to say when Flechette Torpedoes are coming. Which will actually hit Keyan.