I just mentioned Grand Admiral Zaarin in a thread and was just wondering how I'd do the TIE Experimentals from the X-Wing Alliance.

First comment: No new models. New models is a big investment and whilst the experimentals are cool, they're a pretty obscure thing.

For those who've not come across them, the TIE experimentals were an attempt by the Empire to develop remotely piloted fighters (and later droid fighters; the TIE/d came out of the same research programme) that were more effective than clone wars-era Vulture Droids that....well....were a bit rubbish.

They were flown remotely by a nearby transport ship, which - for the purposes of the game - I suggest transferring to the Lambda Shuttle. A "TIE Experimental Pilot" crew card gives you the visible marker that it's the control ship and a card onto which you can tag an ability to boost the fighter (something like the control stations from "Cutting The Cord" might work).

There were five TIE experimentals, but two were unique and...err...silly. The TIE Bizzarro lives up to its name and I can only assume someone was huffing nitrous on the day they came up with the idea, whilst the TIE Bomb doesn't use a standard chassis either, and I'm not sure the game rules will work well with a suicide fighter

TIE Bizzaro (M1)

TIE Bomb (M4)

The others - TIE Experimental M2, M3 and M5, on the other hand, are standard TIE chassis with extra stuff welded on the outside, and can easily be represented by title cards.

TIE BigGun (M2)

This is a TIE fighter which loses its chin lasers and gains a pair of turbolasers on the outer wings. Well, thanks to the Tantive IV, we know the statline for a Twin Turbolaser - 4 attack dice, defender doubles agility dice, swap one focus to a hit for free. Essentially, B-Wings cry, A-Wings laugh at you then fly away.

TIE Warhead (M3)

The Warhead is an Interceptor which again, loses its primary weapons. In return, it carries a shield generator and what we shall diplomatically refer to as " Some Concussion Missiles ". A shield and 2+ missile slots in return for the primary weapons is an easy enough trade, but the trick which would need working (possibly by the Pilot card on the shuttle) is how you deal with the fact that the interceptor is not capable of target locking an enemy by default.

TIE Booster (M5)

Yes, it's exactly what it looks like: a TIE fighter with a whacking great afterburner welded to the back. The official verdict by the rebels was "Wow, that thing can move!".

It's not discernably more manouvrable but it is a lot faster in a dead run, and also has a shield generator - I'd suggest that in addition to adding the shield, all straight manouvres should be green and (especially given the name) it would gain the boost action. Primary weapons, unlike the M2 and M3, are untouched.

The rules are pretty easy - the Experimentals aren't droids, so still get to focus, and can still be stressed. Kill the transport, however, and the Experimentals go dead - which justifies them being cheap for very good upgrades. (Hint - shield upgrades on the shuttle would be a good thing!)

I wouldn't put a range limit on the control ship, if only because 'nailing' a booster to an unmanouvreable shuttle voids the very point of the upgrade in the first place...

The shuttle crew gaining something like " Action : One friendly TIE Experimental may perform a free Focus, Evade or Target Lock action. For each additional TIE Experimental Pilot on this ship, an additional friendly TIE Experimental may perform a free Focus, Evade or Target Lock action."

But they're all so ugly ...

I dunno. I quite like the Warhead. But some slightly improved artwork wouldn't help, certainly...

Heavily modded ships should be ugly. Look at the Falcon. Ugliest ship I've ever seen. Iconic and awesome as well.

XWA Upgrade has some nicer updates of the original models:

http://www.xwaupgrade.com/ (Easily one of the best and most robust cosmetic mods I've ever seen for a game)

M1 Bizzaro: http://www.xwaupgrade.com/renders/tiebizzaro_1_1.png

M2 Biggun: http://www.xwaupgrade.com/renders/tiebiggun_1_1.png

M3 Warhead: http://www.xwaupgrade.com/renders/tiewarheads_1_1.png

M4 Bomb: http://www.xwaupgrade.com/renders/tiebomb_1_1.png

M5 Booster: http://www.xwaupgrade.com/renders/tiebooster_1_1.png

(better engine view: http://www.xwaupgrade.com/renders/tiebooster_1_3.png )

To be honest, the Bizarro is my favourite for the same reason I love the B-Wing: I really like the asymmetry.

It should be pretty trivial to kitbash a bomb using a Bomber and maybe some dowling as a bolt-on engine. Would have next to no application in the standard game, but could be part of a fun scenario, and have a rule where if they bump, they blow the bumping ship up too.

M4 was kinda a silly idea though, when you could probably either build a more effective heavy missile or convert a Ex Tie Bomber to carry a load more rockets or bombs for an alpha strike (kinda like the scatterpack shuttles from SFB) and you wouldn't waste as many raw materials on a hull you plan to blow up instead of recover.

But they're all so F ugly ...

Fixed that for you.

I want to say there is a mistake in there. I seem to remember the "bizzaro" fighter being the one that carried the turbolaser; such big weapon is the reason it's in a pod all by itself and could even help account for putting a panel between it and the pilot. The one you have labeled "Big Gun" I thought has the "standard" TIE fighter armament BUT it was mounted on turrets outside of the wing panels; this lets it shoot at you from any angle and made it a royal pain in the but.

When it comes to the experimental TIEs it's that "Bizzaro" one I find the most visually interesting.

I really like the idea of trying to use the TIE M4 (bomb) in this game; in fact, I think I'll try it, and use a TIE Advanced hull as the proxy for it.

Since it was remote controlled, it should not be allowed a focus action.

It should also have a primary weapon value of "0".

Its rule for detonation could be the same as for a proximity mine, except adjusted for mobility (e.g., it detonates if, during the activation phase, another ship's movement template/base overlaps its base. Mobility adjustment: it will also detonate during the activation phase if its movement template/base overlaps another ship) although maybe with more attack dice rolled (4? 5?)

And it should get a fast dial. Wookieepedia states it had greater linear acceleration than a TIE Defender, and equal maneuverability to a TIE fighter...so, it might use the Defender movement dial, and give it the pilot skill "When a stress token is assigned to this ship, discard it immediately"?

Other stats might be shield value of "0" and hull value of "3", and pilot skill "1" or "0".

I'll report back if anyone's interested.

Was talking to some friends about this and came up with this;

TIE / Experimental Expansion Comes with;

1 M1 Bizarro Model

TIE/F

Cannon upgrade

1 M2 Biggun Title card

TIE/F Only

+1 attack

1 M3 Warhead Title card

TIE/I Only

Missile Upgrade

1 M4 Bomb Upgrade card (Fly by wire slot)

1 Shield

2 Hull

2 evade

If this weapon hits the target takes 4 hits and a crit 1

M5 Booster Title card

TIE/F only

Boost action

4 Remote pilot modifications

TIE only

Ship controlled from control ship, Immune to stress but becomes uncontrolled if control ship is destroyed or if fighter leaves control range

1 Control Ship Title Card

Gozantai Only (limited )

Gozantai can control up to 8 ships (up to range 5) and gains 2 (fly by wire) slots

Fly by wire: This fighter sized missile is very fast and hard to hit and is always seen as being launced from it's controlling vessle. If this Weapon's trejectory passes through the target vessle's firing arc the target vessle may attempt to shoot it down. (Shooting now has no effect on the target vessle's turn) evade dice may be used

Uncontrolled: ship locked into last manouver until control is restored (no attack or actions may be made)