Here's the beginning of my dual Defender list (if the PS 3 has an EPT, this will change):

Rexler Brath + Predator + HLC

Colonel Vessery + VI + IC

Hmm. Just 13 points left… if you drop the ions, you can afford Academy Pilot + Targeting Computer as a backup TL for Vessery and an all-purpose blocker. Not sure what to do with the last 2 points, though.

Change out the AP for a BSP perhaps, to have a greater likelyhood of TLing?

A white K-turn is pretty significant. Much more significant than the Interceptor's dial. K-turn then Barrel Roll is crazy enough, I'm guessing playtesting showed that boost was a bit much. You pay 3 points to get a lesser version of that on the B-wing or Phantom. But it is lesser, due to not being able to do it back to back. One on one, with an Ion Cannon, the Defender is THE king of jousting.

But the game has come a LONG way from the days when jousting was the be-all and end-all.

And the rest of that dial is hurting in return for that one advantage (no matter how significant).

Jousting...has...never...been...the...be-all...end-all...

Jousting...has...never...been...the...be-all...end-all...

Exactly.

But, once, it arguably was an important element of the tournament game.

Now...

One of the best advantages of the white Koiogran Turn is that you can still do it while stressed. Sure, you skip on your action, but it's still an option, y'know? Pack Predator on there and it doesn't matter (as much) that you lost your action. Especially with all the crazy stress-inducing pilots and upgrades coming out.

No, jousting is not the end all be all of the game. But it is still a factor. Especially when you are facing a Defender with Ion Cannon. Don't let them get head to head with you.

After thinking about this ship some today, I've come to the conclusion that the reason for so much commotion around this ship is that, given the lore around it, there were high hopes that this ship would be the Imperial's X-Wing. Sturdy, reliable but very expensive because it's the Empire's attempt to out Rebel the Rebels. Therefore, a lot of the resentment seems to stem from the expectations put in place for this ship and its failing to meet them.

So where did this ship fail to meet my expectations? Well to be honest, the dial has a lot of great maneuverability and I'm not as unhappy about it as I initially was, but personally I feel that the A-Wing and this ship should trade dials. I feel that the A-Wing would have benefitted more from a white K-turn than this ship ever will, and it feels more fitting since I always pictured the A-Wing as essentially a person with jet engines strapped to him whose main purpose is speed so that they can intercept people and do fly-bys.

The only other things I had expected on this ship was the addition of the systems upgrade (it is one of the most advanced ships after all) and the evade, focus, target lock and boost actions. For some reason barrel roll seemed out of place on this ship simply due to it being built for speed.

I believe that there is an old thread on people's thoughts of how the Defender would be represented, it may be worth tracking down just to see how everyone else pictured it.

Please do not thread necromancy that... please no!

No, jousting is not the end all be all of the game. But it is still a factor. Especially when you are facing a Defender with Ion Cannon. Don't let them get head to head with you.

Or side-to-head, or behind, or…

Honestly, the 1-banks are a really nice addition too: I don't know how many times I've wanted that on an Interceptor/TIE fighter.

Does no one use the bank maneuvers or am I missing something?

Yeah. I think we'll find the dial isn't as bad as we envisioned.

It's not amazing. But it's fairly decent. Just don't use PtL on every ship every turn.

I have been looking at the dial of the X-wing and I find that its dial is pretty good, even when compared to the Tie Defender because it only has 2 less types of movement option compared to the Tie Defender.

The X-wing is only missing straight 5, and the 1-turns; but, the only red it has is the K-turn. The rest are either white and the 1-movements and 2 straight are green.

However, it can equip a droid to make all its 2-moves green, making it like an A-wing, for 1 point, sans boost.

The Defender doesn't have evade either, but it does have a barrel roll.

I just find this interesting, for comparative purposes.

Does no one use the bank maneuvers or am I missing something?

I use turns and K-turns a lot and is sad to miss the opportunity to keep on the tails of the republic crafts and not overshoot them because the Imperial ships are always faster than the republic ones with the wider turns, banks and faster speeds.

Many times wishing for a 1-bank or 1-straight just to keep on their tails, oh well, this keep things interesting.

edit: got the terms mixed up, was thinking of turns when "bank" was typed in.

edit: I also use a reasonable amount of banks, but turns are way more.

Just don't use PtL on every ship every turn.

Burn this heretic. He cannot be allowed to continue spreading such blasphemy!

Does no one use the bank maneuvers or am I missing something?

Only for minor positioning things. I use a whole lot more low speed straight manuevers and hard turns. Banks are almost always used to avoid Asteroids.

After thinking about this ship some today, I've come to the conclusion that the reason for so much commotion around this ship is that, given the lore around it, there were high hopes that this ship would be the Imperial's X-Wing. Sturdy, reliable but very expensive because it's the Empire's attempt to out Rebel the Rebels. Therefore, a lot of the resentment seems to stem from the expectations put in place for this ship and its failing to meet them.

So where did this ship fail to meet my expectations? Well to be honest, the dial has a lot of great maneuverability and I'm not as unhappy about it as I initially was, but personally I feel that the A-Wing and this ship should trade dials. I feel that the A-Wing would have benefitted more from a white K-turn than this ship ever will, and it feels more fitting since I always pictured the A-Wing as essentially a person with jet engines strapped to him whose main purpose is speed so that they can intercept people and do fly-bys.

The only other things I had expected on this ship was the addition of the systems upgrade (it is one of the most advanced ships after all) and the evade, focus, target lock and boost actions. For some reason barrel roll seemed out of place on this ship simply due to it being built for speed.

I believe that there is an old thread on people's thoughts of how the Defender would be represented, it may be worth tracking down just to see how everyone else pictured it.

Please do not thread necromancy that... please no!

Yeah, I had no intent to. Just typing out loud mainly for my own interests.

30 points for a PS1 pilot when you can get a PS3 Bounty Hunter for 33. That's -1 Agil for +4 more hull, a lot more slots and a better dial.

30 points for a PS1 pilot when you can get a PS3 Bounty Hunter for 33. That's -1 Agil for +4 more hull, a lot more slots and a better dial.

Ah yes, that glorious 1 hard turn the Firespray has is so useful. Wait what do you mean it doesnt have that? Then why is it better? Because it has more white and green? Or that it has less available movements then the defender? I am confused by why the firespray's dial is better? Mind you I like the firespray a lot, but I would pay for this dial on a small ship over the dial the firespray has for a large one. And its been proven in the math department that the firespray and defender have nearly the same staying power if you are going for jousting. So it comes down to not being better, they both fitting a purpose that don't overlap each other. But I mean, why would they not want to implement power creep and other things all those other popular games do, its like they don't know how to make a successful game!

30 points for a PS1 pilot when you can get a PS3 Bounty Hunter for 33. That's -1 Agil for +4 more hull, a lot more slots and a better dial.

Ah yes, that glorious 1 hard turn the Firespray has is so useful. Wait what do you mean it doesnt have that? Then why is it better? Because it has more white and green? Or that it has less available movements then the defender? I am confused by why the firespray's dial is better? Mind you I like the firespray a lot, but I would pay for this dial on a small ship over the dial the firespray has for a large one. And its been proven in the math department that the firespray and defender have nearly the same staying power if you are going for jousting. So it comes down to not being better, they both fitting a purpose that don't overlap each other. But I mean, why would they not want to implement power creep and other things all those other popular games do, its like they don't know how to make a successful game!

The firespray doesn't need a 1 turn very often: 2 turn= you're in my rear arc. 3 turn = you're in my rear arc and if you kturned I am at range 3 or lucky enough to have EH and barrel roll out completely. Firespray's are awesome as soon as you figure out that you should only be shooting out of thier primary arc 1 or 2 times a game.

Just don't use PtL on every ship every turn.

Burn this heretic. He cannot be allowed to continue spreading such blasphemy!

Don't burn the heretic! Blast his femur in 2. I hear that hurts more. If it doesn't we can still burn him afterwards.

If the Defender had the boost action in addition, it would just be perfect.

FFG tends to love creating imperial ships with flaws.

I mean - the most perfect ship in the game still is the X-Wing. 4 of them means solid attack power and solid staying power. And there are very interesting and very useful unique pilots available for this ship.

What do the Empire get for 21 point Rookie-like base cost? The Advanced and the Shuttle?

The Advanced was meant to be the imperial answer to the X-Wing - but it was flawed.

And a shuttle w/o any upgrades is ... well ... pretty useless.

Here's the beginning of my dual Defender list (if the PS 3 has an EPT, this will change):

Rexler Brath + Predator + HLC
Colonel Vessery + VI + IC

Rexler Brath + Predator + HLC + Engine Upgrade

Colonel Vessery + Outman + HLC + Engine Upgrade

=100

this decision tree is waaaay more complex then the ones of turreted ships

Bonus points for a chart. I'll need that after the rebel player 1 shots Fel,

Turr, and Jax in the same match.

For those who are keeping track that's counts as a 6 pack and 2 premium 22ouncers of the imperial players choosing.