YT-1300

It looks like the YT-1300 cannot use Outmanuever with their 360 turret.

The YT-1300 can entirely use the OM card. The primary turret weapon simply allows, as stated, the ability to attack inside or outside its firing arc. The firing arc still applies 100%, just that the turret allows attacks outside of it. The YT-1300 will need to have the target ship in it's front face arc, just like anyone else.

If your ship is in front of the YT in its arc, and the YT is outside of your firing arc, it applies.

Well, yes, that's a given. I think other people were trying to say the YT could use Outmaneuver even if a ship was behind them. I was just illustrating that the YT has a front firing arc, and even though it can shoot 360*, Outmaneuver will only work in the front arc.

Well, yes, that's a given. I think other people were trying to say the YT could use Outmaneuver even if a ship was behind them. I was just illustrating that the YT has a front firing arc, and even though it can shoot 360*, Outmaneuver will only work in the front arc.

Ah gotcha, there's so many posts I'm having issues with keeping up who's in favour of what right now.

Well, yes, that's a given. I think other people were trying to say the YT could use Outmaneuver even if a ship was behind them. I was just illustrating that the YT has a front firing arc, and even though it can shoot 360*, Outmaneuver will only work in the front arc.

Ah gotcha, there's so many posts I'm having issues with keeping up who's in favour of what right now.

WHAT ARE WE YELLING ABOUT!!!!

Crap in a hat batman 4 white k is amazing

I'm of a different opinion.

Distance 4 k-turns are the weakest.

5 is good for GTFO maneuvers.

3 is good for lining up a close range shot.

K-turn 4 is generally really easy to predict and block. Being a white maneuver helps quite a bit; if you get blocked you aren't completely screwed. Also b eing able to barrel roll after doing a k-turn 4 improves it a bit, but it's still the worst k-turn in the game.

At only 2 points more, Rexler is going to be more useful then Vessery. The only reason I could see using Vessery instead of Rexler if there was no way to free up 2 more points.

Rexler has the advantage of a special ability that's at least always an option.

Vessery on the other hand requires that you already have a TL on the defender, and then that you actually have a use for that TL, which is not a given.

If the other generic does have a EPT at 32 points... Then I don't see Vessery ever being used myself, other then in some sort of list based on TL'ing, such as part of a Bomber list.

Honestly I like Vessery better in some ways. The thing Defenders are going to struggle to do is pick up multiple actions: since they'll struggle so much to deal with stress, PTL isn't a good option for them the way it is for Wedge, Fel, etc. But Vessery's pilot ability offers a consistent way to modify your dice, giving you space to focus or barrel roll (or boost if you take an Engine Upgrade), without suffering stress or imposing a range requirement or… anything. Just "hey, have a free TL!"

And all you have to do to get it is have someone further down the list pick up a TL, which isn't much of a cost. Like I said upthread, Vessery is typically going to be restricted to smaller Imperial lists, but I don't think that makes him particularly unusual among Defenders...

A white 4 k-turn will be amazing for being able to flip right over the cluster&$@* that swarms can get into in the middle of the map. I've used them quite successfully while the Bs or Xs are ramming into each other. This will be great to get in behind them and open up some free space, complete with bits of Rebel debris.

Colonel Vessery

He needs support which can TL. So no fighters or interceptors.

Unless you slap a Targeting Computer on them.

If this wasn't noted before (if it was I apologize), it'll be fun to play an A-wing with Predator + Outmaneuver

Predator will become a staple in what I like to call the infinite Flechette Torpedo on the Firespray (or B-Wing once it gets a crew slot).

Fire Flechette, award stress

Reroll 1 or 2 hits/crits with Predator, trying not to hit

Munitions Failsafe to keep torpedo

Gunner for your "real" attack, now also improved by Predator

Stupid? Yes! Annoying? Also, yes!

I suppose you're right Vorpal, I just keep seeing the price tag on these guys, and needing the synergy to make them work well...the cost is starting to make my head hurt >_<

Part of my mind is calculating the costs, while another keeps going "Is this... is this what being a Rebel player feels like?"

LOL. YES.

Predator will become a staple in what I like to call the infinite Flechette Torpedo on the Firespray (or B-Wing once it gets a crew slot).

Fire Flechette, award stress

Reroll 1 or 2 hits/crits with Predator, trying not to hit

Munitions Failsafe to keep torpedo

Gunner for your "real" attack, now also improved by Predator

Stupid? Yes! Annoying? Also, yes!

That's quite interesting... Vorpal/Juggler - lets get some math on this! I'm too lazy right now to do it myself.

I can't wait to fly one of these, but I felt the same way you did about Vessler. Why would he not just get a target lock after rolling attack die? I don't see these ships as "being a part of a team" but rather being a one man show. Will the Defender end up like the Advanced; only the top PS pilot is ever really used?

It's connected to his character fluff, what there is of it. He's an aggressive pilot, but emphasizes teamwork in his unit. Even works and trains alongside Rogue Squadron at one point. His intro involves leading a precision hyperspace jump into an ongoing dogfight and coordinating on-the-fly with the Rogues.

Good to know... Still doesn't make me like the ability though. lol

Honestly, I'd expect this ability on a cheap Tie Fighter, not an expensive and advanced ship the the Defender.

Still underwhelmed...

The 2 things that are making the most noise here are the EPTs that are coming with the Defender and not the defender themselves.

They made a less maneuverable and more expensive interceptor who sometimes shoots 4 dice at range three (if you're willing to spend 50pts). Take a Hull + shield interceptor with any of these EPTs and you have a cheaper, more maneuverable craft, with 1 less HP and the same or better PS and lose boost/evade for TL. I'll bet that dial means you're taking 1-2 extra shots a game for more than that 1 hp damage. White Kturns, especially only one and at the worst kturn speed, are not THAT impressive.

Rexlar is decent. Is he even a top 5 imperial pilot though? Top 10? Maybe in epic/cinematic with big ships.

Vesslar will be great for big games too. Bombers and shuttles should make him pop up occasionally.

4 speed jousting and 3 speed turning isn't really a new tactical advantage when rebels turn just as tight or tighter and action pass well enough (or soon stress shed well enough) to absolutely neutralize your "advantage". Ties and interceptors will never joust you on the imperial side...should a swarm choose to do so they probably still take you out before you kill your same # of points; defender would have to kill 3 or 4 ties to equate the points.

The empire got a new cog today...but the thing most posters are commenting on is how well the new EPTs fit interceptors (both should have appeared in aces) and awings, and every other ship...the cog didn't reallly push the Empire forward as much as just move the game forward.

I find the ability to still K-turn in the face of the upcoming stress inducers to be pretty powerful. A 4 k-turn is pretty nice when you are sporting a Heavy Laser Cannon.

Rexler is a bit more than decent. A-wings and E-wings will worry about him once their shields get low. He loves going against bombers. More crits the more fun. Combined with some of the new elite talents, he will be a big threat.

A 3x3 map is too small, IMO, for effective boom & zoom tactics. And that's without mentioning the asteroid field.

If the Defender is so fast, it should had come with the boost action by default, really.

Dear FFG, for all that's holy, I swear I will take Cpt. Yorr on all my squads from now on, but please, stop giving red turns and stressful abilites to the empire...

Rexlar is decent. Is he even a top 5 imperial pilot though? Top 10? Maybe in epic/cinematic with big ships.

Uhm, yes, Rexler is easily top 5. He's what Winged Gundark wants to be when he grows up. He's an always-on, free Marksmanship on absolute steroids. He makes Chewie go looking for a droid to pull the arms off, because there's something he's finally afraid of. He watches Krassis try and reroll a hit into a crit, and chuckles quietly before patting him on the head.

Is he the best? No. Howlrunner and Fel are above him, but I'm having a hard time thinking of another pilot that I'd put in that category. MAYBE Jax, but I'm not convinced Jax is going to be the dominant force people expect. Yes, he's pretty expensive for it, but I think he's got the durability to make his points back.

In the Empire v. Rebellion mindset, he's certainly less awesome because he had to land damage first. In the broader meta, he's an absolute beast.

One of the things that's kind of ironic is that a lot of the cool stuff the Imperials are getting work best against other Imperials. Jax pushes people to Target Lock - which the Rebels have, but the Imps generally don't. Now Rexler demolishes anything without shields, which the Rebels are far stronger on.

Ah I see, I did some reading on the replies. Chewie's ability wouldn't help at all..and the R5 unit would only help against Ship Trait Crits. Hmm..guess that means that only Janson's ability would be any use against Rexlar. Be interesting to see those two match up in a fight with the right supports.

I'll be getting a Defender myself, I think it could be fun to fly. I'm just worried about it being predictable flying pattern. Given the white K-Turn and the Green straights, doesn't that make it easier to understand which way it will fly? Plus the amount of points you would put into the Defender is quite high, along side the E-wing.

Ok.. this has been bothering me.. could we be missing something.

The way hos ability is written... can he aquire on his own TL'd ship... it doesn't specify another ships.. just a ship TL'd

Just a thought I had... I could be off, for various and many reasons...

But.. the way its worded.. makes me wonder..

Uhm, yes, Rexler is easily top 5.

I'd agree, with luck he could one shot A-Wings and Z-95's at range 3, could one shot a E-Wing at range 1, and even if it doesn't happen real often, it's still something the rebel player has to keep in mind.

Plus with 3 Shield, 3 Hull and 3 Defense the Defender is very survivable, especially for a imperial ship.

And this is the part where all the rebel scum surrender all their ships and go home.

Ok.. this has been bothering me.. could we be missing something.

The way hos ability is written... can he aquire on his own TL'd ship... it doesn't specify another ships.. just a ship TL'd

Just a thought I had... I could be off, for various and many reasons...

But.. the way its worded.. makes me wonder..

Ahm ... good question ...

You mean if he uses his own TL action, his ability works like a FCS?

But.. the way its worded.. makes me wonder..

I think you might be missing something.

Effectively what Vessery can do is gain a free TL if he shoots at something that's already TL'ed. It doesn't have to be him who has the TL. Because it mentions the red TL token, so who has the blue token doesn't matter.

Of course there's a fairly easy way to fix this... Put the blue TL on your target and completely destroy his ability.

(Yes I know that it wouldn't really work that way...)

Predator will become a staple in what I like to call the infinite Flechette Torpedo on the Firespray (or B-Wing once it gets a crew slot).

Fire Flechette, award stress

Reroll 1 or 2 hits/crits with Predator, trying not to hit

Munitions Failsafe to keep torpedo

Gunner for your "real" attack, now also improved by Predator

Stupid? Yes! Annoying? Also, yes!

Seems like a lot of points for a ship that only deals stress instead of damage

Predator will become a staple in what I like to call the infinite Flechette Torpedo on the Firespray (or B-Wing once it gets a crew slot).

Fire Flechette, award stress

Reroll 1 or 2 hits/crits with Predator, trying not to hit

Munitions Failsafe to keep torpedo

Gunner for your "real" attack, now also improved by Predator

Stupid? Yes! Annoying? Also, yes!

Seems like a lot of points for a ship that only deals stress instead of damage

Wrong, it does stress, followed by a Gunner damage round. Still is pretty expensive though.

I wish they can take the evade token out of the preview... because every time I see that picture, I get the hope up that there is some ability that'll give them an evade token.