Wes Janson is a counter to PTL token stacking. Let's assume he's running VI, so he gets his choice on who to pick on. Now lets talk about opponents...

Wedge will not want to PTL F+TL to destroy a TIE, since he won't get either of those actions.

Soontir will want to make sure that he arc dodges, which is hard to do when Wes hasn't already moved... plus since he doesn't need to hit with his attack, a K turn + attack is enough to strip all of Fel's tokens.

Any 1 Agility ship would prefer to keep their Focus for offense, so B wings, Y wings, YT, and Albino Rhinos will basically all lose their action (unless it was spent on BR/Boost)

Moldy Crows won't be able to stack focuses anymore

Recon Spec will no longer be such a great thing for firespray's defense

FCS will be shut down

Ordnance will be shut down

Seems to me that Wes is NOT a one trick pony. Almost every list out there has something severely affected by his ability. And for the ones that don't, you've now paid 9 points to get 8 PS on your rookie, which isn't a horrible trade off. You might want to consider though the option of ST on him instead of VI... Though being able to strip Wedge and Fel is really cool.

Here is why you take Wes.

Wes + VI

Jan Ors + Ion Cannon

Keyan Farlander + Opportunist + HLC

Wes fires first strips tokens.

Keyan fires second with TL, stresses himself out thanks to Opportunist. Jan Ors uses her ability. Now Keyan has 1 stress and +2 attack dice. Uses that stress as a focus thanks to his ability, effectively becoming a 6 dice attack at any range with TL and a Focus.

That will kill a model per turn.

actually, now that I think about it, Swarm Tactics is better than Veteran Instincts on Wes.

You use Swarm Tactics on Wedge to bring his PS down from 9 to 8, so Wes can fire first. Afterwards, when Wedge is dead (because EVERYBODY aims him first), your Wes can continue to pump someone up to PS8, as opposed to if you are using Veteran Instincts

and a lot of times PS8 is high enough that PS9 doesnt matter anyways

actually, now that I think about it, Swarm Tactics is better than Veteran Instincts on Wes.

You use Swarm Tactics on Wedge to bring his PS down from 9 to 8, so Wes can fire first. Afterwards, when Wedge is dead (because EVERYBODY aims him first), your Wes can continue to pump someone up to PS8, as opposed to if you are using Veteran Instincts

and a lot of times PS8 is high enough that PS9 doesnt matter anyways

Nicely done sir. That strategy has got some nice potential.

Here is why you take Wes.

Wes + VI

Jan Ors + Ion Cannon

Keyan Farlander + Opportunist + HLC

Wes fires first strips tokens.

Keyan fires second with TL, stresses himself out thanks to Opportunist. Jan Ors uses her ability. Now Keyan has 1 stress and +2 attack dice. Uses that stress as a focus thanks to his ability, effectively becoming a 6 dice attack at any range with TL and a Focus.

That will kill a model per turn.

This is basically the same as the Ibtisam combo doing the same thing that I've been advocating for since Opportunist was leaked. Janson just makes it a virtual lock to slam 6 dice into a target. While only a 3 ship build, it's high PS and should wipe out enough enemies in the first couple exchanges that the numbers will even quickly. Putting 5-6 hits out will wipe most TIEs, Interceptors, and maybe A-Wings and X-Wings.

Put it this way OP: I play Soontir Fel a lot. I will hate Wes Janson. And so will every other squint player in existence.

Solution is: Never let him attack you. Kill him early. Problem solved.

Yeah, but the refit is still months and months away.

Stone37, read my post. Also if you target lock or focus with your action and get to use opportunist. Come on. You ain't happy with a the three hit average and the occasional four hit dusting of most ships. Wedge is still going to shine with ptl but other ships....... Well they can use the extra dice.

I did read your other post, and I agree with it.

Back to Opportunist though... This card cost 4 points for the CHANCE that you might get to roll an additional dice at the cost of stress. PtL cost 3 and has a variety of uses. If the stars align, an extra dice with a TL and/or Focus is fantastic. If this was a 2 point card, I'd be building lists around it; as I love the risk/reward game. Arguing that Opportunist is a better (more effective) EPT at 4 points than PtL at 3 is a tough sell though.

Getting back to the topic of this thread, I agree with all of the advantages you list for Wes. He is not a one trick pony and is properly priced as he will cause major disruptions for several pilots and abilities in this game.

Put it this way OP: I play Soontir Fel a lot. I will hate Wes Janson. And so will every other squint player in existence.

Solution is: Never let him attack you. Kill him early. Problem solved.

Biggs says hi

Thanks for the replies guys! I'm glad y'all like him. Good to know he'll be getting some use out there, just....not by me

All I'm saying is, in my experience, Wedge removes an evade and/or focus (often both) as well due to the punishing effect of his ability. So he often sets up lower PS ships for success in EXACTLY the same way Wes does.

I agree with the evade token, there is more chance that the opponent will need to use it since he roll one less dice. But for the focus token, Wedge ability actually lessen the probablility that the opponent will use the focus token since he needs to roll a focus in the first place to use it. Lowering the number of defense dice rolled also lower the chance to see a focus pop.

My opinion, I still prefer Wedge. You know his ability will be useful each shot and in 1vs1. Wes is more a team player, for his ability to be useful, there need to be another ship to benefit from the lack of token or go against a bomber squad. I see a use for Wes and will at least try him a couple of game, but I agree that Wedge sounds better overall on paper.

Put it this way OP: I play Soontir Fel a lot. I will hate Wes Janson. And so will every other squint player in existence.

Solution is: Never let him attack you. Kill him early. Problem solved.

Biggs says hi

Yes and no. In my experience, as the player with Biggs as well as the player with Soontir, it isn't nearly as hard to avoid having to shoot Biggs with an interceptor than it is with basically anything else. Some careful dancing and you can see Wes's base corner and not Biggs.

I've played 8 games with a 3 X-wing squad featuring Wes, my record is 7-1 with it. I've had such success with it I'm taking to the Regional Championship in May. The 7 wins they always focused on another X-Wing first the only time I lost is when they took out Wes first. How's that for impact?

I've played 8 games with a 3 X-wing squad featuring Wes, my record is 7-1 with it. I've had such success with it I'm taking to the Regional Championship in May. The 7 wins they always focused on another X-Wing first the only time I lost is when they took out Wes first. How's that for impact?

Sounds impactful. What's the rest of the squad? I'm guessing Biggs makes an appearance.

I see Wes as being really useful in missions to protect the transport. Tie Bomber barreling down on it - he removes TL.

I've played 8 games with a 3 X-wing squad featuring Wes, my record is 7-1 with it. I've had such success with it I'm taking to the Regional Championship in May. The 7 wins they always focused on another X-Wing first the only time I lost is when they took out Wes first. How's that for impact?

Sounds impactful. What's the rest of the squad? I'm guessing Biggs makes an appearance.

I see Wes as being really useful in missions to protect the transport. Tie Bomber barreling down on it - he removes TL.

Ehh, I'm going with Wedge and Luke as the other two pilots. If he had Biggs in there, then they would more often than not go after Biggs. And the fact that most people go after someone else means that the someone else needs to be an important X wing... I'm thinking Wedge. Which leaves 14 points for upgrades...

Probably an R2D2 on Luke, maybe PTL (+R2) on Wedge... And with 8 more points... maybe Opp on Luke and PTL+R2 on Janson? Or maybe Wedge has an EU as well.

he's Wes Janson

nuff said

Here's my squad

Wes Janson/X-Wing (29)Veteran Instincts (1)

Wedge Antilles/X-Wing (29) R2 Astromech (1) Opportunist (4)

Luke Skywalker/X-Wing (28) R2-D2 (4) Opportunist (4)

B-Wings, Bombers, Y-wings usally die in the first exchange unless really bad dice at range 3. TIe's (and I mane the rest of them just die). Good rolls can take out a Lambda in the first exchange but most times takes 2 rounds for the large ships. At PS 10,9 and 8 I've yet to shoot after anything I've faced and to many times I kill something before it ever attacks. the Soft Ties (fighter and Interceptors) dont make it past wedge and luke has to pick a new target.

I've played 8 games with a 3 X-wing squad featuring Wes, my record is 7-1 with it. I've had such success with it I'm taking to the Regional Championship in May. The 7 wins they always focused on another X-Wing first the only time I lost is when they took out Wes first. How's that for impact?

I killed Wes first and still lost badly.

I've played 8 games with a 3 X-wing squad featuring Wes, my record is 7-1 with it. I've had such success with it I'm taking to the Regional Championship in May. The 7 wins they always focused on another X-Wing first the only time I lost is when they took out Wes first. How's that for impact?

I killed Wes first and still lost badly.

Ah, was that at around Houston area? If so I know you. A witness to prove my claims

I've played 8 games with a 3 X-wing squad featuring Wes, my record is 7-1 with it. I've had such success with it I'm taking to the Regional Championship in May. The 7 wins they always focused on another X-Wing first the only time I lost is when they took out Wes first. How's that for impact?

I killed Wes first and still lost badly.

Ah, was that at around Houston area? If so I know you. A witness to prove my claims

Yep. You beat my Bluebacca a while back.

Probably an R2D2 on Luke, maybe PTL (+R2) on Wedge... And with 8 more points... maybe Opp on Luke and PTL+R2 on Janson? Or maybe Wedge has an EU as well.

Consider the new R5-P9 on Luke, and R2-D2 on Wedge or Janson.

Probably an R2D2 on Luke, maybe PTL (+R2) on Wedge... And with 8 more points... maybe Opp on Luke and PTL+R2 on Janson? Or maybe Wedge has an EU as well.

Consider the new R5-P9 on Luke, and R2-D2 on Wedge or Janson.

I have a whole other plan for for R5-P9, Biggs, Kyle and Garvin. Toss in an opportunist and you have one hard to kill Biggs and the hardest hitting HWK in the game, but that is getting off topic........

Put it this way OP: I play Soontir Fel a lot. I will hate Wes Janson. And so will every other squint player in existence.

Solution is: Never let him attack you. Kill him early. Problem solved.

Biggs says hi

Yes and no. In my experience, as the player with Biggs as well as the player with Soontir, it isn't nearly as hard to avoid having to shoot Biggs with an interceptor than it is with basically anything else. Some careful dancing and you can see Wes's base corner and not Biggs.

You haven't seen me fly Biggs wedge and Luke have you?

Try:

Wes

Green + Opportunist + Refit x 2

Wedge or whatever else you want for 29 points

Wes is ace.