Today I played a three bomber list with an interceptor an Howlrunner. More due to number of figures I had, and testing it all out.

Opponent played Tycho in an A-wing.. Wow he runs circles around bombers.

So has anyone tested ENGINE Upgrade on a bomber?

I dunno, maybe after they get their missiles/torps off then EU would be handy, but I don't personally see the appeal. I'd rather points elsewhere for a bomber list.

My first thought is to compare it to an Interceptor with a Targeting Computer. Both come out at 20 points.

So, to that end, I take what they have in common as a "Base Ship" and then add two 'Bonus' packages, and we can properly debate on which of those to packages is better.

Base Ship:

PS 1

Attack 2

Agility 2

Hull 3

Shields 0

Actions: Target Lock, Focus, Barrel Roll, Boost

Bomber Package

PS +1

Hull +3

Bomber Dial

Interceptor Package

Attack +1

Agility +1

Actions: + Evade

Interceptor Dial.

Which of the two looks better to you?

Just take Vader with Engine. Additional upgrades optional.

My first thought is to compare it to an Interceptor with a Targeting Computer. Both come out at 20 points.

So, to that end, I take what they have in common as a "Base Ship" and then add two 'Bonus' packages, and we can properly debate on which of those to packages is better.

Base Ship:

PS 1

Attack 2

Agility 2

Hull 3

Shields 0

Actions: Target Lock, Focus, Barrel Roll, Boost

Bomber Package

PS +1

Hull +3

Bomber Dial

Interceptor Package

Attack +1

Agility +1

Actions: + Evade

Interceptor Dial.

Which of the two looks better to you?

4x scimitar with engine & proton bombs.

Could be interesting.

If only you could drop the bomb after the boost, and not the initial dial movement....then it would be awesome.

I've been flying a bomber mini swarm for a bit now and I have considered seeing how they would perform with EU, but it really is a huge points increase that won't really pay off.

Bomber are used for either ordinance delivery or as durable tie fighters.

If they are carrying ordinance, you need to TL not boost. Costs associated with the ordinance plus engine upgrade means the rest of your squad is going to be lacking; it's a minimum of 6 points per bomber.

As durable tie fighters, well the great thing here is a 16 point 6 hull ship. EU makes is much less cheap and for four bombers with EU you are giving up a fifth bomber and it's 6 hull points. I'm not sure you're going to get enough survivability out of the engine to make up for that.

Boost is good for getting into R1, getting ships into your arc, or getting out of arcs. The bomber dial isn't slow, so getting into R1 is possible anyway, and usually the bombers are low PS so the ability to use boost to avoid arcs is limited.

Boost would help get ships into the bomber's arc because the bomber dial is a little limited, but it's not terrible either and I don't think it's enough to justify 4 points. Especially when you find that your 5 K turn is often your best movement option in the critical mid-game. It would be nice to have in the end game though.

All in all, I think you're just not efficiently using the four points to upgrade bombers this way.

It's like putting a NOS on a mini-van.