Sure I agree stress does have its advantages (even without an Ion token next to it). On ships that already to a fine job of getting out of arches it seems to be over kill. X-Wing boils down to who does more damage to the other player. The other stuff is fun and useful at times, but when I've built list to deal damage effectively I've always done well.

Control is a viable alternative to damage, and can work wonders.

As an upgraded interceptor jockey, nothing is worse than getting hit by an ion shot. Lucky X-wing shots I can upgrade around (I usually run at least a shield upgrade on my interceptors for that), but ion shots from 360 degree turrets can put everything I want to shoot at out of firing arcs and me in everything that wants to shoot at me.

Tactician is a good crew card upgrade. In a list not carrying any Ion guns I don't see it as that useful.

Even without Ion Cannons, you're pretty much reducing your opponent to an only green dial, and preventing them from using effects like Push the Limit or Opportunist.

If you don't see the use of that for only a 2 point upgrade, you're not a very good tacti..... Hey, it's a VERY flavorful card

Also, remember, the only ship without Ion capability that has a Crew slot is the Falcon. And that you can still double-stress by equipping a Gunner instead of a second Tactician, which you were going to do anyway.

Also, remember, the only ship without Ion capability that has a Crew slot is the Falcon.

There's the Phantom.

Tactician is a good crew card upgrade. In a list not carrying any Ion guns I don't see it as that useful.

Even without Ion Cannons, you're pretty much reducing your opponent to an only green dial, and preventing them from using effects like Push the Limit or Opportunist.

If you don't see the use of that for only a 2 point upgrade, you're not a very good tacti..... Hey, it's a VERY flavorful card

Also, remember, the only ship without Ion capability that has a Crew slot is the Falcon. And that you can still double-stress by equipping a Gunner instead of a second Tactician, which you were going to do anyway.

Good points all of them. I may not be a good tactician. I play often with stressed ships either from PTL or Opportunist. The current meta around my area is secondary weapon heavy. Everything from missiles, torpedoes, bombs and ions get brought to the tables all the time. I see tactician as a range 2 only effect sure for a cheap cost of 2 points. After all if it was better than 2 points worth of card it would be. Controlling my range from my opponent has become a must in my local meta. If Tactician was range 2-3 or 1-2 it would be much more of a threat as it makes controlling range difficult. As I said before, I play with stressed ships. If you believe you've tied me down to just green maneuvers just because I have a stress your sorely mistaken. A stress token is not an ion token! It is loose control and at its best action denial. After all this is all speculative until we start putting ships on the board to see how this all pans out.

Also, remember, the only ship without Ion capability that has a Crew slot is the Falcon.

There's the Phantom.

Which is the ship it actually comes with. I derp'd.

The Falcon can Ion missile things.