They're already releasing ships with only 1 EU appearance. It's not really much of a leap for them to just create new ships if they run out. Why not?

Because fluff is important. People love and play the game because of the Star Wars universe, not just the game mechanics. And the more FFG gets into obscure EU stuff the more they diminish that aspect. The Z-95 has been around since 1979 and is well-established in the setting, and was eagerly anticipated. Same with the TIE defender, a ship anyone who played the PC games that inspired X-Wing will remember. But now look at the wave 5 ships: "Han is unavailable, stick a new name on the character" and "imperial players keep whining about not having a turret ship, is there anything we can give them?". Now imagine a completely new ship with even less connection to the universe than the Decimator. Can you really imagine many people getting exited about it, outside of how it will help them win games?Plus, there's a big quality issue to worry about. So far the game has been driven by a need to represent the important ships, and FFG has done a pretty good job of it. Ships have a clear role, characters are interesting, etc. But will they be able to keep it up when they run out of relevant ships and have to start digging for obscure video game ships that nobody has ever heard of, just to keep sales from collapsing?

1. This game is based of the old X-wing games which had plenty of stuff not in the movies.

2. This is a game we should be getting excited for things to help us win.

3. Let's be honest even if we haven't heard of it we are still gonna buy even if it's begrudgingly so.

4. Digging into obscure let's us learn about some new EU stuff.

Anybody else want the Rouge Shadow to be the future cloaking ship the Stygium Particle Accelerator non unique status hints at?

I'm calling it right now. The unspoiled Decimator card allows it to cloak.

1. This game is based of the old X-wing games which had plenty of stuff not in the movies.

2. This is a game we should be getting excited for things to help us win.

3. Let's be honest even if we haven't heard of it we are still gonna buy even if it's begrudgingly so.

4. Digging into obscure let's us learn about some new EU stuff.

1) Sure, but now we're running out of that stuff. We've got the iconic ships (Z-95, TIE defender, HWK) and all that's really left is the gunboat (and the never-going-to-happen missile boat). After that you're down to random stuff like t-wings and TIE prototypes that only the most dedicated fans remember. Sure, those ships did their job of getting slaughtered in mass numbers, but does anyone really care about them?

2) Obviously we should want to play the game and win, but there needs to be more to it than that. X-Wing has been such a success because they've let the fluff drive the game mechanics, and it feels like you're playing the old PC games on the tabletop. Once you start making new releases purely based around game mechanics it's very easy to lose that sense of direction and end up with new releases that nobody buys unless there's something overpowered in it.

3) The whole point is that begrudging purchases are bad because they're the step before not buying at all. I bought four Z-95s because I'd been eagerly anticipating them since I started playing the game. I'll probably buy a Decimator just to get the upgrade cards for my other ships, but I'm not really going to be too excited about it. After that, who knows? Maybe it will be another Decimator-type purchase, maybe I'll be just a little more apathetic about it and not buy it at all.

4) We can learn about it, but do we really want to learn about it? I honestly don't care about some random TIE variant that a game designer invented to fill a balance need. The sad truth is that most of the EU is mediocre at best. FFG should take the best parts of it and let the rest die like it deserves.

Anybody else want the Rouge Shadow to be the future cloaking ship the Stygium Particle Accelerator non unique status hints at?

I doubt it hints at everything. FFG just left it open for future releases in case they want to do another cloaking ship. Unlike the other cloaking mod it doesn't do anything on a ship that doesn't already have a cloak, so there's no reason to make it phantom-only. And the default for modifications is to let them be on every ship unless a restriction is necessary.

I'm calling it right now. The unspoiled Decimator card allows it to cloak.

Actually, I'm guessing it's the same Counter Measures modification card that comes with the 2400, since both ships come with debris clouds and that's the card that presumably interacts with them.

Actually, I'm guessing it's the same Counter Measures modification card that comes with the 2400, since both ships come with debris clouds and that's the card that presumably interacts with them.

Or, like the previous big ships, they come with their own missions and the debris clouds are part of those missions. We don't see any rule cards that would be required for adding obstacles mid-game, and the upgrade card text doesn't look anything like what we'd expect from that kind of thing. So I don't think there's any reason to believe that the debris clouds have anything to do with the upgrade cards, or that any particular upgrade card is meant to interact with them.

The article seems to infer rather strongly that the new "terrain" isn't limited to missions. As for the card text itself, maybe you're seeing something I'm not, because I can make out all of two words on it. What I do see is a title and picture that jibe with the notion of somehow blowing up a ship or otherwise depositing said debris on the battlefield in order to disrupt your opponent. I also don't think it's coincidental that they both happen to come with debris, unless we assume they both come with the exact same mission as well.

Edit:

Wave V is scheduled to arrive late in the third quarter of 2014. Until then, keep your eyes open for more X-Wing news, including previews of these new hard-hitting expansion packs, which will look more closely at their various unique pilots, their new debris cloud tokens, and their missions!

Seems like a very strong indication that the debris isn't related to the missions, or else why mention them separately?

4) We can learn about it, but do we really want to learn about it? I honestly don't care about some random TIE variant that a game designer invented to fill a balance need. The sad truth is that most of the EU is mediocre at best. FFG should take the best parts of it and let the rest die like it deserves.

Except that's exactly what the Defender is. And people love it for it.

I for one was rolling around in nostalgia when the Phantom was announced. I played Rebel Assault II to bits and seeing that ship from that game I played so long ago made me giddy in a way I haven't felt in a long time.

Having never played SWG I couldn't say the same for the Decimator, but just knowing some fan out there is currently rolling around in nostalgia like I did for the Phantom is good enough for me.

Anybody else want the Rouge Shadow to be the future cloaking ship the Stygium Particle Accelerator non unique status hints at?

WANTS IT'S...NEEDS IT'S!

GOT'S TA GOT'S TA HAVES IT'S!!!

Very curious about the debris cloud tokens. Drop them if your ship is destroyed?

i don't think so, the destroyed ships look like fighters (i see a TIE in the YT group, and a B-Wing in the Decimator group).

Correct. The YT-2400 has a blown TIE and TIE/B. The VT-49 has the wrecks of an X-wing and B-wing. (I said it before, but I think that's a classy touch by FFG.) Anyway, surely part of the missions for each. I doubt they get dropped when a ship is destroyed because it would be odd if they didn't match the ship that was lost. That being said, I'll be they have an effect different from asteroids. Maybe they only hit ships without shields and can be fired through? Something like that.

Ive been wanting to try playing with a debris rule where a ship destroyed leaves its base in place and any ship that flies through or lands on it roll 1 attack die and takes a hit on a roll of a crit.

Then remove all destroyed ship bases after the following activation phase. Maybe it will be something like that

Actually, I'm guessing it's the same Counter Measures modification card that comes with the 2400, since both ships come with debris clouds and that's the card that presumably interacts with them.

Or, like the previous big ships, they come with their own missions and the debris clouds are part of those missions. We don't see any rule cards that would be required for adding obstacles mid-game, and the upgrade card text doesn't look anything like what we'd expect from that kind of thing. So I don't think there's any reason to believe that the debris clouds have anything to do with the upgrade cards, or that any particular upgrade card is meant to interact with them.

The new ships wouldn't need new rule cards to represent new obstacle types - they can do that in their rules insert.

Actually, I'm guessing it's the same Counter Measures modification card that comes with the 2400, since both ships come with debris clouds and that's the card that presumably interacts with them.

Or, like the previous big ships, they come with their own missions and the debris clouds are part of those missions. We don't see any rule cards that would be required for adding obstacles mid-game, and the upgrade card text doesn't look anything like what we'd expect from that kind of thing. So I don't think there's any reason to believe that the debris clouds have anything to do with the upgrade cards, or that any particular upgrade card is meant to interact with them.

The new ships wouldn't need new rule cards to represent new obstacle types - they can do that in their rules insert.

took the words right outta my mouth.

Side note, unless FAQed otherwise I believe Lando is legal on Huge Ships and can give the focus/evades (I belive it would only be "his" section though

Side note, unless FAQed otherwise I believe Lando is legal on Huge Ships and can give the focus/evades (I belive it would only be "his" section though

It would be the whole ship. But they would immediatly discard the tokens as per the rules. Maybe not the evades, I don't remember, but certainly the focuses.

Side note, unless FAQed otherwise I believe Lando is legal on Huge Ships and can give the focus/evades (I belive it would only be "his" section though

It would be the whole ship. But they would immediatly discard the tokens as per the rules. Maybe not the evades, I don't remember, but certainly the focuses.

It would be both the evade and focus tokens. "Focus, evade, and stress tokens do not affect huge ships. When a huge ship receives any of these tokens, immediately remove them and return them to the token supply."

Side note, unless FAQed otherwise I believe Lando is legal on Huge Ships and can give the focus/evades (I belive it would only be "his" section though

It would be the whole ship. But they would immediatly discard the tokens as per the rules. Maybe not the evades, I don't remember, but certainly the focuses.

It would be both the evade and focus tokens. "Focus, evade, and stress tokens do not affect huge ships. When a huge ship receives any of these tokens, immediately remove them and return them to the token supply."

**** oh well

Wow. Read this whole thing. Few thoughts:

1. One of my big problems with Heavy Laser Cannon has always been that it is only available on three Firepower ships. That makes it's one die increase fairly marginal for 7 whole points. Now that we have a 2 FP ship, HLC is a ridiculous steal - even without the Outrider Title. Personally, I think that title is a little expensive. 12 points for a turret HLC? I doubt that will turn out to be worth it. But an HLC with no title. Going to be insane.

2. My guess for Debris: new rule for all games that let's you replace on of the asteroids you have to place with a debris token. They are bigger than asteroids and act the same - except: they don't increase a targets agility if it crosses.

3. Lando is going to be insanely fun. I look forward to trying:

YT-1300 Chewbacca, PtL, Lando, 3P0, MF, and possibly Stealth Device. Should be outrageously difficult to kill. Sure, it's 55 points, but it has a three dice turret with an occasional focus (or two), up to three evade tokens, not to mention the threepio effect (always name 0, even when you have two dice), not to mention the two dice...with some lucky rolls, you could keep that stealth device around for a very long time.

Double post.

The new ships wouldn't need new rule cards to represent new obstacle types - they can do that in their rules insert.

Every other upgrade that adds new rules beyond what fits on the card itself has a rule card. Engine upgrade, ion cannons, etc. It is extremely unlikely that any of the new upgrades have anything to do with the debris fields, unless FFG is going against their well-established trend of showing everything in the preview pictures and leaving out the rule cards.

You know, it isn't going to be good, but I will have fun running Lando on a HWK with the Moldy Crow title. Heck, Push the Limit on Kyle, and you have the potential for up to 3 tokens a turn.

Also, interesting math on Lando I got from Team Covenant:

14% Nothing

19% 1 Focus

28% 1 Evade

6% 2 Focus

14% 2 Evade

19% 1 Evade and 1 Focus.

Still, a LOT more upgrades to see. Quite honestly, the upgrades have my interest more than the actual ships. What could our first Imperial only Elite Talent (strange that those worried about Imperials haven't caught that). 3 other Elite Talents. At least 2 new mods (probably 3, maybe). Some very interesting new crew yet to be revealed. I'm really excited about this release, and can't wait to learn more.

The YT-2400 is officially my favorite ship. It looks awesome. I think I see Leebo as the PS 5 guy. Anyone else agree or has this already been discovered?

Edit: oh, and while I can definitely see the utility of a titleless HLC yt-2400. I wouldn't be so sure quick to write it off even with the title. It's expensive but a 4 die turret that denies the bonus green at range 3 sounds fab-tabulous. Phantoms beware!

The new ships wouldn't need new rule cards to represent new obstacle types - they can do that in their rules insert.

Every other upgrade that adds new rules beyond what fits on the card itself has a rule card. Engine upgrade, ion cannons, etc. It is extremely unlikely that any of the new upgrades have anything to do with the debris fields, unless FFG is going against their well-established trend of showing everything in the preview pictures and leaving out the rule cards.

Pretty sure that's false.

The rules for huge ships (e.g. Requiring two ion tokens) are not on a rule card. They are an addendum to the rules.

I'm not at home to check, but fairly certain.

If I'm correct, that means that there is nothing to stop them from adding rules for debris clouds. Which is vaguely implied in the article and I just gave my prediction a couple posts back.

The new ships wouldn't need new rule cards to represent new obstacle types - they can do that in their rules insert.

Every other upgrade that adds new rules beyond what fits on the card itself has a rule card. Engine upgrade, ion cannons, etc. It is extremely unlikely that any of the new upgrades have anything to do with the debris fields, unless FFG is going against their well-established trend of showing everything in the preview pictures and leaving out the rule cards.

Sometimes the rule card hasn't existed until a small ship needed the rule - there were modifications and title cards in Wave 2, described only in rules inserts. It wasn't until the HWK in Wave 3 was going to get a title did they make the "Modifications and Titles" rules card.

In any event, I agree that the debris tokens are probably not connected to an upgrade card - I think they'll just be alternate obstacles and described in the inserts

The YT-2400 is officially my favorite ship. It looks awesome. I think I see Leebo as the PS 5 guy. Anyone else agree or has this already been discovered?

Edit: oh, and while I can definitely see the utility of a titleless HLC yt-2400. I wouldn't be so sure quick to write it off even with the title. It's expensive but a 4 die turret that denies the bonus green at range 3 sounds fab-tabulous. Phantoms beware!

I might not go that far but the Outrider was he first ship I remember flying in Video Games, (there is something awesome about those memories) I really hope Leebo +Dash (in either Combo) is the best way to use them (Sorta like the leaked Kyle+Jan crew) and that their synergy is just amazing(in a balanced way) On the other had I would really hate people running Dual 2400s (with Dash+Leebo) than people running Han+Chewie as dual 1300s (I really could care less about Lando as he could have had his own 1300 after the Falcon, Or so I tell myself)