Just now, DarthEnderX said:

Not only that, but the TIE Aggressor is taking the whole "two missile slots" thing a lot of people wanted the Gunboat to have.

Even though the Aggressor doesn't have Missiles in the RPG...

...yeah...

I see that, I see Unguided Rockets, I see Synced Turret, I see "Designed for long missions, supply chain raids, and tactical flexibility" and "In X-Wing, as in the Star Wars galaxy, the TIE aggressor lends a great deal of tactical flexibility to your Imperial fleet", and all I can think is someone at FFG is reading this topic and doing this:

...still, glad you got one of ther ships you were after DEX!

This wave, to me, is further evidence in FAVOR of a gunboat release.

They've reached deeper than I ever expected to find alternatives, that it's essentially inevitable pending licensing agreements

After selling off most of my X-Wing minis, FFG finally releases EU craft again much to the chagrin of DC plebs.Sucks we got no Gunboat, but this opens up the potential that they will take older, original craft when they have nothing left from Disney. Highly unlikely I'll get it, since I'm debating selling off my Bombers to start Dropfleet Commander, but this is good news for everyone.

It's moments like these and the TIE Punisher that keep me from coming back to this game. Really? Of all the Imperial craft from the Legends continuity, you had to pick the second ugliest fighter of the lot. I don't care if it has a turret on it, I want a canon carrier more robust and cheaper than the TIE Defender.

No, scratch that. I want an Imperial craft to be excited to fly again for purely thematic reasons. There are only two left.

16 hours ago, Norsehound said:

It's moments like these and the TIE Punisher that keep me from coming back to this game. Really? Of all the Imperial craft from the Legends continuity, you had to pick the second ugliest fighter of the lot. I don't care if it has a turret on it, I want a canon carrier more robust and cheaper than the TIE Defender.

No, scratch that. I want an Imperial craft to be excited to fly again for purely thematic reasons. There are only two left.

My thoughts exactly. I wonder how long production of these miniatures takes, from decision to release. Could design and production of the Assault Gunboat be well underway and slated for a release in the near future? I do hope so. I've bought nothing X-Wing for quite some time now and am investing my shekels elsewhere (Sails of Glory).

I am the kind of 'mainstream' gamer who is not really interested in arrays of increasingly 'oddball'-craft. I don't want Star Wars 'Wacky Races'; I want 'mainstream' miniatures to recreate more 'mainstream' skirmishes. Were I doing WW2, I'd want Bf-109s and Spitfires, not 'Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe'. To me, Assault Gunboats have always been 'mainstream' ever since I began blowing them into space-dust or flying them against the Rebellion on my PC back in the 1990s.

My wallet is ready, if only FFG will oblige me.

Please, please, please, please - Assault Gunboat!

I guess the question is how long have we been clamoring for a turreted Imperial ship compared to clamoring for the Gunboat? Maybe that would give us a rough estimate when the Episode VIII well runs dry?

45 minutes ago, hismhs said:

My thoughts exactly. I wonder how long production of these miniatures takes, from decision to release. Could design and production of the Assault Gunboat be well underway and slated for a release in the near future?

I would imagine FFG have already done concept art, rules and a test sculpt for it, as well as a large number of other Legends ships. In fact I'd be amazed if they haven't. "Pending Licensor Approval" is probably the main stumbling block.

Ideally the TIE Oppressor will be released next. Then there's room for some gunboats or whatever.

As long as we don't get that awful Tie-variant Kamikazi-craft before the beloved, sleek Gunboat. You know, the one packed with explosives, which was used in some lame comic or other to destroy some Rebel capital ship. What's it called again? Ah yes, the 'Tie-Die'.

Ok, sorry, I'll get my coat...

45 minutes ago, hismhs said:

As long as we don't get that awful Tie-variant Kamikazi-craft before the beloved, sleek Gunboat. You know, the one packed with explosives, which was used in some lame comic or other to destroy some Rebel capital ship. What's it called again? Ah yes, the 'Tie-Die'.

You laugh, but...

"This “fighter” is nothing more than a big, fast, flying bomb. It carries an explosive payload to a target. End of story. And, most likely, end of target."

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/TIE_Experimental_M4

1 hour ago, ViscerothSWG said:

Ideally the TIE Oppressor will be released next. Then there's room for some gunboats or whatever.

What new the Oppressor can bring to the table? When FFG gave 2 missiles and shield to the TIE Aggressor, they pretty much ditched the Oppressor. (and considering how the ship is ugly and uninspired, that was a great thing)

EDIT: actually, the Oppressor would be much like the Punisher: 2 attack, lots of ordinance, shields and boost.

Yeah, while the ship and upgrades are mechanically interesting, the TIE Aggressor is the ugliest TIE next to the TIE Punisher and its cousins, and the TIE Opressor. As for as the TIE Defenders being pre-Yavin now, that just goes to prove the new Canon isn't about making the story consistent or logical. Originally, they were post-Hoth. How much sense does it make for the TIE x7 to be contemporary with the predecessor to the TIE x1 (the v1)? Not a lot. Why would the Empire care to produce high-end starfighters when the Rebellion hadn't even really started to fight yet (according to the new canon)? Why did Vader fly an x1 at Yavin when he would have had an x7 available (aside from the x1 being a bit smaller)? Ugh. I was really hoping for better with the new canon.

Anyway, FFG is oversaturating the market with odd-ball TIEs. At some point, more casual fans won't be able to tell the difference, or care to buy them all. Especially when they don't look all that cool...

As for me personally, the TIE Aggressor doesn't really match the Empire's mindset. A two-man craft that promotes teamwork between small groups and allows them to speak in privacy, at length while on missions? Not to mention they would have to completely redesign the TIE fuselage just for this, so there goes your lauded gains from mass producing a single line of craft. To my mind, if they Empire knows a convoy will be someplace, they would send a small attack force lead by capital ships, not go there in advance to drop off some TIEs to wait it out for days. Assault Gunboats had hyperdrives and Ion Cannons, meaning they could take on a variety of missions including capture and reinforcement (as a vanguard). Do we even know if the Aggressor has a hyperdrive?

4 minutes ago, Knightcrawler said:

Do we even know if the Aggressor has a hyperdrive?

According to wookiepedia, no hyperdrive and no shields.

44 minutes ago, Knightcrawler said:

Anyway, FFG is oversaturating the market with odd-ball TIEs.

No such thiiiiiiing!

This is how the TIE Oppressor would be:

As you can see, it's just a light TIE Punisher...

Sure, the Assault Gunboat needs to come first.

2 hours ago, Knightcrawler said:

Yeah, while the ship and upgrades are mechanically interesting, the TIE Aggressor is the ugliest TIE next to the TIE Punisher and its cousins, and the TIE Opressor. As for as the TIE Defenders being pre-Yavin now, that just goes to prove the new Canon isn't about making the story consistent or logical. Originally, they were post-Hoth. How much sense does it make for the TIE x7 to be contemporary with the predecessor to the TIE x1 (the v1)? Not a lot. Why would the Empire care to produce high-end starfighters when the Rebellion hadn't even really started to fight yet (according to the new canon)? Why did Vader fly an x1 at Yavin when he would have had an x7 available (aside from the x1 being a bit smaller)? Ugh. I was really hoping for better with the new canon.

I ought to make this my sig because that's what I've been yammering repeatedly for some time now.

22 hours ago, Norsehound said:

No, scratch that. I want an Imperial craft to be excited to fly again for purely thematic reasons. There are only two left.

Dude, I tried out 5x Scarif Defenders last night on Vassal, and they were SO MUCH FUN! Now, I'm a huge fan of TIE interceptors, but these things flew in a completely new way. I have one, I will get a second, and very likely I'll get a third, fourth, and fifth. I wish TIE interceptors were this much fun.

...Which two left are you referring to?

5 hours ago, Knightcrawler said:

As for as the TIE Defenders being pre-Yavin now, that just goes to prove the new Canon isn't about making the story consistent or logical. Originally, they were post-Hoth. How much sense does it make for the TIE x7 to be contemporary with the predecessor to the TIE x1 (the v1)? Not a lot. Why would the Empire care to produce high-end starfighters when the Rebellion hadn't even really started to fight yet (according to the new canon)? Why did Vader fly an x1 at Yavin when he would have had an x7 available (aside from the x1 being a bit smaller)? Ugh. I was really hoping for better with the new canon.

The TIE Aggressor doesn't really match the Empire's mindset. A two-man craft that promotes teamwork between small groups and allows them to speak in privacy, at length while on missions? Not to mention they would have to completely redesign the TIE fuselage just for this, so there goes your lauded gains from mass producing a single line of craft. To my mind, if they Empire knows a convoy will be someplace, they would send a small attack force lead by capital ships, not go there in advance to drop off some TIEs to wait it out for days. Assault Gunboats had hyperdrives and Ion Cannons, meaning they could take on a variety of missions including capture and reinforcement (as a vanguard). Do we even know if the Aggressor has a hyperdrive?

Like me, you appear to be regretting the increasing infantilisation of the Star Wars universe which, at one point, was developing a depth and consistency on a level with Tolkien's Middle Earth. I fear now it is little more than a vehicle for selling plastic tat to children. Watching the Star Wars Rebels cartoon leaves me with the same kind of sick, confused feeling that someone might perhaps experience when discovering his high-school sweetheart making out with a loud, brash, stupid sports jock.

2 hours ago, Parakitor said:

Dude, I tried out 5x Scarif Defenders last night on Vassal, and they were SO MUCH FUN! Now, I'm a huge fan of TIE interceptors, but these things flew in a completely new way. I have one, I will get a second, and very likely I'll get a third, fourth, and fifth. I wish TIE interceptors were this much fun.

...Which two left are you referring to?

Seriously? XG-1 Assault Gunboat, TIE Avenger. Ever since the neurons in by brain connected to draw parallels between X-Wing the tabletop game and X-Wing the flight simulator, I have wanted to have every craft in the flight simulators on the table to push around and play with. To date, the craft exclusive to those flight simulators to be present here is exactly one: The TIE Defender, and it isn't even the right model used from the game... it's the knock-off Decipher-derived version that rightly draws criticism for being "A TIE Interceptor on steroids". The original version is longer, heftier, and actually looks like it's packed with a bigger engine to support shields, hyperdrives, more guns, and a tractor beam emitter.

Proton Rockets the card also comes from the sims, but instead of snapping CR-90s in half with one salvo like they do in the sim, success is dependent upon agility? How does that reflect the second most powerful ordnance option in the game? TIE/Sa would use these against space bases, and they're agility 2 here!

Instead, FFG is going the route of picking fighters from... in my opinion... some of the most lackluster entries from the 90s computer games. The TIE Punisher/Interdictor is an unimaginative attempt from Star Wars Battlegrounds to create an upgraded TIE Bomber. The TIE Aggressor is a TIE Advanced with parts hacked out of it and an afterthought turret bolted to the back. The TIE Oppressor is and an Aggressor with a third wing glued to the back perpendicularly to the hull.... with some excuse that they're equivalents of the Y-Wing and B-Wing respectively (While the TIE Bomber and TIE Defender are very serviceable counterparts that have been in the universe for a long time).

Sure, I get that there are mechanical reasons to introduce the Aggressor. Small base turret for the Empire where they didn't have one. Lots of toys and possibilities, more than the gunboat or TIE Avenger. But for me personally, I don't think I'll be eagerly rushing to the store to buy another X-Wing product unless its one of those two craft. The TIE Aggressor means I'll be ignoring X-Wing for another what, half-year? While I keep waiting for a Legends craft I want to fly. I'm just disappointed.

I will admit that the Oppressor has quite the unattractive wing design. But I don't give a ****. I flew it in a video game, so I want it in this game.

TIE Oppressor
TIE Hunter
TIE Avenger
Assault Gunboat
Missile Boat

...should all be in this game.

2 hours ago, hismhs said:

Like me, you appear to be regretting the increasing infantilisation of the Star Wars universe which, at one point, was developing a depth and consistency on a level with Tolkien's Middle Earth. I fear now it is little more than a vehicle for selling plastic tat to children. Watching the Star Wars Rebels cartoon leaves me with the same kind of sick, confused feeling that someone might perhaps experience when discovering his high-school sweetheart making out with a loud, brash, stupid sports jock.

lol, your satire is on point.

8 hours ago, Knightcrawler said:

As for me personally, the TIE Aggressor doesn't really match the Empire's mindset. A two-man craft that promotes teamwork between small groups and allows them to speak in privacy, at length while on missions? Not to mention they would have to completely redesign the TIE fuselage just for this, so there goes your lauded gains from mass producing a single line of craft. To my mind, if they Empire knows a convoy will be someplace, they would send a small attack force lead by capital ships, not go there in advance to drop off some TIEs to wait it out for days. Assault Gunboats had hyperdrives and Ion Cannons, meaning they could take on a variety of missions including capture and reinforcement (as a vanguard). Do we even know if the Aggressor has a hyperdrive?

The TIE Aggressor is a heavy fighter-bomber multi-role craft that was developed prior to the destruction of the first Death Star and as a direct response to a perceived growth in the amount of heavy shipping aligned with the Rebel Alliance. Its most obvious design feature is an anti-fighter defensive turret mounted on the aft dorsal surface of the fuselage, and a heavier than normal forward-firing laser cannon battery.

The TIE Aggressor is neither fighter nor bomber, but rather something in between. It's a favorite with the more free-spirited pilots of the Imperial fighter cadre who enjoy longer missions away from base where they can be apart from the larger formations normally associated with an Imperial raid on Rebellion re-supply shipping.

4 hours ago, DarthEnderX said:

I will admit that the Oppressor has quite the unattractive wing design. But I don't give a ****. I flew it in a video game, so I want it in this game.

TIE Oppressor
TIE Hunter
TIE Avenger
Assault Gunboat
Missile Boat

...should all be in this game.

Your list is spot on (that's all the small base Imperial ships I want), but Gunboat needs to come in first place.

3 hours ago, TheRealStarkiller said:

The Gunboat is neither fighter nor bomber, but rather something in between. It's a favorite with the more free-spirited pilots of the Imperial fighter cadre who enjoy longer missions away from base where they can be apart from the larger formations normally associated with an Imperial raid on Rebellion re-supply shipping.

FTFY

7 hours ago, TheRealStarkiller said:

The TIE Aggressor is a heavy fighter-bomber multi-role craft that was developed prior to the destruction of the first Death Star and as a direct response to a perceived growth in the amount of heavy shipping aligned with the Rebel Alliance. Its most obvious design feature is an anti-fighter defensive turret mounted on the aft dorsal surface of the fuselage, and a heavier than normal forward-firing laser cannon battery.

The TIE Aggressor is neither fighter nor bomber, but rather something in between. It's a favorite with the more free-spirited pilots of the Imperial fighter cadre who enjoy longer missions away from base where they can be apart from the larger formations normally associated with an Imperial raid on Rebellion re-supply shipping.

Still attack 2. Would be nice if it was attack 3 to differentiate it from the Gunboat, but then I guess that auto-TL synced turret would be OP.