4 hours ago, JJ48 said:

The Empire's all about their superweapons. How about just sticking a couple massive solar panels on a Death Star and calling it the "TIE Jumbo"?

If we let Kevin J. Anderson write the story for it, we may even end up with it being far more powerful than a normal Death Star while at the same time being more mobile and maneuverable than a standard TIE!

But instead of a super laser, it has arms and legs too and shoots star destroyers out of arm cannons, ooh, ooh, and transforms into a 80's compact sports car!

My thoughts are inspired by this...

Edit: I am also a fan of Chojikuu Yosai Macross, and still find this mecha-ship (Gurren Lagann) ridiculous (but I'm sure that's the point).

1 hour ago, Eskandare said:

But instead of a super laser, it has arms and legs too and shoots star destroyers out of arm cannons

LOL!

1 hour ago, Eskandare said:

But instead of a super laser, it has arms and legs too and shoots star destroyers out of arm cannons, ooh, ooh, and transforms into a 80's compact sports car!

My thoughts are inspired by this...

Edit: I am also a fan of Chojikuu Yosai Macross, and still find this mecha-ship (Gurren Lagann) ridiculous (but I'm sure that's the point).

Heh, a similar piece of tech has been seen.

not exactky the GUNBOAT I'm familiar with, more of a GundamBoat. But ok, at least we aren't talking about TIEs anymore.

wait I just mentioned TIEs! Dang it!

2 hours ago, GrimmyV said:

not exactky the GUNBOAT I'm familiar with, more of a GundamBoat. But ok, at least we aren't talking about TIEs anymore.

wait I just mentioned TIEs! Dang it!

Nope! We have the Alpha-class XG-1 Star Wing Assault Gunboat, all we get from now on are TIEs.

Hmm... Assault GundamBoat (aka, Gurren Lagann) or Sun Crusher. Basically the same thing. Ok, well, no Gurren Lagann is 500,000,000 times the size of the known universe in its (his?) final form.

6 hours ago, FTS Gecko said:

[That's it, I'm outta here]

Well, someone mentioned Kevin J. Anderson, what do you think was going to happen?

On 9/19/2017 at 2:53 PM, GrimmyV said:

Why does no-one like this? Its the best render of it that i've seen.

(probably the same reason no-one else likes the K-wing, or the M1)

On the topic of Punishers, They should probably get something that lets them absolutely WRECK anything in front of them, and let their amazing skill of dying fast stay how it is.

Oh, and I can't wait to lay my hands on the brace of gunboat I'm getting. Please in time for Christmas, Santa!

1 hour ago, Infinite_Maelstrom said:

On 9/18/2017 at 10:53 PM, GrimmyV said:

Why does no-one like this? Its the best render of it that i've seen.

(probably the same reason no-one else likes the K-wing, or the M1)

It doesn't look finished, the side pylons on the cockpit look like they were supposed to connect to something but just end in holes. The weird ski things on the tail really sell the parasail look of the gigantic dorsal wing. It's just... when fans of Uglies flaunt their TIE-wings and such, this is the thing I think about, something that looks cobbled together from what ever was around the garage.

And electronic warfare TIE design would probably start with the Bomber/Shuttle/Boarding Craft double hull design with the port fuselage housing the relevant equipment suite.

6 hours ago, Infinite_Maelstrom said:

Why does no-one like this? Its the best render of it that i've seen.

(probably the same reason no-one else likes the K-wing, or the M1)

On the topic of Punishers, They should probably get something that lets them absolutely WRECK anything in front of them, and let their amazing skill of dying fast stay how it is.

Oh, and I can't wait to lay my hands on the brace of gunboat I'm getting. Please in time for Christmas, Santa!

Failing to know its real name, TIE Parasail, as I will call it, basically looks like a TIE cockpit, holding a glider, with its legs out as if it jumped of a cliff going weeeeeeeeeee! Just as @GrimmyV said, it looks unfinished. Personally I like the TIE Vanguard as a scout and electronic warfare fighter because of its simplicity in design, it isn't trying to do too much. I have not been as much a fan of the TIE Cat-Carrier (TIE Scout) due to its large over-sized pod on the back and large upper solar-collectors/fins, but I'm not opposed to it being a model as it is basically a modified TIE Advanced. The TIE Vanguard has slightly shorter upper fins that have a slight anhedral or outward dihedral to prevent interference of the antennae, that simple design change makes it attractive.

Lets face it, only so much can be created for the TIE design and frame before such unconventional and unattractive designs start to appear. The TIE Fighter set the standard of what the frame should look like, as it is modified in the TIE Advanced to give Darth Vader a fighter that gives the audience something to recognize as the antagonist. It is quite obvious that Disney/Pablo Hidalgo share the same sentiment when choosing to design the TIE/sf and the TIE Silencer. Whilst being a copy paste TIE Bomber with over-sized Advanced fins, the TIE Punisher still follows the design formula by simple, albeit repetitive, changes to make it a heavy bomber. The TIE Phantom takes half an Interceptor fin and adds three to the body in equilateral positions, as with the Striker with only two fins. The TIE Defender takes the TIE Avenger fins, flips them outward and adds three fins equilaterally to the body. Again the Avenger and Silencer are an Advanced crossed with an Interceptor. TIE series fighters use reference of previously established designs and symmetry to make the new craft relevant, relateable, and understood as being recognizably Imperial antagonists.

The TIE Parasail, lacking the needed reference and symmetry to make it an attractive Imperial design, suggests that it is a craft from an independent planet and leaving the feeling that it is not Imperial enough.

Edit: I actually like the K-Wing and it looks properly Rebel/New Republic with a look almost reminiscent of the Clone Wars despite the actual art predating Lucas' Clone Wars.

Interesting bunny trails guys...but let me steer the ship back on course just a hair. (pardon the pun)

Does anyone know how someone who can or does a person on this thread have the interest and ability to create a high quality clone pilot card for casual play during the time we wait on the actual FFG product? I was thinking, if someone wanted to I think we could create a market for them, heck, I'd certainly be one.

Let's start a real push for a Maarek Stele Pilot card for our beloved XG-1 Starwing Assault Gunboat. Why? Well, because it's freaking supposed to be and FFG clearly was asleep at the wheel on this one. So: Please?!?

4 minutes ago, clanofwolves said:

...FFG clearly was asleep at the wheel on this one.

I really doubt they are... Look at it this way, they are in the business of making games and making money. FFG obviously wants to have some content to make more ace sets etc. I certainly feel, if the "Alpha-class Star Wing" does well, then we'll certainly see an Ace set with an Ace livery Star Wing along with Maarek Stele as a pilot.

9 minutes ago, clanofwolves said:

Let's start a real push for a Maarek Stele Pilot card for our beloved XG-1 Starwing Assault Gunboat. Why? Well, because it's freaking supposed to be and FFG clearly was asleep at the wheel on this one. So: Please?!?

Don't forget he's gotta be in the Fighter, Interceptor and Bomber too. While he did fly several missions in GUNBOAT he was more often calling in GUNBOATS as reinforcements are as assault craft to help disable targets when he wasn't in a Defender.

While I'd love to wait @Eskandare, and your deep knowledge and foresight is well appreciated @GrimmyV, I'll not retreat. If there's a card designer that's willing, let's do it. Paired with Vader and a third hand of the Empire, he'll make it a grand list ?

3 hours ago, Eskandare said:

I certainly feel, if the "Alpha-class Star Wing" does well, then we'll certainly see an Ace set with an Ace livery Star Wing along with Maarek Stele as a pilot.

I agree so much I said the same things pages ago

44 minutes ago, Lobokai said:

I agree so much I said the same things pages ago

Don't forget Kayan in an X-wing, y and a wing. And stuff

4 hours ago, clanofwolves said:

Let's start a real push for a Maarek Stele Pilot card for our beloved XG-1 Starwing Assault Gunboat. Why? Well, because it's freaking supposed to be and FFG clearly was asleep at the wheel on this one. So: Please?!?

I reckon you have more chance of Sabine getting into one that Maarek at this stage.

4 hours ago, clanofwolves said:

Interesting bunny trails guys...but let me steer the ship back on course just a hair. (pardon the pun)

Does anyone know how someone who can or does a person on this thread have the interest and ability to create a high quality clone pilot card for casual play during the time we wait on the actual FFG product? I was thinking, if someone wanted to I think we could create a market for them, heck, I'd certainly be one.

Let's start a real push for a Maarek Stele Pilot card for our beloved XG-1 Starwing Assault Gunboat. Why? Well, because it's freaking supposed to be and FFG clearly was asleep at the wheel on this one. So: Please?!?

On 30/08/2017 at 10:41 AM, Odanan said:

We don't know all about the ship yet, but here I am transforming my custom Assault Gunboat expansion into an "Ace pack". (to be later submitted to the Custom Cards League)

Pilots:

Upgrades:

48 minutes ago, Odanan said:

We don't know all about the ship yet, but here I am transforming my custom Assault Gunboat expansion into an "Ace pack". (to be later submitted to the Custom Cards League)

Pilots:

[Awesome Goes Here]

As far as the ship goes the only thing we really don't know is the maneuver dial. I hope it is not a total brick.

27 minutes ago, Eskandare said:

As far as the ship goes the only thing we really don't know is the maneuver dial.

I don't really know anything about the other(presumably Missile Boat) Title.

So FFG model question: do the gunboats wings move? I'm certain the inner wings don't but the outer look like they might...

4 hours ago, Eskandare said:

As far as the ship goes the only thing we really don't know is the maneuver dial. I hope it is not a total brick.

U-wing or hwk dial?!(muahahaha) jk

Although since the ship comes with cruise missiles and FFG rarely wastes pack space, I think it's safe to assume it'll have either a speed 4 straight or k-turn (hopefully both).

Given how awesome the Scurrg dial is, I hope we just have a good one

I want to say I'm expecting the dial to be bad, because the Gunboat handled like a Y-Wing.

But then I remember that this is also the Missile Boat, which was incredibly maneuverable.

So who knows what we'll end up with.

Expecting an X-Wing like dial, maybe edging towards Y-Wing - not sure if we'll see a K-turn though, given SLAM (although a 3 straight or bank into a 3k would be hilarious).