Can we pause the hostilities for a moment and truly admire the deci/raider hybrid above. That thing is beautiful and needs it's own ship design/stats.

YES, PLEASE DO SO. i would give it an extra attack in the front arc and 2 more hull, and maybe a boost? Mini-Boost? IDK, but it sounds cool.

I see this thing as faster, more powerful and heavier armed than a deci. But not turreted. So all forward firepower. Maybe even the first 5 fire. I'd have it way more fragile though.

that's not Joe Boss.

that's me.

I am Dat STAR WARS EMOTE Guy.

You can find out more here

I hate to be picky, but those are NOT the Raider's Solar panels, those are just panels from a different scale Interceptor model.

Ah well, my bad. It was the best I could find in a cursory seach - it'll give you an idea of what it would look like, at least.

I know there's definitely some players who've removed the Raider's solar panels, so there must be a Decimator with a few added extras on it out there somewhere!

Negative. The Empire lacks 1 ship type... Heavy assault, jack of all trades type fighter. An Imperial version of the B-wing. Something that could take ordnance if it wanted to, but also excels at close range dogfighting. The TIE punisher is a bit to sluggish for this role, and the TIE defender fits more of the interceptor type. (especially given imperial veterans).

A role that the Gunboat could bring to the table, but also with it's own mechanics, and not just be a copy paste of the B-wing. (The mist hunter did for the scum faction, gave them a healthy ship with lots of attack, but also some unique ways to play it. It fills the role nicely).

Absolutely this. Ignoring what one might think of its aesthetics, a Punisher's base point value for generics is too high to justify its stats (2 ATK, 1 AGI and substandard dial). Compare this to a Y-wing that's 3 points cheaper, can 4 straight, has various titles and can do broadly the same upgrades as the Punisher and it becomes even more difficult to justify that ship's presence.

Worse, what's likely to be the final nail in the Punisher's coffin of hard oak redundancy will be the Gamma Squadron Vet pilot in the Imperial Vetspack

But, TIE Eggy has da System and da boost and, um, lots of HP! And, um, lots of spaces for expensive ordnance.

Yeah, named pilots, that's really all its got. I don't really see Black 8 generics going up against triple toilets.

Actually, discussing what role the gunboat, um, the GUNBOAT, will have in the game makes me think about what design spaces still need to be filled? After 8 waves the three factions have become pretty well rounded. Dozens, if not hundreds of ships in the EU still remain, and the new movies and television episodes will bring more designs as well. When will X-wing hit critical mass and just start repeating itself? Has it already done so?

Well the way I see it you can have every craft in the game and justify it via having new ship be based on how premium they are or giving them new maneuvers or abilities that don't exist in other craft. Like for example the Avenger, it would probably have a similar role the Interceptor would have, its just it would do the same job in a different way, don't give is boost, instead give it a maneuver allows it to loop vertically. Change the action bar up a bit, allow it to carry torps instead of missiles, to make it different than the Advanced.

The Avenger could be Ultimate Dial TIE - no native Boost or Barrel Roll, but white Segnor's Loops and Talon Rolls. Make it's dial fast and incredibly unpredictable, but limit it's repositioning ability.

I see this thing as faster, more powerful and heavier armed than a deci. But not turreted. So all forward firepower. Maybe even the first 5 fire. I'd have it way more fragile though.

I would expect it to be somewhat like a WH40k Marauder Destroyer - or the A-26 Invader that inspired it.

So guns. Lots of guns. Maybe give it three cannon slots and include both a (Light?) Turbolaser "cannon" that takes up three cannon slots and a capital ship-class Ion Cannon that takes up three slots.

Probably make it fast and cumbersome - or slow and maneuverable - but heavily armored and shielded: It's chief missions are to hunt down rebel capital ships and transports and to destroy rebel bases as part of long range search-and-destroy (or search-and-capture, with the ion cannon and operating in conjunction with "nearby" Imperial capital ships) operations, perhaps with TIE Phantoms birddogging the rebels and with Defenders, Advanceds, Avengers, and/or Gunboats as escorts.

It shouldn't be a particularly capable dog fighter: It should be able to handle a scrum with, say, a YT-1300 (where the YT-1300 tries to stay out of its front arc, because DEATH) but against enemy fighters, it should want to try to keep asteroids and other terrain between itself and the enemy fighters - not that it can't take a hit, but because it should be relatively vulnerable to enemy fighters while cruising through "open" space.

When will X-wing hit critical mass and just start repeating itself? Has it already done so?

The F/O and TAP suggest the empire has reached that point. Different greens, an s-loop, +/- 1 hull for a shield, but basically the same thing. A ship baseline cost under 20 for cheap aces around 30 points (+/- 5) with 3 green dice and movement actions. The only ships that feel unique, imo, are the defender, phantom, and the large-based ships.

And there is nothing to say that FFG can't modify the original design slightly, to add a turret or something (though not sure where they'd put it...) to make it more unique than it could be otherwise

Negative. The Empire lacks 1 ship type... Heavy assault, jack of all trades type fighter. An Imperial version of the B-wing. Something that could take ordnance if it wanted to, but also excels at close range dogfighting. The TIE punisher is a bit to sluggish for this role, and the TIE defender fits more of the interceptor type. (especially given imperial veterans).

A role that the Gunboat could bring to the table, but also with it's own mechanics, and not just be a copy paste of the B-wing. (The mist hunter did for the scum faction, gave them a healthy ship with lots of attack, but also some unique ways to play it. It fills the role nicely).

Yeah, this is exactly what I'm thinking. TIEs just keep filling the same holes over and over again. Something new for the imperials is needed.

When will X-wing hit critical mass and just start repeating itself? Has it already done so?

The F/O and TAP suggest the empire has reached that point. Different greens, an s-loop, +/- 1 hull for a shield, but basically the same thing. A ship baseline cost under 20 for cheap aces around 30 points (+/- 5) with 3 green dice and movement actions. The only ships that feel unique, imo, are the defender, phantom, and the large-based ships.

And there is nothing to say that FFG can't modify the original design slightly, to add a turret or something (though not sure where they'd put it...) to make it more unique than it could be otherwise

Negative. The Empire lacks 1 ship type... Heavy assault, jack of all trades type fighter. An Imperial version of the B-wing. Something that could take ordnance if it wanted to, but also excels at close range dogfighting. The TIE punisher is a bit to sluggish for this role, and the TIE defender fits more of the interceptor type. (especially given imperial veterans).

A role that the Gunboat could bring to the table, but also with it's own mechanics, and not just be a copy paste of the B-wing. (The mist hunter did for the scum faction, gave them a healthy ship with lots of attack, but also some unique ways to play it. It fills the role nicely).

Yeah, this is exactly what I'm thinking. TIEs just keep filling the same holes over and over again. Something new for the imperials is needed.

So true variety is the spice of life.

The Avenger could be Ultimate Dial TIE - no native Boost or Barrel Roll, but white Segnor's Loops and Talon Rolls. Make it's dial fast and incredibly unpredictable, but limit it's repositioning ability.

I'd give it barrel roll... but as a pilot ability on the PS 6-7 range, and no EPT, just to make you question if it's worth taking.

The Avenger could be Ultimate Dial TIE - no native Boost or Barrel Roll, but white Segnor's Loops and Talon Rolls. Make it's dial fast and incredibly unpredictable, but limit it's repositioning ability.

I'd give it barrel roll... but as a pilot ability on the PS 6-7 range, and no EPT, just to make you question if it's worth taking.

I'd give it barrel roll native, and put Leutenant Lorrir as the PS5 no-ept pilot. White talon roll and Lorir' ability, is crazy maneuverability.

Since GUNBOAT announcement for wave 9 is emminent, I guess we have moved on to the Avenger...

Anyway, did we ever have a poll on what the definitive stats would be for GUNBOAT, Avenger and Missile boat?

GUNBOAT

Att 2

Agi 1

Hull 4

Shield 4

Focus, TL, BR

Missile, Missile, System, Cannon

4 straight red

3 banks and straight white

2 turns, banks white, straight green

1 turns white, banks and straight green

3 k turn red

Avenger

Att 3

Agi 3

Hull 3

Shield 2

Focus, TL, BR, Evade

System, missile

5 straight green

4 straight green

3 turn, bank, straight green

2 turn, bank white, 2 straight green

1 turn white, 1 bank red

5 k, 3 k red

Missile boat

Att 1

Agi 2

Hull 3

Shield 4

Focus, TL, Evade, SLAM

system, missile X 4

5 straight green

4 straight green

3 turn, bank white, straight green

2 turn red, bank white, straight green

1 bank red

5 k red

Titles and other upgrades might include TB for Missile boat without needing cannon slot, adding TB to gunboat as well as another cannon, being able to fire cannon if target received TB token, another upgrade for SLAM to enable firing missiles after slam maneuver, ect.

Somebody smarter than me will have to do a poll

EVEN? The Stormtrooper Transport is glorious!!! (I modded at least 2 of the games so I could fly it).

Not gonna lie though, the TIE Punisher actually gave me a morale failure.

I love the TRN Transport but in this game it would just be a Lambda with no wings and torpedoes added. Unless FFG gets real ballsy and adds boarding parties.

Boarding Party

Crew

When you collide with another enemy ship you may flip this card and assign it to that ship

Boarding Party

At the end of each round assign 1 stress token to this ship.

Action: Assign a stress token and roll a die, on a hit discard this card.

Since GUNBOAT announcement for wave 9 is emminent, I guess we have moved on to the Avenger...

Anyway, did we ever have a poll on what the definitive stats would be for GUNBOAT, Avenger and Missile boat?

GUNBOAT

Att 2

Agi 1

Hull 4

Shield 4

Focus, TL, BR

Missile, Missile, System, Cannon

4 straight red

3 banks and straight white

2 turns, banks white, straight green

1 turns white, banks and straight green

3 k turn red

Avenger

Att 3

Agi 3

Hull 3

Shield 2

Focus, TL, BR, Evade

System, missile

5 straight green

4 straight green

3 turn, bank, straight green

2 turn, bank white, 2 straight green

1 turn white, 1 bank red

5 k, 3 k red

Missile boat

Att 1

Agi 2

Hull 3

Shield 4

Focus, TL, Evade, SLAM

system, missile X 4

5 straight green

4 straight green

3 turn, bank white, straight green

2 turn red, bank white, straight green

1 bank red

5 k red

Titles and other upgrades might include TB for Missile boat without needing cannon slot, adding TB to gunboat as well as another cannon, being able to fire cannon if target received TB token, another upgrade for SLAM to enable firing missiles after slam maneuver, ect.

Somebody smarter than me will have to do a poll

MB was super fast and Agile In tie fighter.

Agility 3 I say

EVEN? The Stormtrooper Transport is glorious!!! (I modded at least 2 of the games so I could fly it).

Not gonna lie though, the TIE Punisher actually gave me a morale failure.

I love the TRN Transport but in this game it would just be a Lambda with no wings and torpedoes added. Unless FFG gets real ballsy and adds boarding parties.

Boarding Party

Crew

When you collide with another enemy ship you may flip this card and assign it to that ship

Boarding Party

At the end of each round assign 1 stress token to this ship.

Action: Assign a stress token and roll a die, on a hit discard this card.

I think that fits better for buzzdroids, not so much for a boarding party that should be more effective on Large and Huge ships.

Boarding Party (two upgrade slots)

Boarding: if you end the activation phase overlapping a large enemy ship discard this card to roll 3 red dice. Opposing player rolls one green die plus green dice equal to each crew upgrade on ship. If at least one hit or crit is not cancelled by evade results place this ship under your control with PS 1 and discard any EPT, Astromech/salvaged Astromech, crew and title upgrades.

Don't know if small or large ships should be able to take over huge ships.

Boarding Party (two upgrade slots)

Boarding: if you end the activation phase overlapping a large enemy ship discard this card to roll 3 red dice. Opposing player rolls one green die plus green dice equal to each crew upgrade on ship. If at least one hit or crit is not cancelled by evade results place this ship under your control with PS 1 and discard any EPT, Astromech/salvaged Astromech, crew and title upgrades.

Don't know if small or large ships should be able to take over huge ships.

Homeworld Salvage corvettes are OP, pls nerf.

keep the old "flip and equip to target" mechanic but require a hit on 2 red die vs evasion to board. Have it give stress or ion tokens, attacker's choice, based on number of hits. that way huge ships can get energy drained.

I don't think the gunboat should have barrell roll. And I think it should have 3 hull like the Xwing. Though I'd like to see it possibly have the Tallon Roll.

The Avenger should certainly have the Tallon Roll or the S-loop. Same with a suggestion that was made earlier to give it a Torpedo instead of missils...though in the lore t has missiles (but the defender could fire torps or missils, and it only got missiles, so I think a change for it is good)..

Since GUNBOAT announcement for wave 9 is emminent, I guess we have moved on to the Avenger...

Anyway, did we ever have a poll on what the definitive stats would be for GUNBOAT, Avenger and Missile boat?

GUNBOAT

Att 2

Agi 1

Hull 4

Shield 4

Focus, TL, BR

Missile, Missile, System, Cannon

4 straight red

3 banks and straight white

2 turns, banks white, straight green

1 turns white, banks and straight green

3 k turn red

Avenger

Att 3

Agi 3

Hull 3

Shield 2

Focus, TL, BR, Evade

System, missile

5 straight green

4 straight green

3 turn, bank, straight green

2 turn, bank white, 2 straight green

1 turn white, 1 bank red

5 k, 3 k red

Missile boat

Att 1

Agi 2

Hull 3

Shield 4

Focus, TL, Evade, SLAM

system, missile X 4

5 straight green

4 straight green

3 turn, bank white, straight green

2 turn red, bank white, straight green

1 bank red

5 k red

Titles and other upgrades might include TB for Missile boat without needing cannon slot, adding TB to gunboat as well as another cannon, being able to fire cannon if target received TB token, another upgrade for SLAM to enable firing missiles after slam maneuver, ect.

Somebody smarter than me will have to do a poll

EVEN? The Stormtrooper Transport is glorious!!! (I modded at least 2 of the games so I could fly it).

Not gonna lie though, the TIE Punisher actually gave me a morale failure.

I love the TRN Transport but in this game it would just be a Lambda with no wings and torpedoes added. Unless FFG gets real ballsy and adds boarding parties.

Boarding Party

Crew

When you collide with another enemy ship you may flip this card and assign it to that ship

Boarding Party

At the end of each round assign 1 stress token to this ship.

Action: Assign a stress token and roll a die, on a hit discard this card.

Boarding party should be able to discard upgrade cards (crew specially). Maybe do some damage.

I would just like to point out that this isn't a clickbait topic. If you look at the subject, you should know exactly what you're getting.

I would just like to point out that this isn't a clickbait topic. If you look at the subject, you should know exactly what you're getting.

Total clickbait. I haven't seen one official release date for GUNBOAT this entire time.