Huge ships aside, if FFG could only take the game in one direction after Wave 5, where you either

A) continued to get new ships

OR

B) no longer had new ships and instead got Aces remakes, new pilots/upgrades, and scenario packs,

...which would you choose? VOTE!

Probably A for about 1 or 2 more waves, then B.

Definitely B. I think they have mostly exhausted ship stat archetypes, but are only scratched the surface of pilot abilities.

Everyone complains about the advanced, and while it is true that it is overcosted, what really holds it back is the terrible pilots.

B for me as the current ships exhaust my EU knowledge and interest. This is mainly restricted to the early nineties computer games. Therefore the Hawk and E wing are meh to me.

I also worry about possible power creep as unique new ships are released. As an example I think the z95 is too useful powerful as it should easily be outclassed by the more modern craft. I know this is probably down to FFGs excellent game balancing but z95 should be outclassed canon fodder based on my TIE fighter game experience.

I would buy aces and upgrade packs for the current ships and would love to see an advanced fix. However coupled to my almost fluff point above the advanced is a dead end evolution of TIE design and therefore may be should not be fixed. I wait in hope though as I think the advanced needed a fix far more than the a wing.

I think I'm leaning towards B, unless we get that third faction that the naysayers fear so much.

However, I do have to comment on this:

...I also worry about possible power creep as unique new ships are released. As an example I think the z95 is too useful powerful as it should easily be outclassed by the more modern craft. ...

Per other discussions here on the XMG forum, I would like to point out two things:

1. I don't think technology advances in the SWU the way it does in our universe. So, if a Z-95 is outclassed, it might be just because the individual ships might be old and in a poor state. The Z-95 as a type might still be produced and be just as effective as FFG has modeled it.

2. Point no. 1 notwithstanding, the Z-95 is massively outclassed by most Rebellion-era craft in a very profound way: it doesn't have a hyperdrive. How much more outclassed do you want it to be?

I don't disagree with your comments at all but as the Imperials moved to interceptors during the original series and the Rebels added A and B wings I think there was some tech progression and the z's and Y's and TIE's to some degree become obsolete. Really I am just disappointed that I cant take on several z95s on my own in a TIE and win. Thats what I did in TIE fighter, or do we just need Maarek in a TIE?

See, video games (especially single player ones) are built to make the player feel like an angry god, laying waste to all those who dared oppose him in a cacophony of explosions.

Think of this as a fighting game. In a good fighting game, each character has a near equal chance to win.

I know that really I'm just after a bit of nostalgia.

I'm really among those that would keep loving new ships. To each his own, but I don't think the game gets diluted by unfamiliar content; I think it becomes richer and more fun. And it is up to the designers to keep old this relevant. IE three of the ships in this wave are superiority craft. They are each a little better than a similar ship that has come before, and in turn are more expensive. The X-Wing and the E-Wing fill similar roles based on their ship stats and dials, but the X-Wing is cheaper and has a large number of relevant pilots.

Based on the original post, I'd like to see new ships as long as they can muster them. But, there are definitely some ships that could use an update in the developing meta, and I would guess this will still be the case as more and more content is introduced to the game.

I'm leaning towards option B. New ships are always something to get excited about (I'm already planning on getting three Decimators) but I also really appreciate variety in what I already own. Hell, I'm already looking for more named pilots for the Defender. And since these Aces packs have pretty consistently revolutionized the featured ships (at least from what I can gather) you don't really need new ships if you end up with numerous strong uses for each already-existing ship.

All that being said, I whole-heartedly support FFG continuing with BOTH options as long as reasonably possible!

Edit: though I'd like to see another large Rebel ship to even out with the Lambda. I know that's silly, but it'd satisfy my desire for equal opportunity (even though I'm an Imperial player).

Definitely B. I think they have mostly exhausted ship stat archetypes, but are only scratched the surface of pilot abilities.

Everyone complains about the advanced, and while it is true that it is overcosted, what really holds it back is the terrible pilots.

Definitely B.

For me, Just add 2 Huge ships (Tartan Patrol Cruiser and some Transport equivalent) for Imperials and then just make Aces packs, because I'm not huge fan of them adding something like Tie Droids, pirate ships or some other EU ships. Phantom, E-Wing, Defender etc. are enough of EU.

I like them to keep Ship count as it is, but just them to add more pilots and pilot abilities through aces packs. Especially for Bombers and Y-Wings.

So B it is

I think we have many pretty ships. I'd like to see slower releases of A and more releases of B.

Definitely B. I think they have mostly exhausted ship stat archetypes, but are only scratched the surface of pilot abilities.

Everyone complains about the advanced, and while it is true that it is overcosted, what really holds it back is the terrible pilots.

It's really the cost to damage output ratio. Vader (still) has one of the best Pilot abilities in the game, while Maarek has one of the worst, considering his likelihood to actually punch a crit through. So your statement is about half true. I would also love to see a new set of pilots for the Advanced.

I'd like to see an offensive upgrade mainly.

I'd lean towards B at this point. I'd still like to see the Virago/Starviper, since we're getting the other half of the notable ships from Shadows of the Empire with the Outrider, and the Gunboat to round out the iconic ships from TIE Fighter, and some sort of Huge ship would be nice for the Empire, but beyond that I think they're good. I'd prefer them to not go too much further into the post-Endor timeline, in terms of ships, because honestly it all starts getting a bit silly. Even Thrawn was a bit goofy, with it's Force blocking lizards and clones with extra vowels. Yuzhaan Vong, all of the stuff after that? Yeah, no thanks. The Phantom was already an 'out of left field' type choice, pulling from Rebel Assault 2 of all places, I think that's getting obscure enough in that regard too.

Instead there's still lots of interesting things to do with existing ships in terms of pilots. Say, for example, an Ace's style Wraith Squadron box for Rebels that includes an X-wing and TIE Interceptor, as they were a mixed unit following their two books in the X-wing series.

B. Don't over us with ships. Some need more love than others now, and keeping it mostly ships from the movies makes it feel less iconic, and less 'Star Warsy'

B

...that may just be because the ships are arriving too fast at the moment.

See, video games (especially single player ones) are built to make the player feel like an angry god, laying waste to all those who dared oppose him in a cacophony of explosions.

Think of this as a fighting game. In a good fighting game, each character has a near equal chance to win.

After wave 5 B all the way. Maybe occasional releases to keep things fresh, but I really want scenarios, upgrade packs, etc.

I pick 3! I was elected to lead, not to read!

Wait, what was the question again? Oh yeah, right. Umm... B. Cuz yeah.

But seriously, anything that brings new options to older ships is definitely a welcome addition. New ships do this to a certain degree when they include new upgrades, but I think we get more mileage out of aces & their ilk (how many people bought the Rebel Transport primarily for the X-Wing pilots?).

Wow, it seems the majority is really on the side of B. I hope someone at FFG is paying attention, though hopefully they have focus groups or what-not to inform their decisions.

I don't disagree with your comments at all but as the Imperials moved to interceptors during the original series and the Rebels added A and B wings I think there was some tech progression and the z's and Y's and TIE's to some degree become obsolete. Really I am just disappointed that I cant take on several z95s on my own in a TIE and win. Thats what I did in TIE fighter, or do we just need Maarek in a TIE?

You are right - during wartime the pressure for technological development is high. I can't speak (much) to the pre-Clone Wars society, but under the Empire it makes sense that technological development slowed down tremendously.

Regarding your video-game experience, I think Nikk Whyte said it best:

See, video games (especially single player ones) are built to make the player feel like an angry god, laying waste to all those who dared oppose him in a cacophony of explosions.

Think of this as a fighting game. In a good fighting game, each character has a near equal chance to win.

But I understand what you're saying about nostalgia. I played those old games too. It does seem like FFG caters to the video-game crowd much more than it does the roleplaying game crowd (which is understandable), and those old video games were clearly not multiplayer and thus did not have to bring balance as much as they had to bring unilateral excitement.

I'd like the Imperials to get the Skipray Blastboat/Assault Gunboat to complete the XvT collection and grant a single exception to the TIE uniformity of small ships the Imps have. No more "Letter" themed-wing fighters for the Rebels please. It'll get ridiculous. After that, B all the way.

HEY FFG, you know what would be awesome? Run a competition for pilots, cards, and custom painted models open to the entire X-wing community. Select the best 2 Imperials and the best 2 Rebels and release either a wave or Aces pack entitled "Innovative Troops." This community is so involved, creative, and well informed SW-wise, we'd love it!

But, yes, B.