R2-D6 Treatment for the Empire?

By Jo Jo, in X-Wing

Do you think a card that adds an EPT upgrade like R2-D6 would break the game?

It could either be a title:

Title - Tie Variant only. Unique:

Battlefield Promotion - Your upgrade bar gains the EPT upgrade. You cannot equip this card if you already have the EPT Icon or your pilot skill is 2 or lower. 1 Point

Or as a modification:

Modification - Experimental Flight System - Tie Variant only. Unique:

Your upgrade bar gains the EPT upgrade. You cannot equip this card if you already have the EPT Icon or your pilot skill is 2 or lower. 1 Point

I would think making it a Modification makes more sense and balances it out a bit better. It would actually let you use the non-EPT named pilots for the squint. You could only equip it to one ship being its unique and it costs you a point, so it makes that EPT a bit more pricey.

I don't know about break, but it's not necessary either. BSP is already the single cheapest, most viable generic ship able to equip an EPT.

I think he was thinking more all those lower PS Imperial named pilots. Backstabber and Kir Kanos, for example.

Edited by Lagomorphia

Would be nice to have an EPT on Lorrir

you know i was thinking about this a few days ago. Really backstabber doesn't need an ept, he has one built in already. sure it would be nice to add another, though do you really need to? He is probably better off without one as it's a point sink...

Now ask me again about why red squadrons don't have EPT but black squadrons do??? why!????

But the Red Squad

I think he was thinking more all those lower PS Imperial named pilots. Backstabber and Kir Kanos, for example.

This. When is the last time you seen someone run Kanos? It might be a point sync, but there are a handful of named pilots that never see play.

Would be nice to have an EPT on Lorrir

Yes VI on Lorrir would be very nice. Currently he moves too early to be a reliable arc dodger.

Edited by Jo Jo

Kir Kanos never sees play because he occupies the all important 24 point slot. For the same points you can run two Academies, a Doomshuttle, or SS + PtL. Making him more expensive isn't really going to make him any more viable than he already is.

Edited by WonderWAAAGH

But imagine Kanos with PTL at 28 points. Now he can Focus + Evade and put out a lot of offense. Or he can boost + Evade, barrel roll, etc.

What about Backstabber with Outmaneuver at 19 points? Yeah he's expensive for a Tie, but he's like a mini-Wedge-Tie of death.

Edited by Jo Jo

I really don't think Backstabber needs any help. What's that expression I keep using? Something about fixing things that already work, I don't recall off the top of my head.

I would like to see this. On standard ties not really worth it but on some others it would be cool.

EPT for on-named Tie variants with a PS>2 (or 3).

I'd sacrifice a goat or two for that!

EPT Gamma bombers? Yay! (for example)

I really don't think Backstabber needs any help. What's that expression I keep using? Something about fixing things that already work, I don't recall off the top of my head.

He's a bad example, Winged Gundark? On Tie Fighters its not really going to be worth the points. But there are 3 named squint pilots that never see any use because there are generics with EPTs that can outclass them. People wanted Ys to have EPT now they can add one, but there are a bunch of Ties that could use it as well to be somewhat viable.

Edited by Jo Jo
He's a bad example, Winged Gundark? On Tie Fighters its not really going to be worth the points. But there are 3 named squint pilots that never see any use because there are generics with EPTs that can outclass them. People wanted Ys to have EPT now they can add one, but there are a bunch of Ties that could use it as well to be somewhat viable.

The major issue I see is that giving those Interceptor pilots access to an EPT means that yet another Interceptor will be running PtL. I don't see that as a very elegant (or original) solution to a problem that is, for the most part, nonexistent.

There's also the fact that R2-D6 is unique, and takes up a very valuable and versatile upgrade slot (astromech) that is only available on 3 ships. If you were to add a non-unique title/mod that works on 6 of the imperial ships not only is it a bit unbalanced, but it takes away what I think is one of the strengths of rebel ships, that is customization options.

Also, when imps get a ship completely devoid of EPT on every single pilot, I can see some form of title being introduced.

EDIT: never mind, just looked at the cards for the lambda. Fine, maybe a unique title or crew for lambdas.

Edited by FatherTurin

Well there is a problem, that mid-PS interceptors without PTL are currently useless. Something should be done to address that.

Lamdas with EPT... Expert Handling springs to mind immediately :D

Edited by Darth Ruin

There's a difference between useless and just not played. There are plenty of ships that aren't being played right now.

There's also the fact that R2-D6 is unique, and takes up a very valuable and versatile upgrade slot (astromech) that is only available on 3 ships. If you were to add a non-unique title/mod that works on 6 of the imperial ships not only is it a bit unbalanced, but it takes away what I think is one of the strengths of rebel ships, that is customization options.

Have it take the modification slot and cost a point. Its an important slot on interceptors and many other Ties. It should be unique so you can only use it on one ship. It would only be viable on 5 ships. You would never put it on the Phantom because they need ACD or SPA. On Tie/In it would be expensive to take an EPT but usable on DC, BS, & NB. On the Bomber it would only give the Gamma Sqd an EPT. On the Defender only the Oynx Sqd. On the Advanced only Storm Sqd. (which needs all the help it can get). Of course it would greatly help the named Interceptors that lack the EPT for whatever dumb reason.

It doesn't make sense that elite pilot groups like the 181st and Royal Guard have pilots without EPTs.

:(

I like Kir Kanos...

I like the idea of this but I have a problem the Empire being able to put R2-D2 in a Tie Interceptor.

Well the Y-Wing was the only Rebel with no EPT-capable ships. For the Empire, that's the Lambda. Perhaps a Crew that can bestow an EPT (if you don't already have one)?

Have it take the modification slot and cost a point. Its an important slot on interceptors and many other Ties. It should be unique so you can only use it on one ship. It would only be viable on 5 ships. You would never put it on the Phantom because they need ACD or SPA. On Tie/In it would be expensive to take an EPT but usable on DC, BS, & NB. On the Bomber it would only give the Gamma Sqd an EPT. On the Defender only the Oynx Sqd. On the Advanced only Storm Sqd. (which needs all the help it can get). Of course it would greatly help the named Interceptors that lack the EPT for whatever dumb reason.

It doesn't make sense that elite pilot groups like the 181st and Royal Guard have pilots without EPTs.

Was Kir Kanos an elite pilot in the books?

Edited by WonderWAAAGH

"Break the game" may be a strong statement but I'm not sure I believe it should be done.

The Empire already gets a number of generic fighters of a couple different models that can take EPT where the Rebels only have one. None of the shuttles may have access to an EPT but if a ship could figure out how to "break" one that would probably be the one.

The Interceptors already get an advantage via the Royal Guard Title that the Rebels currently don't have. Unless I'm mistaken all of those named Interceptors that do not get an EPT slot could be taking two modifications which can help mitigate the lack of an EPT. Putting such a thing on a TIE Fighter worries me because a number of uniques have good abilities but are still dirt cheap and really shouldn't need a boost.

Seriously. More toys for the imps to play with? I'm jealous of the bsp with cheap access to predator.

Edited by Nickotine42