Is engine upgrade worth it on any small ship? It never seems to be worth the action for me. The only places I see it used are the shuttle, and Ibtisam. (but I always play the same opponent, so maybe we just haven't been inspired yet)

It is Very good on Vader.

I might have expected that the white k-turn is precisely the reason to actually want boost. It's the equivalent of having a 2k on a B (the best k- turn in the game), but a whole lot more flexible (you can change facing too).

Though like all boosts you want it to be paired with PtL, which gets expensive really fast on a defender (and is limited to 2 expensive unique pilots). It makes me cry that the PS3 generic doesn't have an ept.

I might have expected that the white k-turn is precisely the reason to actually want boost. It's the equivalent of having a 2k on a B (the best k- turn in the game), but a whole lot more flexible (you can change facing too).

Though like all boosts you want it to be paired with PtL, which gets expensive really fast on a defender (and is limited to 2 expensive unique pilots). It makes me cry that the PS3 generic doesn't have an ept.

I find the 3k the best, 2k is one of the easiest to read and to block.

So far with outmaneuver and engine upgrade on Vessery I've gotten quite a few nasty shots instead of staying stressed for another round. Its equally as nice to do a straight then a boost to clear stress but then still be in the fight.

I speculated I was going to use an Engine Upgrade on Defenders all the time, but after some practice, I just never use the boost. I almost always Focus or Barrel Roll with them, action-wise. Those extra points OP gains from dropping it could be used later for PTL on the Royal Guard later in the list (as someone else already mentioned) or go with the Shield Upgrade someone else said, which is my preference on Defenders. No cannon required in my book. I either run 2-3 Onyx with Shields*, or Vessery with Outmaneuver and Shield, or Brath with Predator and Shield. YMMV.

Edit:

*I play 150 point games, so I can actually fit 3 Onyx with Shields. Obviously standard tournament play will prevent this, but the gist remains.

played vs a friend who went without them. he never really needed them.

Ive actually been toying with shuttles without engine also...

Ironically, especially against more mobile targets like interceptors. they'll arc dodge you anyway. I've been using a focusing of other arcs to make the rest of the space even less attractive, and push the interceptors into the shuttles arc to avoid 2 or 3 other arcs.

Then the shuttle gets some value for its cost.

also been placing the shuttle between either an edge or two asteroids all the time.