I noticed an ability missing from X-wing that was available even in Rouge Leader, S-foils, how they were locked into attack position and can be moved in cruising mode for some speed at the sacrifice for firepower. So here is an idea for X-wing mechanic. Make it a mod or title for X-wings and B-wings only.

S-foil Action, to perform this action immediately perform 1 straight maneuver and place s-foil token down by ship. If that maneuver cannot be performed then the action is canceled and a different action may be performed as per rules on actions. While the S-foil token is on the ship the ship has its agility increased by 1 and its firepower reduced to 0 that cannot be modified and cannot perform attacks It can still perform other actions while the s-foil token is on such as target lock or focus. Further more when revealing a straight maneuver while having the s-foil token use the template that is 1 greater than the one shown on the dial (1 straight will use the 2 all the way to 4 straight use the 5). However treat that maneuver as the same color as show on the dial.

(Example 1: a B wing with S-foil token reveals a 4 straight which is red. The B-wing uses the 5 straight as required but will receive stress as the dial shows a red maneuver.)

(Example 2: a X wing with both stress and S-foil token reveals a green 2 maneuver. The X-wing uses the 3 straight that is required for the S-foil token. Even though the 3 straight on the dial is a white maneuver because the dial shows a green maneuver the X wing clears the stress.

Locking S-foils in Attack position. To do so simply remove the token before revealing the dial. This is not an action and can be done even if stressed. Firepower and agility stats are back to watt is on the pilot card after modifications.

Thoughts, opinions, likes and dislikes or how would you put an s-foil mechanic in the game. How many points of an upgrade and what slot (title, modification) should it be?

I actually kind of like that. Thematic, flavorful, and not in anyway overpowered.

Strikes me as a mod.. I wouldn't have it cost anymore than one pt as there are some substantial drawbacks...

Sound's interesting, it plays similar to Cloak but with a different effect. Lore-wise, are Xs and Bs not able to fire with their wings locked down? If not you could have it increase the Agility by 1 and decrease the Attack by 1, but allow them to fire by receiving a stress token.

Sound's interesting, it plays similar to Cloak but with a different effect. Lore-wise, are Xs and Bs not able to fire with their wings locked down? If not you could have it increase the Agility by 1 and decrease the Attack by 1, but allow them to fire by receiving a stress token.

I don't believe they could shoot in the locked position. I thought I read somewhere that part of the reason for the s-foils was heat dissipation since their weapons are so powerful compared to a wings and ties.

I almost feel like it should act like the boost action after revealing a manuever but for 1 point that would sink engine upgrade and make Wedge VERY scary

I would treat it as a +0 Title upgrade, or at most a +1 cost.

I almost feel like it should act like the boost action after revealing a manuever but for 1 point that would sink engine upgrade and make Wedge VERY scary

I don't think it's so bad if the drawback is that you can't attack while it's active... i think I'd prefer boost over the "straight maneuvers count as one higher".

Also helps that both ships don't have boost already.

I would treat it as a +0 Title upgrade, or at most a +1 cost.

I almost feel like it should act like the boost action after revealing a manuever but for 1 point that would sink engine upgrade and make Wedge VERY scary

I don't think it's so bad if the drawback is that you can't attack while it's active... i think I'd prefer boost over the "straight maneuvers count as one higher".

Also helps that both ships don't have boost already.

I didn't want to make another boost upgrade. Engine upgrade pretty much has that down. Also the shift straight maneuvers up 1 I thought would be better because you cant go very slow with the s-foils in X-wing and Rouge Leader so removing the 1 straight sound like a better option. Also why I was wondering if a title would be better suitable even if it is for both B-wing and X-wing so you could say include the engine upgrade. However aesthetically a title upgrade doesn't seem like something that should be cross platform so maybe a free or 1 point modification for X-wings and B-wings only.

I was thinking also about the advantages and how to make it so that it doesn't cross over too much into other ships (mainly the imperial) side so the no attack was the first to come into mind. With s-foils the X-wing can go as fast as a tie but the the tie can still attack after a 5 straight. As for the B wing the 5 straight is red for it so it is still can be considered slower than X-wings and Tie Fighters.

As for the agility and movement to lock s-foils a cloaked phantom has 4 agility and it's decloak makes it so that it moves in a completely unpredictable manner for the person against it that is. The B-wing will only have 2 agility (which makes sense as it becomes a thinner target, and the X-wing has only 3 agility so it is not the same as a cloak action.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I was under the impression that closing the S-foils was something you did for longer distance movement and when you weren't in immediate danger.

I'm gonna see if my nemesis wants to try this.

Print up a card along the lines of;

Lock S-Foils into flight position

ACTION: immediately make a 1 bank or straight manuever then treat your attack value as "0" and perform a free boost action after you move until you unlock your s-foils before you reveal your manuever dial.

thoughts?

The whole faster while closed thing is a rogue squadron only ability I believe. None of the pc games had this feature. You could close your wings in the pc games, but it didn't help you in any way. It was mainly just to get ready to enter hyperspace.

Empire at War gave you a speed boost and reduced your firepower with them closed.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I was under the impression that closing the S-foils was something you did for longer distance movement and when you weren't in immediate danger.

The whole faster while closed thing is a rogue squadron only ability I believe. None of the pc games had this feature. You could close your wings in the pc games, but it didn't help you in any way. It was mainly just to get ready to enter hyperspace.

True, however if you watch the battle of Hoth you noticed that the 2 escorting X-wings next to the Medium GR-60 Transport had their S-Foils closed even while passing an Imperial Star Destroyer. Come to think of it there are numerous scenes with the S-foils in closed position, only in the dogfights do you see the S-foils locked in attack position.

This mechanic is actually perfect. The lore is perfect, the execution of it is perfect. I'm gonna do it in my games.

Absolutely love this! I hope to one day see FFG make an official card like this!

The S Foils, besides maybe in one game, never did anything like increase speed. It actually makes no sense that it would do that in space. If anything, the X-Wing would be less agile due to maneuvering jet placement.

The existence of S Foils is akin to folding wings on carrier based aircraft - they're necessary for non-operational reasons. X-Wings need to close them to land and possibly enter hyperspace (however that works), but otherwise there is no great reason to keep them closed.

I can think of a number of reasons to justify closing S-foils on an X-wing in normal flight.

The first is that the radiators that are exposed by opening the foils are delicate/easily damaged. Thus in normal flight you want to reduce possible damage to these components so closing the S-foils.

The second is that the radiators are too efficient in normal flight. Thus you would be radiating too much heat away and would have to expend extra resources to keep the craft at optimal temperature. This would reduce endurance which is bad. In combat with the weapons systems readied and deflectors fully charged, you are already expending the extra resources.

That leaves aside the reasons for the B-wing (which has folding wings so it can land). I suppose you could have a similar line of reasoning for the X-wing, but that would seem to be a bad reason for introducing additional mechanical complexity (same argument holds for the B-wing to be fair). I note that there may be additional reasons for wanting split locations for guns which we are not aware of - so foils may be a good way of increasing gun separation without increasing deck space use (be that through needing special docking clamps, larger footprints or whatever) and allowing unsupported operations (note X-wing can self deploy unlike the Ties).

Closing s-foils disabled the weapons and redirected power to the engines so it would be fine if you sacrificed that turns shooting for a little more speed.

Nice idea. I'd support this

Any ship can redirect power from lasers and shields to engines, you don't need foils to do it.

On a ship with powerful engines and other systems, being too cold in the cockpit is the absolute last problem you'll have. Reducing heat dissipation isn't a good reason to close the foils. Space is cold, but it has almost the worst possible heat conduction.

I can see closing them to reduce chance of damage by minimizing frontal profile and not opening them when unneeded to minimize the chance of mechanical failure that could leave them stuck in the open position and make landing difficult, but that's about it.

Any ship can redirect power from lasers and shields to engines, you don't need foils to do it.

On a ship with powerful engines and other systems, being too cold in the cockpit is the absolute last problem you'll have. Reducing heat dissipation isn't a good reason to close the foils. Space is cold, but it has almost the worst possible heat conduction.

I can see closing them to reduce chance of damage by minimizing frontal profile and not opening them when unneeded to minimize the chance of mechanical failure that could leave them stuck in the open position and make landing difficult, but that's about it.

Your logic is sound but it's not applicable to SW, closing the s-foils shuts off the guns it just does which means you've got full capacitors and no way to use that power so shunting it to engines makes sense.

For obvious reasons they've made shields one use only so you can't recharge those.

And in multiple games closed s-foils boosts your speed empire at war, the rogue squadron games and I'm sure there were more.

Timing wise, I would lock S-Foils in attack position in the end phase.

It takes time to change wing positions and this would reflect that commitment.

Personally I would make a card like this:

Lock S-Foils

Modification. X-Wing and B-Wing only

When a ship performs the Lock S-Foils action place an S-Foil token near that ship. A ship cannot perform the Lock S-Foils action when it has an S-Foil token.

While a ship has an S-Foil token all straight, bank and turn maneuvers for this ship are considered green.

A ship with an S-Foil token cannot perform attacks.

S-Foil tokens are not removed at the end of turns.

---

During the end phase a ship may discard an S-Foil Token.

It seems a little silly to me picturing an X-wing opening and closing its S-foils constantly mid-battle.

Any ship can redirect power from lasers and shields to engines, you don't need foils to do it.

On a ship with powerful engines and other systems, being too cold in the cockpit is the absolute last problem you'll have. Reducing heat dissipation isn't a good reason to close the foils. Space is cold, but it has almost the worst possible heat conduction.

I can see closing them to reduce chance of damage by minimizing frontal profile and not opening them when unneeded to minimize the chance of mechanical failure that could leave them stuck in the open position and make landing difficult, but that's about it.

Indeed. The only way to dump heat in space is through radiation. Hence radiators. Now if your radiators are designed to dump the full heat generated when the reactor is at combat power output levels, when the reactor is not at those levels you will have an issue. You will be dumping too much heat.

more logic... why would opening the S foils in SPACE decrease speed??? perhaps in an atmosphere but In space??? yeah i know its Starwars and logic doesn't really apply.....

more logic... why would opening the S foils in SPACE decrease speed??? perhaps in an atmosphere but In space??? yeah i know its Starwars and logic doesn't really apply.....

No it reduces speed because reactor power is split between engines shields and guns, when s-foils are closed its just engines and shields so engines have more power.

Do you even x-wing bro?