Lefttenant Lorrir

By Baron Soontir Fel, in X-Wing

We all love this slippery, slidery, arc dodging, curved barrel-rolling sonuva gun, yea? His card art is cool, his ability is boss, and he's as maneuverable as anyone not flying a Phantom.

Despite all of that, he's kind of a let down. He can't take an EPT, meaning no PTL (which wouldn't work well with his ability anyway) and taking stress for his power is clearly inferior to, for example, Echo.

So here's the question: What's the best way to house rule him into a little more use? Add an EPT slot (Predator says hello)? Allow his ability to cause no stress? Or is he fine as is and I'm just trying to powergame this fancy little squint?

Personally I think he is fine as-is, there is a reason they had his ability cause stress. You just have to know how to fly him, he can't really be in the thick of things, he's a better flanker. Messing with the ruling will also mess around with balance.

Have his ability cause no stress. He really needs an EPT (VI!) but thats a little more than I want to alter a game.

Without causing stress it allows you to be a lot more slippery. The PS 5 kind of sucks though for consistent arc-dodging, especially since we are seeing a bunch of higher PS pilots.

I like Lorrir. Probably more than I should I suppose. He's definitely an odd duck. People tend to ignore him for the fact that he doesn't have an EPT and can't take PTL. If you can keep him back of your main force and then move him up, I find that he can be a great end game piece because of his barrel roll.

Yes, the stress is not optimal, but this is a Squint we're talking about, and there is no shortage of green on that dial. But, use the Barrel roll sparingly with him. I haven't tried it with him just yet, but I have used Vader with Squad leader to great effect with some RGP's using PTL. If Vader can keep up with Lorrir, he can use Squad Leader as a pseudo PTL for Lorrir. Just have Lorrir boost for his first action, and have Vader give him his barrel roll for arc-dodging.

Lorrir is one of those ships that COULD be. I think he's a lot like Maarek. 'If Only he had...." If only Maarek had a 3 attack, if ONLY Lorrir had an EPT. See what I'm getting at?

A typical loadout for Lorrir for me is Lorrir, Royal Guard title, Hull, Targeting Computer. You almost need the hull on him, as he won't be able to arc dodge as well as his more popular bretheran. The Targeting computer is kind of a no brainer. If you're able to keep him out of arc (which honestly shouldn't be too hard using his barrel roll), he can be just as deadly as any other Squint on the board. It just takes some careful planning to do so.

I am compiling a full set of technical balance fixes for House Rules casual play. Here are my changes to the Interceptors. I touched up most of them.

  • Alpha Squadron Pilot: cost reduced from 18 to 17
  • Avenger Squadron Pilot: cost reduced from 20 to 18.5
  • Saber Squadron Pilot: cost reduced from 21 to 20
  • Lorrir: cost reduced from 23 to 22. His ability does not cause stress. Still no EPT.
  • Fel's Wrath: cost reduced from 23 to 22. After his condition triggers, you immediately assign him 1 focus token, he may perform 1 attack, and then you remove him from the board as usual. Still no EPT
  • Royal Guard Pilot: no change.
  • Kir Kanos: Cost reduced from 24 to 23. Gains EPT.
  • Cowell: Cost reduced from 24 to 23.
  • Turr: no change.
  • Carnor Jax: no change.
  • Soontr Fel: no change.

You'll notice that I am using half-point cost changes. I did the same with many of the other PS3/4 generics. I'll make a full post on all the changes probably within the next week or two.

I like Lorrir. Probably more than I should I suppose. He's definitely an odd duck. People tend to ignore him for the fact that he doesn't have an EPT and can't take PTL. If you can keep him back of your main force and then move him up, I find that he can be a great end game piece because of his barrel roll.

...[good stuff that I largely agree with]

A typical loadout for Lorrir for me is Lorrir, Royal Guard title, Hull, Targeting Computer. You almost need the hull on him, as he won't be able to arc dodge as well as his more popular bretheran. The Targeting computer is kind of a no brainer. If you're able to keep him out of arc (which honestly shouldn't be too hard using his barrel roll), he can be just as deadly as any other Squint on the board. It just takes some careful planning to do so.

I agree with you entirely on that first part, but don't know about the second. Part of the advantage of Lorrir is, IMO, that he's relatively cheap. He is quite deadly for 23 points, but once I get to 28 I start looking at Turr or Fel. Targetting Computer I can't justify on a squint without PTL and the hull upgrade seems like it should only be spent on really core pieces that Lorrir can't really be.

That said, Lorrir + HU + Shield at 30 points has been my furball pilot of choice lately.

I am compiling a full set of technical balance fixes for House Rules casual play. Here are my changes to the Interceptors. I touched up most of them.

  • Alpha Squadron Pilot: cost reduced from 18 to 17
  • Avenger Squadron Pilot: cost reduced from 20 to 18.5
  • Saber Squadron Pilot: cost reduced from 21 to 20
  • Lorrir: cost reduced from 23 to 22. His ability does not cause stress. Still no EPT.
  • Fel's Wrath: cost reduced from 23 to 22. After his condition triggers, you immediately assign him 1 focus token, he may perform 1 attack, and then you remove him from the board as usual. Still no EPT
  • Royal Guard Pilot: no change.
  • Kir Kanos: Cost reduced from 24 to 23. Gains EPT.
  • Cowell: Cost reduced from 24 to 23.
  • Turr: no change.
  • Carnor Jax: no change.
  • Soontr Fel: no change.
You'll notice that I am using half-point cost changes. I did the same with many of the other PS3/4 generics. I'll make a full post on all the changes probably within the next week or two.

Major, you continue to be my hero. This is awesome. All of these changes are appealing without seeming to overpower them. I like the Lorrir fix especially, since it lets him remain unique. He's a valid squint that doesn't rely on PTL.

I am compiling a full set of technical balance fixes for House Rules casual play. Here are my changes to the Interceptors. I touched up most of them.

  • Alpha Squadron Pilot: cost reduced from 18 to 17
  • Avenger Squadron Pilot: cost reduced from 20 to 18.5
  • Saber Squadron Pilot: cost reduced from 21 to 20
  • Lorrir: cost reduced from 23 to 22. His ability does not cause stress. Still no EPT.
  • Fel's Wrath: cost reduced from 23 to 22. After his condition triggers, you immediately assign him 1 focus token, he may perform 1 attack, and then you remove him from the board as usual. Still no EPT
  • Royal Guard Pilot: no change.
  • Kir Kanos: Cost reduced from 24 to 23. Gains EPT.
  • Cowell: Cost reduced from 24 to 23.
  • Turr: no change.
  • Carnor Jax: no change.
  • Soontr Fel: no change.
You'll notice that I am using half-point cost changes. I did the same with many of the other PS3/4 generics. I'll make a full post on all the changes probably within the next week or two.

Major, you continue to be my hero. This is awesome. All of these changes are appealing without seeming to overpower them. I like the Lorrir fix especially, since it lets him remain unique. He's a valid squint that doesn't rely on PTL.

Wait until you see the full list. ;) A couple of fixes will undoubtedly be controversial, but in general it gives some much-needed buffs to the *ahem* less competitive ships.

Lorrir is rendered pretty pointless by Phantoms, particularly Echo. Lorrir can't even get the RG title, so without some external help, he is cast into the unfulfilled potential pile. Sadly, if he was a Rebel (he and Kanos, for that matter), with all the token passing and buffing, he may have been a solid ship.

Lorrir is rendered pretty pointless by Phantoms, particularly Echo. Lorrir can't even get the RG title, so without some external help, he is cast into the unfulfilled potential pile. Sadly, if he was a Rebel (he and Kanos, for that matter), with all the token passing and buffing, he may have been a solid ship.

Lorrir at 23 points and getting a stress after his ability is not particularly appealing.

Lorrir at 22 points without stress penalty is a slightly different animal.

Both are a little over half the cost of your typical named ACD Phantom, so a direct comparison is difficult.

Edited by MajorJuggler

Lorrir is rendered pretty pointless by Phantoms, particularly Echo. Lorrir can't even get the RG title, so without some external help, he is cast into the unfulfilled potential pile. Sadly, if he was a Rebel (he and Kanos, for that matter), with all the token passing and buffing, he may have been a solid ship.

-Compared to Echo, he cost 23pts vs 35pts for Echo with ACD and VI.

-He can take the RG title. He's PS5 and the title require more than PS4.

-With fleet officer coming, you will be able to pass focus token around. Also, Vader with Squad Leader can turn Lorrir into a beast by allowing him to do his fancy barrel roll at PS9.

Conclusion, I really love using Lorrir in a team and consider him a solid ship.

I used Lorrir a few weeks ago for the first time and was really surprised at how useful his curved barrel roll is. I was flying him directly into range 1 of lower PS ships, then using his barrel roll to appear at their side! The stress was a bummer, but Lorrir has crazy arc dodging potential.

The high-PS meta we currently see probably isn't great for pilots like Lorrir who need to arc dodge but are a low PS. If Lorrir was PS7 with an EPT like Turr Phennir, he'd be a beast.

Conclusion, I really love using Lorrir in a team and consider him a solid ship.

Agreed...he doesn't "fit" into lists as an afterthought, though if you build a list with him in mind, he can be very effective.

I have been wondering whether it is possible to put wingman on echo and fly the two of them in tandem, or would Lorrir still not be able to keep up with echo's maneuvers.

Where's Parakitor when you need him? He loves Lorrir.

I might be a bit cynical when it comes to selecting flankers, but I'm not even looking at anything that can't be brought to PS9 and above. Including Echo.

I can get why people might go fo Echo, as it may still work out in quite a few games.

Lorrir I honestly never got at all, and why they thought PS5, for a flanker, would ever be a good idea.

Haven't seen him on a board since the initial Aces release. Which is too bad. He's such easy cannon fodder :)

Edited by Malmer

But, I think that's one of the points of Lorrir. Most opponents don't think of him as a threat. He's PS5, he has no EPT, his ability induces stress.. you name it, there are a lot of points against him. But, get him around to your side or back, and he can be just as ferocious as Fel. He still deals the same damage. And I know that I HATE having 3 dice thrown up my tailpipe.

But, I think that's one of the points of Lorrir. Most opponents don't think of him as a threat. He's PS5, he has no EPT, his ability induces stress.. you name it, there are a lot of points against him. But, get him around to your side or back, and he can be just as ferocious as Fel. He still deals the same damage. And I know that I HATE having 3 dice thrown up my tailpipe.

Every interceptor is a glass cannon with 3 attack and only 3 hull / agility, so they all need get killed ASAP. Lorrir is no different, he just happens to be overcosted and his ability is iffy.

But once he's on the table you want to kill him unless there's a bigger glass cannon around.

But, I think that's one of the points of Lorrir. Most opponents don't think of him as a threat. He's PS5, he has no EPT, his ability induces stress.. you name it, there are a lot of points against him. But, get him around to your side or back, and he can be just as ferocious as Fel. He still deals the same damage. And I know that I HATE having 3 dice thrown up my tailpipe.

Every interceptor is a glass cannon with 3 attack and only 3 hull / agility, so they all need get killed ASAP. Lorrir is no different, he just happens to be overcosted and his ability is iffy.

But once he's on the table you want to kill him unless there's a bigger glass cannon around.

I agree. Wholeheartedly. People ignore him, but he is still an Interceptor, and he can still deal out gobs of damage if left unchecked. He may be overcosted (though I only think by a point maybe), and his ability IS iffy. But nothing is sweeter that pulling that barrel roll and coming into range one outside of your opponents arc and letting loose with those 4 dice.. And people tend to think of him as a lesser threat - like many of the other named TIE's (other than Howl). They all have their uses. I know when I have a gap in points on the table, I give Lorrir serious consideration BECAUSE he tends to be ignored. Once he gets a shot off or two, people realize that he's not a threat to be taken lightly.

Glass cannons are fun to fly, and have been my go to ship for a while. While there is something to be said for throwing 5 dice from a Phantom at range one, it just doesn't seem as satisfying as using an interceptor to outmaneuver, out-flank, and out-fly your opponent.

Points wise, Lorrir is NEVER the back bone of my fleet, and that's what tends to make him unassuming. If I field him, I'm probably fielding Fel or a couple of RGP's as well. Noone ignores Fel or Royal Guards when they have PTL. And I bank on that. If everyone is worried about Fel dropping the hammer or 2 Royal Guards trying to place someone in a pincer, Lorrir can do his thing. I really have to give him a go with Vader to see if it helps him out (I'm sure it will).

But, I think that's one of the points of Lorrir. Most opponents don't think of him as a threat. He's PS5, he has no EPT, his ability induces stress.. you name it, there are a lot of points against him. But, get him around to your side or back, and he can be just as ferocious as Fel. He still deals the same damage. And I know that I HATE having 3 dice thrown up my tailpipe.

But once he's on the table you want to kill him unless there's a bigger glass cannon around.

Wave 4 could have been called "Imperial Glass Cannons", IMO. Echo, Vessery, Whisper, and Rexler are all target #1.

I've only flown him a few times, but I really love his unique ability. Sure he's a little underpowered compared to the stuff that wins tournaments, but nobody flies like him. Nobody. And that makes him super fun! Doing a left 2 turn, then using his barrel roll to swing left and forward, for an outcome of essentially lateral movement with a 45 degree angle change? Yes!

This is also why I love "Echo" and almost always choose him over "Whisper". Unexpected and multiple angle changes per turn is extremely fun to fly.

I have to admit, I totally dig this guy, his barrel roll special is awesome and I can buzz him around like nobodies business. Is he stressed every turn, sure but a green move gets me an action, or I fly him stressed a few turns. If I can keep him out of arcs I dont need the actions. Just how I fly him.

This pilot is rather underused (along with Tetran Cowall). His mobility is great and it can be very difficult for the opponent to predict where he will end up. I'm sure in a competitive tournament setting a suped-up Soontir Fel or a Phantom would be preferable, but in a friendly game he is good and really fun to fly.

Here's a couple sample squadrons that I enjoy flying featuring Lorrir:

Lieutenant Lorrir

Howlrunner + Stealth Device

4x Black Squadron

(100 points)

Lieutenant Lorrir

2x Bounty Hunter + Gunner

(99 points)

Edited by TheLoneDeranger

Some months ago, at FFG quarters...:

- Oh my God!!! A curved Barrel-roll??!!!

- Quickly!!! Reduce its PS!! Remove its EPT!!!!

- Are we safe yet?

- *Shivers* Dunno... Make it to also cause stress, just to be sure...

- Yeah, just in case... Ok, let's send the file to...

- NOOO WAIT!!!! Word it carefully for Lt. Yorr to be useless on him!!!!

- Whoa! Good catch!! We almost mess it!! OK, finished now... Sending... It's done...

- *Shudders* Let's hope Lorrir's ability doesn't go out of control...

- Yeah *sighs* May the force be with us....

Where's Parakitor when you need him? He loves Lorrir.

Oh, I'm reading ;)

I logged in for the first time in a couple of days and was pleasantly surprised to find not one, but TWO threads about interceptors!

So I agree that Lorrir can be the unassuming surprise attacker. However, I had bad luck running him alongside Soontir Fel, Royal Guard+PtL, and "Backstabber." Next to those guys, Lorrir is the obvious first target because 1) he costs more than "Backstabber" and 2) he is easier to kill than the other interceptors. It was kind of a bummer. So I switched to "Fel's Wrath" for that squad.

A squad that I've REALLY enjoyed, even though I lose about as much as I win, is 3 Alpha's alongside Lt. Lorrir and "Fel's Wrath" 100 points. You send "Fel's Wrath" right up to the opposing forces escorted by two Alphas if there are high PS ships, and hold Lorrir back until the higher PS pilots have been dealt with. Then the Lieutenant can mop up. He is dangerously good against generic B-wings and X-wings.

I'm gonna add one more thing. I love Lt. Lorrir. One of my favorite TIE interceptor pilots. But the meta is just terrible for him now. The power of the Engine Upgrade Han Solo has been brought to light (which is so thematic really), and now we have the HLC-toting Outrider and the brand new VT-49 Decimator. It's a really bad time to be an interceptor that repositions without an action. As much as I want to use him in this next TC Vassal tournament, it's just not happening.

EDIT: October 1st -- for those who haven't been keeping track, he actually is in one of my squads for this tournament. I just can't help myself!

Edited by Parakitor