I wish I could say I have had a lot of practice with the E-wing and the Defender. I have had them a few months and only had a few chances to play them, but with that limited experience, plus what I have gathered from these forums I have noticed some interesting things.

You would think that the E-wing and the Defender would be similar, They both come close to having straight 3's down the row of stats. They are both relatively expensive.

There are other differences of course, (one of the biggest being how you incorporate them into their existing fleets.) But one big difference I have noticed is what pilots you want on them

For the E-wing, both Coran and Et'han are great pilots and great choices. I haven't seen too many people playing with the generic E-wing pilots.

The Defender seems to be the opposite. I ave tried to make a go with both named pilots and have not yet had much success. However people seem be loving the generic versions of these ships.

I have to wonder why this is. It is partly due to the fact that the named pilots for the Defender have abilities that aren't that useful.

But I wonder if the fact that the Defender costs more comes into play as well. How about the fact that the defender has an extra hit (allowing it to shoot later?)

Just some musings.

Vessery with HLC and VI is a real monster if someone can throw up his target locks for him.

Their dials are just about opposites, which I find fun.

For me, the difference lies in the fact that the E-Wings pilots require minimal to no synergy, allowing them a lot of freedom when building with them.

On the other hand, both of the Defender pilots require a great deal of synergy, making them harder to eek in to lists.

I think part of the issue here for me is that I am simply not used to that when it comes to building Imperial lists.

I wish I could say I have had a lot of practice with the E-wing and the Defender. I have had them a few months and only had a few chances to play them, but with that limited experience, plus what I have gathered from these forums I have noticed some interesting things.

You would think that the E-wing and the Defender would be similar, They both come close to having straight 3's down the row of stats. They are both relatively expensive.

There are other differences of course, (one of the biggest being how you incorporate them into their existing fleets.) But one big difference I have noticed is what pilots you want on them

For the E-wing, both Coran and Et'han are great pilots and great choices. I haven't seen too many people playing with the generic E-wing pilots.

The Defender seems to be the opposite. I ave tried to make a go with both named pilots and have not yet had much success. However people seem be loving the generic versions of these ships.

I have to wonder why this is. It is partly due to the fact that the named pilots for the Defender have abilities that aren't that useful.

But I wonder if the fact that the Defender costs more comes into play as well. How about the fact that the defender has an extra hit (allowing it to shoot later?)

Just some musings.

Haven't found this to be the case at all with defenders, (and if you think I'm alone in this, you have probably missed several threads that have come up on the topic).

I've not used the generics but like both named quite a bit, especially the Defender. Brath and Vessery are more appropriately costed than generic versions. For me in the current meta a ship like Fel is much more useful than a generic defender, and very similar in cost.

Brath with Predator is much more flexible as part of any list (beyond cost), while Vessery does require a bit of help from the rest of the list, but I've found both to be very effective competitively.

Vessery with HLC and VI is a real monster if someone can throw up his target locks for him.

This, although I've found that his ability is more of a nice to have than anything else. Being able to pound ships with four attack dice at range three that also denies the extra defense die is strong.

For me, the difference lies in the fact that the E-Wings pilots require minimal to no synergy, allowing them a lot of freedom when building with them.

On the other hand, both of the Defender pilots require a great deal of synergy, making them harder to eek in to lists.

I find the opposite, really. Maybe it's due to which pilots I use. For the E-wing, I tend to use Etahn. That means he's there for the other pilots. He's basically got to stay alive and in a good spot, but doesn't have to do too much damage with his own shots.

For the Defender, I've primarily used Col Vessery. The only thing I give him is VI, and that's usually because I've a point left over. I combine him with the Buzzsaw Shuttle and set him loose. I don't bother jacking his points up as I want other things in the list. The Buzzsaw Shuttle is usually giving out Target Locks all over the place and I sometimes don't spend them to ensure that Col V. has one. The 3 dice with Focus and free TL usually means a lot of damage.

I haven't used the generics for either ship, though.

All rexler needs is a HLC and predator to ruin people's day, vessery needs more help but the reward is most turns your guaranteed three hits with a strong possibility for four.

While alot of lists can struggle against falcons rexler will cripple it fairly quickly as every hit can be turned over.

Generics are just awesome unmodded going first ensuring the best use of their movement and they have the shields to survive shooting last.

I think the E-wing is clearly the better value of the two ships.

They both have 3 attack and 3 agility. Defender gets missile but e-wing gets torpedo so that's a wash as well.

So for 3 more points, the defender gets +1 hull, cannon slot, and white k turn, compared to the e-wing which has a better dial (besides the kturn), astromech slot, systems slot, and evade action.

I think the E-wing is clearly the better value of the two ships.

They both have 3 attack and 3 agility. Defender gets missile but e-wing gets torpedo so that's a wash as well.

So for 3 more points, the defender gets +1 hull, cannon slot, and white k turn, compared to the e-wing which has a better dial (besides the kturn), astromech slot, systems slot, and evade action.

Are you insane? the K turn alone makes it the superior fighter add to that the versatility of the canon slot and there is no comparison.

It is partly due to the fact that the named pilots for the Defender have abilities that aren't that useful.

You're kidding.

It is partly due to the fact that the named pilots for the Defender have abilities that aren't that useful.

You're kidding.

A lot of people feel this way. I disagree about Vessery, but I have yet to use Rexler's ability even once after 5-10 games played with him.

Okay you defender lovers (I have wanted to be one of you, but haven't got them to work) Rather than flying them as Generic, how is this list:

Rexler and Vessery, both with HLC, Preditor and Shield upgrade.

For a two ship list this sounds pretty good, except you have to decide if you want Rexler to Focus (activate his own ability) or TL (activate Vessery's ability)

Vessery's ability seemed really cool until you realize how few Imperial ships have a TL. I find taking a ship just to provide TL isn't that cost effective.

Rexler is hard to activate. But vessery is really really powerful.

The ps1 defender is really a good ship.

The generic e wings are over existed but the other pilots are excellent.

I have had success with both":

Bounty hunter

OGP+ sensor Jammer

Vessery + HLC

and

Brath + Predator

Vessery + VI

Doomshuttle

The shuttle is a great TL'er for Vessery , the more I use them the less I like putting extras on the defenders they seem pretty efficient as is.

Okay you defender lovers (I have wanted to be one of you, but haven't got them to work) Rather than flying them as Generic, how is this list:

Rexler and Vessery, both with HLC, Preditor and Shield upgrade.

For a two ship list this sounds pretty good, except you have to decide if you want Rexler to Focus (activate his own ability) or TL (activate Vessery's ability)

Vessery's ability seemed really cool until you realize how few Imperial ships have a TL. I find taking a ship just to provide TL isn't that cost effective.

Try Vessery with a shuttle (upgraded to taste or not at all). The shuttle likes TL. I ran Vessery (HLC, VI)+Shuttle+Soontir (HU, SU, PTL) and wen't 4-0 at local tourney but got second due to MoV.

Okay you defender lovers (I have wanted to be one of you, but haven't got them to work) Rather than flying them as Generic, how is this list:

Rexler and Vessery, both with HLC, Preditor and Shield upgrade.

For a two ship list this sounds pretty good, except you have to decide if you want Rexler to Focus (activate his own ability) or TL (activate Vessery's ability)

Vessery's ability seemed really cool until you realize how few Imperial ships have a TL. I find taking a ship just to provide TL isn't that cost effective.

Soontir Fel, Ptl, Targeting computer.

Everyone always overlooks TC. Above is my go-to Fel build, thanks to the TL+ free focus combo. There's your TL platform

How's this

Vessery + HLC

OGP + EU + Adv Sen

Delta Squadron

Okay you defender lovers (I have wanted to be one of you, but haven't got them to work) Rather than flying them as Generic, how is this list:

Rexler and Vessery, both with HLC, Preditor and Shield upgrade.

For a two ship list this sounds pretty good, except you have to decide if you want Rexler to Focus (activate his own ability) or TL (activate Vessery's ability)

Wastes either Vessery or Rexler's ability most rounds. Rexler wants to focus, Vessery wants his allies to target lock.

Vessery's ability seemed really cool until you realize how few Imperial ships have a TL. I find taking a ship just to provide TL isn't that cost effective.

A superphantom with Fire Control System and Weapons Engineer is great for Vessery's ability, not to mention pretty **** useful for the phantom too.

I feel like the lists that try to squeeze in two Defenders are going to disappoint. I think they are amazing ships, and maybe Jonus Brothers excluded, are best purchased as solo vessels.

I prefer vessery with Outmaneuver, but my group is filled with B Wings and YT's, so Outmaneuver becomes very powerful. i agree that they don't really need a lot of bling, being very solid with maybe just an EPT.

I use mine as:

Vessery 35

Outmaneuver 3

Bounty Hunter 33

Recon Spec 3

OGP Shuttle 21

Vader 3

Fire Control System 2

I usually have the shuttle charge something, and try to flank it with Vessery. I let the FCS on the Shuttle hold the lock for Vessery. I fly the Bounty Hunter around ot support and cause havoc. So far I've gone 3-0 with the list, so I'm still working at it.

I haven't used Delta's much yet, but I think the HLC would be a good matchup for it.

Is VI on vessery really helpful or an afterthought? At PS8 he is still below most PS9's like HSF, Soontir, VI Whisper and Wedge. Is it worth it?

I adore the old warhorse that is the Delta with an HLC. I really wish Onyx had an EPT. I know you aren't paying much for Vassery's ability, but it feels weird to just ignore it.... alltho... hmm.

I think the E-wing is clearly the better value of the two ships.

They both have 3 attack and 3 agility. Defender gets missile but e-wing gets torpedo so that's a wash as well.

So for 3 more points, the defender gets +1 hull, cannon slot, and white k turn, compared to the e-wing which has a better dial (besides the kturn), astromech slot, systems slot, and evade action.

Are you insane? the K turn alone makes it the superior fighter add to that the versatility of the canon slot and there is no comparison.

I'm going to have to disagree with this statement.

In comparison, the E-Wing has less red maneuvers, banked green maneuvers, 1 more action and the versatility of systems upgrades (arguably the best modification option in the game) and access to astromechs while having their generics cost 3 points less at the same pilot skill.

A white K-Turn doesn't automatically warrant the Defender to be a superior fighter, especially when it is competing with the versatility and maneuverability of the E-Wing.

I've played near every week since wave four using defenders in all but two games and I've never got a defender stressed and I've only lost three defenders to enemy fire, there's no need to ever stress a defender.

On the other hand I've watched stressed e-wings waste two turns getting back into the fight.

Corran can provide a powerful finishing punch and Ethan buffs things decently, but there are just better options for rebel players.

It's nigh on impossible to one shot a defender the same can't be said of the e-wing.

Vessary + Outmanuver

Gamma + flechette x2 + seismic

Gamma + cluster + seismic charge

AP + TC

Gamma's alpha whatever you want dead after V dents em... If they choose to shoot at an academy with TC instead of bombers or V that's ok with me.

You can also run one gamma and one scimitar and trade double flechette for flechette+ failsafe for NightBeast + TC.

You can't one shot an e-wing unless they bump or you use ordinance which can also drop a defender in one shot.

You can't one shot an e-wing unless they bump or you use ordinance which can also drop a defender in one shot.

Or they walk into an extremely lucky Proton Bomb.