Wave 2 speculation

By dpb1298, in Star Wars: Armada

I think the missile boat is the one TIE Fighter entry we're not going to get. Putting aside how vanishingly rare it is (even in the context of TIE Fighter), you'll have to answer the design question of enabling a concussion missile primary. Only reasonable way to do that now in X-Wing is with a ship-specific modification card. Fitting it in as any other upgrade type (like cannons) opens up other unwanted options (like HLCs). It may come, but we're more likely to see other craft first (like the assault gunboat).

There's still room for the Avenger I think. The refitted Advanced brings us an option for a middle-weight fighter and I think the Avenger can fit there. It would be hyper mobile but more fragile than the TIE/D.

Never liked the self-important TIE names. Avenger and Defender don't feel too self important, but Oppressor and Aggressor are pushing it. Especially when the designs add goofy parts to otherwise streamlined TIEs.

IMO, the Carrack is a boring design. So is the Lancer. And the Dreadnought. All three of them are just angled elongated bricks. I won't deny they have a place in the Imperial arsenal but if they aren't wedge-shaped I'd ask that they at least look interesting. The B2 and Assassin are interesting redesigns of already popular space vessels, and it would give the empire a sort-of chance to fly those craft.

...yeah, for some reason, even though it felt 'AWESOME' owning everything with the Missileboat it just felt...I don't know, it sort of felt out-of-place in TIE Fighter. It was WAY too fast and way too powerful. I can definitely see the Admiralty board saying, no to mass producing Missileboats its godly-effectiveness basically made kilometer long star destroyers somewhat redundant.

Still, Norsehound, I'm personally hurt that you didn't say: "There's still room for the Avenger Gunboat I think. The refitted flexibility and durability of the Assault Gunboat Advanced brings us an additional option for a middle-weight strikecraft fighter and I think the Avenger GUN can DEfINITELY fit there. It would be hyper mobile but more fragile than the TIE/D."

Wait, that's an example of imperial propaganda right there...^ :D

Edit: Rofl, forgot to strikeout the last part! "... It would be hyper mobile but more fragile than the TIE/D. "

That's because the assault gunboat is a no-brainer. A cheaper small-ship cannon carrier for the Empire that trades the B-Wing's robustness for agility and the TIE Defender's cost for a lower stat-line. Another middle-weight fighter of the empire, most players are going to take it for HLC use and the named pilots. Would probably be enough that you'd fly two or one ace. Empire really needs something that feels in the middle and the new TIE Advanced, TIE Avenger, and Gunboat could all occupy this slot. There isn't anything else I can think of that would.

Immobilizers and Interdictors... until you can answer the question of what hyperspace does for this game I wouldn't put too much expectation on seeing them, because their entire function is to stop ships from going into hyperspace. Otherwise they're just poorer-armed cruisers. As far as I'm concerned the Interdictor-class is just as "useful" as an Immobilizer 418. Trade both of them for Vindicator cruisers, because then I'd be using the excess points for upgrades.

Ahh...Norsehound, I feel as though we're old friends. Hehehe!

What did you mean by "HLC"?

Interdictor Star Destroyers and Immobiliser 418s, I think MaverickNZ has a couple of interesting ideas in his thread " Armada as a RPG experience " - and I JUST added even more to it! Haha.

I agree the Interdictors and such would need a hyperspace mechanic to get their true purpose on the board. And I hope this happens. But even if they don't, can't they still be used the way Z-95s are used in X-wing? Few people pick them for their own sake. But if you're an Imperial with too few points for a SD and too many just to spam on upgrades/fighters, wouldn't a more lightly armed cruiser be welcome? Sure they don't have hyperspace mechanics, but they'd have the classic Imp triangle shape, be instantly recognizable, and iconic.

The Rebels tend to have cheaper ships so far, why not use an Interdictor much like a Rebel Nebulon-B?

If Borsk Fey'la shows up I'm burning that card into ash. Absolutely hated his character.

... **** he was well written.

ROFL, R22. Have to agree with you there!

He was too well written. Who the heck did Timothy Zahn base him off?

Wasn't Leia tempted to do something 'dark-sided' to him at one point when Luke and Han were fighting for their lives?

Back on topic. Liking the idea of more ship types. Can't say I've ever seen a Bothan ship?

...heck, just looked it (Bothan Assault Cruiser) up on Wookieepedia - looks sweet from that angle if it's a legit design!

...just entertained the thought of 'trying' out the Rebels if they ever released it. Don't think it'll be anywhere near Wave 2 though. :D

Edit:

To respond to R22's post up there ^

Yeah! Awesome stuff. The Neb-B can be fielded for some extra Anti-Starfighter duty. Immobilisers have 20 Quad-lasers right? That must account for something in terms of Anti-Starfighter weaponry! :)

Edited by Alpha Xg1

Here's to hoping for a Venator Star Destroyer for either side :D

If Borsk Fey'la shows up I'm burning that card into ash. Absolutely hated his character.

... **** he was well written.

ROFL, R22. Have to agree with you there!

He was too well written. Who the heck did Timothy Zahn base him off?

Wasn't Leia tempted to do something 'dark-sided' to him at one point when Luke and Han were fighting for their lives?

Back on topic. Liking the idea of more ship types. Can't say I've ever seen a Bothan ship?

...heck, just looked it (Bothan Assault Cruiser) up on Wookieepedia - looks sweet from that angle if it's a legit design!

...just entertained the thought of 'trying' out the Rebels if they ever released it. Don't think it'll be anywhere near Wave 2 though. :D

Edit:

To respond to R22's post up there ^

Yeah! Awesome stuff. The Neb-B can be fielded for some extra Anti-Starfighter duty. Immobilisers have 20 Quad-lasers right? That must account for something in terms of Anti-Starfighter weaponry! :)

Depends on the source. If memory serves the D6 version had 20 anti-capital ship lasers which took a massive accuracy penalty when firing at fighters and Saga had 20 quad light turbolasers which also had massive accuracy penalties when targeting fighters.

In D6 whether a weapon was a laser or a turbolaser didn't determine its effectiveness against fighters/small transports and capital ships. Rather what skill was used when firing it determined is effectiveness. Starship gunnery lasers and turbolasers were effective against fighters and could easily hit capital ships but rarely had the punch to hurt capships while capital ship gunnery lasers and turbolasers were effective against capital ships and while they could pretty much one shot kill any fighter out there it took a miracle or the gunner having a 5d or 6d advantage in gunnery skill over the target's pilot skill to score a hit.

At some point either in Saga or D20 (I don't remember which ATM) they replaced most, if not all of the capital ship gunnery lasers with turbolasers and replaced most or all of the starship gunnery turbolasers with lasers (Though honestly I'm not certain if any ship models which had starship gunnery turbolasers in d6 appeared in Saga.)

I think the missile boat is the one TIE Fighter entry we're not going to get. Putting aside how vanishingly rare it is (even in the context of TIE Fighter), you'll have to answer the design question of enabling a concussion missile primary. Only reasonable way to do that now in X-Wing is with a ship-specific modification card. Fitting it in as any other upgrade type (like cannons) opens up other unwanted options (like HLCs). It may come, but we're more likely to see other craft first (like the assault gunboat).

There's still room for the Avenger I think. The refitted Advanced brings us an option for a middle-weight fighter and I think the Avenger can fit there. It would be hyper mobile but more fragile than the TIE/D.

Never liked the self-important TIE names. Avenger and Defender don't feel too self important, but Oppressor and Aggressor are pushing it. Especially when the designs add goofy parts to otherwise streamlined TIEs.

IMO, the Carrack is a boring design. So is the Lancer. And the Dreadnought. All three of them are just angled elongated bricks. I won't deny they have a place in the Imperial arsenal but if they aren't wedge-shaped I'd ask that they at least look interesting. The B2 and Assassin are interesting redesigns of already popular space vessels, and it would give the empire a sort-of chance to fly those craft.

...yeah, for some reason, even though it felt 'AWESOME' owning everything with the Missileboat it just felt...I don't know, it sort of felt out-of-place in TIE Fighter. It was WAY too fast and way too powerful. I can definitely see the Admiralty board saying, no to mass producing Missileboats its godly-effectiveness basically made kilometer long star destroyers somewhat redundant.

Still, Norsehound, I'm personally hurt that you didn't say: "There's still room for the Avenger Gunboat I think. The refitted flexibility and durability of the Assault Gunboat Advanced brings us an additional option for a middle-weight strikecraft fighter and I think the Avenger GUN can DEfINITELY fit there. It would be hyper mobile but more fragile than the TIE/D."

Wait, that's an example of imperial propaganda right there...^ :D

Edit: Rofl, forgot to strikeout the last part! "... It would be hyper mobile but more fragile than the TIE/D. "

That's because the assault gunboat is a no-brainer. A cheaper small-ship cannon carrier for the Empire that trades the B-Wing's robustness for agility and the TIE Defender's cost for a lower stat-line. Another middle-weight fighter of the empire, most players are going to take it for HLC use and the named pilots. Would probably be enough that you'd fly two or one ace. Empire really needs something that feels in the middle and the new TIE Advanced, TIE Avenger, and Gunboat could all occupy this slot. There isn't anything else I can think of that would.

Immobilizers and Interdictors... until you can answer the question of what hyperspace does for this game I wouldn't put too much expectation on seeing them, because their entire function is to stop ships from going into hyperspace. Otherwise they're just poorer-armed cruisers. As far as I'm concerned the Interdictor-class is just as "useful" as an Immobilizer 418. Trade both of them for Vindicator cruisers, because then I'd be using the excess points for upgrades.

Ahh...Norsehound, I feel as though we're old friends. Hehehe!

What did you mean by "HLC"?

Interdictor Star Destroyers and Immobiliser 418s, I think MaverickNZ has a couple of interesting ideas in his thread " Armada as a RPG experience " - and I JUST added even more to it! Haha.

...never thought I'd be quoting my own post but it does contain Norsehound's original response. Hehe.

Holy heck, found this AWESOME piece of kit over at Shapeways!

Imperial Assault Gunboat by Gosric

...is that for X-Wing or?

Do you suppose she/he'd make some in Armada scale?

:o

This is so awesome, I'm beside myself all ready!

Here's to hoping for a Venator Star Destroyer for either side :D

Venator,... Isn't that the ship that looks like Jar Jar Binks' head, complete with snout and eyestalks?

Ahh...Norsehound, I feel as though we're old friends. Hehehe!

What did you mean by "HLC"?

Interdictor Star Destroyers and Immobiliser 418s, I think MaverickNZ has a couple of interesting ideas in his thread " Armada as a RPG experience " - and I JUST added even more to it! Haha.

...never thought I'd be quoting my own post but it does contain Norsehound's original response. Hehe.

Holy heck, found this AWESOME piece of kit over at Shapeways!

Imperial Assault Gunboat by Gosric

...is that for X-Wing or?

Do you suppose she/he'd make some in Armada scale?

:o

This is so awesome, I'm beside myself all ready!

I cant speak for Gosric, but I have asked Mel of "Mels Miniatures" : http://www.shapeways.com/designer/Mel_Miniatures

There will certainly be Armada-scale stuff on here after the game is out :)

Here's to hoping for a Venator Star Destroyer for either side :D

Venator,... Isn't that the ship that looks like Jar Jar Binks' head, complete with snout and eyestalks?

The Venator : apex of Star Destroyer loveliness. On the off chance you're not joking... ;-P

Here's to hoping for a Venator Star Destroyer for either side :D

Venator,... Isn't that the ship that looks like Jar Jar Binks' head, complete with snout and eyestalks?

The Venator : apex of Star Destroyer loveliness. On the off chance you're not joking... ;-P

I would be ecstatic to see the Venator.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned the Nebula class Star Destroyers . Granted, the are New Republic from EU -- so highly unlikely we'll see them. But -- JJ, if you are reading this -- it would be cool if these were in the new movies :D

Star Destroyers are far from my favorite ships but Venators aren't bad. Nebulas are decent but I would be shocked if they show up in the new films. Maybe some novels set between the trilogies or in the ST era though.

Edited by RogueCorona

Ahh...Norsehound, I feel as though we're old friends. Hehehe!

What did you mean by "HLC"?

Interdictor Star Destroyers and Immobiliser 418s, I think MaverickNZ has a couple of interesting ideas in his thread " Armada as a RPG experience " - and I JUST added even more to it! Haha.

...never thought I'd be quoting my own post but it does contain Norsehound's original response. Hehe.

Holy heck, found this AWESOME piece of kit over at Shapeways!

Imperial Assault Gunboat by Gosric

...is that for X-Wing or?

Do you suppose she/he'd make some in Armada scale?

:o

This is so awesome, I'm beside myself all ready!

I cant speak for Gosric, but I have asked Mel of "Mels Miniatures" : http://www.shapeways.com/designer/Mel_Miniatures

There will certainly be Armada-scale stuff on here after the game is out :)

Aww man!

Those ATR-6's look awesome!

The Assault Gunboats...

^Nosebleed^

GUNBOAAATTTTSSSS!!!

I think I'm in heaven. :lol:

Here's to hoping for a Venator Star Destroyer for either side :D

Venator,... Isn't that the ship that looks like Jar Jar Binks' head, complete with snout and eyestalks?

The Venator : apex of Star Destroyer loveliness. On the off chance you're not joking... ;-P

I would be ecstatic to see the Venator.

I wasn't joking, I like how the Venator looks and the role it fulfills. It's a ship that's quite adept at everything, a jack-of-all-trades that carries a massive amount of starfighters, a decent armament, manouverability, shielding and can even help with carrying invasion forces and armies. Perfect as the flagship of a small fleet (Here's hoping for Venators for Rebels!). Also, with its varied armament, it should be decent at all ranges and its upgrade bar could possibly be insane.

Here's to hoping for a Venator Star Destroyer for either side :D

Venator,... Isn't that the ship that looks like Jar Jar Binks' head, complete with snout and eyestalks?

The Venator : apex of Star Destroyer loveliness. On the off chance you're not joking... ;-P

Yes, that one!

jjbvenator.jpg

****! NOW I CAN NEVER SEE VENATORS THE SAME WAY AGAIN! :P

Well, shame on that... I always thought Venators would look that tiny bit better if they had a pointier nose... So it'd look like a dagger if looked from the top. The two towers aren't the prettiest, but I still think it's a rather good looking ship and with great features, after all, it's the SD prototype before we got the Imperial ones.

****! NOW I CAN NEVER SEE VENATORS THE SAME WAY AGAIN! :P

Yes... that was exactly what I was going for. The Venator has now been forever Binksed in your mind. :lol:

Edited by Mikael Hasselstein

****! NOW I CAN NEVER SEE VENATORS THE SAME WAY AGAIN! :P

Yes... that was exactly what I was going for. The Venator has now been forever Binksed in your mind. :lol:

Read your posts and immediately started chanting nursery rhymes to myself. Must... NOT... picture... Venator ... as ... Binks!

I have always seen it as a lovely, Scarlet and Grey parent of the Victory.

(Go Bucks!)

****! NOW I CAN NEVER SEE VENATORS THE SAME WAY AGAIN! :P

Yes... that was exactly what I was going for. The Venator has now been forever Binksed in your mind. :lol:

Read your posts and immediately started chanting nursery rhymes to myself. Must... NOT... picture... Venator ... as ... Binks!

Resistance is futile. Search your imagination: you know the Venator to be Binks.

Edited by Mikael Hasselstein

I have always seen it as a lovely, Scarlet and Grey parent of the Victory.

(Go Bucks!)

Not a big fan of the Venerator, but if I was you would have just ruined it.

****! NOW I CAN NEVER SEE VENATORS THE SAME WAY AGAIN! :P

Yes... that was exactly what I was going for. The Venator has now been forever Binksed in your mind. :lol:

Read your posts and immediately started chanting nursery rhymes to myself. Must... NOT... picture... Venator ... as ... Binks!

Resistance is futile. Search your imagination: you know the Venator to be Binks.

Imagination? Hah! I am a table top gamer -- I need no imagination -- I have minis :ph34r:

Here's to hoping for a Venator Star Destroyer for either side :D

Venator,... Isn't that the ship that looks like Jar Jar Binks' head, complete with snout and eyestalks?

The Venator : apex of Star Destroyer loveliness. On the off chance you're not joking... ;-P

Yes, that one!

jjbvenator.jpg

Rofl!!! Man, I laugh so hard at this! Mikael, you are TRULY evil!!! Maybe that's why the Venator never appealed to me...it was subconciously registering as Binks! : :lol:

Rofl!!! Man, I laugh so hard at this! Mikael, you are TRULY evil!!! Maybe that's why the Venator never appealed to me...it was subconciously registering as Binks! : :lol:

Excellent.

Now you may reward me by going to my blog: HNN: The Most Loyal Name in News and giving me some hits. :P

I've given this quite a bit of thought, and I believe the best way to anticipate future waves is to look for interesting pairing that impact gameplay in good ways. For example:

MC-80 & Imperial SD

Both of theses are the backbones of their respective fleets. They are iconic, and would set the baseline for Armada Large. I would say this game is incomplete without them.

DP20 Corellian Gunship & Lancer Frigate

Anti- Fighter platforms. They could make it possible for all capital ship fleets without fighter escort

Bulk Cruiser (Neutron Star or Quasar Fire) & Escort Carrier

Heavy fighter platforms that could increase the number of fighters you can have on the board, and support them

Maurader Corvette & Broadside Cruiser

Missile boats that are vulnerable up close, but pack a punch at maximum range

Viscount Star Defender & Executor SSD

Armada Huge. Biggest of the big. A whole new level of combat.

Some possible issues I see with your list

1 While FFG is the first tabletop/RPG company to give stats for a stock Neutron Star Bulk Cruiser they have yet to use the older Neutron Star carrier conversion anywhere that I know of so it would be much more likely right now for a Qaser Fire carrier over a Neutron Star.

2:: The Marauder is only shown as a Missile Corvette in one source. In most sources the class doesn't have any Missile Launchers.

3: The Broadsword is a Gladiator variant designed to focus more on missile combat. I really hope FFG isn't expecting us to buy a new Gladiator expansion just to get the Broadsword card