I always thought it was a bit ironic that the gunboat was primarily a missile carrier. I say let the gunboat have its HLC option, and let the gunning commence!

The only reason I don't agree is that it would essentially makethe HLC an autoinclude.

I don't like autoincludes.

Rebels are able to field 3 HLC.

How often does this happen?

Imperials are able to field 3 HLC.

How often does this happen?

Scum will be able to field 4 HLC.

How often will this happen?

With the exception of the Syck, which requires a 2pnt heavy syck upgrade to have. How many of these are only Firepower: 2?

Edit: well nevermind the YT2400 can. In which case sod it, give it a stock cannon slot.

Then push the Gunboat up to Firepower 3.

Then push the Gunboat up to Firepower 3.

Nah, either bite the bullet and just give it a cannon, or go the fixed turret route.

Here's a crazy thought: what if it had an Ion primary weapon? Do you remember how cool it was to see that 360-degree icon on the primary weapon of YT-1300 cards, and the crazy front/rear arc feature on the Firespray ship cards? What if there was a new primary weapon type that had the ion symbol, so essentially these things only deal ion damage (one damage + Ion token) with their primary weapons. It would be dramatically different from anything in the game to date, and it would encourage the use of missiles so you can have higher damage output. Of course, they would need to be priced accordingly.

EDIT: I really like these conversations. It really helps me appreciate what the designers have to go through.

Here's a crazy thought: what if it had an Ion primary weapon? Do you remember how cool it was to see that 360-degree icon on the primary weapon of YT-1300 cards, and the crazy front/rear arc feature on the Firespray ship cards? What if there was a new primary weapon type that had the ion symbol, so essentially these things only deal ion damage (one damage + Ion token) with their primary weapons. It would be dramatically different from anything in the game to date, and it would encourage the use of missiles so you can have higher damage output. Of course, they would need to be priced accordingly.

EDIT: I really like these conversations. It really helps me appreciate what the designers have to go through.

I remember modding a ship in Tie Fighter to be like this, to act as a boarding ship. Great idea, but that's not really what an assault gunboat is.

Ion primaries? What's going on here?

It's not a problem to give the Assault Gunboat a cannon slot if you have other disadvantages to balance it out. B-Wings are slow and cannot dodge special effect weapons at agil-1 (Even if they can take the punishment). TIE Defenders labor under being expensive to begin with. Firesprays and YT-2400s have big bases and only use those HLCs out of the front arc (unless you have Outrider).

So when considering an Assault Gunboat I think you can hit the dial speeds as a counterbalance to HLC use. That, and cost. If the XG-1 is around 22 points bare then you're facing the option of either bare Gunboats for support in your lists, four Assault Gunboats with Ion cannons, or three gunboats armed with HLCs. And if the dial is in the Y-Wing/HWK-290 range this isn't going to be getting a bearing on a craft without significant upgrades, like giving it Engine Upgrade to help it turn.

Ion primaries? What's going on here?

Hey, just a thought. To be fair, the TIE defender not being able to make tight turns without stress is NOTHING like it acts in the TIE fighter computer game. And B-wings didn't have Sensor Jammers, A-wings did. Some ships can be changed slightly for this game, and I think Ion primaries would give the Gunboat a unique role to play.

But I agree that using cost/dial to limit HLC use is probably good enough.

Ion primaries? What's going on here?

Hey, just a thought. To be fair, the TIE defender not being able to make tight turns without stress is NOTHING like it acts in the TIE fighter computer game. And B-wings didn't have Sensor Jammers, A-wings did. Some ships can be changed slightly for this game, and I think Ion primaries would give the Gunboat a unique role to play.

But I agree that using cost/dial to limit HLC use is probably good enough.

You know i've been thinking about this. Because of a T/D's speed it's turns are probably not that tight unless (in XvT/XWA) you moved at 1/3 throttle. So it kinda makes sense. kinda. sorta.

To any nitpickers noting i put XvT there: Yes you can get the TIE defender in XvT. You copied the opts and cockpit files from TIE98...

I always thought it was a bit ironic that the gunboat was primarily a missile carrier. I say let the gunboat have its HLC option, and let the gunning commence!

The only reason I don't agree is that it would essentially makethe HLC an autoinclude.

I don't like autoincludes.

I don't follow. It sounds like you're saying that the mere existence of the HLC makes it an autoinclude. How is the HLC more of an autoinclude on the gunboat than on any other ship? Is it just because the gunboat is comparitively cheaper than other ships that have a cannon slot? If the HLC is too good, then it sounds to me like the problem is with the HLC, not with the gunboat having a cannon slot. There are other cannons besides ion and HLC. The HLC's existence shouldn't prevent the gunboat from having access to the other cannon options.

I always thought it was a bit ironic that the gunboat was primarily a missile carrier. I say let the gunboat have its HLC option, and let the gunning commence!

The only reason I don't agree is that it would essentially makethe HLC an autoinclude.

I don't like autoincludes.

I don't follow. It sounds like you're saying that the mere existence of the HLC makes it an autoinclude. How is the HLC more of an autoinclude on the gunboat than on any other ship? Is it just because the gunboat is comparitively cheaper than other ships that have a cannon slot? If the HLC is too good, then it sounds to me like the problem is with the HLC, not with the gunboat having a cannon slot. There are other cannons besides ion and HLC. The HLC's existence shouldn't prevent the gunboat from having access to the other cannon options.

The math becomes somewhat different when the ship has only 2 base attack instead of 3. See the YT-2400 as an example. Even if the Ion Cannon Turret Costed 0 points, you might still want to get the HLC instead.

I always thought it was a bit ironic that the gunboat was primarily a missile carrier. I say let the gunboat have its HLC option, and let the gunning commence!

The only reason I don't agree is that it would essentially makethe HLC an autoinclude.

I don't like autoincludes.

I don't follow. It sounds like you're saying that the mere existence of the HLC makes it an autoinclude. How is the HLC more of an autoinclude on the gunboat than on any other ship? Is it just because the gunboat is comparitively cheaper than other ships that have a cannon slot? If the HLC is too good, then it sounds to me like the problem is with the HLC, not with the gunboat having a cannon slot. There are other cannons besides ion and HLC. The HLC's existence shouldn't prevent the gunboat from having access to the other cannon options.

Firepower 3 : = 4 up close and personal. Only 1 attack dice different from HLC - not that big a deal, and with 4 up close primary is better than HLC.

Firepower 2/3 = doubled by HLC at range, can compensate up close. I find Firepower 2 to be a little on the weak side outside of range 1, the HLC is a huge buff to that. HLC is always better than primary in this case.

Eh the above explanation is better. Use that one.

And again, Autoblasters would have a home potentially on the Assault Gunboat because then at means at range 1 you ignore enemy defense results for 5 points, on a hypothetical 27 point gunboat.

If we ever see an Ion Primary on ANY ship, it should be the Skipray Blastboat.

The more I think about it, the less inclined I would be to give the Assault Gunboat a cannon slot at all. Two Missile or Torpedo slots and a Systems slot would do it nicely. Maybe packaged together with a new Systems upgrade which enhances ordnance somehow..?