...they let you spend your stress token for some defensive benefit. Like +1 green die (+2 green dice if outside attacker's primary firing arc?) or something like that.

Anyway, just a thought I had this morning. It would make PtL interceptors so...well even cooler than they already are

Nice tie in with PTL. Also like the double effect for turrets, so its useful always but amazing only out of fire arc? Still needs to be cheap, but still not gonna fit it on 4 PTL RGs. If it was a point you could have an awesome Sabre squadron!

... if they'd just get spoiled already.

... if they'd just get spoiled already.

Autothrusters should be spoiled soon; the Starviper preview is next in the pipe, and we haven't had a star wars preview for a few weeks. Patience.

I think I read/heard somewhere from FFG that teh Starviper included an upgrade Interceptor fans will love, so I bet it's autothrusters.

What if it was change one blank result to an eye result once per round on a defense roll, change two black results if the attack came from outside a primary fitting arc. Or change 1 normal/2 out of arc eye results to dodge results. Maybe add multiply attempts for the same attacker to mitigate Han, gunner, Luke.

Nice tie in with PTL. Also like the double effect for turrets, so its useful always but amazing only out of fire arc? Still needs to be cheap, but still not gonna fit it on 4 PTL RGs. If it was a point you could have an awesome Sabre squadron!

I don't care much for it because it makes PTL even more of a required upgrade than it already is. The named Interceptors without EPTs would become even worse choices than they already are.

If you can spend stress as an evade Corran goes from Han's kryptonite to Han's cyanide.

One hope I recently had pop into my head would be for it to benefit non interceptors against turrets as well, if it could get more generic xs on the table id be thrilled

Nice tie in with PTL. Also like the double effect for turrets, so its useful always but amazing only out of fire arc? Still needs to be cheap, but still not gonna fit it on 4 PTL RGs. If it was a point you could have an awesome Sabre squadron!

I don't care much for it because it makes PTL even more of a required upgrade than it already is. The named Interceptors without EPTs would become even worse choices than they already are.

It doesn't matter what you do: PtL is already a required upgrade for interceptors. Nothing else compares - the only way you can 'fix' that is to make an even better EPT, and then that will become the 'required upgrade' (although doing so might be game-breaking). Its unfortunate that interceptors without EPTs get the shaft, but that's how it is.

Having said that, I think you can use other EPTs in less competitive environments. Being able to spend your stress token would actually make a few EPTs more viable on interceptors than is currently the case. Consider Daredevil, opportunist or even Marksmanship + experimental interface (need royal gaurd title of course).

One hope I recently had pop into my head would be for it to benefit non interceptors against turrets as well, if it could get more generic xs on the table id be thrilled

I will be mightily surprised if autothrusters is the 'fix' that the poor ol' generic x-wings need (surprised in a good way, mind you). More realistically, a more specific benefit for them will likely be necessary in the future. Perhaps a title like 'Mainstay Fighter' (of the rebellion) that gives them something no one else has or something to help with durability (since x's aren't as durable as their fluff suggests, or it seems to me) or maybe versatility. Not sure what would be best, but that's a bit of a digression...

I'm honestly expecting something a bit 'simpler' and more thematic for the card title.

Something like 'After you perform an attack, you may move your ship in reverse using the 1-straight template. If you do so, acquire 1 stress token.'

The intent being for high-skill pilots to use their decent maneuvering ability to just duck into the edge of range 3 of a turreted ship, take a shot at it, and then bounce back out of range before it has a chance to shoot back. And stress tokens, as we all know, are really no problem for Interceptors to shed.

I suspect Autothrusters will require the Boost action, sort of keeping it out of the X-wings grasp.

I'm honestly expecting something a bit 'simpler' and more thematic for the card title.

Something like 'After you perform an attack, you may move your ship in reverse using the 1-straight template. If you do so, acquire 1 stress token.'

The intent being for high-skill pilots to use their decent maneuvering ability to just duck into the edge of range 3 of a turreted ship, take a shot at it, and then bounce back out of range before it has a chance to shoot back. And stress tokens, as we all know, are really no problem for Interceptors to shed.

I would love if it read something like:

"when defending against an attack outside of the attacker's primary firing arc, increase the distance for the attacker by one (if at range 3 before modifying you cannot be targeted)."

Versus Yt-1300s, YT-2400s, and Decimators, this would negate the enemy's +1 red die at range 1, give you + 1 green die at range 2, and make you safe at range 3.

Versus ships with Ion turrets or Blaster turrets, you'd be safe at range 2.

Versus the autoblaster turret, you'd always be safe.

I would really love it if Autothrusters were some kind of defensive alternative to PTL, so that named interceptors could reasonably take other EPTs.

For instance:

- whenever you perform a [boost] or [barrel roll] action, receive 1 evade token

My first idea was actually:

Agilty 3 ships only.

Once per round, after you perform an action shown in your action bar, you may perform 1 free [barrel roll], [evade] or [boost] action.

But it's almost the same as PTL, so I don't think this is it... plus, it gives no additonal benefit vs. turrets... Still, it would make Lt. Lorrir (focus before br) and Kir Kanos (focus + evade) good and would open up the EPT slot on elite interceptors...

What about:

Once per round, when you are declared the target of an attack, you may perform one [boost] or [barrel roll] action shown in your action bar. Then, if you are outside the attacker's firing arc, receive 1 evade token.

Too good, maybe? Anyway, this would be awesome on Turr - boost/br, evade, shoot, br/boost...

All of these go well with the name "Autothrusters" (if that is really what the upgrade is called), which implies some sort of automatic maneuvering...

It doesn't matter what you do: PtL is already a required upgrade for interceptors. Nothing else compares -

I think the hope is that it will be something that is just as good as PTL, that would make PTL redundant if they were both taken together and that takes a modification slot instead of EPT.

and would open up the EPT slot on elite interceptors...

No it wouldn't. It would just give PTL interceptors three actions per turn instead of two. You are never going to change the fact that PTL is the best EPT on a ship with a diverse action bar and lots of green maneuvers, unless you add blatant power creep and make something that's even more powerful than PTL.

Why do people come up with such complicated speculations?

Autothrusters

2.5 pts unless you have initiative, then 3 pts

Interceptors with Stealth Device and Push the Limit only

After Boosting to attack, if you are not in the defender's primary arc, you may cancel one his defense die, then barrel roll. If he still has an attack against you, you get to reroll exactly 2 dice.

Seriously, people. Game design is about simplicity.

and would open up the EPT slot on elite interceptors...

No it wouldn't. It would just give PTL interceptors three actions per turn instead of two. You are never going to change the fact that PTL is the best EPT on a ship with a diverse action bar and lots of green maneuvers, unless you add blatant power creep and make something that's even more powerful than PTL.

No, it would open up more variety and allow players to diversify their EPT. Outmaneuver or Daredevil on Soontir Fel would be awesome, as would Ruthlessness on Carnor or Veteran Instincts on Turr Phennir, just to name a few. It would also make the Royal Guard TIE title see a lot more play, which is always a plus in my book. That Emperor needs protecting!

No, it would open up more variety and allow players to diversify their EPT. Outmaneuver or Daredevil on Soontir Fel would be awesome, as would Ruthlessness on Carnor or Veteran Instincts on Turr Phennir, just to name a few.

None of those things would happen, for the same reason they don't happen right now: the value they add is less than the value of an extra action. The only reason you're starting to see a-wings with other EPTs is that their title card lets you take PTL and a second EPT.

Outmaneuver or Daredevil on Soontir Fel would be awesome...

No. No, they would not. That easy stress token and the resulting pseudo-triple-action you get from PtL is a very significant part of what makes him so good. Without it, Soontir's pilot ability is one of the worst in the game.