I think first i will try

Maarek Stele (27)
Predator (3)
Advanced Targeting Computer (1)
TIE/x1 (0)

Total: 31

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Simple easy see how i feal about him then i might try

Maarek Stele (27)
Outmaneuver (3)
Advanced Targeting Computer (1)
Engine Upgrade (4)
TIE/x1 (0)

Total: 35

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Its how i run Vader but i dont think it would work as well on Maarek at Ps 7

Maarek Stele (27)
Opportunist (4)
Advanced Targeting Computer (1)
TIE/x1 (0)

Total: 32

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

this could be a good one but it would need to work with other higher PS ships and some luck to make him work

what ideas do you guys have

I think Predator is a solid choice. I have a hard time coming up with anything else that would be as good. I'll need to run Mr. Stele a few times with just the title and Adv. Targeting Computer to see what kind of help he needs.

You could run a squad of all 9's with Vader,Marek/VI and Soontir Fel. Just saying.

That's definitely viable now.

Marek looks to actually be a viable choice of ship!

Can't list it on phone but:

All ruthlessness!!

http://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Galactic%20Empire&d=v3!s!22:100,-1:23:3:U.124;19:100,-1:23:-1:U.124;128:100,73:23:-1:U.124

I won't. Crits are nice, but i prefer a more useful skill through the whole game and not a situational one.

I won't. Crits are nice, but i prefer a more useful skill through the whole game and not a situational one.

Attacking with 3 dice where one has crits on all sides isn't useful the whole game? If his attack gets through shields, his ability fires, end of. This isn't the old Maarek.

I think he means he'd rather just play Vader. I don't see why, Steele actually has a lot of potential to demolish people with crits now that he can actually crit something. Predator seems like a good choice, you still want to roll some hits so they can't just evade your crit and Predator makes up for not having a target lock reroll. I still like Vader better but Steele is actually a pilot worth choosing now.

I won't. Crits are nice, but i prefer a more useful skill through the whole game and not a situational one.

Attacking with 3 dice where one has crits on all sides isn't useful the whole game? If his attack gets through shields, his ability fires, end of. This isn't the old Maarek.

To justify the cost ? No.

I will try to make myself more clear, since i know this kind of stuff seems counterintuitive.

- You are paying 5 points for advanced targeting. Why ? because the tie advanced itself is around 4 points overcosted already. For the points Mareek costs, you could bring a ship either cheaper, or just flat out better withouth relying on shields/not overkill/having a TL token on that ship.

- Anytime you use an action to modify dice, even tho you are not getting an instant crit, you are improving your chances. In the case of the Tie advanced, you have 25% chances of 3 hits, 50% chances of 2 hits, 25% chances of 1 hit (when i am saying hits, i am not making distinction between crit/hit). The chances for getting a subpar roll compared to a 3 attack dice ship with dice modification, is WAY HIGHER, even tho the average is only slightly better, since there is no dice modification in your 2 attack roll if you don't include predator/lone wolf. Compared to a predator Vader, since he actually gets to modify his focus, while Maarek wouldn't be able to reroll them with predator. Do you see people playing markmanship a lot ? Nope right ? Well, they are pretty much the same for a 3 attack dice ship.

- Your damage relies completely on the use of a target lock on the right ship, and you don't get any action for repositioning. The advanced, is not exactly an amazing ship in terms of maneuverability.

Conclussion, you are paying already 31 points (predator + Adv T.) for a ship that is completely forced to target lock to be able to dish out slightly above the average damage for a 3 dice, and he doesn't have the momevement advantadge to make real use of it as often as you would like to (either shields, or arc dodged).

Meanwhile Vader has the PS advantadge and he has two actions so he can either place himself on a spot where to be able to abuse the upgrade, or he has the token (focus) to be able to get a good roll like a 3 attack dice ship with double dice modification (focus + predator) which are the norm nowadays. So the only thing Maarek has, is how he gets to crit. If he doesn't (shields / overkill), his pilot skill is useless. Vader is flexible, Maarek is not.

It happens to him the same that happens to same Rexler , even tho you will get people talking about how amazing it is. It relies on you having a good roll so you don't need to modify dices with your focus action. Thing is, most of the time you are just better off modifying the dice right off the bat. Atleast Rexler can equip an HLC to upset that, Maarek does not.

That's the reason why Vessery is better, he gets better action economy, its problem is defender overcost and his reliance on list building towards him.

They are not unplayable, but certainly not amazing.

In a low agility, high hull meta, Steele will be awesome. with all the big turret, high hull, ships out there who soak up crits, Maarek will find his place. Don't forget that almost every ship in scum has more hull than shields (Firespray, hwk, starviper, and y-wing)

1 - That meta will die on wave 6.

2 - Most high hull low agility ships are betters at the arc dodging game than Maarek at chasing targets.

1 - That meta will die on wave 6.

2 - Most high hull low agility ships are betters at the arc dodging game than Maarek at chasing targets.

Y-wing? Firespray? HWK? I can't remember anyone describing these as arc dodgers. I think we'll see a lot of these in the wave 6 meta and I think an engine upgraded maarek will be a solid choice against them.

An engine upgraded Maarek won't be able to make use of the Advanced T whenever he needs to boost.

And yes, since they have turrets, they are better at the arc dodging game since either have average dials (yes yes, Ywings is worse, but they don't really need crazy movements when they can shoot you back anyways, and the firespray has outright better dial and an auxiliary arc. Turrets while decent, will have a lot of troubles with ships with autothrusters.

I'll probably end up using him with veteran Instinct or predator and Advanced Targetting Computer. Veteran Instinct makes you move at PS9 so it's easier to get a TL, Predator allows you to modify your dice when attacking and moving at PS7, there is more chance that the shield will be down so the crits pass.

An engine upgraded Maarek won't be able to make use of the Advanced T whenever he needs to boost.

Just checking, you're aware Advanced Targeting Computer doesn't expend your target lock? If you stay on the same ship you don't have to relock every turn.

An important thing to remember about Maarek is that choosing crits is a very potent ability as it allows you to selectively dismantle enemy ships: with a choice of three crits he can choose the worst one for the situation and it's very likely one is going to hurt. PTL craft? Thrust Control it and it's suddenly double stressed, meaning you can swoop in for the kill next turn. HLC Outrider? Fat Han? Say hello to my friend Munitions Failure. Determination's also making a comeback, so being able to dodge that is a little helpful. Powerful enemy named pilot? Whack it with an Injured Pilot. In those infuriating situations where a phantom would otherwise hang onto life on one health, Damaged Cockpit. That, and he's got a much higher chance of getting a Direct Hit/Minor Explosion and turning that crit into a double hit.

Tie/x1 - ATC - Marksmanship - Experimental interface

using interface to take Marksmanship after taking a target-lock to maximize crit-chance then apply appropriate crit

An engine upgraded Maarek won't be able to make use of the Advanced T whenever he needs to boost.

Just checking, you're aware Advanced Targeting Computer doesn't expend your target lock? If you stay on the same ship you don't have to relock every turn.

Certainly, i did not. It is still limiting if your opponent just cycle potential targets (kind of like FCS being hard to use against smart opponents maneuvering well), but thank you for pointing it out.

An important thing to remember about Maarek is that choosing crits is a very potent ability as it allows you to selectively dismantle enemy ships: with a choice of three crits he can choose the worst one for the situation and it's very likely one is going to hurt. PTL craft? Thrust Control it and it's suddenly double stressed, meaning you can swoop in for the kill next turn. HLC Outrider? Fat Han? Say hello to my friend Munitions Failure. Determination's also making a comeback, so being able to dodge that is a little helpful. Powerful enemy named pilot? Whack it with an Injured Pilot. In those infuriating situations where a phantom would otherwise hang onto life on one health, Damaged Cockpit. That, and he's got a much higher chance of getting a Direct Hit/Minor Explosion and turning that crit into a double hit.

Fat Han won't care about munitions failure;) but the injured pilot crit would be ideal on those running predator/C3P0/R2.

- You are paying 5 points 1 point for advanced targeting.

FTFY

- You are paying 5 points 1 point for advanced targeting.

FTFY

Get it out of context. Fix it... really ?

And you are wrong, or are you implying that the ship isn't already overcosted by 4 points ?

27 + 5 - 4 (overcost) = 28.

Are you saying that Maarek is worth 27 points by himself, or that the Tie advanced is 21 points ?

I hope it is more clear now. It is the same as A-wings, the moment you put a missile on them you are paying an extra 2 points because they are overpriced.

- You are paying 5 points 1 point for advanced targeting.

FTFY

Get it out of context. Fix it... really ?

And you are wrong, or are you implying that the ship isn't already overcosted by 4 points ?

27 + 5 - 4 (overcost) = 28.

I hope it is more clear now. It is the same as A-wings, the moment you put a missile on them you are paying an extra 2 points because they are overpriced.

I think if you look at it differently it will make sense. If you believe the Advanced is overcosted by exactly four points, the ATC really, at worst, only leaves overcosted by 1 (again if you are set on the exact number of four points as the extra cost) at most. That's if you think the upgrade is worth only four points, but I think it could easily be argued it is worth more.

The ATC gives you an extra attack die, which in most cases, costs 4 points (opportunist, expose) when it comes with conditions or tradeoffs (stress, -1 agility). That's exactly the case here except that extra die always crits and does not miss. You could argue that it is priced right on since it just adds a autocrit and not simply an extra die.

For 1 point, you're adding what should be a 5 point upgrade to a 4 point overcosted ship. Net=zero.

It's not like the A-wing at all because it's a discounted upgrade. A missile on A-wing is an upgrade that replaces the discount and thus adds in opportunity cost that makes it more expensive.

OK, edited the heck out of that one to make it more clear.

I guess my english is being really bad.

I didn't say that ATC is overcosted. I said that you are paying 5 points for it, which seems about right. But people need to get the perspective right on this. ATC costs around the same on a Tie advanced than on any other ship, you just get a more accurate point cost fixing (as the default should be 17 points, and not 21) by getting the title + upgrade.

I will use numbers, since i think they are better to illustrate the point.

If Tie advanced overpriced by 4, a base tie advanced costs 17 points.

Tie advanced + title + ATC = 22 points

B-wing + ATC = 27 points

Exactly 5 points. That's the merit on the upgrade itself and the title, it fixes the Tie advanced but is good for other ships aswell.

Edit - i see you edit now. i hope you see why it doesn't cost 1 point now.

Also, dont forget.. there are 3 more unspoiled unique pilots.. one or 2 of them may be more interesting to take than Stele. The one spoiled, is awesome.. free TL... no need to spend actions on those..

I'm waiting for the other 3 before I pass any judgements.. Stele, may be a viable option now, but.. 3 of the new guys might be fun to field with interesting abilities..

Get off the 'overcosted'issue... FREE system slot.. -4 cost to upgrades to the system... that takes care of the overcost issue..

Arguement done...