There's been a little speculation on who the two new TIE Advanced pilots might be - but what about their abilities?

Obvious choices are abilities that are going to combine well with the newly opened system slot, and based on current form I reckon they'll include at least 1 that is so much fun it will make a different Sys upgrade the one of choice instead of Advanced Targeting System.

How about something along the lines of "At the beginning of the combat phase,if you have any stress tokens, you may spend 1 focus token to remove them" - Basically giving you a sort-of white K-turn with advanced sensors.

I've also got a feeling that doing things with ion effects / tokens is going to become a thing in the near future - especially considering the new ion cannon batteries that the Raider will be packing and the TIE Av is being sold as an ideal escort.

So perhaps something along the lines of "if an enemy ship at range 1 has an ion token you may remove it and deal 1 face up damage card to your opponent"

or a defensive version: "Once per round, if an enemy ship at range 1 has an ion token you may remove it to recover 1 of your shields"

any other ideas? what other abilities might go well with the existing system upgrades?

There will be 4 new.. possibly one will be Juno Eclipse, and the spoiled one.. that leaves 2 left for speculation.

They could do anything or use stuff that has been cited in other threads about this very subject..

There will be 4 new.. possibly one will be Juno Eclipse, and the spoiled one.. that leaves 2 left for speculation.

Yeah, that's what I meant

They could do anything or use stuff that has been cited in other threads about this very subject..

Not seen any on pilot abilities - only pilots - hence the thread

though its grossly optimistic, and probably lazy design, something along the lines of Jake Farrel would be nice:

"Whenever you perform the TL action or acquire a TL, you may perform a free focus action"

not quite as good as "you may assign a focus token", but it ties in with the ATC nicely

though its grossly optimistic, and probably lazy design, something along the lines of Jake Farrel would be nice:

"Whenever you perform the TL action or acquire a TL, you may perform a free focus action"

not quite as good as "you may assign a focus token", but it ties in with the ATC nicely

Yeah well that would be a very powerful skill and a discount Vader at that. I don't believe they will have a second pilot that just gets a free action unless some specific conditions are met. Like for instance the spoiled pilot where you get a free action, but you have to meet the condition of being at range 1 for it. That's fair i think.

Personally, i would rather like a mobility pilot skill, where you get some kind of Boost, additional maneuver (like Farrel) or out of phase movement (like Turr for example). That' would make perfect sense on Juno Eclipse (I saw the pics and i think that she is is confirmedly the top PS pilot of the release) with her high pilot skill of 8 too and give a good contrast to Vader on top of that!

June Eclipse (likely, but blurred evidence)

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/ffg_content/x-wing/news/large-ships/imperial-raider/commander-alozen.png

Commander Alozen was spoiled already.

Speculation:

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/E.C._Nerwal

though its grossly optimistic, and probably lazy design, something along the lines of Jake Farrel would be nice:

"Whenever you perform the TL action or acquire a TL, you may perform a free focus action"

not quite as good as "you may assign a focus token", but it ties in with the ATC nicely

I'm kind of thinking that FFG are going to offer at least 1 pilot with an ability that doesn't make the ATC or AC auto-includes

though its grossly optimistic, and probably lazy design, something along the lines of Jake Farrel would be nice:

"Whenever you perform the TL action or acquire a TL, you may perform a free focus action"

not quite as good as "you may assign a focus token", but it ties in with the ATC nicely

Yeah well that would be a very powerful skill and a discount Vader at that. I don't believe they will have a second pilot that just gets a free action unless some specific conditions are met. Like for instance the spoiled pilot where you get a free action, but you have to meet the condition of being at range 1 for it. That's fair i think.

Personally, i would rather like a mobility pilot skill, where you get some kind of Boost, additional maneuver (like Farrel) or out of phase movement (like Turr for example). That' would make perfect sense on Juno Eclipse (I saw the pics and i think that she is is confirmedly the top PS pilot of the release) with her high pilot skill of 8 too and give a good contrast to Vader on top of that!

though its grossly optimistic, and probably lazy design, something along the lines of Jake Farrel would be nice:

"Whenever you perform the TL action or acquire a TL, you may perform a free focus action"

not quite as good as "you may assign a focus token", but it ties in with the ATC nicely

I'm kind of thinking that FFG are going to offer at least 1 pilot with an ability that doesn't make the ATC or AC auto-includes

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Fair points.

so lets see what scope we have then:

Vader (and to a lesser extent the new PS5 pilot) already have multiple actions

Mareeke has an interesting interaction with crits

so action economy and damage manipulation are covered. The know existence of Accuracy corrector and the new title basically cover any other damage manipulation effects.

so that leaves us with:

movement effects

secondary weapon effects

Area or targeted support effects (i.e. Roark or Jan)

Area or targeted Debuff Effects, and punisher effects (i.e. Rebel captive)

I'm sure there are several subsets but that pretty much covers the options in a broad sense.

having only 1 secondary weapon slot anything that enhances missile firing would be extremely narrow 1 time effects, like Fels wrath, possible but highly unlikely and certain to be passed over by a majority of the playerbase as chaff esspecially if no EPT is present.

Imps are typically selfish (with the exception of the Squad leader card) rather than giving so its unlikely to be any kind of team buff effects. Again possible but much less likely.

Debuffs are more into Imp territory, Carnor Jax and Dark curse are good examples, and with punisher cards like Rebel captive and Mara Jade its more likely.

Possibly an inbuilt Expert handing effect? (i.e. whenever you barrel roll drop a red TL) again quite narrow.

Wes already has a token stripping ability, though Scum are getting 1 as well, so its not inconceivable that one of the new advanced pilots might have that kind of ability.

Lastly the most open option is additional movement options, not having the boost action as a native ability could lead to Jake Farrel like effect, if you do X you may perform a boost action.

Certainly the dial on the Advanced is nothing to write home about, arguably worst than an X-Wing as I would take a 1 straight on a dial any day over a 5 straight, so perhaps an ability similar to that of R2 astromech that turns all your 1 & 2 speed manouvres to green.

Whatever the abilities are Im super keen to get some play with it, it truely does feel like a whole new ship and I cant wait to get it on the table with vade finally having some teeth saying "I have you now"

How abould Valen Rudor? It would be close enough to Rebels without having to get into the Inquisitor.

How about a ridiculously defensive ability to go with Sensor Jammer? Like a Carnor ability on an advanced pilot at R1. Then you have a nearly unkillable ship for about 25 points. Throw a proton rocket on him so he's at least offensively sound for a turn or so.

How about a ridiculously defensive ability to go with Sensor Jammer? Like a Carnor ability on an advanced pilot at R1. Then you have a nearly unkillable ship for about 25 points. Throw a proton rocket on him so he's at least offensively sound for a turn or so.

I was thinking about something like that, but all I could come up with was something like Dark Curse or Carnor's ability - and I can't see FFG doing essentially the same thing on a third ship.

Considering that shielded ships are comparatively rare in the empire and, as far as I can remember, the ability for Imperial pilots to regenerate shields isn't an option; How about making it one?

When defending, if the attacker spends a focus token, you may regenerate 1 shield.

The regen happens before the green dice are rolled and the attack is resolved - can be very nasty for the attacker as they could potentially spend a focus, miss and hand their opponent a shield (shield upgrade will be very tempting too)

Balanced slightly by the fact it doesn't work on abilities that flip focus to a positive result without spending a focus - like marskmanship, proton torps, Han (crew) and a few more besides

2 words.

Imperial Biggs. - Not the name, the effect.

2 words.

Imperial Biggs. - Not the name, the effect.

Nice - would give a new lease of life to the Howlswarm ...... not that it really needs a new lease of life

But how do you make an Imperial Biggs without just making an Imperial Biggs ...... if you catch my drift

2 words.

Imperial Biggs. - Not the name, the effect.

A default 3 agility Biggs with sensor jammer ? No thank you

2 words.

Imperial Biggs. - Not the name, the effect.

A default 3 agility Biggs with sensor jammer ? No thank you

well you could temper it by making it a "once per round" or applying a agility reduction or stress as a condition for using it

How about a ridiculously defensive ability to go with Sensor Jammer? Like a Carnor ability on an advanced pilot at R1. Then you have a nearly unkillable ship for about 25 points. Throw a proton rocket on him so he's at least offensively sound for a turn or so.

I was thinking about something like that, but all I could come up with was something like Dark Curse or Carnor's ability - and I can't see FFG doing essentially the same thing on a third ship.

Considering that shielded ships are comparatively rare in the empire and, as far as I can remember, the ability for Imperial pilots to regenerate shields isn't an option; How about making it one?

When defending, if the attacker spends a focus token, you may regenerate 1 shield.

The regen happens before the green dice are rolled and the attack is resolved - can be very nasty for the attacker as they could potentially spend a focus, miss and hand their opponent a shield (shield upgrade will be very tempting too)

Balanced slightly by the fact it doesn't work on abilities that flip focus to a positive result without spending a focus - like marskmanship, proton torps, Han (crew) and a few more besides

I really like this idea!

As for Imperial Biggs, um, no.

I love the idea of an Imperial bodyguard like Biggs, I think some ships are too powerful and IBG will give more life, or some ships like Howlrunner or Captain Jonus will be benefitts with this IBG, greettings.