Common ship builds tend to pick up names, Biggs Walks the Dogs, Fat Han, Z-swarm et cetera. I've always gravitated towards names for ships that fit in with the Star Wars universe and fit with the game's loose narrative. I always particularly liked the use of the craft nicknames from the Rogue Squadron books by the community (eyeball, squint, et cetera). As much as everyone (myself included) loves names such as White Space Cow I figured I'd make a thread dedicated to the more "lore friendly" build designations.

The idea occured to me when I was thinking about how some upgrade loadouts change the model of the ship. The B-wing/E2 title, for example, replaces the B-wing with another version. Without the title, the B-wing's the standard Battle of Endor model.

Then there's the new title for the Y-wing, BTL-A4. What it does is lock the turret forward and give you linked fire. When you think about it, the Y-wing without the title is the BTL-S3 two-seater Y-wing with a gunner to operate and aim the 360 turret.

What if other common upgrade configurations of ships were actual variants? Say, the Royal Guard Title Hull upgrade Shield Upgrade TIE interceptor is not a Royal Guard Interceptor could be (were it not hugely out of time period) the Starhunter? Or a heavy TIE interceptor model deployed to elite squadrons? If it's Imperial what do the rebels nickname it? And come to think of it, what do Imperial pilots nickname the models of rebel craft?

For example, there were a few 40 point HWK builds at Worlds. What if it were this?

(Jan Ors, Veteran Instincts, Recon Specialist, Moldy Crow, Stealth Device, Blaster Turret)

"The HWK-290s "Shadowhawk" is a variant of the HWK-290 support fighter modified for reconnisance duty. Using technology salvaged from the prototype stealth devices occasionally deployed by the Empire on the craft of TIE fighter squadron leaders or elite TIE interceptors, the Shadowhawk is able to generate a stealth field that blurs it on scopes and makes it visibly difficult to see. The device integrates surprisingly well with the HWK's systems but has its weaknesses: the stealth field is unstable and temperamental, overloading if the ship is hit and exposing it until it can undergo lengthy recalibration between missions by hangar technicians.

The first shadowhawks are believed to have been refitted from the basic HWK-290 by outlaw technicians in the Outer Rim for smuggling, using Imperial Stealth Device components bought on the black market. The Rebel Alliance has made the most extensive use of Shadowhawks, deploying them as reconnisance and squadron support vessels. A Shadowhawk can hide under its cloak and relay information and targeting data to other craft such as vessels or converted YT freighters, significantly increasing the efficacy of their attacks."

Take a common (or uncommon) ship build, give it a name, think up a story behind it and (if it warrants it) maybe even come up with a rebel pilot nickname for it too.