This isn't a thread that's whining about Phantom dominance or anything. I just generally don't understand why ACD is a modification rather than a system upgrade? Flavor-wise, system upgrades seem to represent flashy tech that only the newest or more advanced ships can carry. Modifications are more universal. So why isn't ACD a system upgrade? Same goes for SPA I guess.
I think about this every time I'm in a squad builder and click the system upgrade slot on a Phantom expecting to find ACD.
I don't know... But my guess is, because they wanted Phantoms to be able to take both ACD or SPA and Fire Control Systems or Advanced Sensors.
The name of the slot doesn't really mean much, what matters is what else fits in that slot. So I assume they base their decisions on what combo's are possible and what combo's they want to avoid.
Because ACD + Stealth Upgrade would literally make Phantoms indestructible.
ACD plus engine at ps9 would be completely nuts.
This isn't a thread that's whining about Phantom dominance or anything. I just generally don't understand why ACD is a modification rather than a system upgrade? Flavor-wise, system upgrades seem to represent flashy tech that only the newest or more advanced ships can carry. Modifications are more universal. So why isn't ACD a system upgrade? Same goes for SPA I guess.
I think about this every time I'm in a squad builder and click the system upgrade slot on a Phantom expecting to find ACD.
Prevents ACD and Stealth Device being used together.
The designers actually discussed this one in one of the interviews. It being a Modification generated more decisions in building than it would have as a system.
Edited by TIE PilotSo you cant put a shield upgrade or stealth device on it to up its survivability.
ACD plus engine at ps9 would be completely nuts.
Though with that in mind... AdvS + ACD at PS9 is also kinda nuts. Yeah, sure, you have no way to modify your attack dice (unless you have a FO) but you can move 4 laterally, and 1 forward/backwards before revealing your template. It's even more crazy with Echo. I've gotten pretty good at knowing where I think Phantoms want to go, but playing against that was completely different.
So that you can't have ACD and Engine at the same time. That would be too much mobility.
ACD plus engine at ps9 would be completely nuts.
Though with that in mind... AdvS + ACD at PS9 is also kinda nuts. Yeah, sure, you have no way to modify your attack dice (unless you have a FO) but you can move 4 laterally, and 1 forward/backwards before revealing your template. It's even more crazy with Echo. I've gotten pretty good at knowing where I think Phantoms want to go, but playing against that was completely different.
You can only move 3 laterally, but that's still more than a range band.
Barrel roll is 1 template + 1 base = movement of 2
Decloak is 2 template + 1 base = movement of 3
Looks like it is actually 5 total movement! Haha.
You can only move 3 laterally, but that's still more than a range band.
Yeah, you have to count the base width in between the BR and the decloak.
Barrel roll is 1 template + 1 base = movement of 2
Decloak is 2 template + 1 base = movement of 3
Looks like it is actually 5 total movement! Haha.
Well, I guess it depends on whether you consider a BR moving 1 laterally or 2 laterally. But in the truest sense, you are correct, your ship translate 5 total movement sideways, and you span a gap of 4.
ACD plus engine at ps9 would be completely nuts.
Though with that in mind... AdvS + ACD at PS9 is also kinda nuts. Yeah, sure, you have no way to modify your attack dice (unless you have a FO) but you can move 4 laterally, and 1 forward/backwards before revealing your template. It's even more crazy with Echo. I've gotten pretty good at knowing where I think Phantoms want to go, but playing against that was completely different.
You can only move 3 laterally, but that's still more than a range band.
AdvS and a decloak is actually closer to a speed-4 lateral move, because you would count the ship's base at the new position where you decloaked before rolling.
Decloak Template = 2
Ship base at new position = 1
Barrel Roll Template = 1
But yeah, to answer the OP, it's almost certainly to restrict things like Engine Upgrade or Stealth Device from being taken. Engine on a Phantom would be obscene (decloak forward for two, then move forward for 4, then boost forward for 1... effectively equal to a speed-9 maneuver), and I actually want to try it someday at the expense of an ACD.
They wanted to keep the cloaking mechanics in check so they made ACD and Styg PA both modifications instead of say a title or a sensor upgrade. Can you imagine a skill 9 Whisper that gets a focus and evade and a cloak after attacking all while having shield upgrade so it is as tough as an E-wing? Trust me this is for the best.
What's SPA?
ENOUGH WITH THE ACRONYMS GUYS!
What's SPA?
That's where your wife goes to spend all your money... 
SPA stands for Stygium Particle Accelerator. Which is a fairly long title for a card, so most abbreviate to SPA.
Aah, ta!
These forums should have an automatic acronym expander. Or AAE, as I shall henceforth be calling it 
What's SPA?
ENOUGH WITH THE ACRONYMS GUYS!
Stygium Particle Accelerator
Yes, I'm likely to have been ninja'd on this answer, but Mine looks better!.
These forums should have an automatic acronym expander.
On Dakadaka I think they actually had that. But it was set up for 40k so it wasn't that useful for talking about X-Wing.
Could you imagine whisper or echo with VI, ACDC and Autothrusters?
Could you imagine whisper or echo with VI, ACDC and Autothrusters?
Yeah, except not only can they not take AT because ACD is in the Mod slot, but they can't take AT because they don't have the boost action.
Could you imagine whisper or echo with VI, ACDC and Autothrusters?
Yeah, except not only can they not take AT because ACD is in the Mod slot, but they can't take AT because they don't have the boost action.
Touche.
Could you imagine whisper or echo with VI, ACDC and Autothrusters?
You mean he/she flies a Phantom while singing:"I am on a highway to Hell"
Could you imagine whisper or echo with VI, ACDC and Autothrusters?
AC/DC is not a thing in the game, and they do not have boost and cannot take Autothrusters.
But yeah, that'd be insane.
Wow, ninja'd by everyone. Okay.
With ACDC?Could you imagine whisper or echo with VI, ACDC and Autothrusters?
You mean he/she flies a Phantom while singing:"I am on a highway to Hell"
If I was flying in a tie of any sort, that's for sure what I would be singing. Right up until I was insta space dust.