Making the most of BTL-A4 title

By AgentV, in X-Wing

After thinking about the BTL (or 'warthog' as it is apparently known) title for Y-Wings, I've figured its at least worth testing, but I want to see how it could be used to its full potential. I was figuring I would compare it to the rebel B-Wing, as each have the same total HP and agility, and thus are similar in how much damage they can take, and the generics have the same PS.

First, I was thinking of maximizing the ability of the second shot by getting a second modifier, which can be done in one of two ways from my count, for scum. Either:

A) Focus combined with the R4 Agromech (allowing you to possibly use the TL on the Ion shot if you focused on the primary shot

or

B) The use of Drea Renthal's ability

A gives you a cost of 20 points for a PS 2 pilot plus the price of the turret, making it either 22, 24 or 25, compared to the B-Wing's 22. The autoblaster turret gives you free damage at range 1, but does noting else for 22, meaning the extra 1.5 damage (assuming TL or focus) per shot at range 1 (with no defence roll for the opponent), plus the normal effects of the R4, at the cost of 1 attack die. Difficult to compare to the B. The blaster turret, costing 24 causes you to lose the focus and gain the lock before attacking, lessening your total modifiers, but giving you the most potential damage at range 2, with still the potential for damage at range 1. The Ion, weighing in at 25 gives you an Ion shot for control as well as the potential for 1 damage at both ranges 1 and 2. However, Ioning repeatedly will be more difficult without being able to shoot an Ion out of arc. However, as with the blaster, you get full modifiers, with the dice of a blaster. The cap on the damage at 1 also hurts a little.

Drea is a different beast, as I could see running either R4-B11 or the unhinged astromech for her ability (R4 to reduce opponent's defence, unhinged to help clear potential stress. These would bring her anywhere from 25 points (1 point unhinged combined with 2 point autoblaster) to 30 points (2 point R4, 5 point Ion). The math here is more difficult to calculate, as much of the stuff involved like gaining and losing of stress, as well as differing defence rolls caused by R4 is much more difficult to quantify so I will presume will have to be tested. I also believe that she used this in the lore, so it makes sense that FFG made her ability go well with the title.

As a footnote: the 'Salvaged astromech' could save the turret from being destroyed, which I do think is worth mention.

Given his ability, Kavil seems off the table for the title

After a look at the rebels, I got the following possible good astromechs that may synergy:

Generic R2 has very little synergy, but since pointing at an opponent is important with this upgrade, it could be worth the point

R2-D6 could have synergy with the choice of a good ept (predator comes to mind)

R3-A2 allows you to double stress with two shots, and is likely worth considering if you are using the Ion

R5-K6 *waits for laughter to subside* may be useful on Dutch, as you could have him give out TL's like candy. However this requires several assumptions about positioning and dice rolls. None the less, it would be quite the sight to see this little droid help Dutch give out several TLs

R7-T1 could move you from range 2 into 1, which would warrant consideration if using the autoblaster. Or, you could change who you're targeting. Again, due to TL heavy nature, would go well with Dutch

Both unique pilots seem to go well with this upgrade, as I could see Horton at range 2 being devastating, and as stated, Dutch has synergy with a couple of the astomechs.

Thoughts? Ideas? Anything you disagree with or that I missed? Will you consider using this upgrade?

Wait for next rebel aces that has X-wing and maybe Y-Wing (with an EPT for gosh sakes!)

No EPT on top named rebel Y-Wings is beyond stupid.

I like how they added EPT slot to scum y wings not rebels. GAH!

Put the elite talent droid on a higher PS Rebel Y-wing and take Predator, Marksmanship, or PTL.

Wait for next rebel aces that has X-wing and maybe Y-Wing (with an EPT for gosh sakes!)

No EPT on top named rebel Y-Wings is beyond stupid.

I like how they added EPT slot to scum y wings not rebels. GAH!

They still didn't get elite talents on the PS 4s... which they should've done now that they know that the Reb ones needed it. The only reason Kavil got a slot is because they recognized how stupid it was not to give Horton one.

Put the elite talent droid on a higher PS Rebel Y-wing and take Predator, Marksmanship, or PTL.

Not good enough, unfortunately. Sacrificing the arguably more important droid slot for an EPT is not great value, especially since it puts a 1-point tax on said EPT.

I was thinking it might go well with salm and r7t1.

Maybe not, but you really need some way to modify both shots and that's probably the best way to go about it.

One thing with Drea and B11... if you can set it up right you can just stack up tokens like Tycho by continuously reaquiring target locks. Could well stick you with flying in circles the rest of the game if it fails, but ****...

Edited by GreatMazinkaiser

How to make the most of BTL-A4:

(1) Add the title to a regular, ordinary Gold Squadron Pilot + Ion Cannon Turret.

(2) Attack things.

(3) Attack them an extra time.

And that's it. You don't have to do anything special or build around it. You do have to fly differently, but that's just a matter of practice.

Put the elite talent droid on a higher PS Rebel Y-wing and take Predator, Marksmanship, or PTL.

it's sadly not the same. I had, for a few glorious seconds, thought about using Proton Torp, V.I Horton with R3-A2 as the ultimate phantom hunter

you wake up harder from some dreams than others :(

As for the BTL Ys, I don't think you have to maximize much of anything. I know more than most that unmodified die are about as reliable with their results as a blind-deaf-mute is with finding your luggage, but you are getting two attacks to compensate. Funny thing about dice is that you throw enough of them and some of them may stick :)

Edited by ficklegreendice

Wait for next rebel aces that has X-wing and maybe Y-Wing (with an EPT for gosh sakes!)

No EPT on top named rebel Y-Wings is beyond stupid.

I like how they added EPT slot to scum y wings not rebels. GAH!

I was hoping for a Battle of Yavin pack. Add some more theme other than "Check out these new pilots for ships you already have"

Wait for next rebel aces that has X-wing and maybe Y-Wing (with an EPT for gosh sakes!)

No EPT on top named rebel Y-Wings is beyond stupid.

I like how they added EPT slot to scum y wings not rebels. GAH!

I suggested a semi-fix for that by adding specific Y-Wing only crew slots

They basically amount to elite gunner talents as opposed to elite pilot talents, but it's one way to keep things interesting

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/135306-btl-s3-y-wing/

or something that does away with the "focus" requirement for blaster turret when you have the BTL-4 title.

or something that does away with the "focus" requirement for blaster turret when you have the BTL-4 title.

That would be this one:

Kin Kian - 2 points

Treat all attacks with the Attack:Focus header as Attack

He was Horton Salm's gunner at Endor in case you care

Only problem is it doesn't exist ........... yet

R2-d6 and marksmanship say hello...

Paying for the droid to get the ept is stupid and over costed outright. Its a sloppy attempt to fix a known issue. New pilot cards with EPTs would be just fine in a aces pack.

Dutch, BTL-A4, ICT and R5-K6 is pretty effective. Its a little chancy but when it works the extra target locks are a good bonus. Dutch is likely to be running with backup to hand out TLs and will be target locking anyway to use his ability (Warthog Dutch and a couple of missile carrying Talas can cause a lot of damage). With 2 shots from the BTL-A4 title chances are you will spend Dutch's initial target lock and trigger R5-K6s ability. Whether the green dice love you in that moment is another thing entirely. I have had R5-K6 successfully re-lock twice in the same turn (handing out 3 target locks to friendlies is awesome) as well as not triggering at all. But Dutch is likely to be in a good enough position that it wont break your game if it doesnt work 100%. You will have at least one extra TL to hand out.

Ravncat: I like that R2-D6/Marksmanship idea, better on vanilla Ys or maybe Horton rather than Dutch though.

I like Horton, R3-A2, ICT and stresspedoes as Horton is going to want to be in arc on the initial run in to launch the ordnance, then he can double stress with a 3 dice secondary attack for 1 stress himself (and then Ion the stressed target next turn maybe). Im not so sure about R7-T1 or R3-A2 on a BTL-A4. Getting stuff in arc with a Y can be difficult without spending points on engine upgrade or maybe R2-D6 + expert handling.

Edited for dumb spelling mistakes.

Edited by phocion

Oops, double post

Edited by phocion

I call them Wartywings.

Ravncat: I like that R2-D6/Marksmanship idea, better on vanilla Ys or maybe Horton rather than Dutch though.

A little expensive - can't put R2D6 on anything less than a Gray Squadron pilot - so it's effectively a 6 point EPT

Ravncat: I like that R2-D6/Marksmanship idea, better on vanilla Ys or maybe Horton rather than Dutch though.

A little expensive - can't put R2D6 on anything less than a Gray Squadron pilot - so it's effectively a 6 point EPT

On a Gray Squadron Y, agreed. On Horton, it looks a little better with his ability if you can get the target to sit still at range 2. HeroBot is unique anyhow, so you are only going to be able to do that trick once. May as well put it on a decent Y.

Maybe not, but you really need some way to modify both shots and that's probably the best way to go about it.

One thing with Drea and B11... if you can set it up right you can just stack up tokens like Tycho by continuously reaquiring target locks. Could well stick you with flying in circles the rest of the game if it fails, but ****...

That would work until you need to switch targets. If Dutch and Drea could be in the same squad it would be pretty sweet.

Paying for the droid to get the ept is stupid and over costed outright. Its a sloppy attempt to fix a known issue. New pilot cards with EPTs would be just fine in a aces pack.

Ok, I can agree thet the named pilots should have had an EPT, but they don't. the question here before us is how to get the most bang for the buck out of both of a warthog's shots, and marksmanship (which works with both attacks) or predator (same and does not require an action) are probably the best answers that I have seen. We don't have rebel pilots with an EPT, so what is your suggestion with what we have now? I think, if you want a rebel warthog, R2-D6 with one of the above is the best way to boost your offense.

Question about R4 agro and timing with BTL title

So, lets say you are set up with ICT and BTL with R4

You make your primary attack (you happen to be at range 1) you throw 3 red dice, you get eye blank, blank. now, you must spend the focus in order to get the TL, so you now have <boom> <blank> <blank>. my question is, can you spend the TL on the first attck or do you have to spend it on the second attack?

Question about R4 agro and timing with BTL title

So, lets say you are set up with ICT and BTL with R4

You make your primary attack (you happen to be at range 1) you throw 3 red dice, you get eye blank, blank. now, you must spend the focus in order to get the TL, so you now have <boom> <blank> <blank>. my question is, can you spend the TL on the first attck or do you have to spend it on the second attack?

You should be able to spend it immediately.

Maybe not, but you really need some way to modify both shots and that's probably the best way to go about it.

One thing with Drea and B11... if you can set it up right you can just stack up tokens like Tycho by continuously reaquiring target locks. Could well stick you with flying in circles the rest of the game if it fails, but ****...

That would work until you need to switch targets. If Dutch and Drea could be in the same squad it would be pretty sweet.

There's nothing on the card that specifies that you target lock what you're shooting at. As long as you've got something to lock within range 1-3 you can keep it going (assuming you can get the new target in arc without hard 3s/actions).