It seems that in earlier waves the EPT slot was not given out willy-nilly but was seen as something special. In these latter waves though we see much less weight given to that slot. I really wonder if looking back does FFG wish they had given this slot to more ships? To me the two most irritating and slighted pilots are Horton Salm and Captain Kagi. These guys are PS 8! How in the heck are they not considered elite??? You have stinkin scum at PS 7 flying the same ship(Kavil vs Horton) and they get an EPT? Some run of the mill madalorian gets a slot but not a same skill named in the firespray(Krassis). I think any ship from at least 7+ should be an auto elite. If a ps 3 A-Wing is considered more elite then Horton should be pissed. I know systems upgrades were new back when the shuttle was released and maybe that held Kagi back but He at least should have been elite. I hope for some errata down the road.

Pretty sure the shuttle pilots lacked any EPTs just to balance out the Y-wings... I think they learned their lesson though as no other ships are without at least one EPT carrier.

Mid-range pilots with extremely good pilot text can get away without an EPT sometimes, but I'm not a big fan of the high PS named pilots who lack one. Pretty much doomed the named Y-wing pilots to mediocrity once better options came out

Pretty sure the shuttle pilots lacked any EPTs just to balance out the Y-wings... I think they learned their lesson though as no other ships are without at least one EPT carrier.

I think Kagi is slighted because Expert Handling is a thing.

Seriously, I would LOVE to play an EH Kagi with Carnor Jax.

The barrel rolling shuttle would be a dream come true.

I get the impression that FFG mixes top-down and bottom-up design philosophies as they see fit.

I'd do a daredevil shuttle, myself.

i think for a lot of the lower ps named pilots they dont get the EPT because their ability takes the place of it. examples include the low ps interceptors (kir kanos, fel's wrath, lt lorrir,) while the non named ones (saber squadron, royal guard) do get them.

also the tie fighters have the same thing with black squadrons and the named pilots below ps 7.

there are probably other examples but those are what spring to mind because i fly mainly imperials

oh lord, EH kagi would be the ****

29 w/eh, 31 for fcs

just go weeeee~ weeeeeee~ weeeeeeee~ all the way to the bank

Pretty sure the shuttle pilots lacked any EPTs just to balance out the Y-wings... I think they learned their lesson though as no other ships are without at least one EPT carrier.

I think Kagi is slighted because Expert Handling is a thing.

Seriously, I would LOVE to play an EH Kagi with Carnor Jax.

Mad as a brush but brilliant!

I just thought that they did it that way as otherwise the possible combos would make them in balanced.

Eg kir kanos with PTL.

Yes please

The barrel rolling shuttle would be a dream come true.

It's the OTHER side of Ex Hand that would be nightmarish.

Enemies can only Target Locks Kagi

Kagi Ex Hands away their Target Locks

Enemies cannot Target Lock

The barrel rolling shuttle would be a dream come true.

It's the OTHER side of Ex Hand that would be nightmarish.

Enemies can only Target Locks Kagi

Kagi Ex Hands away their Target Locks

Enemies cannot Target Lock

The horror...

The barrel rolling shuttle would be a dream come true.

It's the OTHER side of Ex Hand that would be nightmarish.

Enemies can only Target Locks Kagi

Kagi Ex Hands away their Target Locks

Enemies cannot Target Lock

I wouldn't quite go that far, but Kagi/Jax would definitely be a viable build. Would it really be that bad if your opponent spend 60+ pts on these two pilots? I guess if they took Fel or a Phantom for the rest you'd be in a tough spot until that shuttle is dead... but realistically I don't think EH on Kagi would shatter the meta. Predator and FCS would still be solid.

I just thought that they did it that way as otherwise the possible combos would make them in balanced.

Eg kir kanos with PTL.

Yes please

Early on, I accidentally flew Kanos with PTL. I can say that it was just too easy. His ability is too good for EPTs.

Pretty sure the shuttle pilots lacked any EPTs just to balance out the Y-wings... I think they learned their lesson though as no other ships are without at least one EPT carrier.

I think Kagi is slighted because Expert Handling is a thing.

Seriously, I would LOVE to play an EH Kagi with Carnor Jax.

I literally just built a squad of Jendon + Carnor + PS1 Defender today, haha haven't had a shot at trying it out yet.

Yeah, I alway had the feeling that high PS without EPT are for balance issue.

I just thought that they did it that way as otherwise the possible combos would make them in balanced.

Eg kir kanos with PTL.

Yes please

Kanos with PTL would just make him viable. Not OP in the least.

What pisses me off is that Arvel doesn't have an EPT. He's Green freakin Leader, and doesn't get an EPT, while the rest of the Green Squadron gets one. I also love how Tycho is Green 3, and yet is a higher PS than Arvel. Just goes to show that just because you're the best pilot doesn't mean you are the top ranked pilot (though if I remember correctly it had something to do with his X wing was damaged, and he volunteered to fly in an A wing during the Battle of Endor instead of sitting idly, in which case, it makes sense that he wasn't Green Leader, since he was just a temporary addition).

You really gotta respect Tycho as a person and pilot. Without going into spoilers for the X wing series, he really is one of the most loyal and dedicated (never the less skilled) people in the universe. I guess it's a good thing he's so much fun to fly.

Wow, I went off topic quickly.

If Kanos would have been the same cost as an RGP he might have been okay without an EPT. At 24 points he's too overpriced to not have an EPT.

Wave 1 is an odd creature. I think, to be honest, it's the Wave I mentality about Expert Handling. They didn't want Y-wings to barrel roll, and the X-wing's health was just fine because it only faced two dice attacks.

As for Kagi, again, Expert Handling.

What pisses me off is that Arvel doesn't have an EPT.

He does now.

I'd love to fly Horton with PTL and a standard R2. I might even put Protorps on him if I could do that.

What pisses me off is that Arvel doesn't have an EPT. He's Green freakin Leader, and doesn't get an EPT, while the rest of the Green Squadron gets one. I also love how Tycho is Green 3, and yet is a higher PS than Arvel. Just goes to show that just because you're the best pilot doesn't mean you are the top ranked pilot (though if I remember correctly it had something to do with his X wing was damaged, and he volunteered to fly in an A wing during the Battle of Endor instead of sitting idly, in which case, it makes sense that he wasn't Green Leader, since he was just a temporary addition).

You really gotta respect Tycho as a person and pilot. Without going into spoilers for the X wing series, he really is one of the most loyal and dedicated (never the less skilled) people in the universe. I guess it's a good thing he's so much fun to fly.

Wow, I went off topic quickly.

Without going too far astray, it could be that he's green leader because he's a good leader, even if he's a week pilot.

You know, I reckon they could errata Horton. An EPT icon isn't that big a change, and adding a slot doesn't cause the same problems changing costs or statlines do.

It doesn't help some of the pilots , but I think it's time for a 1 point crew member that grants an EPT. The other option would be a Veteran Pilot Title for 2pts that gives an EPT and +2 PS, maybe restricted to PS3 and above and only if they don't already have an EPT. Not sure how you factor the phantom into it though, they become mildly problematic.

It doesn't help some of the pilots , but I think it's time for a 1 point crew member that grants an EPT. The other option would be a Veteran Pilot Title for 2pts that gives an EPT and +2 PS, maybe restricted to PS3 and above and only if they don't already have an EPT. Not sure how you factor the phantom into it though, they become mildly problematic.

You'll have the same problem with that crew member that you have with the EPT droid. The opportunity cost of sacrificing a crew slot so that you can spend points on an EPT is already high enough. Adding an extra point makes it an even more unattractive choice.

Tycho > any other A-wing who doesn't have the last name Cracken.