The lack of EPTs on high end named ships is flat out boring and lazy game design.

The lack of EPTs on high end named ships is flat out boring and lazy game design.

Whoa, chill. They definitely consider every decision on what and what not to include. It may be confusing or questionable game design, but it's not "boring and lazy."

Pretty sure EPT's are still seen as special...

Consider the list of ships with a generic Ept available..,,

Tie fighter

Tie interceptor

A-wing

Scum firesprays

Scyks

That's 5 of 21 ship types, a little less than 25 % but when you figure there's about two generics per ship type, it's closer to 5/42* generic pilot types.

Further, not every unique pilot is skilled, the aces pack and most wanted (which with repaints and good pilots) skew the number of unique pilots with EPT's up... The general releases tend to have fewer uniques without ept's. It's also not so surprising that all of the pilots of the "elite" ship types (Ewing/Defender/Starviper) have EPT's, while others tend to have 1.

Might be interesting to look at the ratio of unique pilots with the slot to the total number of unique pilots.

* rough estimate. Given there are more than 2 pilot types for many imperial ships.

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.

Wow, I went off topic quickly.

Well, Arvel can get one - but, ever notice the correlation of pilots Ho survived in movies / games tend to have them, while those who died tend not to? (Biggs vs wedge. Garven, Dutch... ). It's not 100 percent, but it's kinda thematic in that way. But, Horton!!!!

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.

While you are correct in what you say, the precedent has already been set, so it makes sense to stick with it (I wish they would never charge for effects that force you buy something else for it to be useful, though I think it was necessary on the B-wing to do so). I think it would most commonly be used on ships with two or more crew. I can see some cases where an YT-2400 might opt for an EPT rather than a crew slot. It gives some of the generic or non-EPT HWKs some more options. It might entice some people to use generic Phantoms instead of named ones. "Veteran Co-Pilot" would be a good addition to the game, even if it cost 1 point, just because it opens a bunch of options. I like options.

The only massively silly interaction I can think of is the Barrel Rolling shuttle, but whatever, I think we are passed that being a problem for the game. I do think the reason that the Shuttles don't have any EPTs is precisely because of Expert Handling. I have no excuses for why Horton doesn't have one. Interesting that Arvel (Green Leader), Garven (Red Leader) and Dutch (Gold Leader) all lack EPTs, seems rather odd.

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.

If I had a time machine, I'd probably use it to quietly beg the early designers to give Horton an EPT. But if they simply errata'd it into existence, the floodgates would be open. How do you justify that sort of thing for Horton, but not... I dunno. Name another EPT-less pilot?

The short answer is that you can't. Once you can use the FAQ and Errata to change the basic statlines of a wave 1 pilot, you can use those tools to do basically anything.

The current developers of X-Wing seem pretty committed to simply living with the game as it leaves the printers. That's good. I like that. I like that what I see is what I get. I like that the FAQ and Errata are only there to issue clarifications and minor tweaks to edge cases. I don't like a game where major changes can happen retroactively on a PDF. That way lies madness.

But if they sold a singleton card/cardboard of Horton + EPT, I'd probably shell out for it. The man needs it like whoa.

The lack of EPTs on high end named ships is flat out boring and lazy game design.

Explain to me how automatically giving anything over a certain pilot skill an EPT is less lazy than testing pilots and deciding if they should have EPT slots or not.

But if they simply errata'd it into existence, the floodgates would be open.

The floodgates never open, but I agree, the endless forum speculation and somehow use of it to justify terrible ideas make it almost worth keeping Horton without EPT.

The short answer is that you can't. Once you can use the FAQ and Errata to change the basic statlines of a wave 1 pilot, you can use those tools to do basically anything.

Except it wouldn't be changing the statline. The card is functionally identical, you've just got the option to equip an EPT. People with the old card who don't know about the errata aren't going to end up running illegal lists, they just won't stick EPTs on Horton.

It's no less drastic than what happened to Daredevil.

The very reason I never seem to run Horton is that I can get the same thing from a ship that costs substantially less. He offers no real benefit unless you want his ability which is lackluster due to its range restriction. If he did have an EPT I would have a very good reason to give him some consideration.

A fluff justification could be that EPTs are fancy flying, while high PS is good flying. Horton is a bomber pilot, a **** good one but he's not a fighter jock. Kagi flies the emperor around, he's not going to "show him a little trick he learned".

A fluff justification could be that EPTs are fancy flying, while high PS is good flying. Horton is a bomber pilot, a **** good one but he's not a fighter jock. Kagi flies the emperor around, he's not going to "show him a little trick he learned".

Like a a barrel roll for instance

A shuttle that daredevil's should have to roll like 15 red dice.

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.

The big issue I see with doing that right now is BTL-A4 + R3A2 + Predator. Now Horton basically always has a TL (except at R1) between his ability and predator, so he really doesn't need his actions... and furthermore, he can double stress and ionize and the only sacrifice is really his K turn. Too powerful imo.

Given, when they made W1, they probably didn't have R3-A2 planned out, and for sure didn't have BTL-A4 planned out, so that doesn't explain why he didn't get one (it's probably more of the barrel roll thing as said before).

And yes, Arvel can now get an EPT... meanwhile the rest of Green Squadron gets two EPTs. I didn't think that was worth mentioning since they still get more than he does.

I really don't think there's any combination with Horton and an EPT that is overpowered. That theoretical combination would be 35 points and is very easily focused down.

I am not holding my breath for that errata, though. If they do anything for Horton, it will probably be some astromech or torpedo or something that meshes particularly well with him.