I have a new theory of why we got the fairly obscure Tie Punisher/Interdictor instead of the Assault Gunboat: Ease of production. With the Punisher they can basically use the same molds and plastic bits as the Bomber. Probably saves them a bunch of money.

Only thing I can think of. The Tie Interdictor was in one video game. That's it. The fairly decent but not wildly popular Star Wars Battlegrounds. SW:BG was basically a Star Wars version of Age of Empires. I just don't understand why they went with a starfighter that obscure into the EU, when they had a lot more options available that are more wildly recognizable.

For the Rebels you have to scrap the bottom of the barrel a lot more. I just wish it wasn't the K-wing. Hardpoints... ****ing hardpoints... Don't belong on a Star Wars Fighter.

In the Punisher's defense(did I really just say that?) did the Phantom appear in anything other than Rebel Assault 2? Did anyone here actually play Rebel Assault 2? I did, but had still pretty much completely forgotten the Phantom existed until the Wave 4 announcement, and even then it took me a bit to realize where I recognized it from.

Tie Phantom was in the Empire at War expansion Forces of Corruption. Yeah the Phantom is obscure, but its kind of a neat design. It also for better or worse added a new element to the game. The Tie Punishictor is a Tie Bomber on steroids. I don't see the Punishictor being anything but a Bomber 2.0

Well, i'll try to advocate for FFG here. In the place of the TIE Punisher, what else might they have used?

Scimitar Assault Bomber. Better aesthetic, better known to SW fans. Hardly a bomber though. According to wookiepedia and older RPG sourcebooks the Scimitar could only really carry missiles.

Assault Gunboat. Best looking choice and while a capable bomber, statted out properly might be *too good*. The Gunboat can dogfight decently in the PC games. I think we may still see it yet, but not in the "Bomber wave"

The TIE Punisher fits the bill. a heavy bomber.

Tie Phantom was in the Empire at War expansion Forces of Corruption. Yeah the Phantom is obscure, but its kind of a neat design. It also for better or worse added a new element to the game. The Tie Punishictor is a Tie Bomber on steroids. I don't see the Punishictor being anything but a Bomber 2.0

FFG always make new ships distinct. The Defender avoided being TIE interceptor+, didn't it?

That may not have been the best example to choose, come to think of it...

I'll most likely get some to the fix the older ships. But I'm seriously hoping for 1 x K-Wing and 1 x Punisher and not have to get 2 of each to have enough cards.

In the Punisher's defense(did I really just say that?) did the Phantom appear in anything other than Rebel Assault 2? Did anyone here actually play Rebel Assault 2? I did, but had still pretty much completely forgotten the Phantom existed until the Wave 4 announcement, and even then it took me a bit to realize where I recognized it from.

I played it, and I remembered it.

I have a new theory of why we got the fairly obscure Tie Punisher/Interdictor instead of the Assault Gunboat: Ease of production. With the Punisher they can basically use the same molds and plastic bits as the Bomber. Probably saves them a bunch of money.

Only thing I can think of. The Tie Interdictor was in one video game. That's it. The fairly decent but not wildly popular Star Wars Battlegrounds. SW:BG was basically a Star Wars version of Age of Empires. I just don't understand why they went with a starfighter that obscure into the EU, when they had a lot more options available that are more wildly recognizable.

For the Rebels you have to scrap the bottom of the barrel a lot more. I just wish it wasn't the K-wing. Hardpoints... ****ing hardpoints... Don't belong on a Star Wars Fighter. And do the Rebels really need another turret, even at only 2 attack? They already have 4 turret ships. Just doesn't seem necessary.

I really wish you guys would stop getting so hung up on comments like "digging deep into the EU" or "obscure ship from the EU" or "scraping the bottom of the barrel" etc...

The Tie Interdictor/Punisher looks logical.

If your at war then designing entirely new weapons is generally a luxury you cannot afford. (Look at WWII Germany for what NOT to do military tech wise)

For an empire needing a new ordinance delivery platform, reusing as much of the same parts as possible from its predecessor makes a lot of sense.

Minimal R&D time and on to the production line asap!

As for the K-wing, It's long wings packed full of ordinance hard-points probably make it faster to reload from it's carrier.

As it has no FTL drive it will be operating from a local carrier so it will be wanting to truck and deliver as much ordinance as possible in as small a time frame as possible.

At this point, I am utterly convinced that the "Tie Bomber love" that was mentioned in the Jodo Cast interview is the reason why we got the Tie Punisher. I'm pretty sure it's a title card that works on "Tie Bombers" of all variants (including the Punisher). It's something that will improve the Tie Bomber. It's why they chose the Punisher instead of the Assault Boat...or whatever floats your boat.

Well...I'm wrong.

At this point, I am utterly convinced that the "Tie Bomber love" that was mentioned in the Jodo Cast interview is the reason why we got the Tie Punisher. I'm pretty sure it's a title card that works on "Tie Bombers" of all variants (including the Punisher). It's something that will improve the Tie Bomber. It's why they chose the Punisher instead of the Assault Boat...or whatever floats your boat.

Well...I'm wrong.

Wasn't it just "bomber love"? And anyway, we don't know what that "TIE only" modification does yet, depending on the details it could certainly help TIE Bombers out a lot, in addition to their access to all the new ordnance. The new upgrades aren't TIE-specific, but that mod is, and the TIE Bomber is also the best existing platform for Extra Munitions; I'd say it's gotten more love than any other existing ship from this wave already.

Well, i'll try to advocate for FFG here. In the place of the TIE Punisher, what else might they have used?

Scimitar Assault Bomber. Better aesthetic, better known to SW fans. Hardly a bomber though. According to wookiepedia and older RPG sourcebooks the Scimitar could only really carry missiles.

Assault Gunboat. Best looking choice and while a capable bomber, statted out properly might be *too good*. The Gunboat can dogfight decently in the PC games. I think we may still see it yet, but not in the "Bomber wave"

The TIE Punisher fits the bill. a heavy bomber.

Scimitar has a better aesthetic?

Assault Gunboat better looking?

did I just fall into a parallel universe where ugly is considered pretty ?

The way I see it, the TIE Punisher is a TIE Bomber Aces expansion without new Bomber pilots, but instead of a repainted mini that I already have four of, I get a NEW ship with 4 pilots that is aesthetically complimentary in a big-brother kind of way to the Bombers I already have...

They pretty much have to make each wave more powerful than what's already out or it wouldn't sell as much.

Scimitar has a better aesthetic?

Assault Gunboat better looking?

did I just fall into a parallel universe where ugly is considered pretty ?

No, you just woke up in the real world where not everyone's opinions match your own

They pretty much have to make each wave more powerful than what's already out or it wouldn't sell as much.

No, unless you are mistaking the phrase 'more powerful' for different. FFG does need to make sure that each wave offers something that improves the game somehow, by adding in more useful options. There is no requirement for simple power creep.

They pretty much have to make each wave more powerful than what's already out or it wouldn't sell as much.

No, unless you are mistaking the phrase 'more powerful' for different. FFG does need to make sure that each wave offers something that improves the game somehow, by adding in more useful options. There is no requirement for simple power creep.

I'm out of likes for today, but thanks for this post.