In the last few hours before we actually find out...

If it's Aces? I'd love to see a Defender/E-wing Aces (And would be curious to see how you'd buff the E-wing without breaking Corran in the process). I'd love even more to see a Defender/Bomber and an E-wing/(Insert ship here) duo, but that's because I'd love to see more Bomber pilots.

X wing fix: C'mon, there's Episode VII coming. By the new canon, it's canon and in the time period. Whatever fix for our old models, I expect it to show up with a straight face alongside the new one. Possibly a new starter pack, possibly an Aces... either way, no biggie.

Avenger: Actually, I can see a niche for it afterall. The Imperials don't really have an E-wing equivalent. Oh, to be sure the Defender was supposed to be, but while the E-wing has a niche in being good at firepower (Especially Corran, but Systems + 3 attack will do nicely wherever you find it), plenty zoomy, and tough as nails (Especially with R2-D2 synergising off the 3 shields and fast greens). The Defender is... the uber-K-turner, not a super-anything-else.

A super-Interceptor is still a niche that is possible; either change the greens or the dial, and a shielded statline and you're good to go. Indeed, the real challenge would be keeping it distinct from the rebel E-wing. The Interceptor title for double-mods combined with that beautiful dial+action bar combo does just fine otherwise.

The good part of the TIE Avenger is that it could bring the TIE Defender fix with it. How? The Avenger needs to bring something unique to the game or it will be just another T/D or T/A. The devs have said that they have thought many times on how to bring the beam weapons, but had not yet found out how. I don't know how they could do the beam weapons in a way compatible with the game, but if they did, it should be equippable only by the Avenger, Defender, Gunboat and Missile Boat.

It could open a totally new kind of upgrades, just like cannons or ordnance currently are. Not necessarily limited to the Tractor, Decoy and Jamming beams of the videogames.

The more I think about it, I think a very simple and easy way to help xwings and ewings a bit is have a -1 card for not equipping an astromech. That wouldn't help corran at all. I'd make it xwing and Ewing only though. Ywings don't need to be cheaper.

The more I think about it, I think a very simple and easy way to help xwings and ewings a bit is have a -1 card for not equipping an astromech. That wouldn't help corran at all. I'd make it xwing and Ewing only though. Ywings don't need to be cheaper.

So:

Astromech, -1pts, "This card has a negative squad point cost. You may not equip this card unless your agility value is "2" or higher."

They've never done a multiple "only" card, and it probably wouldn't fit right.

I'm going to get 0 work done today when the pictures hit...

Can anyone supply the time at which we can expect news? It's currently 2.23 pm GMT here, so I imagine I'll have to wait till about 10 pm for news?

Can anyone supply the time at which we can expect news? It's currently 2.23 pm GMT here, so I imagine I'll have to wait till about 10 pm for news?

The FFG event is at noon EDT, which is GMT -5. It's two and a half hours away as I post this.

Can anyone supply the time at which we can expect news? It's currently 2.23 pm GMT here, so I imagine I'll have to wait till about 10 pm for news?

The FFG event is at noon EDT, which is GMT -5. It's two and a half hours away as I post this.

Ah nice, thanks for the info mate.

I like the astromech -1 idea, here is the question though: Are there any ships that would require an astromech that have not yet been released agi 2 or higher?

My guesses would be:

Havoc for scum

X-wing bump via... card only expansion (Ha!) maybe via T-70 or Rogue Squadron title

Tie Defender or Bomber bump as well. Either as an "Aces" pack or more cards...

I know, I know card only expansions ain't ever going to happen. Just remember, a third faction was never going to happen, until it did. Card only won't happen until it makes economic sense i.e. until FFG will sell more and make more money as card(board) only expansions. That time will probably come. It may not be here yet but we will see.

FFG does care, though, and has to care, for the good of the game.

If two ships have some crossover, I fail to see how it will hurt the game. It might diminish the viability of certain builds with certain ships, because a different ship does that better, but then to be honest that's already the case anyway. The game won't become broken just because two ships in the same faction are similar in some respects.

Hour and a half almost now. Would totally dig that idea of the Gozanti and Action IV as an epic wave.

The YT 2000 needs to be crossfaction. If Emon Azameen is scum, so should be Aemon, Emkay or even Ace.

I think YT-2000 would be more suitable for scum, and also the three factions would have a 360º main weapon fire ship

Oh, I agree entirely. After all, we really should be able to fly Emon, Ace and Aeron together.

I'm just having a really hard time thinking of any Rebel ships I'd actually care to see.

I'd like to see the Nova Courier for Rebels...

Always liked that design.

I accept that this would be another large base turret ship, but it can still be made unique pretty easily.

Give it firepower 3 natively, relatively weak hull, but good speed/dial.

I bet internet points on: The R41(scum), XG-1(pimperials) T-wing (rebel scum), YT2000(scum)

With for Epic the gozer for imps. Action IV for Scum. - for this reveal (if we get a reveal).

Alternates: The Kimo for Scum. Aces pack for Scum.

On the I don't think but would love to see:

Sentinal class shuttles(pimp)

Preybird fighters (scum)

Rikki lakes (scum)

The H-wing (rebel scum).

TIE Avenger (pimp).

Outliers: (I don't think we'll see for a while/ever)

ARC170 (any)

N-1 (any)

V-wing (Any)

V-19 Torrent (any)

Heavy Y-wing (from SWGB)

Maurauder Corvette for Scum (too big)

This is not to say i wouldn't like to see them, but at this point seems unlikely.

It's not that they can't, but that they probably wont. FFG wants to sell ships. If a ship is released whose role is totally done before by another previously released ship, they won't sell many of the new ship,

Which is why they've started to include multiple copies of must-have cards with all their new ships.

Are they trying to fix old ships, or are they just trying to get you to buy a ship you don't really want? Trick question, they're the same thing. Because fixing old ships makes you buy more of the old ship, while also buying more of the new ship to get the fix.

They will sell Avengers the same way they are selling Punishers. By including a bunch of cards that the Avenger can use, but that the Advanced or some other ship would find amazing.

Except the idea that "Well, we've created a ship to fill each of these 10 or so artificial "roles". Time to stop making new ships" would be good for the game is completely ridiculous.

As long as ships are not exactly the same, then there's always an excuse to justify a new model. Different attack value than the Advanced, lacking the cannon of the Defender, different dial than both of them, and of course, new pilots with new unique pilot abilities.

SCUM: G1-A Starfighter & Jumpmaster 5000.

Imperials: XG-1 Assault Gunboat

Rebels: YT-2000

Gozanti Cruises for Imperial Epic

Action VI Transport for Scum & Villany Epic

Scum & Villany Aces - Dunelizard & Vaksai (New variants for Heavy Scyk & Kirahxz)

I think YT-2000 would be more suitable for scum, and also the three factions would have a 360º main weapon fire ship

I'd much rather Scum continue to lack a PWT.

The more I think about it, I think a very simple and easy way to help xwings and ewings a bit is have a -1 card for not equipping an astromech. That wouldn't help corran at all. I'd make it xwing and Ewing only though. Ywings don't need to be cheaper.

I don't think the astromech slot needs a universal 1 pt tax.

Except the idea that "Well, we've created a ship to fill each of these 10 or so artificial "roles". Time to stop making new ships" would be good for the game is completely ridiculous.

As long as ships are not exactly the same, then there's always an excuse to justify a new model. Different attack value than the Advanced, lacking the cannon of the Defender, different dial than both of them, and of course, new pilots with new unique pilot abilities.

Again, their design decisions so far, especially with the TIE defender, mean they won't just stick a ton of hull on a TIE interceptor. If an Avenger is made, it'll be distinct from the other TIEs somehow. Even the Z-95 isn't a downgunned X-wing.

And that's where they hit the problem of how to make it distinct. It lies between the interceptor and the defender. How can you make it not an upgunned interceptor while keeping it as an Avenger?

Final vote:

Scum huge(probably a big sorosuub yacht) with Jabba crew(2 slots)

T70, SF TIE, Vaksai.

I'd be happy to be wrong, because I'm pretty sure we'll get all those things anyways in a few months if not today.

The good part of the TIE Avenger is that it could bring the TIE Defender fix with it. How? The Avenger needs to bring something unique to the game or it will be just another T/D or T/A. The devs have said that they have thought many times on how to bring the beam weapons, but had not yet found out how. I don't know how they could do the beam weapons in a way compatible with the game, but if they did, it should be equippable only by the Avenger, Defender, Gunboat and Missile Boat.

It could open a totally new kind of upgrades, just like cannons or ordnance currently are. Not necessarily limited to the Tractor, Decoy and Jamming beams of the videogames.

I still think a cannon upgrade that uses an action instead of an attack would be a good fit for beam weapons. It works really well for ships that already have a good primary attack and could be a useful tool to help the single-ordnance ships land powerful hits.

I am holding out hope for an Aces release for at least one faction...would be cool.

Holding out hope for Clawcraft and YT-2000.

Please make it so FFG!

X-Wing Aces is my only guess. FFG usually surprise me too much to really guess.

So, I would absolutely LOVE to hear how there was no space for the Avenger in between the Advanced and the Defender, but there was apparently space there for the Inquisitor TIE.

Seriously, FFG just said "**** you" to your argument.

I got what I wanted in Wave 8 announced today at GenCon. The Assault Carrier and the Ghost!... happy about the Inquisitor's TIE and the Bounty Hunter ships too...

I hope they give the Phantom a Blaster Turret.