Basically unless you want Vader, Maarek, or Squad Leader, you don't have to hunt around for an Advanced booster.I didn't realize it came with 6 TIE/A pilots.
(oh, who am I kidding, they're probably still on shelves everywhere)
New Raider preview article up
Great idea for a card. But it's far too expensive. Other "free action/focus" cards cost 3 points and have at least a 75% duty cycle, making an unconditional focus worth 4 points, not 6.
I thought the same thing when I saw the cost. I guess the extreme range and ability to remove tokens is the justification? I could see a 4 cost but 6 seems crazy.
I have not been able to find any in a store near me. I finally bumped into someone who bought a huge collection and had 6 Tie Advanced! He sold me one so I could get my 3rd. My 4th will be with the Raider.
EDIT: Oh, the range is good on Tarkin. It is expensive, though. It would be better to do both at the same time.
Edited by heychadwick
Great idea for a card. But it's far too expensive. Other "free action/focus" cards cost 3 points and have at least a 75% duty cycle, making an unconditional focus worth 4 points, not 6.
One thing. It's range 1 to 4 from a frwaking enormous ship. It's 100% adaptable. There are zero ways to actively deny it.(No action blocking, etc.)
All of that = unconditional = 100% duty cycle. So again if a "normal" card has a 75% duty cycle and is fairly priced at 3 points, then an unconditional should be about 3/0.75=4. You could debate the 75% duty cycle but personally I think that if you've got Recon Specialist, PtL, Fleet Officer, etc, and if you only have a 50% duty cycle (3/0.5= 6 = Moff), then you're doing it wrong.
And it can steal tokens which is an even better option because it allows use of opportunist and can cripple certain ships very effectively.
You have a point there, although due to reciprocity gaining a focus yourself is generally worth the same as depriving your opponent of one.
My mathematician friend would have an aneurysm at the improper use of the word 'exponentially.'Anyone else feel like this is exponentially better than the CR-90? More hull & shield, more firepower, better ability, and some pretty good crew so far.
I've got a back LOG of comments that are orders of magnitude worse.
One thing. It's range 1 to 4 from a frwaking enormous ship. It's 100% adaptable. There are zero ways to actively deny it.(No action blocking, etc.)
All of that = unconditional = 100% duty cycle. So again if a "normal" card has a 75% duty cycle and is fairly priced at 3 points, then an unconditional should be about 3/0.75=4. You could debate the 75% duty cycle but personally I think that if you've got Recon Specialist, PtL, Fleet Officer, etc, and if you only have a 50% duty cycle (3/0.5= 6 = Moff), then you're doing it wrong.
And it can steal tokens which is an even better option because it allows use of opportunist and can cripple certain ships very effectively.
You have a point there, although due to reciprocity gaining a focus yourself is generally worth the same as depriving your opponent of one.
I think the biggest boost is really the range in an epic game. It offers a lot of adaptability. Is it worth 6 points? With the right squad yes.
You're also putting it on a far more durable ship. Durability plays a big part in usefulness. That's part of why so many epic upgrades cost more.
When compared to Jan Dodonna, Raymus Antilles or Toryn Farr (all of whoom cost 6 points), I find Tarkin is a pretty good deal:
- Nice range
- Can affect both enemies or friendlies
- Does not require energy to use (leaving the precious resource for firing or recovering shields)
- Does not consume an action
It's not going to make or break a list, but I can imagine lots of good ways where the ability could be useful, starting with removing focus tokens so the Raider can actually hit its target with its cannons. Other uses that come to mind are:
- Giving a focus token to Rexler so he can use his ability more easily.
- Removing a focus token so Opportunist will trigger.
- Removing a focus token on a ship with a blaster turret, just for lols.
- Removing a focus token on Garven, again for lols
- Removing a focus token on the ship equipped with an assault missile who currently has a lock, hopefully wrecking the dice roll and preventing the area affect damage
- etc, etc.
Good times 
I just know it's going to be fun pairing Tarkin with Kagi & Sensor Jammer.
Your enemy might be afraid to focus because of Tarkin, but then they have to TL Kagi who can change a hit to a focus. Good times.
Great idea for a card. But it's far too expensive. Other "free action/focus" cards cost 3 points and have at least a 75% duty cycle, making an unconditional focus worth 4 points, not 6.
It does seem pricey, but you've got choices here. And it's free. And it's got a farther range than anything like it we've seen. And it's got Doctor Who. Easily worth 10 points just for that alone.
Anyone else feel like this is exponentially better than the CR-90? More hull & shield, more firepower, better ability, and some pretty good crew so far.
CR90 has range and can now take advantage of it with the new rules. I think it has better arc coverage too. Its previous problem was that just about every weapon it had was useless against TIE fighters at long range. The primary of the CR90 is lethal now.
I am almost giddy thinking about massed B-wings or even (lordhelpme) K-wings lining up to unload on a Raider while Ties and A-wings zoom around the periphery. I wants it now!
Peter Cushing lives in Whitstable
I have seen him on his bicycle
I have seen him buying vegtables
Peter Cushing lives in Whitstable
Oh dear... I could see 1 Raider with Tarkin with 16 Academy Tie Fighters being a thing. Raider + Tarkin = 106. 300-106= 194. 194/12 = 16. I guess it's a bad time to be a rebel player XD.
Although 2 Raiders would also be pretty epic as well.
Or... *Aimlessly begins dreaming about squad building with various ties*.
Can't have more than 12 TIE Fighters in Epic.
So 10 Alphas and a Black Squadron
So 10 Alphas and a Black Squadron
Blount + Assault Missile + Swarm Tactics
2x Green + A-Wing Test Pilot + PTL + Swarm Tactics + Assault Missile
+ rest of the chain to get another splash going somewhere else
all shooting above ps1...
Add Roark if you really need ps12.
Lot of space on a 6 x 3. No reason to stay together.
Edited by Jo JoSo they spoiled 3 cards. No news on the advanced.That article was... Underwhelming.
Obviously you'd need to be into epic play to appreciate an article that only covered new "epic play only" components.
So they spoiled 3 cards. No news on the advanced.
That article was... Underwhelming.
Technically, wasn't the ion cannon battery not officially spoiled before? Didn't we find that one by URL diving? Or am I misremembering?
Anybody else wondering if we'll see a Carrion Spike title for the Raider?
Captain Needa Card is so good!!!
With his ability, yo can literally clear all obstacles from the battlefield!!!
Great idea for a card. But it's far too expensive. Other "free action/focus" cards cost 3 points and have at least a 75% duty cycle, making an unconditional focus worth 4 points, not 6.
It does seem pricey, but you've got choices here. And it's free. And it's got a farther range than anything like it we've seen. And it's got Doctor Who. Easily worth 10 points just for that alone.
That must be how he killed Dracula, removing his focus.
Anybody else wondering if we'll see a Carrion Spike title for the Raider?
I had not been wondering that, but thanks for putting it on my mental map. I can't make out the card on the very end of the card fan, but the words don't look like they would be 'Carrion Spike', even if that does look like it might be a title card.
Did no one notice the ion cannon battery in the article?
You suffer 1 crit and an ion token on a hit.