You all must certainly realize that the generics being lackluster is a design choice? It's offered for completionist's sake only, as not all ships need to be fully competitive on their own.

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wat

FFG don't deliberately overcost generics. There's no reason for them to. They just tend to play it too safe, which is better than not playing safe enough and VVVVV becoming the List of Doom.

I hate the fact that you can't put the title card on the generics

If ALL StarViper pilots had access to Illict and System Upgrade - and the Virago title would add a cannon, missile and a fancy astromech slot or crew or whatever, with or without discount on squad points - to really make this ship damaging and outstanding ... this would really be ok for me ^^

Right now I don't get the feeling that Xizor + Title + Upgrades is able to do enough damage for his costs.

Don't LORE says that the Virago was equipped with Heavy Laser Cannons?

This feels just ... wrong. Sadly. http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Virago

Balancing? Or did FFG messed this one up.

I went to the Milton Keynes reginal today.

I placed 10th out of 60 with xizor and 5'Z

I was one of only 2 star viper pilots there (the other one was Gury with 4 ps3 z's with hot shot blasters).

so many people came up to me today and mentioned how much better the starviper looks with its wings folded back, I was rather pleased to represent the starviper well.

What was your actual list?

Not everything needs a cannon slot. IMO, the Starviper is priced decently, the problem is that it's balanced for X-Wing, but not Super X-Wing. Super X Wing is where everything gets 15 actions/dice modifications for free and with some obnoxious attack value like 4 because cannons or always having gunner/double tap and FCS.

Things that are super X Wing:

Super Phantoms

Super Corran

Fat Turrets, especially Super Dash

Dual IG's loaded out certain ways, like FCS + HLC + IG-88 B's ability

Cards like ACD or FCS or Predator or C-3PO that give you massive benefits for almost nothing.

Things that are regular X-Wing:

Pretty much everything else. For example, Garven. He gets to pass a single focus off to someone else. That's the epitome of normal X Wing.

Things that are normal X-Wing, but can compete with Super X-Wing:

B Wing spam, swarms I guess, and Soontir. Soontir can do crazy stuff but he's not a turret and throws a single 3 dice attack out that doesn't have the benefit of Predator or gunner or FCS.

eh,

you squint hard enough and anything can look like anything

booze also helps

I've never regretted waking up the morning after an X-Wing game, though.

I have. After store championships, my knees were KILLING me.

eh,

you squint hard enough and anything can look like anything

booze also helps

I've never regretted waking up the morning after an X-Wing game, though.

I have. After store championships, my knees were KILLING me.

Please don't elaborate....

eh,

you squint hard enough and anything can look like anything

booze also helps

I've never regretted waking up the morning after an X-Wing game, though.

I have. After store championships, my knees were KILLING me.

Not sure if you meant this the way it sounded in my head but I LoL Ed so hard xD thanks for making my hour

My list was xizor, veteran instincts, fire control system, title, inertial dampeners, flechette torpedo and auto thrusters, and 5 binayre pilots for 100 points.

My list was xizor, veteran instincts, fire control system, title, inertial dampeners, flechette torpedo and auto thrusters, and 5 binayre pilots for 100 points.

I love the way the starviper looks, but I admit I am totally biased because I grew up with Shadows of the Empire (the book, the comics and the awesome video game). To me it is an iconic ship.

Xizor is pretty fun to play with Expose, FCS and Experimental Interface to give him 4 attack dice and really make him a tempting target. I like pairing him with Y-Wings to soak up damage and cover his flanks with turrets. Once the Khiraxz fighter comes out that will add another nice option for a Xizor/mini swarm list with more punch than Z's.

I think the reason the StarViper hasn't taken off is because it filled a different niche in the game than people wanted it to fill. I think people were expecting another PtL machine like the TIE Interceptor but instead its closer to the TIE Defender.

Actually, when you compare the PS 1 generic to the Defender generic it looks pretty awesome. The starviper has 1 less total durability (with less shields and more hull, so shabbier overall but not by a ton), costs a whopping 5 points less, has a better dial and a better action bar.

You are right, man! I forgot about Expose + EI

Seems that Xizor might play quite exposed as long as there are Guri and other friends nearby.

Hmm, I tried Xizor with Expose and Experimental Interface, the results were not good. You have to be really careful and the only times you really want to Expose is when you are out of arc and can't get shot, which sort of means his ability is a bit redundant.

I think I used to Sensor Jammer on X though to try and keep him alive when Exposing himself, Advanced Sensors + Green move is probably better though. It's still a dicey prospect.

Ooh I love the xizor builds here. Oh man now I'm gonna have to play him this week! And here I was wanting to practice my list choice for regionals... First world problems T~T

I love the way the starviper looks, but I admit I am totally biased because I grew up with Shadows of the Empire (the book, the comics and the awesome video game). To me it is an iconic ship.

Xizor is pretty fun to play with Expose, FCS and Experimental Interface to give him 4 attack dice and really make him a tempting target. I like pairing him with Y-Wings to soak up damage and cover his flanks with turrets. Once the Khiraxz fighter comes out that will add another nice option for a Xizor/mini swarm list with more punch than Z's.

I think the reason the StarViper hasn't taken off is because it filled a different niche in the game than people wanted it to fill. I think people were expecting another PtL machine like the TIE Interceptor but instead its closer to the TIE Defender.

Actually, when you compare the PS 1 generic to the Defender generic it looks pretty awesome. The starviper has 1 less total durability (with less shields and more hull, so shabbier overall but not by a ton), costs a whopping 5 points less, has a better dial and a better action bar.

Vipers and defenders don't fit the same role so there's not alot of point comparing them.

Having run 4 black sun enforcers in numerous games...

They are awesome. They've destroyed many three ship rebel builds, they go toe to toe with tie swarm, though I tend to lose there, usually get down towards 1 damaged viper to 1 fresh or two damaged ties though, dice tend to call the match there.

They have enough firepower, and maneuverability to cover soontir's ptl options. Soontir tends to get the upper hand when he isn't stressed, or when he is 1v1. 2v1 can usually keep shots on him, and 3v1 gets pretty good at blocking him. The 4 viper list is strong enough to mow down fat Falcons and decimators.

They can be tougher than a bwing, but as soft as a z-95 - mostly dial choice. What they lack in an evade option is made up for by focus. The generics are really good at knowing when to use focus for defense vs offense, and can take the TL when they have no shot. Boost and barrel are great on the generics for asteroid navigation, and coming around to position when flanking. If you've flown lots of alpha squadrons, you'll be at home with this ship. Interestingly, the named are tougher to fly, because you don't want to ptl stress them much, at least without adv sensors ... Guri doesn't need ptl, but the higher p.s. means guessing to save focus for defense or use it on offense.

While 40 point Guri can be amazing to fly and there are many explored builds here. When you want to put more in her squad I think her best cost effective builds are the following.

Guri+ lone wolf + autothrusters.

Guri + determination (range 1 rarely triggers autothrusters, and crits vs 4 hull happen)

Guri + adrenaline rush + advanced proton torp. (Tl + focus on a segnors loop is aweeeesome.)

For more fun and shenanigans...

Guri + virago + intimidation + enhanced scopes + FCS. (Block for focus, and agi reduction, protecting yourself from that shot, take a boost or barrel for better blocking, and get a focus for defense, then get TL on a different ship after firing. )

Guri + daredevil + advanced sensors + virago. (Awesome positioning)

I love the Starviper in it's named form (Xizor and Guri) and have a list that is undefeated made up of Xizor, Guri and Xerissu. It's beaten turrets, BBBBZ, Panic attack and dual IG's against quality players.

The only improvement I might have liked would be the "Evade" action, but that would probably tilt the ship into the overpowered zone.

The Viper needs synergy to work. Find yours for it and enjoy flying a challenging, but rewarding ship.

Do not underestimate the power of the S-loop. Vipers do best out of arc at R1 and kitted out properly, excel there.

Don't suppose you'd share the list? I'd like to try it.

Because purists will be purists and think that the only real SW is the OT.

I can accept you not liking the e.g. StarViper, or the E-wing, I can accept you not liking it to the point where you don't play it. BUT DON'T GIVE SOME BULL ABOUT IT NOT LOOKING STAR-WARSY.

I think there are a few reasons why people don't use the Starviper much:

1) not PS 9. I know Phantoms are not as big, but people still insist on playing PS 9 pilots.

2) some just don't like the look. Personally, I don't care and think in a galaxy full of aliens, someone can make a different ship.

3) it's not immediately OP when played. It's a ship you have to be good to use well and many people just want easy-peasy.

I've flown a Xizor list w/ 3 Z-95's and Torkhil Mux w/ Ion. I had initially thought I would need it for Phantoms, but that's not as much of an issue. I find that I do like his ability, though. You can knock ships down in PS order often enough that it matters. Even if it just keeps one Z-95 alive to shoot it matters. I do wish that Xizor did more damage than he does, but I could change his upgrades. I went with Predator and Adv. Sensors. Maybe FCS instead? I have used the Adv Sensors to good effect, but maybe need more firepower?

I have to say that I was really excited about this ship...and then they announced the Imperial Raider. I'm just really excited about the Tie Advanced fix. I just can't seem to get excited about any list until that comes out.

The only real weakness of Xizor is a weakness of scum as a faction: the cheaper generics aren't very fun

The Empire gets the incredibly fast and flexible (if bad luck prone ) Tie Fighter

The rebels get the incredibly versatile and reliable B-wing

Scum gets head-hunters. Granted, feedback Z-95s are worlds apart from their boring bandit counterparts, but they're still Z-95s.

Umm....you know there are many generics for Scum besides Z-95, right? If you like Tie Fighters, have you tried a generic Scyk w/ no upgrades? Yeah, it's 2 points more than an Academy, but it's got 1 more PS and it's got freakin' TL! I've found that to be really useful. Still, I wouldn't recommend the Scyk to fly with Xizor as they are paper thin.

Y-wings are also a good generic.

The StarViper is horribly underrated, because it has an interesting position. It's almost an arc-dodger, but not quite, it's almost a knife-fighter but not really. It is stuck between "X-wing cliques", and therefore people don't even bother to try and figure out how to play it.

That said, I second fickle's post about the SV.

I like xizor and feedback Zs, but super corran just slaughters it. Xizor needed a higher PS.

I like the Starviper, but I have the same problem with all the Scum: all I want is 1 or 2 points more expensive that I desire. The titles (Virago, Heavy Scyk) would cost 0 for real use, because you have to pay for more cards.

I just wish it had a little bit more green on the dial to make PTL a more viable option. It has the greens of an X-wing plus the 3 straight.