Nice job FFG on Palpatine! I really like this card. Very thematic, useful, and from first impressions, appropriately costed.

Icon on back of card will set emporer as crew, double icons just give cost.

Since the timing on this is "once per round" can you change an attack die after the defender has already rolled and modified their roll?

Since the timing on this is "once per round" can you change an attack die after the defender has already rolled and modified their roll?

That's a good question.

The restrictions of "once per round" and "a [...] die" (singular) means that The Emperor is geared towards few-ship builds.

If you've got the crew slots to spare, it's probably well worth the insurance that a half or a third of your list doesn't get gimped/produces hits.

So, as pointed out by the list proposed in the article, he makes a good choice for, say, an Authothruster/Stealth Fel, who really doesn't want to lose his 4Agi.

On the other hand, it does woefully little for your TIE Swarm, which does not care about losing individual ships and probably already has rerolls for every ship via Howlrunner.

It seems clear enough to me that this card was designed with the intent to push squads away from swarming generics, which means its purpose is best fulfilled to buff the two-ship lists that the meta is already rife with.

I'm thrilled by the inclusion of one of my favorite characters. I'm not excited about his game effect.

Since the timing on this is "once per round" can you change an attack die after the defender has already rolled and modified their roll?

Yeah, elsewhere people have stated it as "anytime", but I don't read it that way. Anytime you would normally be able to modify dice. So just as you must choose on using focus before the defender rolls, you would also have to use the Emperor then. My interpretation.

The most obvious use I can think of is very similar to the VT-49 build in the article:

RAC + Predator + Palpatine

At range 1, that is really good odds for 2 crits + 2 hits even without any actions. Will have to do the math on that later.

at 8 points, though? Well, you're the math guy and will figure out if it's worth it

personally think kenkirk would make for more of a vessel for palpy especially something silly like PTL Ysanne engine. If worst comes to worse, at least you'll get fat han levels of defenses and arc-dodging. Sure, it's way overpriced for c3po, but it's a lot more flexible and an 8 point c3po is better than losing the whole ship

inb4 2 ship kenkirk + soontir builds

Well, now I am thinking about something like this:

Oicunn - Gunner, Rebel Captive - 50pts
Patrol Leader - Moff Jerjerrod and Palpatine - 50pts

I know it's not super competitive, but it'd be fun to see Oicunn get almost granted 3-4 hits (target lock, gunner, Palpatine, potentially focus) every turn along with possible granted ramming damage and fairly durable supporting Palpatine, making it 24 health and 8 shields. Could swap Gunner out for Vader for even more granted hits, but I am not a fan of burning down named decimator characters - it's better on a redshirt Patrol Leader when he's not carrying the Emperor.

The restrictions of "once per round" and "a [...] die" (singular) means that The Emperor is geared towards few-ship builds.

If you've got the crew slots to spare, it's probably well worth the insurance that a half or a third of your list doesn't get gimped/produces hits.

So, as pointed out by the list proposed in the article, he makes a good choice for, say, an Authothruster/Stealth Fel, who really doesn't want to lose his 4Agi.

On the other hand, it does woefully little for your TIE Swarm, which does not care about losing individual ships and probably already has rerolls for every ship via Howlrunner.

It seems clear enough to me that this card was designed with the intent to push squads away from swarming generics, which means its purpose is best fulfilled to buff the two-ship lists that the meta is already rife with.

I'm thrilled by the inclusion of one of my favorite characters. I'm not excited about his game effect.

What kind of swarm list supports a double crew 8 point upgrade away?! I don't see this as a push away from swarm any more than the other crew that swarm rarely if ever gets to play.

I'm also intrigued by the idea of Vader and Palpatine on the same Decimator, as Vader hastens his Emperor's demise with every attack.

"Stop doing that! We've already lost shields!"

"But I want that ship!"

"I don't care! We still have a long way to go to Naboo, and I don't want to stop for repairs every time we see a Binarye pirate!"

"BUT I WANT THAT SHIP."

"That's it. Next time, we're taking the Raider, and we will not sit together. You can ride in the front."

"Yes! SHOTGUN!"

I would drop Jax for a RG. Add EU and FCS to the shuttle.

That's not a Raider preview, it's the Emperor's preview.

Jacob

It's a preview of the Raider Expansion, of which the Emperor is a part.

Do you need to argue about whether it's a Raider preview? It's a preview of one card from the Raider... or in other words... A preview about the Emperor crew card.

Jacob

The restrictions of "once per round" and "a [...] die" (singular) means that The Emperor is geared towards few-ship builds.

If you've got the crew slots to spare, it's probably well worth the insurance that a half or a third of your list doesn't get gimped/produces hits.

So, as pointed out by the list proposed in the article, he makes a good choice for, say, an Authothruster/Stealth Fel, who really doesn't want to lose his 4Agi.

On the other hand, it does woefully little for your TIE Swarm, which does not care about losing individual ships and probably already has rerolls for every ship via Howlrunner.

It seems clear enough to me that this card was designed with the intent to push squads away from swarming generics, which means its purpose is best fulfilled to buff the two-ship lists that the meta is already rife with.

I'm thrilled by the inclusion of one of my favorite characters. I'm not excited about his game effect.

What kind of swarm list supports a double crew 8 point upgrade away?! I don't see this as a push away from swarm any more than the other crew that swarm rarely if ever gets to play.

The unlimited range plus the cost of bringing the Emperor makes me think he is going to end up supporting 2-3 ships and forcing opponents into flanking dilemmas more often than ending up in 2 ship builds.

I like it! Now when will it ship! Enough with the previews I want it in my hands!

Also excellent with Maarek around ...

This reminds me on Tie Fighter (PC Game) again

And Kir Kanos?

EXCELLENT!

29 future shuttle

48 academy ties (4)

21 howl + stealth + swarm tactics

Live forever howl.. Live forever...

Also excellent with Maarek around ...

This reminds me on Tie Fighter (PC Game) again

And Kir Kanos?

EXCELLENT!

Autothruster stealth lorrir now has some offense modification!

The most obvious use I can think of is very similar to the VT-49 build in the article:

RAC + Predator + Palpatine

At range 1, that is really good odds for 2 crits + 2 hits even without any actions. Will have to do the math on that later.

at 8 points, though? Well, you're the math guy and will figure out if it's worth it

personally think kenkirk would make for more of a vessel for palpy especially something silly like PTL Ysanne engine. If worst comes to worse, at least you'll get fat han levels of defenses and arc-dodging. Sure, it's way overpriced for c3po, but it's a lot more flexible and an 8 point c3po is better than losing the whole ship

inb4 2 ship kenkirk + soontir builds

This card will always be waaay stronger than c3p0.

You can use it after rolling your dice - you _never_ waste the effect (unlike c3p0 where you technically waste it every time you guess 0 and get an evade).

You can use it for offense.

You can use it on any other ship.

You can use it to flip those nasty crits around.

It's truly the most powerfull crew card and priced accordingly. Luke(crew) is looking a little sad right now.

I'm kind of surprised that a squad from an FFG preview article is something I'd consider flying.

Yeah, me too. My first instinct was Hull Upgrade here, but with the Emperor's ability Stealth Device makes so much sense! Still, I am tempted to drop Stealth from Carnor Jax, and make the shuttle pilot Captain Yorr to protect Soontir from being double stressed. Actually, with Emperor Palpatine's ability, being double stressed isn't quite as bad for Soontir Fel. ...of course, it's not good, either. He couldn't keep it up if he were fighting, for example, Rear Admiral Chiraneau or "Whisper" with Rebel Captive, getting stress tokens round after round. I think if I'm going to fly Fel, I've gotta have Yorr, too.

On another note: I see a lot of people thinking of using Moff with him.

Technically, you will not be able to use moff on him, because moff card states: you may discard and upgrade or Crew card. It shows one crew icon, the emperor has 2 crew icons. So I think they are saying Moff won't work on him.

Logically it should, but perhaps FFG will have to rule on that on a FAQ. Because according to the RAW moff will not work on emperor.

Maybe Moff can toss 2 crits when he tosses Palp.

Also excellent with Maarek around ...

This reminds me on Tie Fighter (PC Game) again

And Kir Kanos?

EXCELLENT!

Autothruster stealth lorrir now has some offense modification!

If you are trying to compensate for crippled Interceptor pilots, you'd be better off with Fleet Officer, Jendon, or Squad Leader on Vader.

On another note: I see a lot of people thinking of using Moff with him.

Technically, you will not be able to use moff on him, because moff card states: you may discard and upgrade or Crew card. It shows one crew icon, the emperor has 2 crew icons. So I think they are saying Moff won't work on him.

Logically it should, but perhaps FFG will have to rule on that on a FAQ. Because according to the RAW moff will not work on emperor.

I disagree. He is still a crew card even if he fills two slots.

By the looks of this statement:

Where looking at another preview next week and probably a release one of two weeks after that.

inb4 2 ship kenkirk + soontir builds

dude

that's already my build

Don't know if I want to drop Gunner and Vader for Palpatine, though. Gunner and Vader seem more useful.