A-Wings with PRockets?

By surly88, in X-Wing

I'm curious what the common sense on PRokets is. It seems like they show up from time to time on A-Wings, however I don't really know if I should like them or not.

Since you need TL to fire them, all you have is Focus, which should result in 3/4 x 5 hits, which makes 3,75 hits in total. Compared to shooting from range 1 (same range as PRokets) you get abou 2,81 hits with TL and focus.

It sounds like a nice buy, but especially on A-Wings who have the refit option, PRokets actually cost 5 points in total.

Curious what you think about them, cheers!

Edited by surly88

You don't need TL for Prockets. Read the card again. It needs a focus but the token is not discarded. You can get a tl+focus 5 dice attack if you do it right.

Yeah, it's a 5 dice attack if you can get into range 1.

That's pretty good for a ship that's normally 2.

Edited by DarthEnderX

The question is if they're worth it on Greens. They are worth it if you're bent on Tycho or Jake.

You don't need TL for Prockets. Read the card again. It needs a focus but the token is not discarded. You can get a tl+focus 5 dice attack if you do it right.

Ooooh ... well, that's big news actually. Rockets / Torps aren't really common in our meta, seems like we played them wrong most of the time.

Thanks a lot for pointing out, in that case I can see their use for sure. Nevermind :)

Rockets / Torps aren't really common in our meta, seems like we played them wrong most of the time.

Proton Rockets are so far the only missile/torp that doesn't require you to spend a target lock. So you were probably playing the torps right.

Rockets / Torps aren't really common in our meta, seems like we played them wrong most of the time.

Proton Rockets are so far the only missile/torp that doesn't require you to spend a target lock. So you were probably playing the torps right.

Ion Pulse Missile, Homing Missile.

Ion Pulse Missile, Homing Missile.

Sorry, should have said "requires a target lock".

Requires focus but like all munitions it is best on a higher pilot skill so you don't have to spend your focus on defense dice. Also range 1 is the smallest area so it is easy to avoid.

The biggest problem is that there is another missile upgrade called Chardan refit and it pretty much removes missiles from A-wings. Sure I could take Proton rockets and a bandit squadron pilot or I could just take 2 A-wings and save 2 points. As you see it is easy to tell what the choice is made more often.

Edited by Marinealver

They can be tricky to use I've watched my friend try to get into range one for an entire game, the first time I blocked him so he had no focus, the second we ended up facing opposite directions and I was out of arc.

If you set up the attack right it's a nice punch but it's still less effective than a good ept or a cannon you can potentially use every turn.

5x Prototype Pilots + Prockets = 100 points.

If you have no target-lock from a previous round, that's a range 1 alpha-strike of 18.75 expected damage, as you can spend the focus to modify the attack.

If you have the TL from a previous round, the range 1 alpha-strike is 23.44 expected damage.

As your Prockets require Focii, rather than Target Locks, if you have multiple targets, you can continue your alpha-strike even if your initial target is slain.

I highly doubt that my enemy would like to stay in range 1 against all of them at the same time ;)

Not to hard to dodge out against a PS1 pilot imo ...

I wish they were range 1-2. I never used them because spending points on something with so many requirements seems wasted 50% of the time. The other reason might be that i dont play many A-Wings anyway.

I mean its great to have a ordnance that might be worth it on low pilots because you dont have to target lock only to realize range 1 is about the same restriction for those pilots...

Edited by CaineHoA

I use it exclusively on jake

his ability is tailor-made for positioning prockets properly and unloading a fully modified 5 dice, especially with PTL and VI

he's the only one with prockets in my 5 A lists, real helpful against aggressors

Does leave you with five Prototypes to take out the rest though. Not sure I'm as confident as I'd be in the 16 damage minimum Cluster alpha strike from AC TIE advanceds.

When I see Proton Rockets in an enemy list, I take them out ASAP. I've never seen one fired at anyone.

When I see Proton Rockets in an enemy list, I take them out ASAP. I've never seen one fired at anyone.

Precisely why I love a 20 point Prototype with Prockets. They are scary enough that they may take the early heat away from the other 80 points of your list. I still surprise a lot of people with a Procket though, they are great for 1 shotting Zs and Ties.

I wouldn't run them in abundance, but one to deliver nice burst damage is a big help.

Edited by Jo Jo

killing prockets off is easier said than done when the user is properly tanky (ie, harder to kill than the rest of the list) and supported by enough clutter

A-wings are the game's premier blockers and Jakes is a right nightmare to kill between thrusters and mini-soontir status, which is basically why he's the only pilot in the only list I ever feel justified using the **** things. No other A-wing can really reliably get a fully modified focus + TL on a target and properly maneuver into range 1 on the same turn unless you want to dump an assload of points of tycho's EH and EI.

It's a shame, because prockets are currently (pre-wave 7) the only ordnance worth using apart from perhaps pulse missiles. They have the least bull restrictions with only requiring a focus be present (not spent) and they offer a significant punch for the points invested. Even then, though, I can only justify it on one pilot.

When the new Advance hits, it might see more play. Advances present the next ideal platform for prockets, but they are never used since (without the raider) they're just crap A-wings. With the raider giving them viability (especially AC on the generics), suddenly prockets and cluster missiles become attractive, usable options to offset the low (if reliable) damage that AC advances can put out. On the other hand, ATC Advances won't have to bother with the things at all which will make prockets harder to use (whereas CM's preferred prey is much easier to hit even with low PS target-locks). Might be fun on Strum or Juno, but I know you'll never see an ATC Vader with the **** things.

Not counting the raider, Wave 7 itself gives nothing new to reliably use prockets with (so much agility 1...), but it does give new pilots (well, just Redline really) to take some of the other ordinance out of the dustbin.

Between Redline, glitterstim N'dru, and AC Advances, it seems Cluster Missiles will be elevated to a position of viability above prockets (just not on A-wings, or specifically Jake)

Edited by ficklegreendice

When I see Proton Rockets in an enemy list, I take them out ASAP. I've never seen one fired at anyone.

Agreed (provided I don't have to make bad tactical decisions to do so).

I ran into a Jake with PRockets in Raleigh and was able to stay out of Range 1 of him most of the game, even moving from lower pilot skill. I had to leave him for last because his other pilots were Wes and Wedge, who are both even worse for a dual Aggressor build. By the time I let Jake close to Range 1, he was the last ship left and had suffered a Munitions Failure crit, losing his PRockets.

Little bugger still blew up an Aggressor before he died, with a Range 1 primary shot. ;) Those particular green dice were melted down as a warning to the others.

...which is basically why he's the only pilot in the only list I ever feel justified using the **** things.

ATC Vader can get some good use out of them if you are willing to spend the points (so could Maarek and probably Juno, as well).

It's a shame, because prockets are currently (pre-wave 7) the only ordnance worth using apart from perhaps pulse missiles.

I, once again, respectfully disagree with you on this.

Flechette Torpedoes are great, especially vs. Bro bots.

Concussion are good to use, especially if able to get the extra Focus in.

Homing Missiles are effective most of the time, but I have had the rare time I flubbed dice with it and the re-roll.

Proton Missiles aren't that bad with no modifiers. Much better with a re-roll from Jonus, Horton, or Drea TL.

It's a shame, because prockets are currently (pre-wave 7) the only ordnance worth using apart from perhaps pulse missiles.

I, once again, respectfully disagree with you on this.

More on topic: I'm thinking of playing a Han Shoots First Falcon friday, with 2 Prototype Pilots w. prockets as support. The idea is not so much that the A-Wings are supposed to provide an important strike, but to make the target priority for the opponent more pressing: if he ignores the Prototype Pilots, they'll be in position to fire their missiles. And they're good blockers.

I have not played Rebels at all much. It's funny as I had read back in Wave 1 that they were weaker and I wanted the challenge, but everyone I started to get into the game wanted to play Rebels, so I ended up always playing the bad guys! Now I'm happy with Imperials.

Still, I've been wanting to play X-wings again just because everyone says they suck. I'll get to play them until the Raider hits....and then it will be 4 Tie Advanced all day long.

As for your set up, it sounds alright. I can almost see Nera being better...maybe. Depends on what you are facing. I can probably see Porkins w/ Expet Handling being easier to get within R1. Then again, I have rarely flown a B-wing.