I've seen mentioned in several builds that Expose shouldn't be used on the Decimator. Can someone explain why? It doesn't seem to have any down side.

On its own, Expose sucks.

When combined with Experimental Interface however it makes the pancake susceptible to stress and makes your movement predictable, other than that, it is great when you Expose + TL.

Well, let's not be too hasty by saying Expose sucks and actually explain why it's not the best option even on a Decimator.

In general, a 3 dice attack such as the Decimator's base value does 2.25 <booms> with a single normal action, such as focus. Using your action for expose makes it do 2.0 <booms>. You've now spent 4 points to do less damage. At R1, there are similar results, coming from 3 <booms> with focus to 2.5 <booms> with expose.

However, RAC has a special mini focus ability. Therefore, his action would by default be target lock (which has the same results as focus). With TL, he rolls 2.64 <booms>. With Expose he rolls 2.68 <booms>. Not a big difference between the two. But at R1, he rolls 3.43 <booms> vs. 3.26 <booms>. And now he's better off without Expose.

So, the math goes and says that you're better off without expose, even on RAC. But let's take a look at the scenario of EI+Expose. In this scenario, you're spending 7 points and a stress to roll an additional die. For non-RAC folks, this would increase booms to 3.00 <boom> at R2-3, and 3.75 <boom> at R1. For RAC, he'd have 3.43 <boom> at R2, and 4.2 <boom> at R1. Not bad! But if you're going to stress yourself, you could also do so by just TL+F via PTL (at least for non-RAC), and it provides 2.81 <boom> and 3.75 <boom>, no difference at all for R1, and a minor difference at 2-3, but 4 points cheaper. Those points could be spent on Engine Upgrade, and now you have the option of boost+F or TL+F depending on the situation.

All of this can trigger off of Ysand too. So a boost is super powerful during the start of combat (since everyone else has moved). So, it's pretty easy to say that PTL+Engine is superior to EI+Expose if you're going to take a stress. But what if you didn't want to take a stress? Your primary option is then Predator. R2 non-RAC F predator = 2.68 <boom>, compared to F+Ex = 3 <boom> (plus stress). R1 = 3.51 <boom> vs. 3.75 <boom> (plus stress). I haven't actually done the math for RAC, sorry. But you're losing ~.25 <booms> by going with Expose, but you're not stressed, and you're 4 points cheaper.

So, while expose can maximize a single shot, the opportunity cost is not worth the minimal increase that it can provide.

Mathwing, shooting down more stuff than turretwing.

But then, expose should be one of those abilities that every ship should be able to do for free and as a free action.

yeah, it's not really mathwing as much as the game's built-in mechanics

noticing that it sucks isn't what makes it not viable, the poor design of expose makes it not viable

Khyros got the reasons why perfectly

Expose sucks because it takes up your action and lowers defence and an unmodified attack roll on four dice is worse than three with TL or focus.

The decimator does not care about losing one agility, and with EI you can get your TL and four dice for 7 points which makes decimators the only ship expose works on.

I've used it before and I can tell you five dice at range one is nasty.

Just be prepared to do alot of banks.

I've long thought that Experimental Interface was over costed. When you ewuip it, you _have_ to also equip another card. And EI can _only_ trigger an action on that card. So EI on (say) Soontir Fel means he'll never be able to boost + barrel roll in a single turn.

Most of the time, the cards you most want to run alongside EI are also over costed. That means you're doubling down on a mediocre idea. EI + Expose looks quite different as a 5 point combo than as a 7 point combo.

If an EI mark 2 rolls around, I'd like to see it be able to trigger _any_ action, to increase the flexibility of squadbuilding. Suddenly a lot of new builds would open up for Squints...

I use Expose/EI on Keyan with a Biggs escort since his stress is spent on the shot wether or not there's focus.

This gives me a 4 dice shot with TL+focus most times, at a 7 point cost. PTL+HLC is 10 for the same effect, so it's a little cheaper. Only issue is once Biggs is down using Expose can be dangerous if too many enemy ships are left, otherwise I still use it as I don't think mitigating 1 hit will save him.

Thanks for the replies. I wasn't thinking in terms of efficiency when using expose. In the past when using expose I would TL a ship I wanted to hit one or two turns later, use expose to pound on someone at R1. I've only flown the Deci three or four times. The times I did I had very good red dice. I'll have to rethink that build.

Well, let's not be too hasty by saying Expose sucks and actually explain why it's not the best option even on a Decimator.

In general, a 3 dice attack such as the Decimator's base value does 2.25 <booms> with a single normal action, such as focus. Using your action for expose makes it do 2.0 <booms>. You've now spent 4 points to do less damage. At R1, there are similar results, coming from 3 <booms> with focus to 2.5 <booms> with expose.

However, RAC has a special mini focus ability. Therefore, his action would by default be target lock (which has the same results as focus). With TL, he rolls 2.64 <booms>. With Expose he rolls 2.68 <booms>. Not a big difference between the two. But at R1, he rolls 3.43 <booms> vs. 3.26 <booms>. And now he's better off without Expose.

So, the math goes and says that you're better off without expose, even on RAC. But let's take a look at the scenario of EI+Expose. In this scenario, you're spending 7 points and a stress to roll an additional die. For non-RAC folks, this would increase booms to 3.00 <boom> at R2-3, and 3.75 <boom> at R1. For RAC, he'd have 3.43 <boom> at R2, and 4.2 <boom> at R1. Not bad! But if you're going to stress yourself, you could also do so by just TL+F via PTL (at least for non-RAC), and it provides 2.81 <boom> and 3.75 <boom>, no difference at all for R1, and a minor difference at 2-3, but 4 points cheaper. Those points could be spent on Engine Upgrade, and now you have the option of boost+F or TL+F depending on the situation.

All of this can trigger off of Ysand too. So a boost is super powerful during the start of combat (since everyone else has moved). So, it's pretty easy to say that PTL+Engine is superior to EI+Expose if you're going to take a stress. But what if you didn't want to take a stress? Your primary option is then Predator. R2 non-RAC F predator = 2.68 <boom>, compared to F+Ex = 3 <boom> (plus stress). R1 = 3.51 <boom> vs. 3.75 <boom> (plus stress). I haven't actually done the math for RAC, sorry. But you're losing ~.25 <booms> by going with Expose, but you're not stressed, and you're 4 points cheaper.

So, while expose can maximize a single shot, the opportunity cost is not worth the minimal increase that it can provide.

VI is also a common upgrade on RAC but for reasons that don't really fit into the math, I suppose.

One more question about Expose and the Decimator. What happens if I use expose and I'm attacked ar R3 behind an obstacle? I've read 2 conflicting replies. One said one defense die the other two. I can see the argument for both.

One more question about Expose and the Decimator. What happens if I use expose and I'm attacked ar R3 behind an obstacle? I've read 2 conflicting replies. One said one defense die the other two. I can see the argument for both.

Expose reduces your agility. R3 and obstructed add 1 green die to the roll. Therefore, even with Expose (or the crit that reduces agiltity) you still roll 1 die for R3, or 2 dice for R3+obstructed.

One more question about Expose and the Decimator. What happens if I use expose and I'm attacked ar R3 behind an obstacle? I've read 2 conflicting replies. One said one defense die the other two. I can see the argument for both.

Expose reduces your agility. R3 and obstructed add 1 green die to the roll. Therefore, even with Expose (or the crit that reduces agiltity) you still roll 1 die for R3, or 2 dice for R3+obstructed.

Thanks. I was reading a post about odd card combinations and the end result was if using Expose and attacked at R3 behind a 'roid you'd only roll one die. The argument was Expose drops you to a -1 agility + 2 greens = 1 die.

For purposes of X-wing I don't think there are negative values. Your agility can only go to zero. So even if you had Expose and the Critical Damage card on a Decimator, its still zero agility, then you add the green dice for range + asteroid

I use Expose/EI on Keyan with a Biggs escort since his stress is spent on the shot wether or not there's focus.

This gives me a 4 dice shot with TL+focus most times, at a 7 point cost. PTL+HLC is 10 for the same effect, so it's a little cheaper. Only issue is once Biggs is down using Expose can be dangerous if too many enemy ships are left, otherwise I still use it as I don't think mitigating 1 hit will save him.

Expose ei and ptl hlc ate completely different. Ptl hlc gains an action, is better at r3, worse at r1, and doesn't make you die quite as quickly against APs and Zs.

The Decimator was the first ship for which Expose was considered remotely viable, as they didn't lose any agility with it (as their agility is already 0, and negative numbers don't exist in this game).

Still, turns out you've got better options in the Elite Talent slot, and better actions during the turn, and none of those cost 4 points (or 7 with Experimental Interface)

I have seen expose used on Chiraneau (without EI) to decent effect, but I feel he would have gotten similar if not slightly better results with Predator. Predator is superior when you use your action to boost or when you bump.

I believe there is one scenario where Expose could be helpful: One on one battles against the MF with C3PO and R2D2. Even assuming you could get all 3 hits, two would get blocked by C3PO and the title, the last one would inflict damage (usually a shield recovered by R2D2), thus removing the Decimator Gunner out of the equation. A 4th or 5th hit could help a lot.

By the way, what should a RAC player do while facing a MF with the title, C3PO and R2D2? Tips would be appreciated.

I use Expose/EI on Keyan with a Biggs escort since his stress is spent on the shot wether or not there's focus.

This gives me a 4 dice shot with TL+focus most times, at a 7 point cost. PTL+HLC is 10 for the same effect, so it's a little cheaper. Only issue is once Biggs is down using Expose can be dangerous if too many enemy ships are left, otherwise I still use it as I don't think mitigating 1 hit will save him.

Expose ei and ptl hlc ate completely different. Ptl hlc gains an action, is better at r3, worse at r1, and doesn't make you die quite as quickly against APs and Zs.

Ok maybe not the same, but cheaper if you want to roll 4 dice, and really at R3 one extra green die doesn't scare me (unless maybe a turtled Soontir+AT/SD which would be hard to hit with an HLC anyways). And yes, I explained already with swarms it could be less efficient.

I believe there is one scenario where Expose could be helpful: One on one battles against the MF with C3PO and R2D2. Even assuming you could get all 3 hits, two would get blocked by C3PO and the title, the last one would inflict damage (usually a shield recovered by R2D2), thus removing the Decimator Gunner out of the equation. A 4th or 5th hit could help a lot.

By the way, what should a RAC player do while facing a MF with the title, C3PO and R2D2? Tips would be appreciated.

Get into range 1 and hope to roll 4 hits.

I believe there is one scenario where Expose could be helpful: One on one battles against the MF with C3PO and R2D2. Even assuming you could get all 3 hits, two would get blocked by C3PO and the title, the last one would inflict damage (usually a shield recovered by R2D2), thus removing the Decimator Gunner out of the equation. A 4th or 5th hit could help a lot.

By the way, what should a RAC player do while facing a MF with the title, C3PO and R2D2? Tips would be appreciated.

Get into range 1 and hope to roll 4 hits.

I can do that!

I believe there is one scenario where Expose could be helpful: One on one battles against the MF with C3PO and R2D2. Even assuming you could get all 3 hits, two would get blocked by C3PO and the title, the last one would inflict damage (usually a shield recovered by R2D2), thus removing the Decimator Gunner out of the equation. A 4th or 5th hit could help a lot.

By the way, what should a RAC player do while facing a MF with the title, C3PO and R2D2? Tips would be appreciated.

Get into range 1 and hope to roll 4 hits.

Expose on a Decimator at Range 1 will deal 5 attack dice. It is extremely difficult to do better than that. So Chirpy at Range 1 can Target Lock, has a ghetto Focus effect, and can roll 5 Attack Dice while gaining a stress. That can punch through any Phat Falcon defense.

I have use Expose on old-school Vader in the past (2 Attack Dice sucks) with mixed success. It was very situational and would probably be better off with Outmaneuver.

How about giving the deci an action to expose. Say with squad leader. Move and focus, move another ship, SL to expose. 4 dice with focus. Sounds good to me.

How about giving the deci an action to expose. Say with squad leader. Move and focus, move another ship, SL to expose. 4 dice with focus. Sounds good to me.

That has been discussed before. The problem is 1) now you're dumping more cost into it, 2) you have to keep it in formation, 3) you have another ship that has no actions and is presumably easier to kill, and 4) when it dies, you've now lost your ability to expose (effectively).

It's one of the problems with "synergy" builds with rebels - they often fall apart as soon as one ship is destroyed.

So it really looks like Expose was just a mistake.

Or how about Keyan Farlander with Expose and EI? Costs as much as a HLC and has some clear advantages over that.