PS based EPT is something I was thinking about. I was thinking about a series of them that had bigger payoffs when you put them on ships with higher PSs.

For example-

I can't shake him.

If this ship has a target lock on a ship with a lower PS in its arc the other ship must set its dial face up.

Never tell me the odds

If this ship has a higher PS than a ship attacking it, it may add a focus result to it's defense roll.

Just a couple ideas but I think there should be a bigger payoff for having a higher PS.

PS based EPT is something I was thinking about. I was thinking about a series of them that had bigger payoffs when you put them on ships with higher PSs.

For example-

I can't shake him.

If this ship has a target lock on a ship with a lower PS in its arc the other ship must set its dial face up.

Never tell me the odds

If this ship has a higher PS than a ship attacking it, it may add a focus result to it's defense roll.

Just a couple ideas but I think there should be a bigger payoff for having a higher PS.

I like the second one, if it were reworded more in line with the typical language, IE: "When defending, if you have a higher pilot skill value than the defender, you may add one (focus result) to your defense roll."

The first one doesn't work as is because the timing is cloudy, but I like the idea of it. Because the planning phase is quite fluid and you place and can correct and replace dials concurrently with your opponent, it's difficult to place a timing rule on this. If it was flipped up at the start of the Activation Phase, that definitely works.

It's just a muddy situation wherein your opponent could change his dial after you place it, and then it's still technically legal for you to change your dial and place it face up again, and your opponent can change again. It is cloudy ruling and it will add needless play time.

Variety of PS is a good thing though IMO. That first talent especially would just drive a PS race. I think PS works really well already and has distinctive advantages and disadvantages anyway.

If there was to be PS modified EPT's there should be a drawback to go with it to maintain the balance.

If it was flipped up at the start of the Activation Phase, that definitely works.

But it would then be a PS, EPT based Intelligence Agent / Raymus Antilles.

Let's see if we can work it a little?

Can't shake him!

During the planning phase, if you have a target lock on an enemy ship in your arc, you may set your

Actually, no, it would get too wordy for an EPT that would basically duplicate the effects of Stay on Target or Intelligence Agent.

Thematically, if you want to allow the higher PS ship to react to the lower PS ship's moving first it's not something you'd want to influence your entire list. You could have Vader use this on Wes Janson and then allow your Academy Pilots to benefit from it, that doesn't really make sense.

You could force him to set the dial of that ship first during the planning phase but that would open the game up to a whole lot of delaying tactics, dragging the game until you run out of time.

Wait!

Can't shake him!

If an enemy ship you have a target lock on has a lower Pilot Skill than you, you may set your dial immediately after that ship has revealed its dial instead of during the planning phase.

Wonky, but thematically correct and without influencing the behaviour of PS 0 and PS 1 pilots.

My gut says no. You would in fact be limiting builds by forcing squads to use the highest PS pilots available. I agree with kopmcginty that there would to be a negative to balance the positive aspect. You're seriously fiddling with game mechanics and that's not a good idea.

My gut says no. You would in fact be limiting builds by forcing squads to use the highest PS pilots available. I agree with kopmcginty that there would to be a negative to balance the positive aspect. You're seriously fiddling with game mechanics and that's not a good idea.

If you'd proxie up a card like that you'd also need to think of a counter to it to prevent returning to the PS wars.

The Can't Shake Him might be better off finding a home on a pilot with middling skill and maybe no EPT (to prevent VI). That way you limit its use to a single ship and faction and hence the potential for abuse.

It is not out of scope considering Lightning Reflexes and Stay on Target after all.

On the right ship, PTL already has the effect of Cant Shake Him. In fact, on a ship like the Squint, Can't Shake and Never Tell Me are cards that are almost as good as PTL and Autothrusters.

I like the theory crafting, and don't want to discourage it! But I am not sure this is the right track.

One other issue: 2 ship lists are very common, and its possible that someone could use up their EPT and get nothing out of it. By contrast, if someone equips Predator, they will always get some use from it.

So, for Can't Shake, I'll suggest that anything which allows for movement after dials have been revealed will benefit Higher PS ships.

There would obviously need to be a cost involved. This is an idea for an aces style pack. The thing would be that PS would determine a lot still, but to run these you'd have to not run VI. If you're running a high point EPT and giving up on running as many ships. I realize that two ship builds are already an issue but these would breathe new life into other ace pilots. Middle PS ships are already a rarity in competitive builds. This would change very little competitively as far as pilot skill and if priced correctly could help ace Pilots that don't have arc dodging abilities become more prevalent again.

I think the first one would actually work best if it was changed to something more like -

I can't shake him

At the end of place dials phase if you have a target lock on a ship with a lower PS in arc they reveal that ships dial and you may change this ship's dial.

Another one I've thought about that might help the middle PS would be -

hot shot.

This ship fires at ps12 but loses one defense against ships with a higher PS.

Can't Shake Him

"Once per round, when Defending you may acquire a Target Lock against your Attacker. After attacking, Attacker may also acquire a Target Lock on the Defender ."

2pts

---

Or possibly a negative Value EPT?

"Once per round when Defending, the attacker may acquire a Target Lock on the Defender after the Damage Step."

-2pts

Not being able to "shake a tail" is a negative trait giving it the possibility to have a negative value. It also means they're not very "Elite"..

Can't Shake Him

"Once per round, when Defending you may acquire a Target Lock against your Attacker. After attacking, Attacker may also acquire a Target Lock on the Defender ."

2pts

---

Or possibly a negative Value EPT?

"Once per round when Defending, the attacker may acquire a Target Lock on the Defender after the Damage Step."

-2pts

Not being able to "shake a tail" is a negative trait giving it the possibility to have a negative value. It also means they're not very "Elite"..

The second one just represents being harder to kill.

I developed the first one around Vader and The second one around Luke.

Can't shake him!

If an enemy ship you have a target lock on has a lower Pilot Skill than you, you may set your dial immediately after that ship has revealed its dial instead of during the planning phase.

Wonky, but thematically correct and without influencing the behaviour of PS 0 and PS 1 pilots.

Step 1: Put on high-PS ship (Han, anyone? Perhaps Corran? Chirpy?).

Step 2: TL the enemy's highest-PS ship (that is still lower than yours).

Step 3: Set your dial after the opponent's entire squad has moved. Against low-PS squadrons, this would just get ridiculous. Folks complain about Han enough as it is ;P

I would say:

I Can't Shake Him!

At the start of the Activation phase, choose 1 enemy ship with a lower Pilot Skill than you that is inside your firing arc. You may look at that chosen ship's maneuver. Then, you may immediately rotate your maneuver dial to any other maneuver of the same speed as the chosen ship's.

EPT. 2 Points.

It lets you to change your maneuver after the fact, but it allows counterplay (the enemy ship can choose a maneuver speed that your ship isn't very good with). Probably a bit better than Stay on Target, but SoT is rarely taken and the EPT is an important slot.

I Can't Shake Him!

At the start of the Activation phase, choose 1 enemy ship with a lower Pilot Skill than you that is inside your firing arc. You may look at that chosen ship's maneuver. Then, you may immediately rotate your maneuver dial to any other maneuver of the same speed as the chosen ship's.

EPT. 2 Points.

Better.

Hmm, that's certainly more workable.

In a dogfight, you can be expected to stay on the tail of the guy your chasing. That guy can tell his buddies he is going to break left though...

I Can't Shake Him!

At the start of the Activation phase, choose 1 enemy ship with a lower Pilot Skill than you that is inside your firing arc. You may look at that chosen ship's maneuver. Then, you may immediately rotate your maneuver dial to any other maneuver of the same speed as the chosen ship's but must reveal your own dial immediately.

EPT. 2 Points.

I like that small addition. When Luke was struggling in the Death Star assault, his wingman was able to intercept his pursuer as Luke broadcast his sos.

Edit.. The wording should specify that you reveal but don't perform manouvers until your normal time.

Hmm actually does this need take tied to PS at all? Could it be any ship in your arc at range 1. Works for aces as they are better at getting in that chasing position but also rewards low PS pilots for managing to get on an aces tail in the first place?

The drawback to these is that PS can stop the effect. If they simply VI a PS 7 or greater ship you get nothing for them. It's a bit of a gamble. Also if you get the injured pilot critical it stops working. Even Torkil Mux would stop it. None of these abilities are broken. I just thought they would be thematic for an aces set.