Honestly, every time I look at the Chardaan Refit card I wonder why they didn't make it limited small ship only. I can't name a single small based ship (with a missile slot) that ISN'T overpriced. This would have helped the Defender.

This doesn't even pass the sniff test -- you need to think about all the permutations first. It's extremely poor design that puts a tax on every single missile in the game for all small base ships.

You also really don't want to be able to take this for 19 points:

Also see these ships:

The defender has the only problem of being overpriced already so any title shouldn't add a cent to the squad point cost.

I like the idea of a Juno Eclipse-like ability but why add something like that when we have Twin Ion Engine Mk2 now?

IMHO the only title that the defender needs is one that gives him the boost and sensors option, without adding any cost.

Price is well high already.

The Defender costs about 2 points more than it should. Engine upgrade is worth 4 points. The ability to put a sensor slot on the Defender would probably be worth a point. So: your proposal of giving the Defender 5 points of free stuff would be a bit much.

I'm positive that it costs 4 point more than it should.

I'm positive that the generic Defenders are overcosted by at least 3 points, so I could see the argument for 4. In my next iteration of House Rules though, rather than just a simple cost reduction, I'm going BTL-A4 style using the cannon slot, specifically targeting Ion Cannon and Tractor Beams. This matches with the lore of the ship, and finally gives the Imperials a small base control ship. It will also force you to take the MK2 upgrade, and grant an additional modification slot - basically fixing the dial to what it should have been on initial release.

"TIE Defender Fix"

Title. TIE Defender only.

Cost: TBD

You must equip the Twin Ion Engine Mk. II modification. You may equip up to 2 different Modification upgrades (instead of 1). After you perform a primary attack, if you have no stress tokens, you may receive one stress token to perform an attack on the same target with an equipped Ion Cannon or Tractor Beam.

Good ideas but my first thought is that they wont do cross faction Aces packs

I seriously believe ANYTHING SW is a possibility for FFG, esp. if it will SELL!!

Honestly, every time I look at the Chardaan Refit card I wonder why they didn't make it limited small ship only. I can't name a single small based ship (with a missile slot) that ISN'T overpriced. This would have helped the Defender.

This doesn't even pass the sniff test -- you need to think about all the permutations first. It's extremely poor design that puts a tax on every single missile in the game for all small base ships.

You also really don't want to be able to take this for 19 points:

Also see these ships:

Everything, but the TIE Bomber, you posted comes from POST Chardaan Refit. So, they have also been created in reaction to Chardaan Refit. And I agree, NOTHING post CR, should be able to take the card that I proposed CR should have been. (I could argue about the TIE Bomber though, but perhaps the CR I proposed could also state that the ship could not equip ANY missiles, bombs, or torpedoes if CR is equipped,) Had CR been a fix for ALL small base ships with missiles, I doubt many of the ships and upgrades you posted here would have been released the same way.

Looking at all of the pre-CR ships, FFG was clearly (and have admitted to) putting a tax on ordinance slots that did not effect the game the way they thought it would have.

Everything, but the TIE Bomber, you posted comes from POST Chardaan Refit. So, they have also been created in reaction to Chardaan Refit.

True. I was just replying to what you said:

Had CR been a fix for ALL small base ships with missiles, I doubt many of the ships and upgrades you posted here would have been released the same way.

Also true, but it would still be a terrible design choice. You would virtually never, EVER see missiles taken on small base ships. Ever. Even if they "fixed" ordnance, it would put a straight jacket on reliable build options. Lowering build diversity is never a good thing, so it would be far better to find a less restrictive way to fix ship costs.

The only exception would be for corner cases like Proton Rockets on PS9 PtL Jake where you have nothing else to spend the points on in your Han+Jake build.

Everything, but the TIE Bomber, you posted comes from POST Chardaan Refit. So, they have also been created in reaction to Chardaan Refit.

True. I was just replying to what you said:

I can't name a single small based ship (with a missile slot) that ISN'T overpriced.

Had CR been a fix for ALL small base ships with missiles, I doubt many of the ships and upgrades you posted here would have been released the same way.

Also true, but it would still be a terrible design choice. You would virtually never, EVER see missiles taken on small base ships. Ever. Even if they "fixed" ordnance, it would put a straight jacket on reliable build options. Lowering build diversity is never a good thing, so it would be far better to find a less restrictive way to fix ship costs.

The only exception would be for corner cases like Proton Rockets on PS9 PtL Jake where you have nothing else to spend the points on in your Han+Jake build.

I get what you're saying here... I actually think the CR was a bad card all around! The meta in my area is not as you suggest though. EVERY A wing I see around me has missiles on it. The card that is being used is Test Pilot! Double EPT is amazing! The problem wasn't the price tag... it was how the ship itself was limited.

Now, we have a handful of ships (X-wing, E-wing, Defender, etc.) that are limited in their use and will need their version of CR to get back into the fold.

I get what you're saying here... I actually think the CR was a bad card all around! The meta in my area is not as you suggest though. EVERY A wing I see around me has missiles on it. The card that is being used is Test Pilot! Double EPT is amazing! The problem wasn't the price tag... it was how the ship itself was limited.

Now, we have a handful of ships (X-wing, E-wing, Defender, etc.) that are limited in their use and will need their version of CR to get back into the fold.

Yeah I don't really like the way they implemented the cost fix - but, it's done, so whatever.

Missiles on A-wings everywhere?? That's crazy talk!

I get what you're saying here... I actually think the CR was a bad card all around! The meta in my area is not as you suggest though. EVERY A wing I see around me has missiles on it. The card that is being used is Test Pilot! Double EPT is amazing! The problem wasn't the price tag... it was how the ship itself was limited.

Now, we have a handful of ships (X-wing, E-wing, Defender, etc.) that are limited in their use and will need their version of CR to get back into the fold.

Yeah I don't really like the way they implemented the cost fix - but, it's done, so whatever.

Missiles on A-wings everywhere?? That's crazy talk!

It is a very effective response to the big (low agility) two ship build. Recently saw a Tycho/Jake/Craken build win (4-0) a friendly (monthly held) store tournament. He blew up a big costly ship, then stayed out of your arcs the rest of the time picking at the remaining ship(s). Was amazing to watch and frustrating to play against.

Good ideas but my first thought is that they wont do cross faction Aces packs

A fair first thought, because it's a horrible idea to do that.

I really like the idea of a cross-faction "aces" pack. The E-Wing and the TIE Defender are probably the ships that need the most help. Although, when it comes to the E-Wing it is important that any buffs don't push Corran over the top.

For the Defender, anything affecting its use of a cannon secondary weapon would be the most desirable. How about a TIE Defender only Twin Ion Cannon (an Ion Cannon that can fire twice)?

It seems like everyone is behind the general gist of my defender buff- increasing their conttol and firepower for less than 3 points (for 3 deltas). The exact wording is all thats being debated, depending on what kind of upgrade bias we give it.

I actually think any Defender buff should focus on defense rather than control. They are a prime candidates for a regeneration in the Imperial fleet.

I have to agree. While the idea of fire-linked ions is tempting, they don't actually address the core problem with the defender: inability to withstand focus fire.

Without regen or the evade action, a defender is going to be mitigating two fewer damage per round than a PTL/R2D2 E-Wing in the joust. That's an even 6hp to chew through to get a kill in the first round of combat, and an incrementing 2hp every round the ship takes fire after that.

My favorite is a variation on the idea of three-speed-plus maneuvers granting a shield regen. Something like a title that grants:

Action: if you performed a maneuver of speed 3 or higher this turn, regain a shield token.

or:

When you perform a green maneuver of speed three or higher, you may regain a shield token (really encourages the new engines).

I really like the idea of the TD crusing through, unloading some damage, then flying out to regroup, regen, and then come back in for another pass.

Frankly, I want the TIE Defender to be restored to its rightful status as the best Starfighter in the galaxy.

To that end, consider a variation of the Royal Guard TIE:

TIE Defender Fix

(0) points

If you equip a modification, you may equip a second modification of the same value or less for free.

Or the first modification can provide an equivalent point discount to the second.

Having said that, I think FFG really messed up with the TIE Defender and I doubt it'll be fixable to my liking. The pilot skills need to be raised across the board, the dial needs to be insanely manoeuvrable, and the pilot skills need to be much more appealing.

Frankly, I want the TIE Defender to be restored to its rightful status as the best Starfighter in the galaxy.

To that end, consider a variation of the Royal Guard TIE:

TIE Defender Fix

(0) points

If you equip a modification, you may equip a second modification of the same value or less for free.

Or the first modification can provide an equivalent point discount to the second.

While that would certainly make it awesome. (Engine Upgrade + Autothrusters?) I feel like a 2nd cannon slot would be more thematic. Allowing it to take both Ion Cannons and a Tractor Beam.

But, to be honest, the Defender's title card should really be this.