Agreed. The Imperial Firespray-31 has downsides compared to the Sum & Villainy Firespray-31:

• The Bounty Hunter has a lower Pilot Skill than the Mandalorian Mercenary (albeit it's still PS3) and no elite talent slot
• Scum & Villainy Firesprays have illicit upgrade slots
• Boba Fett's pilot ability is much better in his Scum & Villainy incarnation

However, the Scum & Villainy don't have it all their own way:

• The Imperials can field 3 Bounty Hunters in 100 points. Flown properly, this is a scary squad, with a lot more firepower than normal large-ship centric squads and more health than small-ship centric squads
• Whilst Scum & Villainy have good unique crew, so do the Imperials. Rebel Captive and Mara Jade are both extremely useful for crippling an enemy, and the (forthcoming) Agent Kallus is excellent for taking on a squad with an obvious lynchpin. On a ship which can actually dodge a bit, Ysanne Isard might be worth a thought, too. On a similar note, Ruthlessness could be quite effective on a Firespray.
• Krassus Trelix's ability is quite nice - essentially he has Predator and Veteran Instincts baked into his cost, as long as he's using a heavy laser cannon.
• Kath's ability is nice - I have a tendancy to pair her with Gunner & Marksmanship in the hopes of double-stressing a target, but I can see the temptation of a Mangler cannon for cheap.
• Boba Fett....yeah his ability is so-so. Paired with a navigator, engine upgrade and veteran instincts, you have a reasonable arc dodger/arc-dodger-hunter but not one so great that it wouldn't be easier just to pack a patrol leader with a 360^o turret.
• Remember that the Andrasta title isn't scum only if you want to pack out on bombs.

I like Krassus, I really do, but his ability is situational, and his standard build makes his aux arc pretty meh. No ept is a real kick in the kahoonas imo (ps Magnus - what do you mean he has VI 'baked in' to his point cost? 3pts more than BH, only 2 more PS - looks like the complete opposite of a VI upgrade to me!).

And that's the best pilot we have for this ship... Mando with pred costs two more, but it works on every attack, front and back, and shreds ps2 rookies. Emon, if played with skill, is a complete brute, scum kath is queen of the 4-die twerk, and scum boba has one of the best pilot skills in the game. Illicit just puts the icing on the cake.

I honestly don't think an argument can be made for scum/imperial parity with this ship.

The only plus is the 3 FS list, but tbh that list leaves 1pt for other imperial upgrades - i.e. Zero faction identity. So when it comes down to it, if a scum player really really wants to run 3, they just play the imperial list.

Predator (3 points) + Veteran Instincts (1 point) - Krassis is essentially a Bounty Hunter with both (as long as you're firing a cannon), for 3 points.

I'll be honest, I think Kath is the best Imperial Firespray pilot - and franky I prefer her Imperial version to her Scum version. Ladling out stress tokens is a nice speciality, and pairs well with the unique-to-Imps option of the Rebel Captive to make it worse.

*cough* I must be off the deep end then, because I've consistently played an Imperial Firespray in 60 out of my last 70ish matches, flying a Kath/VI/Mangler/Tactician, piling hordes of stress on my opponents and it has been my primary way of closing down enemy Soontirs, Phantoms, Dash, and Hans.

The strongest use of my points? Perhaps not, but it has been entertaining and worked well for me.

Another problem is that the Slave I title card is one of the few titles that don't add much to the ship.

It adds extra munitions now, nothin to be ashamed of.

And with the new mines and bombs, and bombardier crew you can really put the hurt out with a ship that loves having people limp along behind them.

The Firespray in general is lacking. Arc Dodgers can easily get in between both front and back arcs and tear them up on the sides.

I love me some Firesprays, but gotta agree the pilot abilities are pants. Even with Fettigator I find you very, very rarely have the opportunity to make a better move than the one you planned (large base plus obstacles means planning several turns in advance). Haven't used the other two much, in my experience Kath very rarely triggered, and as for Krassis - I don't take a Firesprays for the cannons, what a waste of the rear arc! Also, PS5 with no EPT.

Still love them though, even if the Scum versions have better abilities.

Edit: Also, the Empire was known for employing mercenaries from time to time. Hunters often hire out as such.

In space battles, alongside TIE Fighters? A full Scum squadron would probably be a better representation of bounty hunters working for the Empire.

Another problem is that the Slave I title card is one of the few titles that don't add much to the ship.

It would have been fluffier and more interesting if the slave 1 title let you fire cannons out the rear arc.

I think one of the better crewmen on the FS is the K4 and that's scum only. The security droid makes my super-Kath build really shine.

Imperial Boba is the only Firespray for Imps I enjoy. Add Navigator and fun things.

Yes Imp Firesprays could use a title or something fun. New pilots maybe... something.

Its not an emergency though as pointed out in this thread the IMP Firespray is an outlier within the overall Imperial arc doger type builds.

I would like to see some cards added to other expansions that may give a fun title or new pilot for Imp Firespray though. Doesn't need a full ace ship but just add some cards to Defender and Bomber aces that are relevant to Firespray.

I use it a lot, but is not good enough compared to Decimator. The Imperial Firespray need a buff IMO. Scum version has better Pilot abilities and Illicit slot.

I wish I could use the cannon with the Auxiliary Arc... Also agree that the Slave 1 title is not useful at all.

on the imperial side, I think 3 generics are still a strong choice, or add rec spec to make them even better.

I think the names scum options are clearly superior, and I kind of think it should be that way. If scum had been around from the beginning, I don't think the firespray would ever have been imperial.

It's a great ship for it's points, but when you start loading it up, the imperial pilots cant wreck stuff with it like the scum pilots can.

As for slave one, I say take the title (it's free) grab extra muntions, then you effectively get 2 proton bombs for 7 points! So, the title isn't totally useless.....though sadly, there is no way to take EM with emon and andrasta.

Edit: Also, the Empire was known for employing mercenaries from time to time. Hunters often hire out as such.

In space battles, alongside TIE Fighters? A full Scum squadron would probably be a better representation of bounty hunters working for the Empire.

In that essence, sure. But Fett did fight along side Stormies (reference episode V), however. Can't see why he, or any other hunter employed by the Imp's for that matter, wouldn't fight along side TIE fighters as well, should the situation arise.

if you wanna run Firesprays, use Scum.

What would you change to make it more balanced?

Get rid of it. Firespray shouldn't be an Imperial ship in the first place.

I think with the Scum faction out now, I would agree with that statement, especially since the Firespray's so aesthetically different from the rest of the Imperial ships. And if you have a few bounty hunters that are cross-faction, then IG-88's and Dengar should be as well.

With that said, remember that FFG probably wasn't sure there was even going to be a 3rd faction at the time of the Firespray's release; and a lot of fans would have argued for its inclusion in the X-wing game where association with Imperials made the most sense.

Also, it was simultaneously released with the Millenium Falcon for those iconic battles between the two.

Maybe they'll FAQ it out of the Imperial faction and make a new Scum kit

Maybe they'll FAQ it out of the Imperial faction and make a new Scum kit

I'm fine with that if the Empire gets a new Shinny Toy in return. Like a big ship with 360º turret, and nice mobility...

I keep meaning to run the following:

Kath Scarlett (Imperial)

-Veteran Instinccts

-Ysanne Isard

-Mangler Cannon

-Engine Upgrade

Yeah, 51 points, I know. But I think it could work, maybe with a mini-swarm.

Another problem is that the Slave I title card is one of the few titles that don't add much to the ship.

It would have been fluffier and more interesting if the slave 1 title let you fire cannons out the rear arc.

I think a Firesprays only modification would be good to add this feature. I think not allowing this plus Engine Upgrade would keep it from become almost another super turret.

I fully expect the "Imperial Warmachine" pack to be one of the in between waves. It should have new Bomber and FIRESPRAY pilots and upgrades. I posted a bunch of ideas on the aces thread last week.

Highlights include: firesprays that can start deployed on asteroids, a prison transport FIRESPRAY, and an extra crew slot. With new munitions trending positive the FIRESPRAY just needs a few new pilots with appropriate abilities and a new modification here and there.