I fly mostly Imperials and while I don't find it OP I find shield regen annoying. I wouldn't want to see Imps get that mechanic, because shield regen should remain firmly a Rebel "thing" as it helps distinguish the play style of the factions. I do believe the Imperials should get an equally potent, ubiquitous and exclusive mechanic of their own which is something I find them currently lacking a little bit.

Maybe an upgrade that forces enemy ships to spend a target lock in order to fire.

It would have no impact on certain munitions, but turrets and cannons would be frustrated without another way to reroll, and having to use up their action to fire a secondary instead of holding on to a focus token.

Certain Imperial ships already have modify denial. Dark Curse and Carnor Jax being the prime examples.

Another feature Imperial squadrons like to make use of is the bubbles of support. Howlrunner, Captain Jonus, Epsilon Leader.

These are typically on Named pilots and benefit groups of generics.

.Surely this should be MAXIMISE FORWARD FIRE POWER.

That could always be a different upgrade.

Divert Shields To Weapons. Remove one shield token increase your attack value by 1 for the next round.

I'm okay with denying each faction certain mechanics

I'm okay with it too, as long as it's thematically appropriate. Shield regeneration is not something that was limited to Rebel or privateer ships.

Basically you are describing Miranda Doni's pilot ability as two different elite pilot talents, right?

Well, if they did that somehow with Wedge and Outmaneuver, I cannot see why this would be any worse.

I would combine both cards on a single talent that costs an action, like you have proposed, and is basically the same as Miranda's ability. Still worse because it costs and action, but useful anyway.

Now... that could be really game breaking with certain ships like Fat PWTs.

We're about blunt instruments and scalpels, and with that comes a certain necessary fragility, don't you think?

Uh....blunt instruments aren't fragile.

That's like complaining that cannons aren't made out of glass. Gee, you got me!

that's rather good - doesn't feel like an EPT though

Feels like a tech upgrade. though that's only good on the TieFO for now....

An Imperial only R2-Q5 crew card could maybe do something with shields.

...and NO. Surely this should be MAXIMISE FORWARD FIRE POWER.

The line is Intesify, not maximise.

that's rather good - doesn't feel like an EPT though

Feels like a tech upgrade. though that's only good on the TieFO for now....

An Imperial only R2-Q5 crew card could maybe do something with shields.

Hmm I could use a usb hub.

Well considering that Salvaged astromechs don't regenerate shields the only ship that can regenerate shields are Rebels that have the astromech slot or a crew slot (chewbacca R2-D2)

Salvaged astromechs tend to be more offensive oriented while rebel astromechs tend to be defensive oriented. Not to say that there are no aggressive rebel astromechs or defensive salvaged astromechs (R3-A2 and Salvaged Astromechs are good examples).

As for rebel crew that recovers shields well there is only two upgrades that do that and are rather restrictive. Chewbacca can only give 1 shield but discards a crit so it sort of acts like a 2 shield upgrade. R2-D2 <crew> will only work if you have no shields and if you have a face down damage card risks turning that card face up.

So rebels get the shield gain while the two other factions get the cloaking device.

Any Imperial pilot fortunate enough to fly a ship with shields should be thankful he was given shields at all.

Basically you are describing Miranda Doni's pilot ability as two different elite pilot talents, right?

Oh, cool. I didn't even know about her. Those abilities are definitely her doing some X-Wing series power management stuff.

But her ability was way better than what I was suggesting. She gets a shield token back and it only costs her -1 attack power for that round? And it doesn't even cost her an action?