Wonder what a title like this would have done for the Defender.

[something clever], title, 0 points

When revealing your dial, you may perform a free barrel action. You may perform up to two barrel roll actions each turn.

It kind of looks like a cartwheel anyway, and unlike the sharply turning Interceptor this would let it arc dodge and avoid being blocked by simply 'changing lanes'.

Probably need to change the wording to "before revealing..."

That way they can barrel roll before doing a hard turn.

This would also be worth more than 3 points, and seriously buff the aces.

Hey,

I recently had an idea regarding "fixing the Defender".

From what I understand, lore-wise, the Defender had Ion cannons pre-mounted as an indegenous part of its armament. So then, why not having it reflected in the game, by allowing it to send Ion tokens, while firing its main weapons, perhaps something like this:

TIE/D

TIE Defender Only. Title

When attacking with your primary weapon, if the defender doesn't cancel at least one of your Critical Hit results, he is immediately assigned an Ion Token.

X pts (I'm thinking zero)


Or even add "...with your primary weapon or equipped cannon...", that way you couldn't pair it with HLC, you would have a chance of dealing two Ion tokens with your additionaly equipped Ion Cannon, Mangler Cannon would be a great, but still costly addition. But that's just a variation, I'm mainly thinking about leaving that only to main guns.
Also, note, that this way Defender's dial is a way of balancing it out, you get a very nimble ship with awesome ionizing potential, but you won't be doing crazy Interceptor-like maneuvers, so you still have to plan what you're doing.
Another plus in my view, is that this fix benefits both named and low PS pilots. So taking 45-50pts Rexler is as viable as taking a 30pts Delta Sqdn Pilot.

Just throwing that idea in, I play this game a lot, but I'm not much of a competitive player, so I probably don't see certain things, which I hope you guys would be able to point out - hence this post lands here. Now hit me with critique.

Just give Defenders White-3 segnor loops as a title option, and Linked Ion Cannons as a cannon upgrade, maybe usable only by them. Adjust prices accordingly.

When you perform a K-turn you receive a focus token? Or we might see a title that lets you equip a free tractor beam (the effectiveness TBD when we know what that does)

Complete absence of Tie/FO and Defender at worlds

Complete absence of Tie/FO and Defender at worlds

There's always next year!

I'd be pretty surprised if a TIE defender fix didn't come out before then...

TIE/fo is brand new and missing it's best tech still (Juke and Comm Relay), as well as its best pilot (Omega Ace). In contrast, Poe pretty much sprang into the game fully formed.

Also, after looking at the top 16, regeneration is a pretty popular mechanic to have in a squad. Defenders would be the perfect ship to introduce that mechanic to the Imperials.

All that being said, I'm eyeing a Defender + TIE/fo miniswarm for next store championship season.

Complete absence of Tie/FO and Defender at worlds

There were at least two TIE/fos - there was one decimator + 2x TIE/fo list. I don't know the details, but it was there. I think the TIE defender was completely absent, though.

Skimmed through the first couple of pages of this thread, found a surprising lack of references to Twin Ion Engine MkII.

Disappointed.

Skimmed through the first couple of pages of this thread, found a surprising lack of references to Twin Ion Engine MkII.

Disappointed.

I have no idea why people dismiss that wonderful upgrade.

That is basically what you need as a Defender fix.

It'll give you more green than the Agressor

I have no idea yet what it does, but I'm already curious to fly 3xDelta, TIE MKII and Tractor Beam. Or 1 tractor, 2 Ion

Though TIE Mk II isn't what I was hoping for, it does bolster the dial quite a bit, taking it from 4 greens to 10 greens! If you're not afraid to take some stress every so often the dial is really good.

Defender's are expensive, and they should be. I've never seen one use it's missile slot. Maybe that could be used for something?

Title to turn worthless missile slot into a tractor beam maybe.

I've always been a big fan of the Defender and I still think that the biggest thing that keeps it out of competition is the reliableness of its defense for its cost.

If you're rolling average defense, it is a really good ship. If you blow a big defense roll it can cost you the game.

I've had games where it almost soloed the other squad and games where it died without accomplishing anything due to bad defense die luck. If there was something to make its defense more consistent it would be an utterly amazing ship.

Skimmed through the first couple of pages of this thread, found a surprising lack of references to Twin Ion Engine MkII.

Disappointed.

It is a good upgrade for 1 point, it wasn't the fix we need though. I put it on the tie punisher and it really helps.

That being said, if the defender was as good as people said then why the complete absence? Even after the Tie/FO, tie advanced title and Tie MKII they are essentially absent. The defender needs some serious help IMO.

I've always been a big fan of the Defender and I still think that the biggest thing that keeps it out of competition is the reliableness of its defense for its cost.

If you're rolling average defense, it is a really good ship. If you blow a big defense roll it can cost you the game.

I've had games where it almost soloed the other squad and games where it died without accomplishing anything due to bad defense die luck. If there was something to make its defense more consistent it would be an utterly amazing ship.

Agreed. I can't help but love the defender, but it sucks when it gets wiped out in a round. Sometimes it's unstoppable and other times it just gets blown to pieces.

Maybe a defensive action for the DEFENDER? Sounds reasonable. Free evade token on a turn?

Title to turn worthless missile slot into a tractor beam maybe.

X7 Prototype (missile upgrade)

Add one (cannon upgrade slot).

There, and you can still have a title. Congrats, you got two cannon slots! This should probably be free. I don't think it should discount the costs of cannons though.

It is a good upgrade for 1 point, it wasn't the fix we need though. I put it on the tie punisher and it really helps.

That being said, if the defender was as good as people said then why the complete absence? Even after the Tie/FO, tie advanced title and Tie MKII they are essentially absent. The defender needs some serious help IMO.

A little bird whispered in my ear. I think if we're patient and wait for a bit, 2016 might be a good year for the TIE Defender

It is a good upgrade for 1 point, it wasn't the fix we need though. I put it on the tie punisher and it really helps.

That being said, if the defender was as good as people said then why the complete absence? Even after the Tie/FO, tie advanced title and Tie MKII they are essentially absent. The defender needs some serious help IMO.

A little bird whispered in my ear. I think if we're patient and wait for a bit, 2016 might be a good year for the TIE Defender

He knows details, bring forth the torture rack!!!

The comfy chair AND the soft cushion?!?

The comfy chair AND the soft cushion?!?

Yus the one with tassels.

the mk2 engine fixes the defender IMO wonderfully, a blast to fly.

still, the defender seems overcosted, now even 1 point more so.

don't get me wrong, it feels powerful enough IMO, it's just that you get (way) better bang for your buck everywhere else - so it comes down to costs, plain and simple.

you get a fully kitted soontir for WAY less, a vader for way less, even a whisper for (not way) less.. the defender struggles in comparison.

I'm not comfortable with it being buffed out the wazoo to justify it's cost, I'd be more happy with a "minus X refit".

its a shame we don't see the second best looking ship* on the table at worlds. that has to change!

*best looking is of course the Tie Avenger, arriving with wave13 in the year 3049, shortly after an invasion of unknown folk from the periphery destroys that last remaining x-wing model factory.... nevermind, move along

the mk2 engine fixes the defender IMO wonderfully, a blast to fly.

still, the defender seems overcosted, now even 1 point more so.

don't get me wrong, it feels powerful enough IMO, it's just that you get (way) better bang for your buck everywhere else - so it comes down to costs, plain and simple.

you get a fully kitted soontir for WAY less, a vader for way less, even a whisper for (not way) less.. the defender struggles in comparison.

I'm not comfortable with it being buffed out the wazoo to justify it's cost, I'd be more happy with a "minus X refit".

its a shame we don't see the second best looking ship* on the table at worlds. that has to change!

*best looking is of course the Tie Avenger, arriving with wave13 in the year 3049, shortly after an invasion of unknown folk from the periphery destroys that last remaining x-wing model factory.... nevermind, move along

But i have the invasion of the inner sphere planned for 3049...

the mk2 engine fixes the defender IMO wonderfully, a blast to fly.

still, the defender seems overcosted, now even 1 point more so.

don't get me wrong, it feels powerful enough IMO, it's just that you get (way) better bang for your buck everywhere else - so it comes down to costs, plain and simple.

you get a fully kitted soontir for WAY less, a vader for way less, even a whisper for (not way) less.. the defender struggles in comparison.

I'm not comfortable with it being buffed out the wazoo to justify it's cost, I'd be more happy with a "minus X refit".

its a shame we don't see the second best looking ship* on the table at worlds. that has to change!

*best looking is of course the Tie Avenger, arriving with wave13 in the year 3049, shortly after an invasion of unknown folk from the periphery destroys that last remaining x-wing model factory.... nevermind, move along

But i have the invasion of the inner sphere planned for 3049...

surely Clan Steelviper will manage to get bidding rights for that xwing-mini-factory*, not some Clan Hobojebusses.. erm.. what Clan exactly is that?! ;- ))

*gotta have some vacation in 3052+, might as well play xwing

the mk2 engine fixes the defender IMO wonderfully, a blast to fly.

still, the defender seems overcosted, now even 1 point more so.

don't get me wrong, it feels powerful enough IMO, it's just that you get (way) better bang for your buck everywhere else - so it comes down to costs, plain and simple.

you get a fully kitted soontir for WAY less, a vader for way less, even a whisper for (not way) less.. the defender struggles in comparison.

I'm not comfortable with it being buffed out the wazoo to justify it's cost, I'd be more happy with a "minus X refit".

its a shame we don't see the second best looking ship* on the table at worlds. that has to change!

*best looking is of course the Tie Avenger, arriving with wave13 in the year 3049, shortly after an invasion of unknown folk from the periphery destroys that last remaining x-wing model factory.... nevermind, move along

I don't think Tie MKII fixed the defender, not at all, it opened up the dial and really helps get rid of stress. I think the proper way to look at the TieMKII upgrade is a general 1-point buff to all ties, it is always a good 1 point investment on any tie series ship if you have a point leftover. This is the type of upgrades the Imperials need more of: The rebels got astromechs, the scum got astromechs and illicit slots, Imperials need imperial only ordinance and modifications; the type of modifications it would take an intergalactic empire to be able to mass produce in sufficient quantities.

the mk2 engine fixes the defender IMO wonderfully, a blast to fly.

still, the defender seems overcosted, now even 1 point more so.

don't get me wrong, it feels powerful enough IMO, it's just that you get (way) better bang for your buck everywhere else - so it comes down to costs, plain and simple.

you get a fully kitted soontir for WAY less, a vader for way less, even a whisper for (not way) less.. the defender struggles in comparison.

I'm not comfortable with it being buffed out the wazoo to justify it's cost, I'd be more happy with a "minus X refit".

its a shame we don't see the second best looking ship* on the table at worlds. that has to change!

*best looking is of course the Tie Avenger, arriving with wave13 in the year 3049, shortly after an invasion of unknown folk from the periphery destroys that last remaining x-wing model factory.... nevermind, move along

I don't think Tie MKII fixed the defender, not at all, it opened up the dial and really helps get rid of stress. I think the proper way to look at the TieMKII upgrade is a general 1-point buff to all ties, it is always a good 1 point investment on any tie series ship if you have a point leftover. This is the type of upgrades the Imperials need more of: The rebels got astromechs, the scum got astromechs and illicit slots, Imperials need imperial only ordinance and modifications; the type of modifications it would take an intergalactic empire to be able to mass produce in sufficient quantities.

see.. the dial and the costs were -my- initial problems with the defender; with mk2, the dial is fixed for me (from "eeeh...nope" to "yeah, baby!"). apart from the costs, I'm happy with it.

it's not the monster it was in the tie-sims, but it has a place on the table in this more balanced form. at least for me; you are free to feel otherwise, but give them (in non-competative games) a try. would be a shame to have that nice model and not use it