I think the Inqusitor is a good one to EXPOSE himself at range 3

Yeah I hope the TAP is the last two attack ship we see.

Empire needs more three attack ships and a small base turret ship.

Yea, I think FFG is running out of 2-attack ships to design anyway lol. Hopefully a TIE Defender fix or TIE Avenger release will open up some high-cost ace options other than Soontir/Vader/Whisper.

Personally, I don't mind the lack of turret ships (outside of the Decimator) for Imperials. There's something wrong with the image of Imperial ships running and kiting with turretted ships when they've been chasing Rebels from behind since 1977.

I think the Inqusitor is a good one to EXPOSE himself at range 3

Really depends on the dial for that I think, you would have to equip experimental interface to get a target lock and expose off the same turn. It looks too expensive to me compared to Juke and auto thrusters.

And given how successful I've seen 2 Atk ships be, I think it will be a very annoying ship to fight. And if the PS 4 has a EPT, oh my.

What 2-attack ships have you seen be successful?

Jake Farrell and Green Squadron say "Hi", with the exact same statline as the Prototype Advanced.

And given how successful I've seen 2 Atk ships be, I think it will be a very annoying ship to fight. And if the PS 4 has a EPT, oh my.

What 2-attack ships have you seen be successful?

Jake Farrell and Green Squadron say "Hi", with the exact same statline as the Prototype Advanced.

Yeah I hope the TAP is the last two attack ship we see.

Empire needs more three attack ships and a small base turret ship.

Yea, I think FFG is running out of 2-attack ships to design anyway lol. Hopefully a TIE Defender fix or TIE Avenger release will open up some high-cost ace options other than Soontir/Vader/Whisper.

Personally, I don't mind the lack of turret ships (outside of the Decimator) for Imperials. There's something wrong with the image of Imperial ships running and kiting with turretted ships when they've been chasing Rebels from behind since 1977.

Except as we've seen over and over ties don't survive amazingly well against PWT or TLT, it's fine for empire to be the high skill faction but to have them facing two other factions with so many ways to negate the high manuverability empire needs something to level the playing field.

That's why I have high hopes for the tie cog, a three attack fighter with a rear arc could do wonders.

Why? To decrease the point cost?

The TAPs solar panels are covered with extra armor plating. But they gave the ship less Hull than a TIE Fighter rather than more?

There's also no evidence of it having Shields in any of the canon sources thus far.

Frankly, between this and the FO, we're at the point where, like, 75% of the TIEs in the game have shields now. It feels like it's pushing against the themes of TIEs to have so many more of the advanced high performance TIE models than the cheap expendable models.

We know from articles that the FO also had 4 hull at one point during development. But they changed that too.

Yeah I hope the TAP is the last two attack ship we see.

Empire needs more three attack ships and a small base turret ship.

And given how successful I've seen 2 Atk ships be, I think it will be a very annoying ship to fight. And if the PS 4 has a EPT, oh my.

What 2-attack ships have you seen be successful?

Jake Farrell and Green Squadron say "Hi", with the exact same statline as the Prototype Advanced.

That, and there were some ships that would say Hi, but couldn't because they were too busy in the World Championship finals.

I'm not counting things like the Z95s or TIE Fighters as comparisons for this thing, as I think they're going to play much differently. TIEs are generally cheap swarm fighters, and only get into the 16+ point range through rare ace exceptions. Same applies for Z95s. They don't have high odds of hitting, so they make up for it with multiple green dice attacks that just swamp the enemy with dice rolls.

The better comparison for this ship is going to likely be the TIE/fo, A-Wing, and pre-title Advanced.

I think the Inqusitor is a good one to EXPOSE himself at range 3

Really depends on the dial for that I think, you would have to equip experimental interface to get a target lock and expose off the same turn. It looks too expensive to me compared to Juke and auto thrusters.

Why do you need the target lock? The Inqusitors ability is just at range 3. Would the target lock help? Sure, but it is not a necessity.

4 dice at range 3, with no range agility bonus for the enemy at that range seens decent to me.

I think the Inqusitor is a good one to EXPOSE himself at range 3

EW! Gross.

Put me in the "not ok" camp for only having 1 viable pilot. When compared to the FO (which is already of questionable value) I'm worried. It's going to need an awing dial with 1 speed maneuvers and sloops at that cost. I'm guessing the inquisitor is paying a point for his ability but that still puts the PS 2 model (different PS progression from FO I think) at 18.

You see the FO as being of questionable value? Have you flown it? I admit that I had doubts before flying with it, but I love the ships now.

I've been having fun with ZAce + PTL but it doesn't really fly like an FO. I've liked the "named" pilots for it but the generics are a hard sell for me.

I like ZAce+ PTL

Vess

Episilon

Tie Advanced of choice

Depends on how you want to load out Vess or what Advanced you want.

I've tried a modified 6 tie swarm with some sprinkled in too as I used to run that a lot wave 1-2... not sure I like it better than some of the named ties and we're getting new named ties to boot.

If TAP is setting in the 18-20 range for generic PS2 +1pt for title it's a bit rough over the FO who is already a bit rough over the generic ties... not a great progression. I hope the other "named" tap has just as killer of an ability AND AN EPT!

Inquisitor 25

VI 1

v1 Title 1

Autothrusters 2

29 points

He beats non VI aces in pilot skill, gets great PS for acquiring a target lock, bypasses Autothrusters and the range 3 bonus die. He has maneuverability, Agility, and Autothrusters to counter TLTs, and he's sub 30 points. This is seriously legit.

Except as we've seen over and over ties don't survive amazingly well against PWT or TLT, it's fine for empire to be the high skill faction but to have them facing two other factions with so many ways to negate the high manuverability empire needs something to level the playing field.

True, but Imperials already have TIE Fighters, which are the best counter to PWTs and TLTs. Getting access to turrets doesn't help counter Rebel/Scum PWTs and TLTs.

I do agree a 3-attack Imperial small base jouster would be refreshing. The TIE Defender would fit that role nicely when it gets a little boost.

It would be cool to see multiple generic Defenders become a thing.

Not Fantasy Flight, another Monday and no X-wing news.

Baron Valen Rudor, you know he's gonna be awesome. He will be vital to the Space Gentry list with Fel and Vader.

His ability should be something to reflect his achievements in the series, like his ship blowing up on turn zero or being able to still attack while overlapping an asteroid.

I'm expecting a Starviper like dial for the TAP. Clearly, it can't be as good as the TIE FO, but will need something to make it unique and worth the extra few points. The shield, title, and the ability to take AT will be a drawing factor over the FO. If it is placed at 17 points, AT and V1 can be taken at 20 points and 5 of these could be flown in a list. That's what I'm hoping for.

And given how successful I've seen 2 Atk ships be, I think it will be a very annoying ship to fight. And if the PS 4 has a EPT, oh my.

What 2-attack ships have you seen be successful?

Umm....Tie Fighters? Tie FO's?

This isn't in the same price rage as those ships. The Prototype isn't a swarm ship, it's more like an arc dodging ace, but with only 2 attack. it's likely going to cost around 18 points for the cheapest ship, making it comparable to the TIE Interceptor. Sure a swarm of TIE Fighters can see success, but you aren't going to fit 7 or 8 TIE Adv. Prototypes in a list.

What would help make it have a place in X-Wing would be if it were something of a support ship. If it had a crew slot, that would be huge. Maybe the missing pilot will have an ability that also synergizes with the v1 title? Maybe something like this: When an enemy ship declares an attack, if you have a target lock on that ship, you may spend the lock to force the ship to roll one less attack die.

Still that wouldn't help the generics much, but it'd be good. As it stands now, it looks like our second pilot has either a really short ability, or no ability at all, due to his empty space in the preview.

Except as we've seen over and over ties don't survive amazingly well against PWT or TLT, it's fine for empire to be the high skill faction but to have them facing two other factions with so many ways to negate the high manuverability empire needs something to level the playing field.

True, but Imperials already have TIE Fighters, which are the best counter to PWTs and TLTs. Getting access to turrets doesn't help counter Rebel/Scum PWTs and TLTs.

I do agree a 3-attack Imperial small base jouster would be refreshing. The TIE Defender would fit that role nicely when it gets a little boost.

It would be cool to see multiple generic Defenders become a thing.

The Avenger should be the 3 attack jouster for the empire.

3 attack

3 agi

3 hull

2 shield

Focus TL BR Boost

System, missile

Dial like Defender except all 2s are green and multiple red Talon Rolls instead of white K turn. Dunno if 1 turns should be red or not.

Or am I off base as far as what a good jouster should look like?

What would help make it have a place in X-Wing would be if it were something of a support ship. If it had a crew slot, that would be huge.

And given how successful I've seen 2 Atk ships be, I think it will be a very annoying ship to fight. And if the PS 4 has a EPT, oh my.

What 2-attack ships have you seen be successful?

Umm....Tie Fighters? Tie FO's?

This isn't in the same price rage as those ships. The Prototype isn't a swarm ship, it's more like an arc dodging ace, but with only 2 attack. it's likely going to cost around 18 points for the cheapest ship, making it comparable to the TIE Interceptor. Sure a swarm of TIE Fighters can see success, but you aren't going to fit 7 or 8 TIE Adv. Prototypes in a list.

???

a Ps 1 arc-dodger?

as nathan demonstrated at Worlds, it's an "ace" but not an arc-dodger. It's a "**** you" blocker extraordinaire that will carry your ass when properly utilized and for only 15 points. It's not a late game ship, it's potent support for anyone who knows how to use it.

The TAPs can easily serve the same purpose, being far less "oh, I guess green dice failed me again *dies*" than interceptors but still possessing boost + roll

the Tie/v1 title will alternatively make it the perfect platform for Juke, provided the PS 4 gets an EPT

anyway, the Inquisitor doesn't really fit this mold. It's a 3 attack ship at every range, but especially at range 3 where it (supposedly) negates all range 3 bonuses for the enemy, including thrusters

Or am I off base as far as what a good jouster should look like?

I think BR & boost will inevitably turn it into a PTL arc-dodger. Either one or the other I think.

And given how successful I've seen 2 Atk ships be, I think it will be a very annoying ship to fight. And if the PS 4 has a EPT, oh my.

What 2-attack ships have you seen be successful?

Umm....Tie Fighters? Tie FO's?

This isn't in the same price rage as those ships. The Prototype isn't a swarm ship, it's more like an arc dodging ace, but with only 2 attack. it's likely going to cost around 18 points for the cheapest ship, making it comparable to the TIE Interceptor. Sure a swarm of TIE Fighters can see success, but you aren't going to fit 7 or 8 TIE Adv. Prototypes in a list.

FFG has been very protective of the Interceptor's place in the Imperial fleet. The TIE/fo is the 2 attack arc dodger. Why would they need to make another ship like it? FFG has also been very careful with greens on dials lately. PTL is obviously being guarded against. This very well could be the imperial A-wing though. That missile slot seems to suggest as much.

a Ps 1 arc-dodger?

Unless you think the Interceptor isn't an arc-dodger because of the Alpha Squadron Pilot?

The PS2 seems like it will be 17 points (This is assuming the Inquisitor's ability is 2 pts).

If you add the title and AT, then you are at 20 pts but I have a hard time seeing that being better than the 21 pt tempest with AC.

With just the title at 18, it could see some play as it does seems still decent if you can't afford the points for the Tempest. The title is quite nice as it gives both offense and defense.

But I agree that the ship will likely see the most play in the form of the Inquisitor in a 3 ace or Palp+2 ace list.

Just moving away from the inquisitor for a moment - I'm very excited for the TAP, as I think it has the potential to be a great low cost filler ship, and the v1 title synergises with one of my favourite pilots, The Colonel. Built-in action economy for a point, and AT makes it a great great prospect for a sub-20pt little beast.

The v1 title also looks like it'll have amazing synergy with the new tracers too - land a cheap tracer with your first tap, and your whole mini swarm gains an evade and a tl, leaving it free to focus/boost in the initial engagement (while Vess sheds a single tear at the beauty of it all). Powerful stuff.

Having said all this, I really am worried for the fo. I'll be happy to be proved wrong, but it already has a tenuous niche in the game, and the tap is going to bring the two things that it's missing so badly - cheap action economy and AT. I have in the past expressed my concerns about the design space for imperials, and the tendency towards 2-attack ships: seeing the fo's brother, the T70, in both lists at the World's top table last week kind of reinforces that concern a little bit. Tech might save it, hell, maybe juke and comm relay will be all it's being hyped to be. we'll see.

The tap looks to be a very promising iteration of Imperial-cheap-2-attack idea though, so I'm holding out hope that it can do what the fo was meant to...