So I have found myself building lists lately, predominantly small base Rebel lists to be specific, and I often find that I have 1 point left over. Due to the lack of any PS9 ships in most of my builds I have no interest in having a 1 point initiative bid.
I regularly look at the list of modifications and lament the viability of virtually all the 1 point modifications, only 1 of which is truly universal in terms of the ships it can be attached to, yet only have an effect on that ship if you have Missiles or Torpedoes equipped. then it only offers value (in theory) if you miss with them the first time you try to fire them.
Here are the current list of 1 point Modifications:
Munitions Failsafe
B-Wing/E2 - B-Wing only
Tactical Jammers - large base only
Twin Ion Engine Mk.II - TIE Ships only
Manoeuvring fins - YV 666 only
There is however a recently released upgrade card that cost 1 point, has a 1-shot effect requiring discard of the upgrade card itself that could have been a universal modification but sadly it was not a modification.
I am of course talking about the Astromech R5-X3. I feel this was an excellent opportunity to provide a universal 1 point modification that could have filled a gap for anyone who built a list up to 99 points.
Instead, by making this card an Astromech upgrade it will likely be destined to sit unused, ironically if only for the fact that it does not at all work in synergy with the yet to be released Integrated Astromech modification card. When you factor in the restriction to rebel ships with an Astromech slot, the opportunity cost of the Astromech slot and the fact that R5-X3 is unique it really is a shame that a potentially useful ability along the lines of inertial Dampeners, Glitterstim etc. will go unused.
Having said that perhaps FFG don’t want a universal "point filler" upgrade, or maybe FFG haven't approved an ability that they feel every ship should have access to. I would like to think that R5-X3's ability was just that, and perhaps thematically a modification may not have fitted the ability however an Astromech feels just as strange to offer a 1 shot ability to avoid an asteroid. A modification called "Emergency thrusters" would probably have been more thematic.
Having said all that, and with R5-X3 being what it is, are there any affects or abilities that you all think would be fair and reasonable on a 1 point universally usable upgrade?
Some possible options that I would seriously consider playing:
Retro Thrusters
When you overlap a ship this turn, you may perform 1 free action listed in your action bar, then receive a stress and discard this card. You may not perform any additional actions this turn. (Sort of a 1 shot Dauntless)
Emergency Boosters
When defending this turn, you may turn 1 blank result into an eyeball result, then discard this card.
Inertial Correctors
When you reveal a white manoeuvre, you may discard this card to treat it as a green manoeuvre.