Im fine with it, for the exact reason it says in the article...
Marksmanship would give "Wampa" the ability to spend a focus to convert a
result to a
result,
It keeps him in check imo.
Wampa..... Are you freaking kidding me!?!?
The unique pilots without EPTs has got to stop...
I firmly disagree with this. Auto includes are a detriment to the game. I love the hard decisions you have to make with list building...There's a lot of clever people out there who find these great combos. There's a lot out there that I feel are on the cusp of being OP, or are OP and 101 points.
I think Youngster+Marksmanship & Wampa was the right call. It's expensive and requires some skill to pull off, but can be devastating when you do. Wampa being self sufficient would have been too much.
He's a great sub in for an obsidian if you have 1 pt or a black squad if you don't have 1 pt for crackshot. Wampa might be the best of the newly revealed ties (chaser really wants higher PS).
While I don't agree that all mid PS ships need an EPT I would say most that don't would actually see play if they did: Graz, Kir, Lorrir, Laetin, Emmon, Garven, Dutch...
well, Kir might. He'd have some great reliability with PTL.
otherwise, yeah. Most mid PS pilots without EPTs also just have yawn-worthy abilities
If there is ever an X-Wing 2.0, I'd love to see _every_ X-Wing pilot ability effect at least 1 ship other than themselves. So Wedge: "When attacking, this ship and friendly ships at Range 1 may reduce the defender's agility value by 1 (to a minimum of "0")."
Luke: "When defending, you and friendly ships within range 2 may change 1 of your results to a result."
Etc.
Just imagine a list with 2 or 3 X-Wings, each of which made every other ship stronger. Those X-Wings would have been correctly priced given the possibilities.
Yes, and the combo is still 20 points, even though it only works once. I used the ion example because it's R1-3, but the Adv Homing certainly works and does bypass shields for the same cost. Adv Homing Missiles have unfortunately proven difficult to use in my experience due to their range restriction.A very true and important distinction.Once. Not every time he shoots.Blount does bypass shields with advanced homing missile.He'd be way too cheap with an EPT, even at his low-ish pilot skill. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the cheapest "guaranteed damage" combo is Lt. Blount with an Ion Pulse Missile, and that does not bypass shields. Wampa with an EPT would be great, I agree, but with Calculation, at 15 points, he would be quite lethal.I'm very excited about getting new TIE fighters! Youngster's ability has to be the one that is really going to change the Tie swarm!
Wampa is a great offensive weapon for the TIE fighter.... but no EPT?!?!? ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!?!? Why force this TIE to be dependent on other ships? Now it's pigeon-holed into a swarm role. This could have been a great (and cheap) little flanker!
The unique pilots without EPTs has got to stop...
Unfortunately, while I would LOVE to give him one, I feel he is best staying cheap without one.
A naked Blount can still auto-remove Stealth Device off of any ship at range 3 just for declaring a primary weapon 2 dice attack. Even if the defender has 6 defence die. He doesn't have to commit his ordinance to the shot, and he has this ability the entire game.
He can be murdered pretty fast by most of the things you would put Stealth Device on, though.
Also, did Marksmanship get an errata or did fantasy flight forget what their own fuqking rules are again?
"Marksmanship would give ... the ability to spend a focus to convert a result to a result..."
Last time I checked, Marksmanship was never that good, it doesn't let you spend a focus token to do sh1t because you do the Marksmanship Action Instead of the Focus Action. So unlike a Focus token, you can't use it for a defense roll. It's the whole reason why Marksmanship is garbage most of the time.
Edited by VulfBecause his ability is INSANE. He lacks an EPT very deliberately.
Vader on a Shuttle and Dauntless are fun ways to get auto damage too.
A naked Blount can still auto-remove Stealth Device off of any ship at range 3 just for declaring a primary weapon 2 dice attack. Even if the defender has 6 defence die. He doesn't have to commit his ordinance to the shot, and he has this ability the entire game.
He can be murdered pretty fast by most of the things you would put Stealth Device on, though.
Also, did Marksmanship get an errata or did fantasy flight forget what their own fuqking rules are again?
"Marksmanship would give ... the ability to spend a focus to convert a
Last time I checked, Marksmanship was never that good, it doesn't let you spend a focus token to do sh1t because you do the Marksmanship Action Instead of the Focus Action. So unlike a Focus token, you can't use it for a defense roll. It's the whole reason why Marksmanship is garbage most of the time.
I think people are getting calculation mixed up with marksmanship. Calculation makes it so you can spend a focus token to modify a single focus result into a crit instead of making multiple focus results into hits. It is better for those times when you roll a single focus result but not by much because when shields are factored int crits don't matter. Marksmanship is better than focus for the attack but the downside is that it is used in attack and not for defense. Where as calculation you can not spend the focus token if you roll no focus results thus saving the modification for defense rolls marksmanship has no such ability it is purely offensive modification ability.
Now when youngster is involved marksmanship is taken because it is an action EPT which only action EPTs work with his ability. Calculation is not an action EPT so putting it on Youngster will only benefit Youngster and not make the use of his ability.
Edited by MarinealverI think the point is that if Wampa had an EPT then he would run Calculation and nothing else.
Ever.
Wampa's one of them
Miranda's another
Deathrain also doesn't care
Sadly, redline cries himself to sleep every night, wishing he had vi
Biggs laughs at the newbies of the club, being the founder xD
Horton salm's ability is THE BEEF
Miranda's a cheese-level, no EPT
Backstabber & Dark Curse have seen more play than Howlie
Nah, it's just that the pilot ability and ship should not be "**** I NEED DAT HIGHER PS"
Wampa's one of them
Miranda's another
Deathrain also doesn't care
Sadly, redline cries himself to sleep every night, wishing he had vi
Biggs laughs at the newbies of the club, being the founder xD
Horton salm's ability is THE BEEF
Miranda's a cheese-level, no EPT
Backstabber & Dark Curse have seen more play than Howlie
Nah, it's just that the pilot ability and ship should not be "**** I NEED DAT HIGHER PS"
There's all the shuttle pilots too. They've got great support abilities.
I think the balance is the fact that he is a PS 6. It's going to be hard for him to out fly Soontir, Horn, or Whisper. But if he does... it should count! The Empire SUCKS at synergy. Great Imperial lists are either a small group of aces (all doing their own thing) or a swarm smashmouth that doesn't care about abilities. Sure Howlrunner helps, but we all know how long she lasts and the swarm continues to be deadly without her.
I take issue with the bold portion
the empire is the only faction with Synergy worth a ****
and its name is Howlrunner, though nowadays it's going by Emperor Palpatine
havn't seen anyone waste their time on dutch or kyle or w.e in a dog's age
Tell that to Miranda Doni who is still wiping bits off Soontir Fel, Emprah Palpatine etc. from her K-Wing. A 6 attack dice Homing Missile is just glorious to behold. The only thing more glorious is doing it twice.
Frankly, letting her have access to EPT would mean 8-dice APT would be a possibility. And the Homing Missile is just like firing off a nuke as it is.
Edited by Lampyridae
Wampa's one of them
Miranda's another
Deathrain also doesn't care
Sadly, redline cries himself to sleep every night, wishing he had vi
Biggs laughs at the newbies of the club, being the founder xD
Horton salm's ability is THE BEEF
Miranda's a cheese-level, no EPT
Backstabber & Dark Curse have seen more play than Howlie
Nah, it's just that the pilot ability and ship should not be "**** I NEED DAT HIGHER PS"
There's all the shuttle pilots too. They've got great support abilities.
But still have little use because SPEHHS COW
is a cheap-arse vader-mobile or a cheap-arse Palpmobile
So when are we getting a TIE Fighter pilot named Ewok or Wookie?
Well, Wampa was a named pilot before FFG brought him into the game. It's the SW version of "Iceman", I guess.
The idea of using a Targeting Computer to reroll [hit] results is a stroke of genius. I'll take a 40% chance of autodamage through shields!
Frankly, Younger with Marksmanship isn't my first thought. I wouldn't suggest thinking you can 'build a list around' wampa, any more than any other mid-tier pilot, but I could see him working scarily well with the Emperor.
Given the currently popular Emperor-in-shuttle+Ace+Ace, you could swap out one of the aces for a pair of TIEs, and Wampa is an obvious choice for one of them.
In fact, you could throw in Vader(VI, EU, X1/ATC), Howlrunner and Wampa. That's a nasty combination and leaves 4 points for either upgrades to Howlrunner or the shuttle.
Actually, one other thought:
- Darth Vader - TIE/x1, Advanced Targeting Computer, Veteran Instincts, Engine Upgrade
- Backstabber - Stealth Device
- Wampa - Stealth Device
- Omicron Group Pilot - Emperor Palpatine
Yes, and the combo is still 20 points, even though it only works once. I used the ion example because it's R1-3, but the Adv Homing certainly works and does bypass shields for the same cost. Adv Homing Missiles have unfortunately proven difficult to use in my experience due to their range restriction.A very true and important distinction.Once. Not every time he shoots.Blount does bypass shields with advanced homing missile.He'd be way too cheap with an EPT, even at his low-ish pilot skill. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the cheapest "guaranteed damage" combo is Lt. Blount with an Ion Pulse Missile, and that does not bypass shields. Wampa with an EPT would be great, I agree, but with Calculation, at 15 points, he would be quite lethal.I'm very excited about getting new TIE fighters! Youngster's ability has to be the one that is really going to change the Tie swarm!
Wampa is a great offensive weapon for the TIE fighter.... but no EPT?!?!? ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!?!? Why force this TIE to be dependent on other ships? Now it's pigeon-holed into a swarm role. This could have been a great (and cheap) little flanker!
The unique pilots without EPTs has got to stop...
Unfortunately, while I would LOVE to give him one, I feel he is best staying cheap without one.
A naked Blount can still auto-remove Stealth Device off of any ship at range 3 just for declaring a primary weapon 2 dice attack. Even if the defender has 6 defence die. He doesn't have to commit his ordinance to the shot, and he has this ability the entire game.
He can be murdered pretty fast by most of the things you would put Stealth Device on, though.
Also, did Marksmanship get an errata or did fantasy flight forget what their own fuqking rules are again?
"Marksmanship would give ... the ability to spend a focus to convert a
Last time I checked, Marksmanship was never that good, it doesn't let you spend a focus token to do sh1t because you do the Marksmanship Action Instead of the Focus Action. So unlike a Focus token, you can't use it for a defense roll. It's the whole reason why Marksmanship is garbage most of the time.
No errata. It's been clear for a while that the people who write these articles don't actually have a clear understanding of the rules.
Yes, and the combo is still 20 points, even though it only works once. I used the ion example because it's R1-3, but the Adv Homing certainly works and does bypass shields for the same cost. Adv Homing Missiles have unfortunately proven difficult to use in my experience due to their range restriction.A very true and important distinction.Once. Not every time he shoots.Blount does bypass shields with advanced homing missile.He'd be way too cheap with an EPT, even at his low-ish pilot skill. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the cheapest "guaranteed damage" combo is Lt. Blount with an Ion Pulse Missile, and that does not bypass shields. Wampa with an EPT would be great, I agree, but with Calculation, at 15 points, he would be quite lethal.I'm very excited about getting new TIE fighters! Youngster's ability has to be the one that is really going to change the Tie swarm!
Wampa is a great offensive weapon for the TIE fighter.... but no EPT?!?!? ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!?!? Why force this TIE to be dependent on other ships? Now it's pigeon-holed into a swarm role. This could have been a great (and cheap) little flanker!
The unique pilots without EPTs has got to stop...
Unfortunately, while I would LOVE to give him one, I feel he is best staying cheap without one.
A naked Blount can still auto-remove Stealth Device off of any ship at range 3 just for declaring a primary weapon 2 dice attack. Even if the defender has 6 defence die. He doesn't have to commit his ordinance to the shot, and he has this ability the entire game.
He can be murdered pretty fast by most of the things you would put Stealth Device on, though.
Also, did Marksmanship get an errata or did fantasy flight forget what their own fuqking rules are again?
"Marksmanship would give ... the ability to spend a focus to convert a
Last time I checked, Marksmanship was never that good, it doesn't let you spend a focus token to do sh1t because you do the Marksmanship Action Instead of the Focus Action. So unlike a Focus token, you can't use it for a defense roll. It's the whole reason why Marksmanship is garbage most of the time.
Empire SUCKS at synergy.
Not counting new ties;
Col. vessery + any source of target locks
Rexlar brath + any extra actions
Cap. Jonus + secondary weapons
Vader + squad leader
Cap. Kagi
Col Jendon
Lt. Yorr
Howl runner
Epsilon leader
Carnor Jax
Zertik Strom
Fleet officer
Palpatine
There's lots of synergy to be found.
Shhh. Don't tell them. It's a secret.
There's a difference between Buff and Synergy.
No errata. It's been clear for a while that the people who write these articles don't actually have a clear understanding of the rules.
Yes, and the combo is still 20 points, even though it only works once. I used the ion example because it's R1-3, but the Adv Homing certainly works and does bypass shields for the same cost. Adv Homing Missiles have unfortunately proven difficult to use in my experience due to their range restriction.
A very true and important distinction.
Once. Not every time he shoots.
Blount does bypass shields with advanced homing missile.
He'd be way too cheap with an EPT, even at his low-ish pilot skill. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the cheapest "guaranteed damage" combo is Lt. Blount with an Ion Pulse Missile, and that does not bypass shields. Wampa with an EPT would be great, I agree, but with Calculation, at 15 points, he would be quite lethal.I'm very excited about getting new TIE fighters! Youngster's ability has to be the one that is really going to change the Tie swarm!
Wampa is a great offensive weapon for the TIE fighter.... but no EPT?!?!? ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!?!? Why force this TIE to be dependent on other ships? Now it's pigeon-holed into a swarm role. This could have been a great (and cheap) little flanker!
The unique pilots without EPTs has got to stop...
Unfortunately, while I would LOVE to give him one, I feel he is best staying cheap without one.
A naked Blount can still auto-remove Stealth Device off of any ship at range 3 just for declaring a primary weapon 2 dice attack. Even if the defender has 6 defence die. He doesn't have to commit his ordinance to the shot, and he has this ability the entire game.
He can be murdered pretty fast by most of the things you would put Stealth Device on, though.
Also, did Marksmanship get an errata or did fantasy flight forget what their own fuqking rules are again?
"Marksmanship would give ... the ability to spend a focus to convert a
Last time I checked, Marksmanship was never that good, it doesn't let you spend a focus token to do sh1t because you do the Marksmanship Action Instead of the Focus Action. So unlike a Focus token, you can't use it for a defense roll. It's the whole reason why Marksmanship is garbage most of the time.
Impressive Quote Pyramid, by the way.
I don't think Wampa would be ridiculous if he was ~16 points and had an EPT. He's still just a Tie Fighter. A ship held together with duct tape and dreams.
No errata. It's been clear for a while that the people who write these articles don't actually have a clear understanding of the rules.
Yes, and the combo is still 20 points, even though it only works once. I used the ion example because it's R1-3, but the Adv Homing certainly works and does bypass shields for the same cost. Adv Homing Missiles have unfortunately proven difficult to use in my experience due to their range restriction.
A very true and important distinction.
Once. Not every time he shoots.
Blount does bypass shields with advanced homing missile.
He'd be way too cheap with an EPT, even at his low-ish pilot skill. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the cheapest "guaranteed damage" combo is Lt. Blount with an Ion Pulse Missile, and that does not bypass shields. Wampa with an EPT would be great, I agree, but with Calculation, at 15 points, he would be quite lethal.I'm very excited about getting new TIE fighters! Youngster's ability has to be the one that is really going to change the Tie swarm!
Wampa is a great offensive weapon for the TIE fighter.... but no EPT?!?!? ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!?!? Why force this TIE to be dependent on other ships? Now it's pigeon-holed into a swarm role. This could have been a great (and cheap) little flanker!
The unique pilots without EPTs has got to stop...
Unfortunately, while I would LOVE to give him one, I feel he is best staying cheap without one.
A naked Blount can still auto-remove Stealth Device off of any ship at range 3 just for declaring a primary weapon 2 dice attack. Even if the defender has 6 defence die. He doesn't have to commit his ordinance to the shot, and he has this ability the entire game.
He can be murdered pretty fast by most of the things you would put Stealth Device on, though.
Also, did Marksmanship get an errata or did fantasy flight forget what their own fuqking rules are again?
"Marksmanship would give ... the ability to spend a focus to convert a
Last time I checked, Marksmanship was never that good, it doesn't let you spend a focus token to do sh1t because you do the Marksmanship Action Instead of the Focus Action. So unlike a Focus token, you can't use it for a defense roll. It's the whole reason why Marksmanship is garbage most of the time.
Impressive Quote Pyramid, by the way.
Most impressive.
4 a.c. tempests and targeting computer wampa sounds like it could be a bundle of fun. Flank with the wampster and tank with the tempest brick and you can actually ruin some aces if you keep your flanker alive...
The basic premise of the OP is flawed.
Named pilots do not need an EPT to be cost effective, in many cases a cheap low PS ship with one isn't used because once you slap a EPT on them they are no longer good filler. But as far as Wampa goes. It was clearly a design choice to not give him a EPT.
But even then let's look at the 2 new 14 point pilots that come with the Gozanti.
Chaser, for 14 points and PS3 which is actually ok, still puts him ahead of most generic Rebels, gets a free Focus token. In his case PS3 is a good thing since it's more likely someone will use one before him. That means he can either have 2 focus tokens or can take a different action and get a focus token.
That makes him fairly action efficient, in many ways as good as a PtL without the stress. A great ship for the price.
Wampa, can convert a canceled <crit> into a face down card. Even if you have no way to convert a hit or focus into a crit, it's still a useful ability. Clearly it's better when you can do so easily but even if you just have raw dice with no upgrade, he's still clearly as good as any other 14 point TIE, and perhaps better than a black squadron, since those are 15 points effectively.
Even with a 0 point EPT, he may still be a better choice depending on what that might do.
So if you have 14 points left and want a TIE Fighter, there's really no reason not to include one of those two in, EPT or not.
I find it interesting that the TIE Fighter pilots have some of the best pilot abilities in the game. Imagine Night Beast in an Interceptor (lots of greens = stressless double action!), Scourge flying a Bomber (ordnance with +1 die!), Mauler Mithel in a Phantom (easily six dice on most attacks!), Dark Curse in an Advanced (really hard to kill ATC carrier) or, of course, Wampa in a Mangler Cannon Defender.
That's because you're paying (proportionately) so much for them. The 5 points to make a Delta Squadron pilot into Col. Vessery is 16% of their cost. The 4 points to make an academy pilot into Dark Curse is more like 33% of the cost.
Plus, TIE fighters have limited slots for other options, so they don't have to be concerned about future interactions with new system/crew/astromech/ordnance cards being unexpectedly broken.