Hey guys,

With so much awesome new stuff to play around with, this bizarre little bugger almost slipped entirely from my mind.

At first glance, it seems a terribly situational upgrade for the cost. And yet, I can't help but want to make it work.

Experts trigger off an engineering command and allow the transfer of 1-2 shields for as many engineering points to another ship within distance 1-5 (which is great or I honestly wouldn't bother)

This means a ship that can generate 6 engineering can basically repair another ship without losing any shields. Sadly, the only ship reliably capable of this is the raymus mc80 (fatties can't take projection experts) or Neb, and neither seem particularly efficient uses of the ship (mc80) or raymus (on a non-Salvation ship)

But then, I remembered that other strange, seldom used neb title: Redemption

Redemption kicks neb engineering to an effective 4, allowing the transfer of 2 shields for the loss of one. This loss is not terribly significant as NEB's lack redirect and have a very slim butt-arc, so you can go 2 rounds of repair by siphoning the rear and the side your opponent is not shooting. Furthermore, you only need one redemption to enable this so it's actually possible to have two medical frigates handing a total of 4 shields out like candy

The neb also works very well with Garm, due to how well they utilize nav tokens, and he can also bestow engineering tokens for use. The token alone can utilize projection experts to its fullest, while redemption then uses a repair command to fully restore the projected shields

A projector redemption Support neb is 65 points, the same as a raymus + salvation support. This seems a decent asking price for a ship devoted mainly to spamming engineering commands. The range on both redemption and experts should let you shunt shields from relative safety and the lowish cost may keep you from being a huge priority

So, now that we can enable it, what do the experts DO exactly?

The long and short of it is this: experts cancel 2 damage on the relevant hullzone without spending defense tokens (provided the ship lives until projection's activation). This could be a huge boon given the fears of Home One Akbar.

But who can benefit from it?

Cr90s probably don't have the durability for it (though it is important to note that redemption brings their repair to 3, allowing them to shed crits on demand)

The Neb is a strong candidate, but ONLY if taking damage from the front. As experts only deal with shields, the one shield sides won't last much longer even with external repairs. The front arc, however, is quite string and can whether even vsd or isd levels of firepower for a turn. Experts may enhance that durability

The shrimp, fattie, and mc80 are, however, fascinating prospects. All have heavy shielding and the redirects to abuse them

Not only do experts help fortify them, but if they use engineering Redemption can also help (2 shield repair for shrimp, hull + shield for the larger ships or 2 shields + "redirect")

The fattie and Mon cal specifically could well be turned into damage sponges by the use of this upgrade (imagine two NEB's restoring 4 shields, your poor opponent might cry)

Obviously, the actual utility of this upgrade needs to be tested. I am excited to try it out on Friday

So far, it seems lists under Garm (supports nebs as well as fatties and Mon cals very well), Mon mothma (NEB's, cr99s, and shrimp) and possibly even Akbar (beefy broadsides) could stand to include the legit Medical Frigate

I will be running Garm on the Defiance, backed by Salvation, projector Redemption, and a yet undecided third ship (another projector neb?) and a compliment of four yt-2400s

Can't wait to report back

I am fully intending on borrowing one Projection Experts from someone who has Wave 2, and playing this on the weekend:


[ REBEL FLEET (396 points)
1 • Nebulon-B Escort Frigate - Projection Experts - Redemption (71)
2 • Nebulon-B Escort Frigate - Yavaris (62)
3 • Nebulon-B Support Refit - XI7 Turbolasers - Salvation (64)
4 • Assault Frigate Mark II B - Garm Bel Iblis - Electronic Countermeasures (104)
5 • B-wing Squadron (14)
6 • B-wing Squadron (14)
7 • B-wing Squadron (14)
8 • B-wing Squadron (14)
9 • X-wing Squadron (13)
10 • X-wing Squadron (13)
11 • X-wing Squadron (13)

The card is pretty subpar to me. None of the Rebel ships really have shields to lend outside the MKII who can't take it. Otherwise, you're just bloating up point values on cheaper, value-oriented ships.

I feel the Nebulon B does... Because of its Rear shields and lack of Redirects - it can give those, and repair those...

I feel the Nebulon B does... Because of its Rear shields and lack of Redirects - it can give those, and repair those...

But then you're taking the Neb B... and queueing Engineering tokens rather than CF.

With so many flanking ships in the meta (CR90s, MC30cs, Raiders), it makes the ship look like a hefty point sink with its 1 shield on the side.

The Redemption Nebulon-B has thus far been the chassis I've seen tried the most with the Projection Experts, but so far as I've heard the reception for this combination has been somewhat muddled.

I'd like to see someone try running a pair of Assault MC80s*, each with Redundant Shielding and Projection Experts (use the remaining Defensive Retrofit slot on ECM, most likely). The idea being once serious fighting begins you should have Engineering commands stacked up. Whichever MC80 gets focused on will mind its own business but its partner can use the Projection Experts and freebie shields to punish the opponent for neglecting to tackle both MC80s simultaneously. Add in the Redemption with Projection Experts as backup if you like to boost all those Engineering commands.

Basically my untested suspicion is that Projection Experts get better the more ships you use that can abuse them, as it leaves no single target to focus down that disrupts the chain, at which point the remaining ships can act as a water bucket line, helping to bail out other ships. It won't generally deny destruction of your ships but it should delay it, which in a 6-turn game can be very beneficial. It also seems like just about the only way to get your MC80s to live long enough to do an actual Ackbar Slash**.

*my buddy is giving this some consideration once he owns two MC80s.

**Despite being a Star Wars fan for many many years, "Ackbar Slash" is still one of the stupidest names for a military maneuver I've ever heard. I feel weird every time I mention it.

I feel the Nebulon B does... Because of its Rear shields and lack of Redirects - it can give those, and repair those...

But then you're taking the Neb B... and queueing Engineering tokens rather than CF.

With so many flanking ships in the meta (CR90s, MC30cs, Raiders), it makes the ship look like a hefty point sink with its 1 shield on the side.

not really

mc30s aside (only truly frightening at close range), cr-90s and raiders are frail bastards and they can be sent packing by the ships the projector is supporting (especially Defiance or Afmk2s under akbar)

the value generated by projector experts may be enough to pay back the points invested and more

needs testing

I agree with most of what you say and actually wrote about this a bit on my blog.

Fleet Build

Battle Report

My biggest takeaway was that Projection Experts works because it makes setting commands a simple task. You can have a ship spamming Engineering and know that the commands won't go to waste.

I actually liked it more on the MC-80 than the Redemption. The MC-80 can spam Engineering commands while still contributing its considerable firepower to the game (as long as you aren't using it as a carrier). The Redemption has a harder time with that.

The MC-80, especially with Home One, is often already in the middle of your fleet. Makes it easy to keep everyone else in range.

I feel the Nebulon B does... Because of its Rear shields and lack of Redirects - it can give those, and repair those...

But then you're taking the Neb B... and queueing Engineering tokens rather than CF.

With so many flanking ships in the meta (CR90s, MC30cs, Raiders), it makes the ship look like a hefty point sink with its 1 shield on the side.

I took 4 Neb-Bs to a Sullust. I am not afraid

I feel the Nebulon B does... Because of its Rear shields and lack of Redirects - it can give those, and repair those...

But then you're taking the Neb B... and queueing Engineering tokens rather than CF.

With so many flanking ships in the meta (CR90s, MC30cs, Raiders), it makes the ship look like a hefty point sink with its 1 shield on the side.

not really

mc30s aside (only truly frightening at close range), cr-90s and raiders are frail bastards and they can be sent packing by the ships the projector is supporting (especially Defiance or Afmk2s under akbar)

the value generated by projector experts may be enough to pay back the points invested and more

needs testing

Yeah, but that would be taking a Neb-B in an Ackbar list.

There are so many other ships, upgrades and squadrons that you can take over a shield donkey, but you seem pretty determined to make it work.

Fetch.

you seem more determined in demeaning the idea

it's slightly concerning

not to mention, you can literally take many other ships, upgrade and squadrons over every other option. We're aware of this, it's part of list building.

Need field tests to determine whether or not experts are worth taking in relation to those

I love support ship and always try out different flavours, don't dismiss the CR90. It's cheap and a lot of rebel players have one hanging around for activation manipulation, mission roles etc.

At present with conga line of fatties I like

Cheap and easy (55 points)

CR90A leia, projection expert,jaina's light.

This ship hides behind the line of big boys, taking pot shots, helping activation, changing ships to engineering orders when needed, and handing out shields ( nav token round one, three rounds giving 6 shields, recharge for one round then give out another 2 in last round). You should be able to keep it at long rage and obscured, so no one tends to bother shooting at it.

You can upgrade with redundant shields (to allow you to give out 2 shielded every round) and/or add slaved turrets/TRC. I call this over indulgent build " leia's delight".

Second option (not my favourite)

Raymus run around (it's fluffy) (68)

CR90A, tantive, projection expert,Raymus, redundant shields.

Gives out a two tokens of choice in rounds until the shooting starts then one engineering token and 2 shields. You could run it without the redundant shields but I think needs to keep up some shields as you will not want to keep this one as hidden.

The Neb B support refit redemption with projection expert is a great option, fully regenerating, shield giving, hammer for 65 points.

If you take this to the ultimate you could build a fleet of 5 Neb b escorts with all projection experts and slaved turrets add salvation, redemption and MM to the mix and you have a fast, high activation fleet that can dish it to ships and fighters. A fleet that can regenerate ten shields into one ship each round......I may have to play it for kicks......

I am considering it on a CR90 with Jaina's Light who will trail a MC80. If there isn't an ISD Gunnery Experting the MC80 she can hang out close by and throw more red dice, if there is she can trail farther back. As always she is fast enough to run objectives or jump up to harass things.

you seem more determined in demeaning the idea

it's slightly concerning

not to mention, you can literally take many other ships, upgrade and squadrons over every other option. We're aware of this, it's part of list building.

Need field tests to determine whether or not experts are worth taking in relation to those

Yes, I'm saying that Neb-Bs as a support ship in an Ackbar list is not a good use of points. I would rather have the same amount of points in squadrons and other upgrades.

That's all I'm saying

I am considering it on a CR90 with Jaina's Light who will trail a MC80. If there isn't an ISD Gunnery Experting the MC80 she can hang out close by and throw more red dice, if there is she can trail farther back. As always she is fast enough to run objectives or jump up to harass things.

It's a nice ship to have, just add leia if you have the points.

Hero has a point around the support Neb, it does not fit so well in the ackbar conga line ( jaina's light fits better for that). The Neb is very good if you are not the conga line type...

I am considering it on a CR90 with Jaina's Light who will trail a MC80. If there isn't an ISD Gunnery Experting the MC80 she can hang out close by and throw more red dice, if there is she can trail farther back. As always she is fast enough to run objectives or jump up to harass things.

I think you will find this list most suiting your needs.

Hero has a point around the support Neb, it does not fit so well in the ackbar conga line ( jaina's light fits better for that). The Neb is very good if you are not the conga line type...

I've actually found Nebs to be really useful in Conga line lists. Just not as part of the Conga Line. They make a great 'trailer' or ship that can pick off straggler that sneak past your line.

I am fully intending on borrowing one Projection Experts from someone who has Wave 2, and playing this on the weekend:[ REBEL FLEET (396 points)1 • Nebulon-B Escort Frigate - Projection Experts - Redemption (71)2 • Nebulon-B Escort Frigate - Yavaris (62)3 • Nebulon-B Support Refit - XI7 Turbolasers - Salvation (64)4 • Assault Frigate Mark II B - Garm Bel Iblis - Electronic Countermeasures (104)5 • B-wing Squadron (14)6 • B-wing Squadron (14)7 • B-wing Squadron (14)8 • B-wing Squadron (14)9 • X-wing Squadron (13)10 • X-wing Squadron (13)11 • X-wing Squadron (13)

Wait a few days, ya "might" have one arriving in the mail

It's a great card. I've been using an ISD kitted out with two glads following with projection experts. With tarkin the ISD just sits in the fray while the glads throw four shields a turn at it. With its own engineer spam it gets a total of seven shields a turn.... It's a zombie of unkillableness

* * *

But then, I remembered that other strange, seldom used neb title: Redemption

Redemption kicks neb engineering to an effective 4, allowing the transfer of 2 shields for the loss of one. This loss is not terribly significant as NEB's lack redirect and have a very slim butt-arc, so you can go 2 rounds of repair by siphoning the rear and the side your opponent is not shooting. Furthermore, you only need one redemption to enable this so it's actually possible to have two medical frigates handing a total of 4 shields out like candy

The neb also works very well with Garm, due to how well they utilize nav tokens, and he can also bestow engineering tokens for use. The token alone can utilize projection experts to its fullest, while redemption then uses a repair command to fully restore the projected shields

A projector redemption Support neb is 65 points, the same as a raymus + salvation support. This seems a decent asking price for a ship devoted mainly to spamming engineering commands. The range on both redemption and experts should let you shunt shields from relative safety and the lowish cost may keep you from being a huge priority

* * *

I think this is the most natural platform for PEs, too. As Jondavies pointed out, above, I would add Leia, as well. If you're going to constantly spam repair commands with this ship, and keep it within distance 5 of another ship (or two or three), might as well have the option to change a ship's command to repair in a pinch.

If you want token spam, you could pair the PE Redemption with a CR-90B with Raymus and the Tantive title (49 points). Each time you reveal a command, gain a free token which you can pass out to any ship within distance 1-5, then convert the dial to a token (which you can again pass out to another ship within distance 1-5). That's 2 free engineering points each turn for two MC-80s/30s/AFIIs, plus the extra shields from Redemption. Pair those two ships (117 points, including Leia) with Ackbar and two Mark IIs runs 299, with 101 points left over for flavoring (another AFII?), more if you run with Garm or another cheaper commander. It's two support ships, but if they work together, they should keep things afloat for a while. Pair with Rieekan and three Torpedo Shrimps (336 points) or two MC-80 Commands (359 points), and you could hang around for a while...

It's a great card. I've been using an ISD kitted out with two glads following with projection experts. With tarkin the ISD just sits in the fray while the glads throw four shields a turn at it. With its own engineer spam it gets a total of seven shields a turn.... It's a zombie of unkillableness

You are my hero. This has literally spawned a hundred list ideas in my brain.

ISD I or II? Or does it even matter?

*Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!*

Hero has a point around the support Neb, it does not fit so well in the ackbar conga line ( jaina's light fits better for that). The Neb is very good if you are not the conga line type...

I've actually found Nebs to be really useful in Conga line lists. Just not as part of the Conga Line. They make a great 'trailer' or ship that can pick off straggler that sneak past your line.

Yes I like neb back of backline/ off axis snipers as well. It's just in the support/projection role you need to stay within five, if you are activating your line leader first ( logical) move 2 then he gets wacked up a bit, there is a very good chance that a Neb hanging at the back of the line will be out of range. Your vet hanging at the side ( closer to the front) will tend to have more chance of being in support range of the whole line.

@rythbrt

It doesn't seem to matter

Just wade around unkillable goodness

This https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/189928-projection-expert/page-2

Is how to make em work.

1 • Nebulon-B Support Refit - Nebulon-B Frigate (51) - Leia Organa (3) - Projection Experts (8)

• Total : 62

2 • Nebulon-B Support Refit - Nebulon-B Frigate (51) - Mon Mothma (30) - Redemption (8)

• Total : 89

3 • Nebulon-B Escort Frigate - Nebulon-B Frigate (57) - Yavaris (5)

• Total : 62

4 • MC30c Torpedo Frigate - MC30c (63)

5 • MC30c Torpedo Frigate - MC30c (63)

6 • B-wing Squadron - B-wing (14)

7 • B-wing Squadron - B-wing (14)

8 • B-wing Squadron - B-wing (14)

9 • B-wing Squadron - B-wing (14)

Swap B-wings to H-6s and X-wings if you have an Akbar meta.

. . . This makes me want to do something stupid. . .

I want to take an MC80 straight at my opponent. . .

+++ The Suicidal MC80 (393pts) +++

CR90 Corvette A (44pts)

MC80 Command Cruiser (137pts) [boosted Comms (4pts), •General Dodonna (20pts), •Home One (7pts)]

Nebulon-B Support Frigate (65pts) [Projection Experts (6pts), •Redemption (8pts)]

Nebulon-B Support Frigate (57pts) [Projection Experts (6pts)]

+ Squadrons (90pts) +

A-Wing Squadron (11pts)

A-Wing Squadron (11pts)

B-Wing Squadron (14pts)

B-Wing Squadron (14pts)

•Jan Ors (19pts)

•Nym (21pts)

+ Objectives +

Assault Objective [Precision Strike]

Defense Objective [Fire Lanes]

Navigation Objective [superior Positions]