Oh my god! I am so crazy excited for this! You know what you can do with these absolutely amazing upgrades??

Tie/D Allows you to have 3 PS1 Defenders with an Ion Cannon and one with a tracer, Focus with all and Shoot a Tracer at target you want Ioned, Ion and shoot at range 3-2, Hopefully Ion your opponent and scratch their shields, K-turn jump behind them and Ion + Shoot again and walk them to destruction.

I mean, it's what I dreamed of doing since I saw the PS-1 defender and now I can do it!

And then! Then you have the Tie Shuttle. Now my friends, you might be thinking "Why do I want this silly thing?"

I'LL TELL YOU WHY!

At 18 points you can have a Tactician bomber. Add that to a Bomber with Ion Pulse missiles and you now have a 21 point stress/ion at range 2! OR a really cheap but squishy holder of Kallus and Rebel Captive at 20 points (I've been playing Kallus with my imperial lists, he's a god-send against stress tactics)

Unfortunately, the shuttle loses all its ordnance. So no Tac + Ion

Where he really shines is Jonus. Where you can do something like:

Jonus

-TIE Shuttle

-Intel Agent

-Fleet Officer

Delta Squadron

-TIE D

-Ion Cannon

-Proton Rockets

-Mk 2 Engines

Delta Squadron

-TIE D

-Ion Cannon

-Proton Rockets

-Mk 2 Engines

First swing at a list.

The Long Range Scanners is interesting...

I think the only way to read that is you can get a TL on a ship anywhere on the table, same as the ST-321 title.

THIS! This was the card that made me laugh out loud for joy when I read it ... then pee my pants when I saw it's FREE!

This is what's needed to get generic Bombers/Punishers into the ordnance game.

The problem I'm having with LRS is that it makes you even more reliant on the alpha strike. Once the enemy gets within range 2, you're going to have some serious problems acquiring any more target locks to continue the fight. It's still a valid strategy, don't get me wrong, but it's a little too much towards putting all the eggs in one basket for my tastes.

You can always Focus instead of TL. Besides, lots of ships that can take it don't have more than 2 red dice anyways. It's not like you are really hurting yourself if you take that and some sort of ordnance.

Take it on a Rookie X-wing and you can just Focus each turn after that. It will allow you to get a Torpedo shot in with a Focus and a TL in the alpha, though.

The Long Range Scanners is interesting...

I think the only way to read that is you can get a TL on a ship anywhere on the table, same as the ST-321 title.

I think Arc dodgers be like "Great I know which one to get out of the way". The TL ship will fly off aka Biggs maneuver (although it should be called Wedge maneuver since he left the trench) while the other ones close in at range 1-2 and laugh. Soontir and Vader is going to love this as in love shooting these things down.

Arc dodgers will need to worry a bit more about bombers than they did before. It used to be that a PS2 bomber had to be within range 3 of an ace pilot, who would then activate and get out of arc. Now, the bomber will be guarenteed to pick up that target lock (and have a Focus to go with it) once the ace gets into range. This is huge, especially when packing things like a Homing Missile that lets you keep the target lock and ignore Evade tokens.

Long Range Scanners will be a big improvement for a lot of different ships. You can use it on a Y-wing, as well. That way you can get your TL early and still have a Focus for the shot. Same with anything that has ordnance, really. Works great on ships that are low PS so they can get the TL early.

For those that say that the target ship can just stay at distance....that's OK as you can just concentrate on the other ships.

Long Range Scanners only works if you have BOTH Missile and Torpedo slots. It's not an either/or thing. That restricts it to the K-Wing, Bomber, Punisher, and Slave-I Firesprays.

Long Range Scanners will be a big improvement for a lot of different ships. You can use it on a Y-wing, as well. That way you can get your TL early and still have a Focus for the shot. Same with anything that has ordnance, really.

worth pointing out that the ship only needs to have the ordnance slots, it doesn't actually have to take ordnance.

Also it can't be taken on Y-wings, as it needs BOTH Torpedo and Missile upgrade slots.

EDIT:

Long Range Scanners will be a big improvement for a lot of different ships. You can use it on a Y-wing, as well.

Negative. Y-Wings do not have the missile icon, and can't take Long Range Scanners. The card is only good for Bombers, Punishers, K-Wings, and Slave I .

The problem I'm having with LRS is that it makes you even more reliant on the alpha strike. Once the enemy gets within range 2, you're going to have some serious problems acquiring any more target locks to continue the fight. It's still a valid strategy, don't get me wrong, but it's a little too much towards putting all the eggs in one basket for my tastes.

I think it encourages you to fly past fast in repeated bombing runs instead of getting caught in the furball.

Long Range Scanners will be a big improvement for a lot of different ships. You can use it on a Y-wing, as well. That way you can get your TL early and still have a Focus for the shot. Same with anything that has ordnance, really. Works great on ships that are low PS so they can get the TL early.

For those that say that the target ship can just stay at distance....that's OK as you can just concentrate on the other ships.

5 Scimitars + Long Range Scanners Each + Concussion Missiles Each = 100 points

Painful Alpha Strike, one use only, function fulfilled...!

Delta Squadron

-TIE x7

-Ion Cannon

-Proton Rockets

-Mk 2 Engines

This makes the Tie Defender and Bomber I found still in the package last night while cleaning my office an even better surprise.

I call dibs on the "TOMAX IS ON CRACK" list name.

What is that, once per round when you discard an <EPT> flip that card back up?

So infinite crack unless he smokes two in a round?

THOMAS THE CRACK ENGINE

I'm looking forward to hearing the math on the TIE/D with Ion, especially on ships like Vessary. You're getting a second attack a-la TLT, but only Vessary will be getting a modifier for both attacks. The primary weapon also gives a R3 bonus, which slightly reduces its average damage further.

I think certain pilots may still want to use the HLC (Rexlar) or Mangler (Maarek) and forgo using any title.

Oh boo, no Tact + Ion.

Well, I still think the Bomber will be Imperial's response to control Ywings.

Though, speaking of Ywings, Gold + Long Range Scanners w/Plasma Torps, Dorsal Turret, BTL is a nasty bugger at the same cost as a TLT Ywing.

Gold Squadron Pilot — Y-Wing 18
Dorsal Turret 3
Plasma Torpedoes 3
R2 Astromech 1

BTL-A4 Y-Wing 0

Long-Range Senors 0

Ship Total: 25

times by 4. 100 points of pain!

I call dibs on the "TOMAX IS ON CRACK" list name.

What is that, once per round when you discard an <EPT> flip that card back up?

So infinite crack unless he smokes two in a round?

THOMAS THE CRACK ENGINE

Now Tomax just needs Xamot. The Crimson Guard feels each other's crack pangs.

Though, speaking of Ywings

Can't put it on a Y-Wing, the ship needs both a torpedo and missile slot to equip it.

I'm looking forward to hearing the math on the TIE/D with Ion, especially on ships like Vessary. You're getting a second attack a-la TLT, but only Vessary will be getting a modifier for both attacks. The primary weapon also gives a R3 bonus, which slightly reduces its average damage further.

I think certain pilots may still want to use the HLC (Rexlar) or Mangler (Maarek) and forgo using any title.

Which will put them right back where they already are; on the shelf. I'm a bit leery of either title at the moment. The math on /d may very well work out, as it's basically a better all around Ion Cannon Turret BTL-A4; The primary weapon is better, and the Cannon shot goes out to range 3. I'm not sure what to make of /x7. It's obviously ideal if you can get into the back and forth K-turn circle to get that evade token, but I feel like it's going to be really difficult to use the ability consistently when it'll matter without losing a lot of shooting opportunities, and at that point, I'm not sure a 2 point discount to lose all of your upgrade slots is worth it considering Jousting Value wise the base Defender is, what, 3-4 points over-costed?

The problem I'm having with LRS is that it makes you even more reliant on the alpha strike. Once the enemy gets within range 2, you're going to have some serious problems acquiring any more target locks to continue the fight. It's still a valid strategy, don't get me wrong, but it's a little too much towards putting all the eggs in one basket for my tastes.

I think it encourages you to fly past fast in repeated bombing runs instead of getting caught in the furball.

You make a good point. Another point is how this is a better bump to the TIE Bomber than the Punisher, since the former has a 5-K.

Oh boo, no Tact + Ion.

Well, I still think the Bomber will be Imperial's response to control Ywings.

Though, speaking of Ywings, Gray + Long Range Scanners w/Plasma Torps, Dorsal Turret, BTL is a nasty bugger at the same cost as a TLT Ywing.

As noted above, Y-Wings do not have a missile slot. Based on LRS as currently listed (it specifically says "and" instead of "or"), they can't use it.

I'm more sad about the TIE Shuttle being restricted from using Gunner than I am about Palp. You could probably still get a solid control ship using Mara and Rebel Captive, though.

Super exciting. Steele in the Defender alone pretty much commits me to running some Defenders again. Shame the Mangler Cannon is 4 points though for completely fair reasons. Probably keeps him from the top slot unless he gets a new ability though.

The two titles are amazing. Any time I can stop paying for upgrade slots I'm pretty happy. That you can a sweet bonus on top of that is just... Also means that taking the second shot is 2 points which is probably fair. Ion Defenders sound terrifying for sure.

Bomber is interesting. A bit sad there's nothing here to facilitate bombing, but the crew upgrade goes a long way. Really curious what that 3rd card does. I think it says Imperial Only? Not an EPT based on the order between cannons and bombs. I assume its a crew member cause... well, there's no other crew.

The Long Range Scanners though are the most interesting thing. A bit limited in application, but Slave-1 is a super interesting place for it. Lots of ships that try to joust find themselves at range 3+ when turning around for another pass. This essentially provides something of a free action to enhance each run.

What about the covered Tie Bomber? IS that Deathrain? If we are going by that, he would have the same ability right?

I doubt it. If it were Deathrain, he should have the same pilot skill (6 instead of 3).

Nu-Maarek's card text is the same as TIE Advanced Maarek.

This new "Death..." guy's card text is NOT the same as Deathrain.

There's also Thomas the Focus Engine: Thomas with Fleet Officer and Cool Hand, getting 3 focus tokens on 3 different ships (or 2 focus 1 evade)!

I also don't see a limit on the sum of points for crew, so I think you can take Fleet Officer and Mara Jade for maximum buff/debuff combo.

Also, Thomas can have a white 5-K. 'nuff said!

I'm looking forward to hearing the math on the TIE/D with Ion, especially on ships like Vessary. You're getting a second attack a-la TLT, but only Vessary will be getting a modifier for both attacks. The primary weapon also gives a R3 bonus, which slightly reduces its average damage further.

I think certain pilots may still want to use the HLC (Rexlar) or Mangler (Maarek) and forgo using any title.

Which will put them right back where they already are; on the shelf. I'm a bit leery of either title at the moment. The math on /d may very well work out, as it's basically a better all around Ion Cannon Turret BTL-A4; The primary weapon is better, and the Cannon shot goes out to range 3. I'm not sure what to make of /x7. It's obviously ideal if you can get into the back and forth K-turn circle to get that evade token, but I feel like it's going to be really difficult to use the ability consistently when it'll matter without losing a lot of shooting opportunities, and at that point, I'm not sure a 2 point discount to lose all of your upgrade slots is worth it considering Jousting Value wise the base Defender is, what, 3-4 points over-costed?

I wouldn't say its that bad. The White-K reduces a lot of what makes jousters a problem; its just always been paying for that HLC shot while also paying for a 3 red primary. -2 seems a fair reduction. 28 points for 3/3/3/3 and a solid dial seem pretty good to me.

I'm looking forward to hearing the math on the TIE/D with Ion, especially on ships like Vessary. You're getting a second attack a-la TLT, but only Vessary will be getting a modifier for both attacks. The primary weapon also gives a R3 bonus, which slightly reduces its average damage further.

I think certain pilots may still want to use the HLC (Rexlar) or Mangler (Maarek) and forgo using any title.

Which will put them right back where they already are; on the shelf. I'm a bit leery of either title at the moment. The math on /d may very well work out, as it's basically a better all around Ion Cannon Turret BTL-A4; The primary weapon is better, and the Cannon shot goes out to range 3. I'm not sure what to make of /x7. It's obviously ideal if you can get into the back and forth K-turn circle to get that evade token, but I feel like it's going to be really difficult to use the ability consistently when it'll matter without losing a lot of shooting opportunities, and at that point, I'm not sure a 2 point discount to lose all of your upgrade slots is worth it considering Jousting Value wise the base Defender is, what, 3-4 points over-costed?

The x7 title is a price decrease to naked ships that also gives you a free Evade token when doing any speed 3, 4 or 5 maneuver. That includes your white hard 3, as well as that 4K. That even gives it good value for Rexlar, as it lets him keep at least one token on defense after attacking. Rexlar with Predator and the x7 title is 38 points, and should have both focus and evade tokens as long as he keeps his speed up. Alternately, he could run PTL and MkII engines for 39 points, which will give him a lot of maneuverability.

I love the idea of Captain Jonus with a Rebel Captive. And/or Ysanne Isard. Though both is probably a tad too pricey...

Super exciting. Steele in the Defender alone pretty much commits me to running some Defenders again. Shame the Mangler Cannon is 4 points though for completely fair reasons. Probably keeps him from the top slot unless he gets a new ability though.

Good point. I didn't think about the fact that neither title will let him have the "Mangler." So, is the "Mangler" good enough on him without either of these titles? I'm not sure.

Jonus in the shuttle with Fleet Officer is the best support ship in the game.

Pair him with two Tie Defenders with Ion and the title and you have a very dangerous jousting squad.