This does, however, usher in the final death of the interceptor.

True. The x7 makes the defender a far more durable machine, and the ability to play far more aggressively than the interceptor.2 evade tokens + 3 evade dice on 6HP already gives it better defense than standard Soontir, with 4 evades (which will be down to 3 the moment he gets hit), 1 token on a measly 3HP.

Vessery gives it 3 actions, same as Soontir with PTL, but in this case, Rexler is much more resistant to stress. He just loses his extra evade token either via green maneuver or losing his action. The moment Soontir gets hit with double-stress tokens, he's pretty much dead.

Soontir might fill the niche of arc dodging, but in this world of TLTs, PWTs and auxiliary arcs, even that's losing its value rapidly.

No, it does not. Autothrusters are still a thing. And the Defender flies very, very differently than an Interceptor. The Interceptor is also pretty much the poster child for PTL.

How are you getting 2 evade tokens? The Defender does not have the Evade action.

I do like the X7 for a nice budget 38 pt Rexlar with Predator.

I always wanted to try Rex with Lone Wolf. Never got the chance. Have any Rex Lovers noticed a big difference?

I'm personally in love with the Lonewolf EPT, so around here, Rex with X7 and Lonewolf will be a thing!

The thing with Lonewolf is that it needs some planning. A Barrel roll or Boost here and there (and not just from the pilot with Lonewolf) to make sure that you keep your Lonewolf benefit. It's definetly not for everybody, I have some friends that hate that EPT, but when played right, it is highly rewarding. But if you prefer to go the safe road, Predator is better. Added benefit that you can roll the eyeball and get 2 reroll vs PS1-2 (effective when going against TLTs Y-Wing or BBBBZ, swarms these days prefer to go at PS3 to counter TLTs). My personal opinion: if you're in a 3- ship team, go with Lonewolf; in a 4+ team, you'll get more milleage with Predator.

I usually play Rex with LoneWolf but now with the X7 Title he is so much cheaper and durable that after one game of X7 Lone I switched over to X7 Predator. The X7 title is an evade token, not an action, and therefore much much more powerful. I played one game of Rex, X7 Predator vs Fel with full upgrades and after 4 range 1 shots with focus I lost 1 shield, total. Focus+Evade+3 evade dice is so powerful! I had another game in which Rex with X7 with Predator had to fight against an E-Wing and T-70 (Ethan and Poe) and again there was no issue with lack of defenses.

Yeah, when you only get shot at once per turn it is great.

Autothrusters and Stealth Device can potentially provide their benefit against 3+ shots every turn for a whole game.

For the price of a Delta, you can have a fully loaded PS6 Royal Guard Pilot rolling 4 defense die until he takes a hit and getting 1 free evasion off blank results at range 3.

And they all have boost and barrel roll.

There is a reason people field 3 Interceptor lists despite them having only 3 hull per ship. Those 3 hull last a long ass time when you can avoid firing arcs constantly.

The list I'm thinking of is:

Col Vessery - VI, Tractor Beam, Mk II, TIE/D

Rex Brath - Juke, Mk II, TIE/x7

Cutlass Punisher - Accuracy Correctors and Long Range Scanners

Having both Vess and Brath on the same PS level means that, if the Cutlass can't grab a target lock for Vess then Brath can for him and still use it himself whereas Vess can try to soften up a target for Rex so maybe he can save a focus for his ability, especially if he has an evade on him. The Cutlass doesn't need modifiers, so he almost just acts as a sweeping B-Wing rather than a knife-fighting B-Wing.

Yeah, when you only get shot at once per turn it is great.

Autothrusters and Stealth Device can potentially provide their benefit against 3+ shots every turn for a whole game.

For the price of a Delta, you can have a fully loaded PS6 Royal Guard Pilot rolling 4 defense die until he takes a hit and getting 1 free evasion off blank results at range 3.

And they all have boost and barrel roll.

There is a reason people field 3 Interceptor lists despite them having only 3 hull per ship. Those 3 hull last a long ass time when you can avoid firing arcs constantly.

They also rely entirely on their actions to avoid (boost/barrell roll) or mitigate (tokens) damage. That only works if the don't take extra stress, and never have below average luck.

Don't get me wrong, they're good, but you make it sound like they are head and shoulders above everything else, and I don't really think they are. The X7 title gives the Defender 1 evade per turn assuming the movement 3+. Stressed? Bumped? Doesn't matter. With the Agility 3 and 6 hit points, it can afford to get unlucky and not be crippled.

The Defender is more resilient to circumstance, while the Interceptor is a slave to it, and I think that will be the biggest deciding factor on what you take, and what works for you.

so the sky is falling. once again.

*sigh*

How many skies is that this week? Three? Four? Ah well.

good that we have 'em in spares

Rexler Brath — TIE Defender 37

Push the Limit 3

Twin Ion Engine Mk. II 1

TIE/x7 -2

Ship Total: 39

Colonel Vessery — TIE Defender 35

Ruthlessness 3

Ion Cannon 3

Stealth Device 3

TIE/D 0

Ship Total: 44

Scimitar Squadron Pilot — TIE Bomber 16

Long-Range Scanners 0

Ship Total: 16

Came up with this last night a variation in DD, bomber cruises around the edge TLing for vessery late game can potentially close in to Finnish something, rex hits first clearing defence tokens then vessery ions the weaker target and can do up to six damage with ruthlessness.

Really excited about both titles (really excited for the entire expansion honestly) but I'm having the hardest dang time coming up with a list. It used to be easy! I slapped HLC on both Vess and Rex and kitted them out to the nines. TIE/x7 and TIE/D don't really work with that at all! So frankly screw that, I'm going first:

It really shows how few people gave the defender a chance with all the folks talking about the evade action.

Actually, I like flying my Defender, but I did think it had Evade. Never tried in combat, though, but I just figured it did and I never used it.

wow....I just thought about:

Rexlar w/ Stealth Device, /x7 title, and Lone Wolf

I have no idea what else I'd fly with it, but that could be one resilient ship!

A double tapping Maarek may finally make marksmanship worth the points, as it will mod both his attacks.

I'm not sure I understand it. Is it because it's like a Focus for every shot in that turn? Or is it because you can turn two things to a critical? Because if it's the 2nd thing, there is no cannon that allows you to critically hit anything that works with the /D title.

It really shows how few people gave the defender a chance with all the folks talking about the evade action.

Actually, I like flying my Defender, but I did think it had Evade. Never tried in combat, though, but I just figured it did and I never used it.

wow....I just thought about:

Rexlar w/ Stealth Device, /x7 title, and Lone Wolf

I have no idea what else I'd fly with it, but that could be one resilient ship!

A double tapping Maarek may finally make marksmanship worth the points, as it will mod both his attacks.

I'm not sure I understand it. Is it because it's like a Focus for every shot in that turn? Or is it because you can turn two things to a critical? Because if it's the 2nd thing, there is no cannon that allows you to critically hit anything that works with the /D title.

Yeah, it's not TL and Focus but it's basically Rec Spec when you have two shots. Some Corran builds use Marksmanship too for similar reasons, and cluster missiles work too. TLT is usually on EPT-less pilots and cancels results anyway so it's not even a consideration. Marksmanship sucks on anything that is just shooting once.

Just because the cannon Maarek is sporting won't crit, it isn't necessarily a reason to not take Marksmanship. That second shot has a good chance of landing a crit, even better if someone throws him a TL.

Of course most folks are too hung up on the PS bid not to give PS7 pilots VI.

And don't forget, we still don't even know what Countess Ryad's special ability is yet.

And don't forget, we still don't even know what Countess Ryad's special ability is yet.

Though I do have to wonder, thematically, why she's less skilled than her own generic squad members.

Because money doesn't buy skill. It does buy pilots with skill though.

And don't forget, we still don't even know what Countess Ryad's special ability is yet.

Though I do have to wonder, thematically, why she's less skilled than her own generic squad members.

The Dilbert Principle?

And don't forget, we still don't even know what Countess Ryad's special ability is yet.

Though I do have to wonder, thematically, why she's less skilled than her own generic squad members.

Why would you have to be the better pilot to be the squad leader?

And don't forget, we still don't even know what Countess Ryad's special ability is yet.

Though I do have to wonder, thematically, why she's less skilled than her own generic squad members.

Why would you have to be the better pilot to be the squad leader?

Meh, just usually you get to be squad leader by being really really good. I don't know the character at all, if they are one of those people from the EU. It was just idle thought really.

Why would you have to be the better pilot to be the squad leader?

Well, one assumes that, in a military structure, one is promoted based on merit.

Now, obviously, with a Countess, that may not be the case. She may simply be using her political influence to get herself Defenders, and superior pilots to fly them.

Meh, just usually you get to be squad leader by being really really good. I don't know the character at all, if they are one of those people from the EU. It was just idle thought really.

Come to think of it, Garven Dreis (Red Leader) is only PS6, lower than his squadmates Porkins, Luke, and Wedge.

Why would you have to be the better pilot to be the squad leader?

Well, one assumes that, in a military structure, one is promoted based on merit.

Now, obviously, with a Countess, that may not be the case. She may simply be using her political influence to get herself Defenders, and superior pilots to fly them.

merit with regards to what, though?

higher personal ability doesn't necessarily translate to leadership skills

also digging the Dilbert Principle

higher personal ability doesn't necessarily translate to leadership skills

True, but I don't really consider squadron leaders to be actual leaders. Fighter squadrons get their orders from their command ships. Their leaders are the officers on those ships.

higher personal ability doesn't necessarily translate to leadership skills

True, but I don't really consider squadron leaders to be actual leaders. Fighter squadrons get their orders from their command ships. Their leaders are the officers on those ships.

Tell that to the Squadron Leaders of WW1 and 2, for instance.

Tell that to the Squadron Leaders of WW1 and 2, for instance.

Yes...I'll tell that to the pilots who didn't possess the technology to communicate with their command ships...