With the recent updates on bombers and additional upgrade cards for ordnances: Are we going to see an alpha strike meta?

I see squad lists combining TIE bomber shuttles with fleet officers, Captain Jonus, some long-range scanners, maybe bombs, punishers

Are we going to see at least one ordnance ship in some squads, or whole lists based on alpha strikes. Could be problematic for ace pilots. But very interesting

No, I don't think we're going to see an Alpha Strike meta.

I think we're going to see a catplay meta. Placement, who catches who, who's playing with who...

It's about (not) getting caught. Or it soon will be. The Empire is about to give everybody else an extremely bad time.

Especially Rebels.

No this isn't battletech.

I wouldn't rule it out, but I doubt we'll see a meta dominated by ordnance lists. Not with what we've seen so far. But LRS could bring us significantly closer to viability. It is a solid fix for one of the classic ordnance problems - acquiring a TL for your shot/ bad action economy because you spend your action for the privilege of shooting the torpedo.

No, unless that Sys[tems?] Of[ficer?] upgrade is a great ordnance buff. What we've seen so far still doesn't make ordnance efficient enough for competitive play. Bombers may become useful support ships with the TIE Shuttle title, but I don't see this expansion being a game-changer in this respect.

y-wings with tlt are already good.. throw the targeting computer (is that its name?) and a torpedo on it and?

big fat nope

even the awesomeness of Crackshot + Homing missiles is dampened by the bombers' fragile profile

Guidance Chip/Chimps may help, if free

either way, needs testing

I wouldn't rule it out, but I doubt we'll see a meta dominated by ordnance lists. Not with what we've seen so far. But LRS could bring us significantly closer to viability. It is a solid fix for one of the classic ordnance problems - acquiring a TL for your shot/ bad action economy because you spend your action for the privilege of shooting the torpedo.

I can't see how this is a fix at all. The chances of the ship you acquired a target lock actually being in your arc N turns later when the engagement actually happens are low, especially in >100 point games. I also disagree that the problem with ordnance was bad action economy -- push the limit has been ubiquitous since wave 2, but we still don't see ordnance.

This helps a bit in epic where one can target epic ships from a ways out, and it helps against 2 ship lists -- but 2 ship lists are probably not so common anymore since the big-ship nerf.

I'm thinking this upgrade might synergize with an as yet unrevealed upgrade. We'll see.

I wouldn't rule it out, but I doubt we'll see a meta dominated by ordnance lists. Not with what we've seen so far. But LRS could bring us significantly closer to viability. It is a solid fix for one of the classic ordnance problems - acquiring a TL for your shot/ bad action economy because you spend your action for the privilege of shooting the torpedo.

I can't see how this is a fix at all. The chances of the ship you acquired a target lock actually being in your arc N turns later when the engagement actually happens are low, especially in >100 point games. I also disagree that the problem with ordnance was bad action economy -- push the limit has been ubiquitous since wave 2, but we still don't see ordnance.

This helps a bit in epic where one can target epic ships from a ways out, and it helps against 2 ship lists -- but 2 ship lists are probably not so common anymore since the big-ship nerf.

I'm thinking this upgrade might synergize with an as yet unrevealed upgrade. We'll see.

If you're implying that players will take pains to fly ships away from parts of the table where my ship(s) will be pointing the next turn, I'd say that may be a better effect than having a free TL going into the first pass. If I can have that degree of area denial, I'll take LRS any day.

The only time an Alpha strike meta was valid was rebels against the TIE swarm back in the first wave. Proton torpedoes had the capability to eliminate TIE Fighters whole sale with a single shot. Also the Rookie Pilot's skill over Academy Pilots made it possible that 4 X-wings can kill off up to half a TIE swarm in the first Volley.

Now we got Arc Dodger and ships that can survive a 4 dice attack with little problem. There is no damage race joust in the meta and even if there were I doubt that this would help the damage race.

No, unless that Sys[tems?] Of[ficer?] upgrade is a great ordnance buff. What we've seen so far still doesn't make ordnance efficient enough for competitive play. Bombers may become useful support ships with the TIE Shuttle title, but I don't see this expansion being a game-changer in this respect.

No, unless that Sys[tems?] Of[ficer?] upgrade is a great ordnance buff. What we've seen so far still doesn't make ordnance efficient enough for competitive play. Bombers may become useful support ships with the TIE Shuttle title, but I don't see this expansion being a game-changer in this respect.

Hate to say this but it's (Syn... Of...) so I don't think it is an ordnance buff.

hopefully something for the Tie Shuttle, which is a bit of an anomaly at this point outside of Fleet Offier + int agent

Now we got Arc Dodger and ships that can survive a 4 dice attack with little problem. There is no damage race joust in the meta and even if there were I doubt that this would help the damage race.

yes and no

Aggressors won't care as much due to 8 health, but crackshot homing missiles on full mods (some 90% chance of full hits) are punching through 2 damage minimum on 3 agility

that's no range 3 bonus, no evade, and -1 evade result from crackshot

any small ship is going to be hurting

Do we want one?

No, unless that Sys[tems?] Of[ficer?] upgrade is a great ordnance buff. What we've seen so far still doesn't make ordnance efficient enough for competitive play. Bombers may become useful support ships with the TIE Shuttle title, but I don't see this expansion being a game-changer in this respect.

Hate to say this but it's (Syn... Of...) so I don't think it is an ordnance buff.

Look the picture has even got a little dude at a a keyboard. You know how bureaucratic the empire is!

Gamma Squadron Veteran with Homing Missiles, Long Range Scanners, and Crack Shot is 25 points.

Four of those is pretty scary. They don't have a lot of bite after taking their shots, but that initial salvo could take out half or more of a lot of lists.

No, I don't think we're going to see an Alpha Strike meta.

I think we're going to see a catplay meta. Placement, who catches who, who's playing with who...

It's about (not) getting caught. Or it soon will be. The Empire is about to give everybody else an extremely bad time.

Especially Rebels.

IF it's going to make life of "I crap out 2-3 actions per turn" aces miserable it's epic.

Hopefullly you're right.

I'm actually hoping so. Both from Defenders and Long Range Scanners on various ships. Slave I actually becomes an interesting title that makes the Firespray play differently or at least make their action economy change. Bombers actually look like a cool option! K-Wings become more than just a ship to buy for TLT's! The TIE Punisher becomes terrifying with Fire Control System!

I'm actually hoping so. Both from Defenders and Long Range Scanners on various ships. Slave I actually becomes an interesting title that makes the Firespray play differently or at least make their action economy change. Bombers actually look like a cool option! K-Wings become more than just a ship to buy for TLT's! The TIE Punisher becomes terrifying with Fire Control System!

But FCS will not work on Punisher with the mod.

it forbids you to take TLs on range smaller than 3, doesn't it?

So it's a double-sided blade

No this isn't battletech.

You speak out of my heart.

With the recent updates on bombers and additional upgrade cards for ordnances: Are we going to see an alpha strike meta?

I see squad lists combining TIE bomber shuttles with fleet officers, Captain Jonus, some long-range scanners, maybe bombs, punishers

Are we going to see at least one ordnance ship in some squads, or whole lists based on alpha strikes. Could be problematic for ace pilots. But very interesting

Also, Captain Kagi is sat in a corner laughing like a drain. Finally...relevance....

I think there will be an alpha strike meta. 4 PS4 bombers with Homing Missiles, Extra Munitions, and Long Range Sensors is 100 points. Alternatively, Concussion Missiles + Proton Rockets (there's a million combos to think about).

This squad will tear a 4xTLT squad to bits, and will cause real concern to a huge number of other lists. I think it's the Imperial quad TLT list. Not umbeatable, but something everyone needs to think about for competitive lists.

No this isn't battletech.

Seriously, though. If that game was as streamlined as this one I'd play it all day.

Biggs ever has been and still is a hard counter to bomber lists.

All Bombers logged Biggs? No problem - just leave him out of range.

All Bombers logged not Biggs - bingo: here we are again.

And Kagi finally has a role.

Biggs ever has been and still is a hard counter to bomber lists.

All Bombers logged Biggs? No problem - just leave him out of range.

All Bombers logged not Biggs - bingo: here we are again.

And Kagi finally has a role.

You could lock 2 on Biggs and 2 on others, or reźlock if Biggs was left out.