Hello!

I was fortunate to try out the new Tie X7 Title card against two very good players last night. We all agree that the title is much more powerful than it appears on paper.

The cost reduction allows for previously impossible lists: Rexler+Vessery+Palp Shuttle or Rexler+Vessery+Delta Tie Defender

The action economy is amazing! Rexler with Predator and Tie X7 can easily get an evade+re-rolls when stressed. Vessery can have evade+target lock when stressed/bumped as long as the opponent ship is targeted.

The Tie X7 title makes the flimsy Tie Defender be able to hold their own under literally any situation. I the loss of the HLC/Ion Cannon was astonishingly completely unnoticeable: the overall list firepower is much higher because the ships are cheaper and they survive much, much longer on the field!

FFG have done a fantastic job with this upgrade pack! The Tie X7 Title is for fans of the original Tie Fighter computer game where the T/D did not have all that much power but really high speed and excellent defenses!

IIRC, T-D in Tie Fighter was so OP that it was funny Especially when you put a tractor beam on it.

Hello!

FFG have done a fantastic job with this upgrade pack! The Tie X7 Title is for fans of the original Tie Fighter computer game where the T/D did not have all that much power but really high speed and excellent defenses!

I for one am very happy with this report!

So glad to hear your initial tests went well! I can't wait to get these updated ships on the table to see what they can do!

What did you play against? Did you concentrate your ships or spread out? I'm curolious about how the x7 version flies.

What did you play against? Did you concentrate your ships or spread out? I'm curolious about how the x7 version flies.

In my first game, I flew against Stress Y-Wing with TLT, Jake with Vi and Proton Rockets and Miranda with TLT and the regenerate droid (forgot the name). I had Rex, Lone Wolf, Ves with VI both with the X7 title and Palp Shutle. My opponent was the winner of the Northern California Regionals but we were playing a casual game and we were not taking it too seriously.

We deployed in opposite corners with one list moving down the board and the other up the board. My palp-mobile ran for it at full speed so the opponent doesn't catch up to it from behind. The two upgraded Tie Defender aces moved in to engage the enemy. Rexler came in hot but b-rolled away from the fight, took some TLT from Miranda but no stress. Next turn, Vessery took 3 stress while Rex K-Turned behind the stress Y-Wing and did a target lock. In the decisive turn, Rex did a 3 bank for Evade+Focus towards the fight, while Vessery K-Turned onto a debrie field, and with 4 stress demolished the Y-Wing with Targetlock+Evade. The palp mobile swooped in and used the die modification to blast Miranda. The entire time Jake did nothing due to a bump and an overshoot of the palp-mobile. At this point my opponent had enough and called it quits.

In my second game I got to play against Stress Y, Poe with Focus Repair Droid (again forgetting the name) and Ethan with R2-D2 in an E-Wing. My opponent was also a strong player (3rd regional, 5+ local tournament wins) but also took it easy on me and it was a casual game (both guys know how much I love Tie Defenders). Long story short, I replaced the palp-mobile for a Delta X7 and Lone Wolf for Predator. The 3 Tie Defenders entered the densest debris field i have seen in my life, all 6 asteroids/debris in double row range 1 from each other. I didn't focus the stress Y-Wing but instead tried to trap Ethan and then Poe, which earned no damage on either ship but I got 4 stress on Rex and Ves, each!!! (I was turning into the debris field without a care). Ves went down, but I finally took down the Y-Wing. Then decided to have fun and had Rex travel the map, from one corner to the end and back to clear the 4 stress while the poor Delta was used as bait, hit a rock and was shot down by Poe and Ethan...

... In the spirit of having fun, Rex screamed into the fight, finally stress clear only to be shot by Poe. Ethan turned around an asteroid to have me in range 1 of my next K-Turn but I pulled a surprise 1 bank, causing Poe to bump behind me and get a range 1 shot on Ethan. I then K-Turned against both ships and traded shots, K-Turned but couldn't roll behind Ethan but then caught the E-Wing at range 1 and blasted it to pieces. After 15+ turns of gameplay Rexler X7 with predator (no Lone Wolf and no Hull or Shield Upgrade) was down to 3hull and 2shield, remaining...

... but it wasn't over yet, we did a 1vs1vs1 Poe with Repair Droid and Tech for Targeting, Fel with Push, Auto and Stealth Device and Rex with Predator (on purpose, to see if he could survive, X7 and Shield Upgrade). After about 12+ turns of combat and many many range 1 shots from everywhere: Fel had 0 damage, Poe took a lot of damage but was back at full heath, Rex lost 1 shield (that after being shot 5+ times at range 1). Focus+Evade+3 Defense dice, even without Lone Wolf is boss!

I think the X7 vs the D titles come down to which computer game people have played. In the original Tie Fighter, the Defender had no real extra firepower but great defenses and the ability to soak damage while setting up perfect shots. In later games, the Defender wasn't so durable, but could fire the Ion Cannon and Quad Laser Cannon at the same time. I am really pleased how FFG was able to give something to both camps! One title for people that wanted extra durability + more named pilots in the same list and one title for the extra control, damage and the ability to split fire. Superb work FFG, the Emperor will pleased!!!!!

Awesome, thanks for the details. I haven't had a chance to try this stuff out yet.

Awesome, thanks for the details. I haven't had a chance to try this stuff out yet.

I think you are going to love it! And if not, there is always the T/D Title :-p

What did you play against? Did you concentrate your ships or spread out? I'm curolious about how the x7 version flies.

In my first game, I flew against Stress Y-Wing with TLT, Jake with Vi and Proton Rockets and Miranda with TLT and the regenerate droid (forgot the name). I had Rex, Lone Wolf, Ves with VI both with the X7 title and Palp Shutle. My opponent was the winner of the Northern California Regionals but we were playing a casual game and we were not taking it too seriously.

We deployed in opposite corners with one list moving down the board and the other up the board. My palp-mobile ran for it at full speed so the opponent doesn't catch up to it from behind. The two upgraded Tie Defender aces moved in to engage the enemy. Rexler came in hot but b-rolled away from the fight, took some TLT from Miranda but no stress. Next turn, Vessery took 3 stress while Rex K-Turned behind the stress Y-Wing and did a target lock. In the decisive turn, Rex did a 3 bank for Evade+Focus towards the fight, while Vessery K-Turned onto a debrie field, and with 4 stress demolished the Y-Wing with Targetlock+Evade. The palp mobile swooped in and used the die modification to blast Miranda. The entire time Jake did nothing due to a bump and an overshoot of the palp-mobile. At this point my opponent had enough and called it quits.

In my second game I got to play against Stress Y, Poe with Focus Repair Droid (again forgetting the name) and Ethan with R2-D2 in an E-Wing. My opponent was also a strong player (3rd regional, 5+ local tournament wins) but also took it easy on me and it was a casual game (both guys know how much I love Tie Defenders). Long story short, I replaced the palp-mobile for a Delta X7 and Lone Wolf for Predator. The 3 Tie Defenders entered the densest debris field i have seen in my life, all 6 asteroids/debris in double row range 1 from each other. I didn't focus the stress Y-Wing but instead tried to trap Ethan and then Poe, which earned no damage on either ship but I got 4 stress on Rex and Ves, each!!! (I was turning into the debris field without a care). Ves went down, but I finally took down the Y-Wing. Then decided to have fun and had Rex travel the map, from one corner to the end and back to clear the 4 stress while the poor Delta was used as bait, hit a rock and was shot down by Poe and Ethan...

... In the spirit of having fun, Rex screamed into the fight, finally stress clear only to be shot by Poe. Ethan turned around an asteroid to have me in range 1 of my next K-Turn but I pulled a surprise 1 bank, causing Poe to bump behind me and get a range 1 shot on Ethan. I then K-Turned against both ships and traded shots, K-Turned but couldn't roll behind Ethan but then caught the E-Wing at range 1 and blasted it to pieces. After 15+ turns of gameplay Rexler X7 with predator (no Lone Wolf and no Hull or Shield Upgrade) was down to 3hull and 2shield, remaining...

... but it wasn't over yet, we did a 1vs1vs1 Poe with Repair Droid and Tech for Targeting, Fel with Push, Auto and Stealth Device and Rex with Predator (on purpose, to see if he could survive, X7 and Shield Upgrade). After about 12+ turns of combat and many many range 1 shots from everywhere: Fel had 0 damage, Poe took a lot of damage but was back at full heath, Rex lost 1 shield (that after being shot 5+ times at range 1). Focus+Evade+3 Defense dice, even without Lone Wolf is boss!

I think the X7 vs the D titles come down to which computer game people have played. In the original Tie Fighter, the Defender had no real extra firepower but great defenses and the ability to soak damage while setting up perfect shots. In later games, the Defender wasn't so durable, but could fire the Ion Cannon and Quad Laser Cannon at the same time. I am really pleased how FFG was able to give something to both camps! One title for people that wanted extra durability + more named pilots in the same list and one title for the extra control, damage and the ability to split fire. Superb work FFG, the Emperor will pleased!!!!!

Great reports! Funny how I know exactly the guys you played. Tough opponents for sure and really shows how good the x7 title is. I personally am partial to Vess with the T/D with a couple Deltas with the T/x7. The Onyx may see the light of day these days since they can PS kill a Stress Y-wing.

Overall, just super excited about the titles.

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Great reports! Funny how I know exactly the guys you played. Tough opponents for sure and really shows how good the x7 title is. I personally am partial to Vess with the T/D with a couple Deltas with the T/x7. The Onyx may see the light of day these days since they can PS kill a Stress Y-wing.

Overall, just super excited about the titles.

Thanks! I am really excited that FFG listened and gave us not 1 but 2 new Tie Defender titles!

I think the Onyx is going to suffer from competition with the new named and generic lvl 6 pilots. On the flip side, having a lvl 1 Tie Defender is just wrong from a story/fluff point of view!

The T/D title worries me, because I have encountered players that purposely blow up Ves on the INITIAL first pass, consistently, game after game. The X7 title just puts an end to that.

I'm also glad that the titles keep the Defenders unique and not make it "easy" to fly. They either go FAST FAST FAST or hit HARD HARD HARD. I love that part.

yeah, though the level 6 pilots are still what, 1-3 points more expensive? that could affect whether you can fit 2 of them in a list or not. Plus, usually you're tempted to take an EPT (assuming they have one), making them more expensive. There's actually a place for the Onyx, which is interesting, because most of the time the mid-tier generics have no place. And yes, having a defender PS-killed by a Bandit Z95 is just ridiculous...

Oh yes, Vessery needs to be protected like a treasure AND you need escorts (or other aces) that will punish the opponent for going after Vessery. X7 definitely makes him live forever, but the T/D, if flown more defensively, will just wreck house.

The D in Tie/D stands for...umm...dass cannon...dat ass cannon! Yeah, that's the one

it turns you into a high damage but fragile priority target (the dat ass effect)

havn't tested them yet (very excited, though!) but I am "worried" sort of for the surviability of the Tie/D. While the double-tap offensive output with ion cannons are obviously incredibly powerful, they get blow up right quick!

then again, I flew Long Range Scanner Bombers w/Homing Missiles against them...probably not a fair fight

incidentally, Long Range Scanner Bombers w/Homing Missiles are worth looking forward to

Honestly, I think massive missile alpha is going to be one of the toughest match ups for TIE/Ds. The old HLC variety was in a damage race against most lists, you put out massive damage and aimed to mow stuff down until you acquired positional advantage with the white K-turn. That even with 1-2 hit points left you were at a big advantage. You took the majority of your damage early. Ion TIE/D, in my limited experience thus far, does a little less first turn damage, but reaches the positional advantage sooner because of the control element Ion brings. The LRS missile alpha does so much early damage, and it does the worst kind of damage for Defenders, lots of dice in one roll that push a lot of damage past AGI.

Did you use the 4x Gamma Vets with LRS, Homing, and Crack Shot?

I think a Defender with a Focus can expect to die two 2 shots (assuming Crack Shot is spent), but slightly good dice or a Hull Upgrade and a Focus token can push it to 3, so the rest of the list needs to be able to handle another Homing Missile and 4 naked Bombers. Not impossible, but tough. I genuinely think the Missile Alpha is going to be the imperial equivalent if 4xTLT.

I ran

Omega Leader (Juke, Relay) [because hell yeah!] - 26

2 Scimitar (Homing, Seismic, Munitions, LRS) - 50

Scimitar (Concussion, Seismic, Munitions, LRS) - 24

my opponent did a great job abusing LRS mechanics by dashing into range 1 after slow rolling to deny range 3, but he ran into the minor problems of

1. Omega Leader not giving a ****
2. Fully modded range 1 Bombers not giving a ****
3. Mr. Concussion at the back of the formation being at range 2 regardless
4. Seismic Charges making life really difficult for boost-less ships

Granted, LRS did have a pretty major flaw in that one of the K-turning bombers had a hell of a time getting another TL all game because he had to joust, but he eventually closed out the game with a homing missile

It's a great mod for those full mods on elusive targets; kind of a ***** for jousting

I whole heartedly agree with everything you've said BobbyM, it's an amazing job that FFG have done to bring the TIE Defender into balance. I was able to have a game with my son (albeit probably not as good as the players you fought however) and ran two TIE Defenders with the title escorting Deathrain and it certainly increased their survivability considerably. Essentially the free action turns out to be exactly what they're missing in order to truly shine and I'm looking forward to some new play testing.

Those lists you've mentioned are certainly interesting on paper and I'm keen to try them out.

Thanks for posting!

Awesome, thanks for the details. I haven't had a chance to try this stuff out yet.

I think you are going to love it! And if not, there is always the T/D Title :-p

I can attest to the Tie/D being extremely powerful. Being able to Ionize ships while still dealing damage is tremendous.

Currently I've had 3 games against my brother who let me proxy the TIE/D title. I believe I ran Rex with Predator, Ion Cannon and Twin Ion Engine, Vessery with Veteran Instincts and Flechette Cannon and Dark Curse with Targeting computer.

This is mainly about the defenders, but I have to say really quick that Dark Curse is ridiculously hard to kill.

But Rex ionizing and then Vessery stressing on top of primary weapon shots from both?!

I can't wait for the pack to come out.

I find running a tractor beam and two ions, with mkii engines for everyone is pretty deadly. Making an ace or large ship drop an agility lets the others pill damage on even with unmodified dice.

Did you use the 4x Gamma Vets with LRS, Homing, and Crack Shot?

Woah.....I never thought of that one. I like it! Wow...PS 5 and getting the TL early. Using Crackshot, too? So good.

While I really like using my Seismic Charges, having Crackshot and going before TLT's will be good.

Oh.....no Extra Munitions! I've used the Bombers before EM and it will be hard to go back. Yes, it can work, but once you shoot your load, it's rough.

You can reasonably sub out a Gamma Vet and stuff for Scimitar Shuttle + Vader. You save 6 points that you then pump into Extra Munitions, and you have the Doom Bomber to finish off wounded stuff.