In terms of Adaptability and the articles assumption that "Accordingly, it is bound to make appearances nearly everywhere" is quite misleading, in the recent (and less recent) past, the only pilot I can think of that sees regular table time that has an EPT and Doesn’t already use it was Howlrunner and TBH she's typically rocking a crackshot or swarm tactics these days anyway.

Sorry to sound pessimistic but I suspect that they have severely overestimated the viability of Adaptability in consuming the very high opportunity cost of the EPT slot, even for a cool ability at 0 squad points.

Ya, unless the Dual upgrade mechanic has some phenomenal bonus to it, I don't know if it will see much use.

I've already got built one list using it and can see other places where it would come in handy.

Saying adaptibilty isn't worth it is like saying VI isn't worth it and that's alraady the most used ept.

Adaptibilty is just flat out better being free and providing higher and lower ps builds.

It's likely some type of flip option at the start of a round since it's pointless creating a ruleset just because they didn't want two seperate epts.

so can you push somebody off the board?

In terms of Adaptability and the articles assumption that "Accordingly, it is bound to make appearances nearly everywhere" is quite misleading, in the recent (and less recent) past, the only pilot I can think of that sees regular table time that has an EPT and Doesn’t already use it was Howlrunner and TBH she's typically rocking a crackshot or swarm tactics these days anyway.

Sorry to sound pessimistic but I suspect that they have severely overestimated the viability of Adaptability in consuming the very high opportunity cost of the EPT slot, even for a cool ability at 0 squad points.

Ya, unless the Dual upgrade mechanic has some phenomenal bonus to it, I don't know if it will see much use.

I've already got built one list using it and can see other places where it would come in handy.

There are a few pilots where I could definitely picture it. Wes Jenson is one of them. I already had a 100-point list that used VI Wes, Wedge Antilles, VI Porkins (with Stressbot) and a Bandit for a 10/9/9 punch. I could switch Wes to Adaptability, and the list moves to a 99-point PS bid.

I could also use that 1 point to give one of my remaining aces an R2 Astromech or R4-D6, along with Integrated Astromech for some added durability, or put Adaptability on Porkins instead of VI to give IA to everyone who can take it.

It's not an upgrade that I would use all over the place, but there are a select few pilots who can really benefit from it.

so can you push somebody off the board?

You might be able to push them into a position where they can't help but go off the board on their next move though.

How about a bunch of Scyks with Autoblasters and one with Tractor Beam? You pull the enemy into range-1 and then unleash your Autoblaster-fury on them.

Tractor Beam is hilarious. Move them onto rocks, move them to block their own formation next round, move them to manipulate range, move them so you're not in their arc anymore, move them into the arc of another of your ships...

Can anyone think of a situation where you'd want to use Adaptability to lower your PS? I'm sure there must be a case where it'd be useful but I sure can't think of what it would be.

Also if you get the crit that gives you a damage for overlapping other ships.

2 Great cards in one expansion! Best of all, you get 2 of each per pack!!

Makes me extra 'sad' about IA and Juke though.

Well after seeing tractor beams full rules seems my birthday came early, my defenders just keep getting better.

Saying adaptibilty isn't worth it is like saying VI isn't worth it and that's alraady the most used ept.

Adaptibilty is just flat out better being free and providing higher and lower ps builds.

It's likely some type of flip option at the start of a round since it's pointless creating a ruleset just because they didn't want two seperate epts.

Adaptability is not "Just flat out better" not even a little bit better. Adaptability offers 1 effect that only half as good as Veteran Instincts, and another ability that 99 times out of 100 is going to be worthless

Yes VI costs 1 point but I would rather play a PS10 Poe than a PS9/7 Poe and have to chop 1 point somewhere else in the list.

There will likely be 3 times that this upgrade ever gets used:

1) when you happen to have a list at 100 points already with a pilot that has an open EPT and is not using it, which is unlikely as the value of the wasted EPT slot is worth far more than the 1 point your saving not trying to get VI or Crackshot in there or:

2) If you are specifically making a list where aligning all the PS of the ships in your squad will provide more value in synergy than otherwise without. Again probably not going to tear up the tournament scene, or casual scene.

3) allow some cute combo where having a pilot with an EPT drop below another pilot without an EPT to shoot in reverse order. Cant think of one right now TBH though. SUPER rare likelihood of seeing play.

Other than those times it's not going to get out of the box I suspect.

Edit: actually Sourge with -1 PS to give you more chance to proc his ability.... nope still bad

Looking at the dial, the PS3 Mist Hunter is almost certainly 23 points; it's got a point of PS over the B-wing, and we now know it's got a (slightly) better dial - white 4, green 3, and more flexible K-turns. I actually kinda like it; it's got that extra touch forward-zoom to go with the signature B-wing knife-fighting.

Medium size case and price, though. Look at that card spread!

Adaptability:

Vader just became PS 10, with the option to go PS 8 and let Soontir shoot first (And help push his crit through) in Imperial Aces.

Wedge just got the ability to fly PS 10 for free to counter Whisper and Soontir, or PS 8 to let Wes shoot first if firing sooner isn't critical.

Boba just discovered that bidding to PS10 in return for an EPT is no longer going to automatically trump PS9-base aces beyond Soontir and Whisper. Corran is likewise nervous, though relied less on VI to start with.

Xizor just found out bidding to PS9 is not only an expensive choice in terms of opportunity cost, but that his initiative bid may well be worthless against Vader anyway.

Mid-PS pilots probably don't care as much, granted. PS bidding is always racing the edge.

It's not nothing, not at all. Expect a lot more PS 10 pilots than before; PS 9 and an initiative bid will no longer qualify as 'usually enough'. The subtractive value will be to help fine-tune firing order for ships that care; less common, but still not bad at all.

Has anyone else figure out the evilness of a tractor beam card in an epic game involving HUGE ships?

(Mentally picturing Mortal Kombat's Scorpion flying by roaring "GET OVER HERE" as he drags you in front of a Gozanti, or just slams a tie back into its mother ship after launching)

There are going to be a lot of yellow and black defenders on the table soon.

Dial definitely sets it as a slightly faster B-wing. B-wing I think is still the better brawler especially with the E2 mod and the ghost crew that allows you to shoot at ships you are touching.

I wonder if FFG is trying to bring back the Cluster Furball in the center meta back?

What about both Zuckass and 4LOM on a YV? Maybe Bossk w/ Mangler Cannon. OK...so you fire 3 dice and one hit is a crit. You can have your TL or Focus for the turn...maybe both. 4LOM lets you stop the defender from using a Focus. Zuckass lets you use force the defender to re-roll green dice (with no Focus). Turn your Crit into 2 hits! Let's just say that's vs. Stealth Soontir (not R3). That's 4 green dice with an Evade, but no Focus. He's forced to re-roll any successes. That's vs. 3 red dice that might be fully modified (TL and Focus) and with at least 1 hit turning into a crit, which turns into 2 hits!

YES. This. I was thinking the same thing. It'd be hard to lose Outlaw Tech on him though. I've always felt that K4 and Outlaw Tech are mandatory on the YV-666. But that's a harder hitting Bossk with K4, Zuckuss, and 4LOM.

This ship is butt ugly but wow do I like the cards.

Fun Fun Fun

In terms of Adaptability and the articles assumption that "Accordingly, it is bound to make appearances nearly everywhere" is quite misleading, in the recent (and less recent) past, the only pilot I can think of that sees regular table time that has an EPT and Doesn’t already use it was Howlrunner and TBH she's typically rocking a crackshot or swarm tactics these days anyway.

Sorry to sound pessimistic but I suspect that they have severely overestimated the viability of Adaptability in consuming the very high opportunity cost of the EPT slot, even for a cool ability at 0 squad points.

I don't know, a Crackshot swarm maxes out at 6 ships. My 7-ship Black Squadron swarm all with Adaptability will shoot before every one of your Black Squadron Pilots (barring Swarm Tactics or a supporting ace).

Oh wait, I'd have to buy how many G-1A Expansion Packs?! Nevermind.

I need to get a couple and have one repainted to at least make it moderately interesting to look at.

In terms of Adaptability and the articles assumption that "Accordingly, it is bound to make appearances nearly everywhere" is quite misleading, in the recent (and less recent) past, the only pilot I can think of that sees regular table time that has an EPT and Doesn’t already use it was Howlrunner and TBH she's typically rocking a crackshot or swarm tactics these days anyway.

Sorry to sound pessimistic but I suspect that they have severely overestimated the viability of Adaptability in consuming the very high opportunity cost of the EPT slot, even for a cool ability at 0 squad points.

I don't know, a Crackshot swarm maxes out at 6 ships. My 7-ship Black Squadron swarm all with Adaptability will shoot before every one of your Black Squadron Pilots (barring Swarm Tactics or a supporting ace).

Oh wait, I'd have to buy how many G-1A Expansion Packs?! Nevermind.

If your not talking tournament play just print them out. For tournament play you could take the cards sell the ships and remaining cards for say half price on ebay or something.

so can you push somebody off the board?

No, you can't boost/roll off the board anymore.

You might be able to push them into a position where they can't help but go off the board on their next move though.

While it is true that you cannot take a boost or barrel roll action if it would cause you to flee the battlefield, the current rules also state that you may not boost or barrel roll onto an obstacle. The article expressly says that this mechanic will allow you to boost or barrel roll your opponent onto an obstacle. Those are two contradictory items. Yes the article may be wrong but I don't think that will turn out to be the case in this instance.

One cannot assume at this point that boosting or more likely barrel rolling your opponent off the board will not be allowed. There is a definite possibility that you can.

In terms of Adaptability and the articles assumption that "Accordingly, it is bound to make appearances nearly everywhere" is quite misleading, in the recent (and less recent) past, the only pilot I can think of that sees regular table time that has an EPT and Doesn’t already use it was Howlrunner and TBH she's typically rocking a crackshot or swarm tactics these days anyway.

Sorry to sound pessimistic but I suspect that they have severely overestimated the viability of Adaptability in consuming the very high opportunity cost of the EPT slot, even for a cool ability at 0 squad points.

I don't know, a Crackshot swarm maxes out at 6 ships. My 7-ship Black Squadron swarm all with Adaptability will shoot before every one of your Black Squadron Pilots (barring Swarm Tactics or a supporting ace).

Oh wait, I'd have to buy how many G-1A Expansion Packs?! Nevermind.

While that is a very niche counter list, I suspect that 7 PS5 tie fighters without Howlrunner will struggle vs the rest of the tier 1 lists out there at the moment

I am officially losing my MIND over Tractor Beam.

Every.

Single.

Faction.

Can abuse this. Oh dear God.

Have we just entered the meta era of ... "Tractor–Wing?"

Who uses Ruthlessness? Seriously.

Col. Vessery in a TIE/D with a tractor beam/ion cannon/flechette cannon does. Two attacks that both trigger Ruthlessness, and if another one of your ships has a target lock on Vessery's target, Vessery gets a Target Lock on both attacks, ensuring they both hit and trigger Ruthlessness twice.

As many have speculated already, I too believe the Adaptability card is a front and back deal. Given the image of the cards only shows one version almost certainly means the other version is on the flip side.

My hope is that determining your PS on a round by round basis is NOT something that will happen. I hope you can make the determination during setup when you see your opponents squad and set it that way for the remainder of the match. I believe that if you can switch it round to round that it would be far to clunky. I hope it will be a very simple and straightforward mechanic.

Fun interaction: Valen Rudor gets hit with a tractor beam and is forced to Barrel Roll.

He then promptly Barrel Rolls again, since the Tractor one isn't considered an action.

EDIT: Now I want to do that. Valen Rudor flying with a pair of PS6+ Tractor Beam Defenders. During combat phase you could potentially set up some highly improbable shots. Glaive generics will probably be cheaper than Vessery by at least a point, yeah? Just a point lower, and you could totally still bump one up to Vessery if you wanted, and still have enough for some TIE MkIIs to throw on them for kicks (or a cheap EPT for Vessery).

Or, even better, guessing that the Glaives have EPT slots you could give both of em' something cheap. Maybe a couple Crack Shots to get those Tractor Beams to hit an otherwise slippery target?

Saying adaptibilty isn't worth it is like saying VI isn't worth it and that's alraady the most used ept.

Adaptibilty is just flat out better being free and providing higher and lower ps builds.

It's likely some type of flip option at the start of a round since it's pointless creating a ruleset just because they didn't want two seperate epts.

Adaptability is not "Just flat out better" not even a little bit better. Adaptability offers 1 effect that only half as good as Veteran Instincts, and another ability that 99 times out of 100 is going to be worthless

Yes VI costs 1 point but I would rather play a PS10 Poe than a PS9/7 Poe and have to chop 1 point somewhere else in the list.

There will likely be 3 times that this upgrade ever gets used:

1) when you happen to have a list at 100 points already with a pilot that has an open EPT and is not using it, which is unlikely as the value of the wasted EPT slot is worth far more than the 1 point your saving not trying to get VI or Crackshot in there or:

2) If you are specifically making a list where aligning all the PS of the ships in your squad will provide more value in synergy than otherwise without. Again probably not going to tear up the tournament scene, or casual scene.[/size]

3) allow some cute combo where having a pilot with an EPT drop below another pilot without an EPT to shoot in reverse order. Cant think of one right now TBH though. SUPER rare likelihood of seeing play.[/size]

Other than those times it's not going to get out of the box I suspect.

Edit: actually Sourge with -1 PS to give you more chance to proc his ability.... nope still bad

Oicunn likes Adaptability! Finally he will be in a better PS to block if needed. He can then give that PS to a Defender or something.