Since the preview threads tend to get a little flooded, I thought I'd start a separate thread just for the tractor beam.

What does everyone think, broken, or just about right for 1 point?

Will it help the poor Scyk at all?

What ships will it be best on?

It is not broken. You give up your attack for that.

But Tie/D will gladly use it

Does no damage. Still has to hit to do anything.

Sure if you've got a point spare... I can't see it helping the syck at all.

The TIE Defender that can fire both weapons seems to be the only place i'd stick it, maybe one of the brobots.

In my opinion the Scyk swarm might be seen, but otherwise no. 17 points per ship is steep. Could probably change non tractor beams to head hunters.

Maybe

Serrisu squad leader

Generic w/beam

Generic/beam

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That second half of the card makes Tractor Beam much better. I'm now really excited to get it (and Imperial Vets).

I think you stick it on each brobot for utility, tie /d for value, palp shuttle as a trick up your sleeve, and mist hunter because title.

Does no damage. Still has to hit to do anything.

Sure it does a damage -- when you bounce the other ship off of the rock.

do note the second half DOESNT WORK on large ships

Can you push an enemy ship out of the battlefield?

No boosting or rolling ofF the table, sorry.

I think the pushing or pulling out of/into different range bands is more interesting than the obstacle benefit.

Can you push an enemy ship out of the battlefield?

Nope. A ship cannot boost or barrel roll if it causes it to flee the battlefield.

Can you push an enemy ship out of the battlefield?

Mostly no, but kinda. Ninja'd

In theory you could move them to a spot where next turn they can't not go off the edge though. Also, it seems people are forgetting (or neglecting to mention at least) that if you tractor someone onto a rock, and they haven't shot yet, they no longer can, which is huge defensively, even if they don't take damage from the rock.

Does no damage. Still has to hit to do anything.

Sure it does a damage -- when you bounce the other ship off of the rock.

Only if the template in the next round pass on it. You do not roll the die right away when you land on it because it has to be a maneuver to roll the die when you land on an obstacle.

Can you push an enemy ship out of the battlefield?

Mostly no, but kinda. Ninja'd

In theory you could move them to a spot where next turn they can't not go off the edge though. Also, it seems people are forgetting (or neglecting to mention at least) that if you tractor someone onto a rock, and they haven't shot yet, they no longer can, which is huge defensively, even if they don't take damage from the rock.

Very true. And potentially lose themy an action next round.

While the tb didn't do any damage on its own, it could set up for a LOT of hurt later

Kind of a corner case, but I can easily imagine a scenario where a tractor-toting TIE/D has a ship in arc in such a way that any of the tractor movement options would move that ship out of arc/range. So it would be nice if the movement wasn't compulsory.

But yeah, small nitpick about an awesome card.

do note the second half DOESNT WORK on large ships

Probably for the same reason that Barrel Rolls were nerfed on them. They move twice as far as small ships when using movement actions. It'd be too easy to shove something off the board.

Does no damage. Still has to hit to do anything.

Sure it does a damage -- when you bounce the other ship off of the rock.

Only if the template in the next round pass on it. You do not roll the die right away when you land on it because it has to be a maneuver to roll the die when you land on an obstacle.

Not sure this is true. It's not really a situation that has been possible before to land on a rock during combat.

Does no damage. Still has to hit to do anything.

Sure it does a damage -- when you bounce the other ship off of the rock.

Only if the template in the next round pass on it. You do not roll the die right away when you land on it because it has to be a maneuver to roll the die when you land on an obstacle.

Not sure this is true. It's not really a situation that has been possible before to land on a rock during combat.

Read Obstacle in the Reference Rule.

Does no damage. Still has to hit to do anything.

Sure it does a damage -- when you bounce the other ship off of the rock.

Only if the template in the next round pass on it. You do not roll the die right away when you land on it because it has to be a maneuver to roll the die when you land on an obstacle.

Ah, checked rules and you are correct! You only roll for obstacle damage when executing a maneuver, which the tractor is explicitly not. So 1 damage max, if they hit the rock next turn (easy enough to force, if they're close enough).

do note the second half DOESNT WORK on large ships

Probably for the same reason that Barrel Rolls were nerfed on them. They move twice as far as small ships when using movement actions. It'd be too easy to shove something off the board.

I think they used the terms Boost and Barrel roll to prevent people to make enemy ships being move out of the map, since you can't Boost nor Barrel Roll out of the map now.

do note the second half DOESNT WORK on large ships

Probably for the same reason that Barrel Rolls were nerfed on them. They move twice as far as small ships when using movement actions. It'd be too easy to shove something off the board.

could've made it either require 2 tractor tokens (ala ion effect) or just the BR rule as is for large ships

It's not really a situation that has been possible before to land on a rock during combat.

Since the Tractor Beam movement isn't a maneuver, then there is no damage. From the RRB

When a ship executes a maneuver, if its base or maneuver template overlaps an obstacle token, it executes its maneuver as normal but suffers an effect based on the type of obstacle:

As far as the tractor beam itself goes. It looks like a great addition to the game, and one that really will reward clever use, but is not by default overpowered. You can cause all kinds of headaches for someone but only if it's used properly and at the right time.

Does no damage. Still has to hit to do anything.

Sure it does a damage -- when you bounce the other ship off of the rock.

Only if the template in the next round pass on it. You do not roll the die right away when you land on it because it has to be a maneuver to roll the die when you land on an obstacle.

Not sure this is true. It's not really a situation that has been possible before to land on a rock during combat.

The rules say "move" not maneuver. • If a ship moves through or overlaps more than one obstacle, it suffers the effects of each obstacle, starting with the obstacle that was closest to the ship in its starting position and proceeding outward.

Edit: I now see the section you are referring to.

In the article, they have a ship tractor beam-Barrel rolling onto an asteroid. However, you are normally prohibited from BR-ing onto obstacles.

pp. 6, rules reference: "A ship cannot barrel roll if it would overlap another ship or an obstacle token, or if the maneuver template would overlap an obstacle token."

Is that a mistake, in the same vein as the infamous bomb drop in the K-wing preview? Or is that really possible with tractor beam?

Also, I can see a very strong potential application of tractor beam BR/boost with stress and Ion mechanics in forcing ships to fly off the board in subsequent turns. 4-LOM's pilot ability is great for this, and the crew slot on the G1-A begs for tactician.