I used it last night with my boba to move a bumped tlt hwk into r1 of my IG. Of course the IG fluffed it but the principle was nice

I would say any good thing you can say about the Tractor Beam also applies to the Ion Cannon, except for the cost. This means that it will be a handy opportunistic tool on ships that have a free cannon, as TasteTheRainbow mentions, but you'll see them featured in lists about as often as Ions.

Haven't seen it in action yet , but on paper I feel like throwing things onto asteroids, breaking the rule about not being able to boost/barrel roll onto them, seems like a bit much.

Haven't seen it in action yet , but on paper I feel like throwing things onto asteroids, breaking the rule about not being able to boost/barrel roll onto them, seems like a bit much.

IME, the throwing people onto asteroids is much, much less important than the lowered agility, then the range and arc control.

Agree with a few people hear that have said it will just allow the meta to evolve, like has to do to remain relevant and interesting. I can't see that it has been tested enough yet. You may have to change you flying style to suit, and if you're good to start with this shouldn't be a problem.

I haven't read much about people using large based ships, which can't be moved. So will we not just see a resurgence on the Falcon perhaps? How will the new wave 8 Ghost fair I wonder? Certainly as an imperial player I'm less concerned, but I can't wait to get back into using my defender!! And to be honest, my first flight when I get the veterans pack will be defenders with ion cannons...

This is the most versatile meta I've seen since I started playing the game in Wave 3. And that's great! But there are absolutely some ships that are quite strong, and most large base ships have largely dropped out if the meta.

Tractor Beam is powerful against many of the most powerful ships we have at the moment. It will be difficult to hit Soontir Fel, but especially with Crack Shot, it's possible.

Pull that 35 point super ace into range of your formation and reduce his defense. Then watch him evaporate.

Roll that TLT boat onto an asteroid, or pull him into R1 so that he cannot return fire.

It is also an incentive to play Large Ships, as they are largely immune to its effects.

Wave 8 will change the meta, as every Wave has done thus far.

Everyone brings debris fields?

Will it cripple the awesome versatile meta?

Wait, what?!

We have an awesome verastile meta?

And I thought it was TLT-Acewing

Warpman

Member Since 02 Nov 2015

Double post

Guess what? That isn't the case for most people.

If somebody thinks that having 1\4 pilot choices for a ship that don't suck is an 'awesome versatile meta'

i'm happy we're still having young players that are optimistic and don't give a ****.

That is still a lot with so many ships. For most ships I am fine that there are only 1-2 'good' builds per ship, it still gives me more options than I can try.

T-beam is like any other attack in the game

it can be arc-dodged, it can be green diced

unless you put it on Outrider ...have fun with that

If we start seeing a lot of Tractor Beams, the Decimator will be quite happy as it gives not a care for them...

Edit - And the Ghost for that matter, although I think the Attack Shuttle won't like them one bit.

Unless you are a Defender, putting it on an expensive ship like the Hound's Tooth or Firespray seems like a bad idea. The reason I like it on the Scyk, is because it is nice and cheap at 17 points. That is lovely for a nice side addition of control. I understand people really like the aspect of using it on high PS to throw people onto rocks, I just have a real tough time giving up the Ace's damage output.

Plus, Large ships laugh at Tractor Beams. Which is why I will likely keep at least one Ion Cannon on my Defenders.

You can throw people onto rocks with it at any PS.

In general, the higher the PS the better, as the more ships firing after it (on both sides of the table), the more benefits you'll see.

But as long as it's fielded on an equal/higher PS ship than the rest of your own squad, you'll get plenty of use out of it.

I would say any good thing you can say about the Tractor Beam also applies to the Ion Cannon, except for the cost. This means that it will be a handy opportunistic tool on ships that have a free cannon, as TasteTheRainbow mentions, but you'll see them featured in lists about as often as Ions.

The difference in price is pretty substantial though. If I bring an ion, I expect to use it. I might consider tossing a tractor beam on a B-wing or Lambda simply to threaten my opponent with it and only use it if a perfect opportunity arises.

Any obstacle you hit while ioned is an obstacle you were in danger of hitting anyway. Not so with TB. The threat of a tractor beam makes piloting around obstacles much more intimidating. The mental fatigue you can inflict on an opponent is a factor.

The first thing that will happen to the meta is that half the lists will end up being Brobots for about a month or two. It's a 1 point cannon that IG-88B is going to LOVE.

Second, B-wings and post Fix Defenders will see more table time. I'm not sure an all Defender list will ever be popular, but we'll see some BBBBs for a bit.

Third, everyone will realize the sky has not fallen. The game has changed a bit, as it does with every wave, but in a good way that keeps things fresh.

If T-Beams become popular I can only imagine that ships with fewer agility will fall out of favour, thus leading to a switch back to Imperial superiority. Or maybe this is the year of the Scum?

Really though, it only matters what the Pheave is gonna play. If Paul picks up another B-Wing and wins it big with Rebels 4 years straight you can bet your Star Wars money that the crowd will follow suite, as usual.

It's going to add a new tasty layer to the game, but not change it's ingredients. You'll see has many Aces, high PS bids, it might bring back large bases who could care less about it's effects and give the Ghost a strong place in the meta.

If T-Beams become popular I can only imagine that ships with fewer agility will fall out of favour, thus leading to a switch back to Imperial superiority. Or maybe this is the year of the Scum?

Really though, it only matters what the Pheave is gonna play. If Paul picks up another B-Wing and wins it big with Rebels 4 years straight you can bet your Star Wars money that the crowd will follow suite, as usual.

Paul sticking with his Rebels is a pretty safe bet.

It COULD be the year of the Scum. I think the two new Scum ships (especially the G-1A) is going to be the cause of this. As a Starviper fan, the G-1A is exactly the type of ship I've been looking for. My dream list is two Starvipers and two FCS B-wings. The G-1A might make this list possible.

The first thing that will happen to the meta is that half the lists will end up being Brobots for about a month or two. It's a 1 point cannon that IG-88B is going to LOVE.

If it leads to more single-Aggressor-with-support lists I'm all for that.

G1-as are xizor's dream

Chuncky for meat shields; not utterly incompetent like Zs

Don't see much need for t-beams there. They'd prolly go on the named pilots just for the sake of the roll

The first thing that will happen to the meta is that half the lists will end up being Brobots for about a month or two. It's a 1 point cannon that IG-88B is going to LOVE.

I kind of agree, but it's quite hard finding a spare point in a dual Iggy build. I'm not sure I want to give up my Inertial Dampeners or Crackshot/VI on the off-chance that there'll be a nice Tractor Beam shot for me somewhere.

If it leads to more single-Aggressor-with-support lists I'm all for that.

forget about a spare point... how about losing 1/2 of your turns worth of potential damage. with only two ships you have to do as much damage as possible.

Only scenario i can see it being useful on IG's is if a high value ace is within a BR or boost of almost hitting a rock. that way the following turn both IG's can turn and fire on an un-actioned ace. but with Tractors in play im sure all who fly against them will avoid being that close to rocks when applicable.

Will it cripple the awesome versatile meta?

Wait, what?!

We have an awesome verastile meta?

And I thought it was TLT-Acewing

Lets play unlikely wings!

"Oh, you're going to play 5 Tractor beam Scyks? I guess you just want to play Cannonwing."

"What? You're playing saboteur? I guess, if you just like Critwing"

"4 shuttles with Baffle? Another game of Buffalowing"

"A squad of Red Squadron Pilots? Whatever, guess it's MidPSwing"

"A Blackmoon squadron? Gross. I hate how this game is now Ewing"

I've managed to get a few games with it and it is a nasty upgrade

To be honest it works best on Defenders and you will see a lot more Defenders with it. Especially vessery

I've had 2 games with it and in both games really paid off

First game I tractor beamed Vader into range 1 of two bombers and was able to take him out, then tb fel into range 1 of vessery and was able to take him out with his follow up attack.

The second game I used it I managed to put my buddies stressbot on a rock and his awing twice.

In that game he was getting frustrated too I believe.

It sucks when you don't get to shoot. Especially since you didn't make any errors.

What we'll likely see is people taking debris over rocks. At least you can still shoot, and people will take smaller rocks.

On a ship like a bwing it cam be there just as a threat, but I don't think it'll be as popular as putting one on a Defender. That follow up attack is nasty especially after reducing your agility by one.

Tb will shake up the meta, but not overpowered.

It's not going to do any dmg.

Don't get caught between rocks.

Bring debris if you anticipate a lot of tb, or smaller rocks.

Focus fire down that bwing or whatever fast and your golden

I make it sound like Paul Heaver defines the meat, but that's not true. He heavily influences the player community I think, when he changes his list he also changes the meat, but I really don't think this game is as cut and dried as that. The meat changes a bit with each new wave, but it's just so diverse I don't think you'd see the exact same sort of meat like you would with a less balanced game. 40k is still top dog for #1 mini-wargame, but the meat is so bland and stale! And GW only propagates bad meat with releases like the Skyjimmy Formation or whatever that one was that let you melee after DS. Wraithlord? Superheavy Gargantuan Walker/Flyers? Codex Eldar? Other games are no better, Warmachine pretty much requires 3rd tier Casters and optimized lists or it's going to be a massacre. MtG tells you exactly what the meat is going to be with every new set, and Pokemon is kinda the same, new sets almost always trump the older ones.

Thankfully we don't have that sort of sales drive behind X-Wing. I mean, the motive for profit is obviously there, let's not be school-children here, but FFG definitely has an eye toward the quality of stewardship that this game receives. In turn I don't think you can upset a meat formula like the one X-WIng has. The sheer possibility for customization in squad building ensures that no two lists ever need to be the same, and a stunning number of builds are highly efficient. FFG only adds to this with every wave. Other companies try to force you into these boxes of gameplay and it's merely a tool to sell models. FFG has realized that the most profitable and most sustainable method of selling models is to promote a diverse and healthy meat. I'm sure that it's taken a great deal of research into what makes a good meat for FFG to come up with and maintain this winning formula, so I'm sure they aren't going to spoil it now.