I make it sound like Paul Heaver defines the meat

I've been thinking about a reverse BBBBZ with TBs. Something like this:

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.

@tractor on IG:

it is more of an insurance for a hlc-carrier, where one of the IGs is B (B.Iggy -> Biggy). If I have a spare point and no idea what else to get, I grab the TB, sure. just for that 2nd R1 shot. on pretty much anything else (extreme cornercases excluded) it's a wasted shot. that's 50% of your entire list's shots wasted. not the brightest idea. so: sorry, but I really don't think we'll see IGs carrying them around -everywhere-.

here and there, sure.

also, those posts about IGs here form the impression that all IG builds are the same. they are not. and they fly VERY different with every little bit you change. sure, there is always "that list" that "everybody should run, cause it's the best(est..est)" .. well, to each their own, I guess

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.

I agree that the cost difference is significant, which is why I think it will see play opportunistically. You don't splash in 3 point ion cannons just in case you've got a good shot. I could definitely see 1-2 Tractors added to Blue Squadron Pilots, for example, just in case they had a chance to drag a ship into multiple firing arcs or make a ship fly over a rock (and lose actions, and maybe take a damage, and become a much easier shot next turn).

The biggest thing the TB affects is low agility small based ships, primarily 0 or 1 agility. The TB will obviously perform its best on the TIE/D Defenders. I think that for as long as the stressbot Y-Wing is an "auto-include" in rebel lists that we might see an "auto-include" variation of a TIE/D Defender emerge. Imperials have been the ones that get slammed the hardest by the stressbot Y-Wing and now they have a very deadly answer to it. If the tractor beam does anything to the meta I believe it will be reducing how much we see the stressbot Y-Wing. It's not going to get rid of 0 or 1 agility ships at all, it's just going to make people think a little harder on how they build their lists. That's a good thing!

Tractor beam is going to be awesome!

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

In what world does putting a Tractor beam on the Outrider become better than a HLC? You can't get a second attack nor have enough ships to swarm with it for tractor beam to outweigh the damage output of a HLC.

I like the tractor beam. But, defenders are also giving up a lot to use it.

The title lets them shoot a secondary weapon also, so they could be firing an ion cannon (which does a damage and ionizes) instead of no damage and a tractor. Or, take the other title, which offers a free evade at a 2 point discount. Essentially, that tractor shot every turn cost 3 points and an evade token every round. Or, for 2 more points you could have a damage dealing shot that ionizes.

Opportunity cost is still there.

All I know, my Ghost will love you bringing in tons of Tractor Beams.

Considering that 60% of squads have Super Poe in them and the remaining 40% have Soontir in them, good.

Tractor Beam meta ftw.

If TIE Defenders are going to be bring Tractor Beams will B-Wing commonly use Advanced Sensors?

I like the tractor beam. But, defenders are also giving up a lot to use it.

The title lets them shoot a secondary weapon also, so they could be firing an ion cannon (which does a damage and ionizes) instead of no damage and a tractor. Or, take the other title, which offers a free evade at a 2 point discount. Essentially, that tractor shot every turn cost 3 points and an evade token every round. Or, for 2 more points you could have a damage dealing shot that ionizes.

Opportunity cost is still there.

Defenders also have the unique ability to take advantage of the decreased agility immediately with their follow-up primary attack. Maybe even after decreasing the range. Ion is still probably the better option in pure damage consideration. If you are running a couple Ace Defenders, ion is clear winner. If you are running one Defender and a mini-swarm, tractor looks pretty good.

This "Tractician" squad makes me a little bit excited.

I think the biggest issue with the TB is not that you can actually catch someone and move him onto an asteroid once in a while and forgoing dircet damage for doing that.

But I think it does 2 thinks exceptionally well for just 1 point:

- mind games pressure on your enemy on how he decides to move

- mess up squadron based movement where you need to stick to a certain movement pattern

With ion and TB you can virtually keep someone stuck in place they do a one straight then you roll them back it makes it child's play to aim all your guns in the right spot.

Also don't underestimate the ability to deny shots as you push they about.

Shenanigans are awesome, but also don't underestimate 0 innate damage

Tbeams are going to fit a niche, not become auto include

Shenanigans are awesome, but also don't underestimate 0 innate damage

Tbeams are going to fit a niche, not become auto include

And there will be Shenanigans! But only on casual tables. Tractor Beam will find its place in tournaments, but those places will be few.

It'll definitely give players worried about it a reason to bring debris fields instead of asteroids, which is fantastic for the Turn 0 game.

That, paired with the fact that he's large base and can team with Kanan, will improve the power of Dash Rendar.

That will help Interceptors and PS8+ ships who can get into the donut hole.

In short, everything is going to be awesome once Veterans is out. Except the Scyk. The Scyk is still terrible.

I like the tractor beam. But, defenders are also giving up a lot to use it.

The title lets them shoot a secondary weapon also, so they could be firing an ion cannon (which does a damage and ionizes) instead of no damage and a tractor. Or, take the other title, which offers a free evade at a 2 point discount. Essentially, that tractor shot every turn cost 3 points and an evade token every round. Or, for 2 more points you could have a damage dealing shot that ionizes.

Opportunity cost is still there.

Only if you are counting the defender it is on and not the other ships that might benefit from it. All you need, iirc, is one other ship firing at it with its reduced agility to make it worth taking over the ion cannon in terms of damage. That doesn't include if the tractor beam does other things like: rolling the enemy ship onto a rock before it shoots or putting it into an extra arc so you get an attack you wouldn't have had otherwise. It's the exact reverse argument I make about Vessery. Increasing his efficiency often means you are decreasing another of your own ship's efficiency or your squad's efficiecy. The tractor beam is the opposite. It will improve other ship's guns and help them get more time on target.

I think we'll see the tractor beam as a very polarizing tool in the game. Some people will love it while others will be very frustrated by its inclusion. That doesn't mean it's OP, but I could see it creating conversations that were similar to the pre-nerf phantom.

I like the tractor beam. But, defenders are also giving up a lot to use it.

The title lets them shoot a secondary weapon also, so they could be firing an ion cannon (which does a damage and ionizes) instead of no damage and a tractor. Or, take the other title, which offers a free evade at a 2 point discount. Essentially, that tractor shot every turn cost 3 points and an evade token every round. Or, for 2 more points you could have a damage dealing shot that ionizes.

Opportunity cost is still there.

Only if you are counting the defender it is on and not the other ships that might benefit from it. All you need, iirc, is one other ship firing at it with its reduced agility to make it worth taking over the ion cannon in terms of damage. That doesn't include if the tractor beam does other things like: rolling the enemy ship onto a rock before it shoots or putting it into an extra arc so you get an attack you wouldn't have had otherwise.

I think we'll see the tractor beam as a very polarizing tool in the game. Some people will love it while others will be very frustrated by its inclusion. That doesn't mean it's OP, but I could see it creating conversations that were similar to the pre-nerf phantom.

There's also the matter of the Tractor assisting the Defender's primary weapon attack. You can push someone from Range 3 to Range 2, effectively depriving them of two evade dice against your primary weapon. Or push them from range 2 to range 1, taking an evade die from them and giving yourself an extra red.

The people who love it or hate it will probaby be divided along lines of what ships they like to fly. Are you a big B-wing or TLT Y-wing fan? Tractor Beams might very well ruin your day. Do you fly a lot of Soontir Fel/Decimator builds? You won't even notice they exist.

If the Heavy Scyk title had been even 1 pt cheaper, I think a Crackter Beam Equipped TPV would make an interesting 20 point ship.

The beams will help large ships a little, and make interesting situations. Non of the lists using them are common now, except for maybe brobots.

I want to try this, All PS 2

Slaver

-tractor beam

-gunner

-bosk

-zuckus

Scyk

-title

-tractor beam

Scyk

-title

-tractor beam

Ywing

-tlt

-r4 agromech

What about 2 agility X-wings? they don't stand a chance against tie/d with tractors.

What about 2 agility X-wings? they don't stand a chance against tie/d with tractors.

Probably correct. I'd play Poe while you can!

I mean, the thing is that while the tractor beam in general is probably pointed out appropriately and isn't an autoinclude on everything, it could be ridiculously nasty on the TIE/D and that will be what sets the bar with how impactful it is on the game, especially since Defenders might be top dog even without the tractor beam after Imperial Vets.