I've been thinking of getting a Scyk, but the awkward design has pushed me away. It's a hybrid of a tie fighter, a cheap cannon carrier, and a cheap missile or torpedo carrier, but those different styles interfere with each other. I'd love it as a cannon carrier, but it lacks a 1-forward and pays squad points for a primary weapon I don't intend to use, and points for basic tie-fighter capabilities. So I present a fix:

Thruster Brakes

Modification. M3-A Interceptor only.

Whenever you reveal a straight maneuver, you may reduce the speed of that maneuver by 1.

You can't make primary weapon attacks.

-2 points

The flavor is that you scooped out the primary lasers to make room for small thrusters in the front that can slow you down.

The lack of an illicit upgrade can easily be solved by a new pilot card:

Hutt Enforcer

Pilot Skill 1

Attack 2

Agility 3

Hull 2

Shield 1

Upgrades: Illicit

14 points

While 13 points would be nice, I think that 18 points for a mangler Scyk (14 base +2 title -2 brakes + 4 cannon) is just right and 21 for a heavy laser cannon Scyk that can't attack at range 1 is almost too strong.

The ordinance Scyk and swarm Scyk will need a different fix, of course. It will be tricky to find something for the ordinance Scyk that differentiates it from other ordinance carriers like the tie adv. prototype. Also, if it is a modification, it will prevent Guidance Chips.

I'm thinking some sort of unlimited Extra Munitions, but I'm worried about bad interactions with ordinance balanced around being one-use.

As for the swarm Scyk, it is so close to Z95s in its role that it's difficult for both to coexist; they need to be exactly the same power level, because it one is stronger it will replace the other. Still, we can try.

Light "Scyk" Interceptor

Title. M3-A interceptor only.

-2 points

And here's a bonus pilot card:

Uncontested Leader Ngat

The second [cannon] upgrade you equip costs -2 squad points.

Pilot Skill 7

Attack 2

Evade 3

Hull 2

Shield 1

Upgrades: Elite, Cannon, llicit

21 points

After reviewing Mathwing, it seems 20 points for heavy laser cannon Scyk and 17 for Mangler Scyk will be safe, so I can reduce Thruster Brakes to -3.

Call it throttle control or retro-rockets or something. Please.

phew

A 14 point attack 3 ship? Ehhhhh?

Random thought, if there was a cheap title (say 1 point) that added boost to the Scyk and allowed AT, would it would worth it mathwing-wise to take, or is 17 points for a scum AT A-wing?

A 14 point attack 3 ship? Ehhhhh?

What? The closest you could get is 15 points with Flechette Cannon (14 base, +2 Heavy title, -3 Thruster Brakes, +2 cannon) and then you're limited to 1 damage per attack, no range 1 bonus die.

On further thought, I don't like how my fix hoses Tractor Beam Scyks for no good reason (tractor beams are horrid if you don't have the option of using your primary weapon instead). I've been thinking about how I would handle this if I was at Fantasy Flight Games, and I wouldn't want to spend extra upgrade cards on a title plus another card to undo the title.

So instead of working around the title, why not just supplant it?

Production Model "Scyk"

Title. M3-A interceptor only.

Your upgrade bar gains a [cannon], [missile], or [torpedo] icon.

-1 points

or

Heavy "Scyk" Interceptor

Title. M3-A interceptor only.

Revised version

Your upgrade bar gains a [cannon], [missile], or [torpedo] icon.

-1 points

Then you can still season your Scyks to taste with a Stealth Device/Hull Upgrade/Guidance Chips.

It seems the best solution really is just the simplest one.

You could still have Thruster Brakes as a light extra fix.

Thruster Brakes

Modification. M3-A Interceptor only.

Whenever you reveal a straight maneuver you may reduce the speed by 1, or you may discard this upgrade and take a stress token to perform a 0 [stop] instead.

0 points

A 14 point attack 3 ship? Ehhhhh?

In reference to the "hutt enforcer" pilot, I'm guessing that's a typo. OP please clarify?

Other than that, I love the idea. Alternate names: "braking boosters" "reverse thrusters" or "tug retrofit" (since this would be an espescially nice ability for a tractor or ion Scyk)

Thruster Brakes

Modification. M3-A Interceptor only.

Whenever you reveal a straight maneuver you may reduce the speed by 1, or you may discard this upgrade and take a stress token to perform a 0 [stop] instead.

0 points

I like the "Or you may discard this upgrade and take a stress token to perform a 0 [stop]" Super cool.

A 14 point attack 3 ship? Ehhhhh?

In reference to the "hutt enforcer" pilot, I'm guessing that's a typo. OP please clarify?

What are you talking about?

<< Obi-Wan hand swipe >>

The Hutt Enforcers have always had 2 attack dice.