What about sayy... Luke with R2D2?

Shield upgrade is still inferior, because you're spending 4 points for 1 shield, those points could be better spent on other ships in your list. Such as more astromechs and IA on other X-Wings, or say R3-A2, or R5-P9. Myself I'd much rather have 2 X-Wings that can regen.

Meaning you're gonna die very soon after R2.

By the time you eject R2-D2, you'll be bannged up enough that R2-D2 isn't likely to keep you around much longer anyway.

You basically only use it as a 'last hit point'. Part of why it's kinda 'meh' imo, because if you had to throw out your trash can to live, you're now worse off and probably dead from the next attack anyway.

Which is better than being dead from the last attack??

better how? you still die.

And if not, you're limping along with no droid, no ways to dodge arcs, and one action.

Be quiet.

The only reason I could see someone not taking IA, is because they either have another modification they want, or there isn't room for a 1 point astromech.

Lets look at the mod's you might want to take on a X-Wing.

Stealth Device is a waste of points for the most part. Targeting Computer is redundant, Munitions Failsafe and Guidance Chips are only useful if you have munitions. Experimental Interface only works with R7-T1 or R2-F2.

Both Shield and Hull upgrade are effectively inferior to IA because IA costs 0 points, So that leaves Engine Upgrade. So there's one mod that is even remotely a contender for that slot.

In the other case, not enough points for a R2... if that's true you're not going to put EU on that X anyway.

This guy gets it!

You basically only use it as a 'last hit point'. Part of why it's kinda 'meh' imo, because if you had to throw out your trash can to live, you're now worse off and probably dead from the next attack anyway.

Which is better than being dead from the last attack??

better how? you still die.

And if not, you're limping along with no droid, no ways to dodge arcs, and one action.

Be quiet.

Nah, I don't think I will be mate. Just because someone has an opinion you don't like, you tell 'em to shut up? **** off.

@jimmius: I think you're POV on the Intergrated is wrong, but we don't all have to agree. You do indeed have every right to your opinion.

Really it boils down to: If you don't like something or don't think it's worth it, then by all means don't use it. But I don't want to hear no grumbling when I ditch the 'mech and hang around for more shenanigans!

Yeah I'm still confused, OP. You might not value integrated astro as much as most, but surely you wouldn't rather just take a droid and no IA would you?

Hull upgrade is three points. Put integrated astro with a one point R2 Astro and it's basically the same thing, just two points cheaper.

With the additional benefit of green one and two speed maneuvers! And it doesn't use your MOD spot! Heck of a deal!

Integrated Astromech DOES use your modification slot.

And it doesn't use your MOD spot! Heck of a deal!

Except the part where it, like, totally does...

Uh derp! Yeah I blanked on that. It's still a good deal though!

I'm just mad it's only one IA per t-70 at the moment.

Grrrrrrrrr!

Yeah I'm still confused, OP. You might not value integrated astro as much as most, but surely you wouldn't rather just take a droid and no IA would you?

Especially if you are not using the Mod slot for something else. It's a free upgrade to avoid damage - seems a no-brainer to me!

You basically only use it as a 'last hit point'. Part of why it's kinda 'meh' imo, because if you had to throw out your trash can to live, you're now worse off and probably dead from the next attack anyway.

Which is better than being dead from the last attack??

better how? you still die.

And if not, you're limping along with no droid, no ways to dodge arcs, and one action.

I've been flying three T-65s lately, with Cracken, in formation. It's a fun list, and I can say that Integrated has saved my bacon NUMEROUS times. Sometimes it just prolongs your ship's life for one more round, but it's been enough to allow me to take down or do more damage to enemy ships before my ship dies. Other times, I've bought myself a few rounds of bugging out, and while my opponent is trying to hunt down the near-dead-T-65, his buddies get in some shots.IA isn't the best on T-70s, but it's solid help for the T-65. Garven Dreis (26)R2 Astromech (1)Integrated Astromech (0) "Hobbie" Klivian (25)Targeting Astromech (2)Integrated Astromech (0) Tarn Mison (23)R7 Astromech (2)Integrated Astromech (0) Airen Cracken (19)Veteran Instincts (1) Total: 99 View in Yet Another Squad Builder

You could do R2-D6 on Garven instead. Spend that point on VI for him?

You basically only use it as a 'last hit point'. Part of why it's kinda 'meh' imo, because if you had to throw out your trash can to live, you're now worse off and probably dead from the next attack anyway.

Which is better than being dead from the last attack??

better how? you still die.

And if not, you're limping along with no droid, no ways to dodge arcs, and one action.

It's better because, in the worst case*, you're making your opponent waste a whole extra round of maneuvers and shooting on your ship. That gives your other ships an additional round to get into good positions or get a head start on killing the ship that's about to take out your X-wing. In the better case, your ship both demands an extra round of fire from your opponent and gets another shot off itself before it goes down. In the best case, it takes out the ship about to kill it and forces the opponent to jump through yet more hoops in order to finish it off.

But whatever happens, having a ship on 1 hp is better than not having the ship. That cannot be argued with.

* Though I suppose the absolute worst case is you get overkilled such that IA can't save you... but if that's true, nothing would have saved you, so it's not IA's fault.

it's even better on higher PS

after Wedge loses all but one hull and his BB-8, he's still a potentially fully modified -1 agi PS 9 attack

integrated can, for 0 points, buy you a game changing turn

Hull upgrade is three points. Put integrated astro with a one point R2 Astro and it's basically the same thing, just two points cheaper.

I've never thought of Integrated Astromech in this way. This makes a lot of sense combined with IA being used as a last-resort-please-let-me-stay-on-the-board move.

Hull upgrade is three points. Put integrated astro with a one point R2 Astro and it's basically the same thing, just two points cheaper.

Nonono, MUCH MUCH better

1. it still gives you the bonus of astro for most of the life (ever seen an X making 2-hard-green after K-turn and not lousy 1-bank? EPIC)

2. it is not just HULL, it discards a card, so it's at least a shield

3. it's actually BETTER than shield, because it pops out after you read the crit text!

4. it's basically a 1-point Chewbakka-Cosplaying Astromech! that is STILL giving you the goodies!

I've been flying three T-65s lately, with Cracken, in formation. It's a fun list, and I can say that Integrated has saved my bacon NUMEROUS times. Sometimes it just prolongs your ship's life for one more round, but it's been enough to allow me to take down or do more damage to enemy ships before my ship dies. Other times, I've bought myself a few rounds of bugging out, and while my opponent is trying to hunt down the near-dead-T-65, his buddies get in some shots.IA isn't the best on T-70s, but it's solid help for the T-65. Garven Dreis (26)R2 Astromech (1)Integrated Astromech (0) "Hobbie" Klivian (25)Targeting Astromech (2)Integrated Astromech (0) Tarn Mison (23)R7 Astromech (2)Integrated Astromech (0) Airen Cracken (19)Veteran Instincts (1) Total: 99 View in Yet Another Squad Builder

You could do R2-D6 on Garven instead. Spend that point on VI for him?

Hmmm... I might try that, thanks!

Hull upgrade is three points. Put integrated astro with a one point R2 Astro and it's basically the same thing, just two points cheaper.

Nonono, MUCH MUCH better

1. it still gives you the bonus of astro for most of the life (ever seen an X making 2-hard-green after K-turn and not lousy 1-bank? EPIC)

2. it is not just HULL, it discards a card, so it's at least a shield

3. it's actually BETTER than shield, because it pops out after you read the crit text!

4. it's basically a 1-point Chewbakka-Cosplaying Astromech! that is STILL giving you the goodies!

Never mind what I said then lol. I don't play with it but I've seen it at my LGS, but after reading your post I might have to break down and put a team together with it.

What about sayy... Luke with R2D2? The Shield Upgrade can be reneged by R2 in this case, whereas the extra hit point from IA comes at the cost of giving up Regen forever. Meaning you're gonna die very soon after R2.

It still really only makes a very little difference; the only time it'd matter is if you were dropped to exactly one hull point and then 'got away' - in which case Luke is still gonna die very quickly because he's got one hull point and if he wants to use R2 is making a very predictable maneuver. I can't see the ship surviving long enough to get back to three shields.

And as noted, the counter-argument is what happens if the 4th or 5th point of damage you suffer is a crippling critical effect? Integrated Astromech helps. Shield Upgrade doesn't.

I'd still consider binning R2-D2 off a turn early if it's going to cost me blinded pilot at point blank range with an enemy ace.

Integrated Astromech's biggest downside is that it is sold with the T-70. And the T-70 is 'more viable' with Autothrusters. And once you have a Starviper or two, you'll want the Most Wanted expansion, because it is necessary for the Starvipers and you already have a Y-Wing, right?

So upgrading your X-Wings to make them 'viable' and get that ****ed jousting value op to par likely means starting a new faction.

Again... The only reason you wouldn't take IA is if you wanted to put on EU, or were using Trops, or Autothrusters on a T-70.

If you have an astromech on your X-Wing and nothing in the mod slot, there is literally no reason to not put IA on, assuming you own the card or are willing and able to proxy it.

There is never going to be a case where you're better off losing both the ship and the astromech. There is no astromech, there can be no astromech that is more effective than the ship it is on.

The X-Wing may very well get destroyed even after you eject the astro, but even then you're no worse off than you would be without IA.

Integrated Astromech's biggest downside is that it is sold with the T-70. And the T-70 is 'more viable' with Autothrusters. And once you have a Starviper or two, you'll want the Most Wanted expansion, because it is necessary for the Starvipers and you already have a Y-Wing, right?

So upgrading your X-Wings to make them 'viable' and get that ****ed jousting value op to par likely means starting a new faction.

Or buying cards from eBay.

T70s arent really better with thrusters

Low PS t70s rarely if ever get thrusters off. Even against tlts, boosting into range 1 will save you more damage

Poe is the obvious exception due to his ability (focus + thrusters = one green die can't **** you over)

Asty too, arguably if you load him up enough

Integrated Astromech's biggest downside is that it is sold with the T-70. And the T-70 is 'more viable' with Autothrusters. And once you have a Starviper or two, you'll want the Most Wanted expansion, because it is necessary for the Starvipers and you already have a Y-Wing, right?

So upgrading your X-Wings to make them 'viable' and get that ****ed jousting value op to par likely means starting a new faction.

Eh, I think that Autothrusters only works best on Poe as it works really well with his ability. At least on the Generic T-70s, IA's much better.

Integrated Astromech's biggest downside is that it is sold with the T-70. And the T-70 is 'more viable' with Autothrusters. And once you have a Starviper or two, you'll want the Most Wanted expansion, because it is necessary for the Starvipers and you already have a Y-Wing, right?

So upgrading your X-Wings to make them 'viable' and get that ****ed jousting value op to par likely means starting a new faction.

Or buying cards from eBay.

Honestly, the Starviper and T-70 are great expansions, I don't mind having those. And if I feel they're worth the price, I will pay.

It's not a complaint, but I am convinced that this mechanism is for a large part responsible for the popularity and commercial success of X-Wing. The perceived value of any expansion increases when it has 'fix cards' for ships you already have, and that effect goes on with each new wave. So players are willing to spend more.

Ello Asty and Blue Ace seem also pretty good candidates for Autothrusters, BTW...

Eh, I think that Autothrusters only works best on Poe

I don't understand what 'only works best' means. Something only works on Poe or works best on Poe, the combination of the two is for me unclear.

Eh, I think that Autothrusters only works best on Poe

I don't understand what 'only works best' means. Something only works on Poe or works best on Poe, the combination of the two is for me unclear.

That's my bad for having two trains of thought running side by side.

What I meant is that out of IA or Auto, I think that if you have the points, I think Auto could be the better option.