I don't think they'll break their trend of another preview before the release announcement, but you're right, there isn't a huge amount left that we haven't seen:
Second Bomber Pilot
Countess Ryad
Price of Glaive Squadron
One upgrade. Looks like a Systems Officer Crew member
Also, I've said it before, but I'm undoubtedly running 5x Scimitars with Shuttle and Tactician. The remaining 5 points will either go on Mara Jade - because all the stress - or Mk2 engines.
It's stupid. It has almost no damage output. It's not especially maneuverable. It's not especially tanky.
...but I'll be able to stack stress on Poe so much he'll try to change his name to Tycho, and I can finally show him what frustration is...
I'm pumped for all the Bomber stuff. Bombers are my favorite ship in the game and now we get more bomber stuff.
Though i'm not as excited about long range scanners as I feel guidance chips may be a better use of the mod slot.
Long Range Scanners is going to be awesome for any bomber that you include as a blocker in your list. Pay 16 points for a Scimitar Squadron Pilot, a handful of points for an ordinance upgrade, and 0 points for LRS. This allows for immediate firing of ordnance as soon as you come into range with a focus token. From then on, taking target locks don't matter. However, I agree that for any ordnance carrier that is destined for more than an alpha strike, Guidance Chips are the way to go.
So how many preview articles do people think we're going to get, total, for this product? Obviously we've already had one, and I don't imagine another one is going to come out until it's nearly here (either when they hit the boat or hit the docks) to remind people that it's out there. Do people think there's enough there to release an article in the middle? Kinda depends on how they decide to split the info up.
I can't see that it's likely they will release more than one more preview before release.
I'm pumped for all the Bomber stuff. Bombers are my favorite ship in the game and now we get more bomber stuff.
Though i'm not as excited about long range scanners as I feel guidance chips may be a better use of the mod slot.
Long Range Scanners is going to be awesome for any bomber that you include as a blocker in your list. Pay 16 points for a Scimitar Squadron Pilot, a handful of points for an ordinance upgrade, and 0 points for LRS. This allows for immediate firing of ordnance as soon as you come into range with a focus token. From then on, taking target locks don't matter. However, I agree that for any ordnance carrier that is destined for more than an alpha strike, Guidance Chips are the way to go.
I'm looking forward to LRS more than Guidance Chip. I've mentioned it a number of times in the other thread, but just last night I really wanted it. I played a game vs. a relatively new player, but he's also studied up on things like the Rule of 11. He had never played vs. Bombers before. In my first game I was able to destroy his list pretty fast without losing a single Bomber. It was so fast, we racked and stacked to replay as no one else was open.
In the next game, he was savvy to my moves with the Tie Bomber. PS 2 can have a hard time getting TL. Now, I'm cagey and clever, but there is only so much I can work with when it comes to getting those TL. He didn't try to flank this time, which made it harder. He zoomed in hard before I could get the TL. Now, I was able to make a cluster in the middle and drop bombs on him. Wedge died to regular laser fire, but I did lose a Tie Bomber with another hurt. We played a cagey came after that of lots of 1 moves or fast speed moves (little middle moves). I finally did win, but only had 2 Bombers left. If I had been able to get my TL easy on the approach, it would've been a much shorter and easier game for me. Even Guidance Chip wouldn't have helped that much b/c I never really was able to get the TL and have them in arc in R2-3.
I find the 5 K-turn or the 3 hard turn gives you enough space to grab a TL on enemy ships more often than you would think. The 5 K-turn gets you far enough away and a 1 green forward clears it while your opponents are usually still beyond R2.
Onyx Squadron, D title, Tbeam
5x Obsidian Squadron.
98
I'm really looking forward to using both. I'm planning on Rexlar and a pair of chipped Gammas. It'll take a bit of testing to decide how to equip Rexlar, but every spare point will go into making the Gammas as hideous as possible. Should be fun.
Im looking forward to playing this
Delta Squadron pilot 30 pts
Tie X7 -2 pts
Tie mk 2 1 pt
Delta Squadron pilot 30 pts
Tie X7 -2 pts
Tie mk 2 1 pt
Patrol Leader 40 pts
Agent callus 2 pts
total 100 pts
What do you guys think of this?
Vessery:
VI, TIE D, Tractor Beam
Rexlar:
Rage, Tie mk2, X7
Omega Leader:
Juke, Comm Relay
Total: 100
What do you guys think of this?
Vessery:
VI, TIE D, Tractor Beam
Rexlar:
Rage, Tie mk2, X7
Omega Leader:
Juke, Comm Relay
Total: 100
Hmm... rage gives Rex his token, and allows more rerolls than Predator. But I must ask, how does that make it better than something like, say, PtL for the Target Lock and then Focus? TL still gives rerolls, only you don't have to clear two stress tokens. Also PtL gives you the chance to do something like focus and barrel roll out of arc, with maybe a TL from last round. Not to say your idea is bad, but I don't see how it's more helpful than some alternatives.
What do you guys think of this?
Vessery:
VI, TIE D, Tractor Beam
Rexlar:
Rage, Tie mk2, X7
Omega Leader:
Juke, Comm Relay
Total: 100
Hmm... rage gives Rex his token, and allows more rerolls than Predator. But I must ask, how does that make it better than something like, say, PtL for the Target Lock and then Focus? TL still gives rerolls, only you don't have to clear two stress tokens. Also PtL gives you the chance to do something like focus and barrel roll out of arc, with maybe a TL from last round. Not to say your idea is bad, but I don't see how it's more helpful than some alternatives.
The other option I was thinking of was dropping the Omega Leader and adding in PTL and two Academy Pilots. The Pilots would obviously act as blockers while the Defenders do their thing - and Omega Leader wants to have something TLd anyways for Vessery to deal with.
I like Juke/x7 on Rexler. 3-speed moves give him the evade, juke gives him a potent offensive mod, and he can take a focus action to proc his ability.
What do you guys think of this?
Vessery:
VI, TIE D, Tractor Beam
Rexlar:
Rage, Tie mk2, X7
Omega Leader:
Juke, Comm Relay
Total: 100
Hmm... rage gives Rex his token, and allows more rerolls than Predator. But I must ask, how does that make it better than something like, say, PtL for the Target Lock and then Focus? TL still gives rerolls, only you don't have to clear two stress tokens. Also PtL gives you the chance to do something like focus and barrel roll out of arc, with maybe a TL from last round. Not to say your idea is bad, but I don't see how it's more helpful than some alternatives.
The other option I was thinking of was dropping the Omega Leader and adding in PTL and two Academy Pilots. The Pilots would obviously act as blockers while the Defenders do their thing - and Omega Leader wants to have something TLd anyways for Vessery to deal with.
Actually if you swap Rage for PtL that means both of Vessery's wingmen will be grabbing TLs often, which helps both the group and the individual.
I'm just excited because my favorite ship, is painted 'almost' Ferrari red.
The TIE-D may speed in combat to get that free evade, but back home they dive it slow big pimpin' so everyone can turn their head and watch as they fly by.
Sometimes it is about the looks as much as it is the meta, cards, or upgrades.
I'M SO FREAKING EXCITED ABOUT IMPERIAL VETERANS!!!!!!!!!!
It's dream come true! Defenders and bombers getting so much love, aces and utility/support, double tap, awesome upgrades, everything is just making me drool. My two favorite TIEs are getting the aces treatment and nearly everything has already been apoiled to make me want it even more! This is the kind of release I've been waiting for since, well, phantoms and PWTs took over. The only thing not in this box that is the number one thing I've been wanting from this game since day one, and I'm sure you can guess.
Anyway, can't wait to fit super vessery in as many lists as I can. Can't wait for Jonus to be worth his points with those crew slots. Rexler being awesome with action economy. STELE IN A DEFENDER, nuff said.
This box, the raider, the Gozanti, /fo and TAP can really brought Imps back into the game and counter all the better rebel toys andn tricks. Just can't wait! But I must.
Actually if you swap Rage for PtL that means both of Vessery's wingmen will be grabbing TLs often, which helps both the group and the individual.The other option I was thinking of was dropping the Omega Leader and adding in PTL and two Academy Pilots. The Pilots would obviously act as blockers while the Defenders do their thing - and Omega Leader wants to have something TLd anyways for Vessery to deal with.Hmm... rage gives Rex his token, and allows more rerolls than Predator. But I must ask, how does that make it better than something like, say, PtL for the Target Lock and then Focus? TL still gives rerolls, only you don't have to clear two stress tokens. Also PtL gives you the chance to do something like focus and barrel roll out of arc, with maybe a TL from last round. Not to say your idea is bad, but I don't see how it's more helpful than some alternatives.What do you guys think of this?
Vessery:
VI, TIE D, Tractor Beam
Rexlar:
Rage, Tie mk2, X7
Omega Leader:
Juke, Comm Relay
Total: 100
If I kept omega leader I would have to drop Juke or comms relay from the Omega Leader, as both Vessery and Rexlar are running pretty bare bones as it is. I suppose it's not. A huge deal for Omega Leader to lose one of them, but it hurts his already meh damage output. I suppose two only mildly modified dice with juke and evade action after the first TL is still better than nothing.
Hmm... rage gives Rex his token, and allows more rerolls than Predator. But I must ask, how does that make it better than something like, say, PtL for the Target Lock and then Focus? TL still gives rerolls, only you don't have to clear two stress tokens. Also PtL gives you the chance to do something like focus and barrel roll out of arc, with maybe a TL from last round. Not to say your idea is bad, but I don't see how it's more helpful than some alternatives.
Oooor... Just give him predator/lone wolf/juke and not have to worry about being stressed at all. Granted, you lose the focus/BR option, but you'll never regret having used PtL the round before you wanted to 3 turn/4k.
Hmm... rage gives Rex his token, and allows more rerolls than Predator. But I must ask, how does that make it better than something like, say, PtL for the Target Lock and then Focus? TL still gives rerolls, only you don't have to clear two stress tokens. Also PtL gives you the chance to do something like focus and barrel roll out of arc, with maybe a TL from last round. Not to say your idea is bad, but I don't see how it's more helpful than some alternatives.
Oooor... Just give him predator/lone wolf/juke and not have to worry about being stressed at all. Granted, you lose the focus/BR option, but you'll never regret having used PtL the round before you wanted to 3 turn/4k.
Have you flown a Mk. II Defender? They have 10 greens. Pretty much the only viable move you can take that wouldn't destress you is the 3 Turn (and you'd still have an evade token for it with x7).
Have you flown a Mk. II Defender? They have 10 greens. Pretty much the only viable move you can take that wouldn't destress you is the 3 Turn (and you'd still have an evade token for it with x7).
For shame. You forgot the 4k. A defender's favourite move! 
Have you flown a Mk. II Defender? They have 10 greens. Pretty much the only viable move you can take that wouldn't destress you is the 3 Turn (and you'd still have an evade token for it with x7).
Yeah, I've been flying one in the Vassal league (Vessery/D, though, not /x7). Still, I don't think it's worth it, since those 10 greens don't typically give you a lot of options compared to the remaining white and red moves (turns and the 4k).
I am super excited about this expansion. Finally the Defender will become playable.
But the question I am asking is; will it be competitive? I have been playing around with builds and most variants of the Defender seem to clock in at around 35 points or more. At that number you really have to ask yourself if they are better than a fully kitted Vader or Fel. If not, then they just get thrown onto the big pile of stuff that 'just don't cut it'.
Mk.ii isn't much use on vessery but it makes all the difference on rexler when you put PTL on him he gets to use the TL to reroll his dice and a focus to use his ability.
X7 gives him three actions and he tears big ships a new one.
I am super excited about this expansion. Finally the Defender will become playable.
But the question I am asking is; will it be competitive? I have been playing around with builds and most variants of the Defender seem to clock in at around 35 points or more. At that number you really have to ask yourself if they are better than a fully kitted Vader or Fel. If not, then they just get thrown onto the big pile of stuff that 'just don't cut it'.
My biggest concern regarding using fel or vader is their weakness to the heavy stress meta I am currently seeing at my local area. The majority of lists have either the stress ywing or tactician on some ship. Vader and fel are worthless if they can't perform their multiple actions, as are many other aces such as poe. In my store championship, i saw many fel's become useless as a stresshog piled stress after stress on him.
x7 defender or tie/D vessery are relatively immune to stress, which can give them an edge against stress based control lists. It all does depend on your local meta and what you play against on a regular basis.
After seeing the Punisher preview I got a little curious about Mindlink Defenders. With Vessery and two Glaives making a 3-speed move, with Vessery taking a focus and the Glaives target locks, you basically have three stressless triple action ships.
After seeing the Punisher preview I got a little curious about Mindlink Defenders. With Vessery and two Glaives making a 3-speed move, with Vessery taking a focus and the Glaives target locks, you basically have three stressless triple action ships.
Sadly Mindlink is Scum Only otherwise it would indeed be excellent for Defender squads.
