Putting rage on a defender seems like it could be good. They are not to terribly stressed about stress and that effectively gives you a focus and TL.
Vessery is probably the onLy one who wouldn't really want it.
And putting rage on youngster makes me want to try out a youngster swarm (as mentioned above). A Temper Tantrum list, or something clever like that.
Agreed. Rage is awesome for Youngster. It's advantage over 'normal' Howlrunner is that it doesn't matter if Howlrunner eats as laser bolt at PS2-11; the academy pilots still get their rerolls.
Yes, youngster probably won't survive the turn, but you can't kill him before he provides his benefit.
The problem is how to then deal with a double-stressed swarm.
You have two options for this squad that I can see:
If you're happy to mix in First Order and Empire units, the latter seems much better - Epsilon Leader is tough and will blank off the critical second stress token before it can be a problem. Again, since this happens "at the start of the combat phase" it's nigh impossible to lose him before his ability triggers, and as a comms-relay upgraded TIE/fo he's not exactly a fragile target.
Alternatively, accept the stress and use it. Black Squadron Pilots with Wired are only 15 points, so you can have five of them in tow and still have several points left to upgrade them.
Youngster essentially becomes a one-shot weapon at this point, but if you accept you're never getting actions again and don't even try to clear the stress, TIE fighters are actually pretty agile, and Wired is a pretty fair substitute for a focus token.
You could instead take Howlrunner instead of Mithel or Scourge - which gives you some ongoing, actionless attack boosts.
Edited by Magnus GrendelThe advantage youngster also has over howlrunner is that you do not need to fly in a tight formation. Epsilon Leader would force you back together, but I suppose it would let you take actions the turn after you rage.
Though I suppose in reality you will want him close, since if you are zooming hard to get into range one you would otherwise risk youngster getting out of range when all your academies move first...
Yep, the open formation is the key here. You can catch/bump an ace and pulverize it. Then just fly away and recover and go for a second run.
Its why Howlrunner is cycling out, range 1 makes the swarm to predictable versus aces. But at range 3 the game's open. I think the Puberty swarms are all about timing and not using the rage too early.
That's a balancing act. If you've got 7 academy pilots and Youngster he's got a massive crosshairs on his head if only because he's the only 'blip' from the norm.
At the same time, flying in loose packs is tempting. One thing I need to learn if I've got any hope of facing a YT-2400 Outrider is how to fly a 'dragnet' rather than a 'box' - and Rage helps this a lot because he can pass bonuses to a much larger swathe of the board.
Theoretically, you can fly Youngster somewhere where he's in range of the Academy Pilots, but out of range of an attacker. When you've got 7 pseudo-target-locked, focused attacks, you can afford to have one TIE fighter not shooting.
Edited by Magnus GrendelI think 4-LOL will like Rage.
Rage, Adv.Sensors specifically.
Dial in a green, use Adv.Sensors to rage. Gain two stress. Reveal Dial and execute a green move, remove a stress. End of turn, pass off stress on to someone else.
This combo also works with Farlander in that he will simply spend a stress instead and use the focus for defence. (I say defence but really, one evade dice against TLT is not going to save you.)
Additionally, Manaroo doesn't mind it. Use the ability to pass off everything to someone else but you retain your re-roll ability.
Guessing Blount wouldn't mind it either. In a single turn he can focus and re roll missiles, assuming you can give him a TL somehow.
Rage goes really good with so many things.
Rexler Brath, rage, mark 2 engine, evade title.
That's a triple action Rexy, who is being assigned evade tokens at high speed on the off turns. For the same price as a regular, naked Rexler.
Once per game maybe... Defenders hate stress and have difficulty shedding it.
Highlighted the part you may have missed in your haste to get your critique in.
Youngster + rage
7x Academy pilot
Anything at range 1 will die. 8 TIE's that at the oppertune moment can focus and 'targetlock'.... good game.
Just dont start spamming it. Wait for it, wait for it. Range 1/2 unload and watch stuff get wrecked. Its a poor mans Howlrunner but with triple range and nets you an additional ship!!! IMO this upgrade will make swarms insane.
Stop trying to make Youngster happen, it's not going to happen.
Well, it certainly won't with that negative attitude.
I posted this elsewhere, but don't forget about the Wookiee Rage
Chewbacca (YT-1300)
Keyan with Rage and FCS is also a good one. Gets an awesome shot, then next turn he either takes a green and does it again or doesn't but still has an effective Focus/Target Lock. Pair him with Jan is good for those Rage turns or Hera so that he can always make use of his many, many red maneuvers.
Yeah A Rexler/miniswarm just took 10th in a 50 man store championship in Atlanta a week ago. PTL, HLC, MK 2.
Don't tell me they can't handle stress.
Rage goes really good with so many things.
Rexler Brath, rage, mark 2 engine, evade title.
That's a triple action Rexy, who is being assigned evade tokens at high speed on the off turns. For the same price as a regular, naked Rexler.
Once per game maybe... Defenders hate stress and have difficulty shedding it.
Nope that build has ten greens to shed stress and going speed three or higher gives you an evade no matter what.
Your locked into old thinking from pre punisher days.
Having fully modified dice is of paramount importance. It's worth it, even on something like a Firespray that cannot ditch stress well.
I guess the thing with rage is that it's meant to be an all or nothing attack. You trigger rage when it's absolutely critical to deal a ton of damage that turn. It's a similar kind of deal with Glitterstim, it's a very short term effect thats typically deployed to hit above your weight.
NO NO NO to Rage on El Porko. It's no better than a Focus + Target Lock, but PTL doesn't give you double stress. Bringing R5-D8 can mitigate the downsides, but PTL can help you there too.
I could see 5 x Green Squadron A-wings w/ Test Pilot, Rage, and Wired. The idea is to come at them to get in R1 and Rage. Then, you zip out to clear stress. Rinse and repeat. You are not completely vulnerable due to wired. Hit and Run tactics.
I also wonder about:
Howlrunner
Youngster w/ Rage
5 x Obsidians
If you Rage and the next turn Howlrunner is still alive, you can still modify one die. Or, just use Howlrunner normal, but you have a backup with Youngster. This can work because Howlrunner requires you to be in formation, but she usually dies. So, you fly in formation until she dies or it breaks up. Then, you can use Youngster in a greater radius as you really swarm. Maybe even Howlrunner is still alive and you just Rage for those not in range?
NO NO NO to Rage on El Porko. It's no better than a Focus + Target Lock, but PTL doesn't give you double stress. Bringing R5-D8 can mitigate the downsides, but PTL can help you there too.
I do agree with this, even though I love Porkins. If you take R5-D8 and PTL, if you take the damage, you can then use the action to activate R5-D8. When doing that, there is only an 11% of still having the damage on at the end of the round.
Edited by heychadwickCan Epsilon Leader remove a stress from himself?
Can Epsilon Leader remove a stress from himself?
Yes, it doesn't specify other friendly ships, so it works on you too.
I have a feeling Rage could find a spot on Corran. He won't care about being stressed for two rounds, he loses weapons and then buzzes off to regen shields after double tapping anyways.
I have a feeling Rage could find a spot on Corran. He won't care about being stressed for two rounds, he loses weapons and then buzzes off to regen shields after double tapping anyways.
I thought about that, too, but doesn't he also like to use PTL to arc dodge into better positions more? Corran is one of those guys you can put all your points into b/c he's the main thing in your list.
Rage goes really good with so many things.
Rexler Brath, rage, mark 2 engine, evade title.
That's a triple action Rexy, who is being assigned evade tokens at high speed on the off turns. For the same price as a regular, naked Rexler.
Once per game maybe... Defenders hate stress and have difficulty shedding it.
As a couple of people have mentioned already, the MKII Engines really help with shedding the stress, and the Evade token when moving at speed three or higher combined with the white k-turn make the turns that you've got stress not so bad.
I think you are right though, Rage isn't something you use every change you get with Rexlar. I see using it like you would Double Tap on Corran. Wait until you'll have a nice and tasty range 1 shot that is likely to deal some hull damage and then pop it. You may only end up using it a couple times in a game, but it should be worth the one point when you do.
Edited by WWHSD
I have a feeling Rage could find a spot on Corran. He won't care about being stressed for two rounds, he loses weapons and then buzzes off to regen shields after double tapping anyways.
I thought about that, too, but doesn't he also like to use PTL to arc dodge into better positions more? Corran is one of those guys you can put all your points into b/c he's the main thing in your list.
Give him EI as well, he can spend three turns running, and still get his repositioning for the double tap.
You could rage on Soontir for a net of 3 focus tokens, a reroll (Which Soontir needs sometimes) then have a "Wingman" or Jendon covering his back to make it all better afterwards. You could also put it on a Advance sensor'd Starviper, 4-lom or Corran to do the action before a green move and mitigate that stress.
Think:
Corran
Adv. Sensor
BB-8
Rage
That's a cheap load out, pretty movable and has teeth.
I don't think it's good, but I like the idea of a Saber Squadron Pilot with Rage. 22 points and you get a 3 dice attack with Focus and full re-rolls. I'm 100% sure you're not getting offense anywhere any cheaper than that.
NO NO NO to Rage on El Porko. It's no better than a Focus + Target Lock, but PTL doesn't give you double stress. Bringing R5-D8 can mitigate the downsides, but PTL can help you there too.
I do agree with this, even though I love Porkins. If you take R5-D8 and PTL, if you take the damage, you can then use the action to activate R5-D8. When doing that, there is only an 11% of still having the damage on at the end of the round.
Just to be clear, Raging Porkins was a tongue-in-cheek suggestion. You could run him at 28 points with an R2 Astromech, and that is noticeably cheaper than PTL + R5-D8, but it's still not something I'd do.
I don't think it's good, but I like the idea of a Saber Squadron Pilot with Rage. 22 points and you get a 3 dice attack with Focus and full re-rolls. I'm 100% sure you're not getting offense anywhere any cheaper than that.
Prototype Pilot, Prockets, Chips?
I don't think it's good, but I like the idea of a Saber Squadron Pilot with Rage. 22 points and you get a 3 dice attack with Focus and full re-rolls. I'm 100% sure you're not getting offense anywhere any cheaper than that.
Prototype Pilot, Prockets, Chips?
And good luck getting those PS1 Proto's to actually line up the prockets.
I mean, it's technically cheaper, but the Saber is much more likely to get its attacks off and could, potentially, do it more than once.