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After a long delay we finally escaped that Wampa cave and are back at Echo Base! Tons of goodies for you guys today, over THREE HOURS OF NONSENSE! Check out the rundown to see what's wizard [cringe].

• [00:00:00]-[00:38:00] Interview with Worlds Top 16 player Drew Bishop
• [00:38:00]-[00:59:40] Game Balance and the TLT...are we being babies about it?
• [00:59:40]-[01:11:00] News: Hoth Open rewards and more.
• [01:11:00]-[01:49:30] The Punishing One is the ship Scum needs...and deserves.
• [01:49:30]-[02:22:00] Art of X-Wing: What is Fly Casual? Who are Fun Vampires?
• [02:22:00]-[02:29:00] Ethical Questions of Store Championships.
• [02:29:00]-[02:36:00] TIE/fo naming update!
• [02:36:00]-[02:46:00] TIE Advance ship highlight PART 2 (The Aces)
• [02:47:00]-[03:03:00] Upgrade Cards, Rookies Tips, and Advanced tips.
• [03:03:07]-[03:12:00] Closing Notes and SHOUT OUTS!

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TLT fix is simple. Make turret secondary weapons subject to defensive range bonuses.

I totally agree with above, I'd be happy with that. I think it's fair and because green dice are already not so trust worthy, so it won't wreck tlt, just make it a little more fair

TLT fix is simple. Make turret secondary weapons subject to defensive range bonuses.

Very good thought. I'll make a note of it to bring it up in the next podcast.

TLT fix is simple. Make turret secondary weapons subject to defensive range bonuses.

I think if you are shooting outside your normal firing arc this is ok, but I don't like it if the ships are in your arc.

I could live with that. I could also support all ranges bonuses applying to secondary turrets, since the others are not all that great. It would be consistent with the new Dorset Turret as well.

I could live with that. I could also support all ranges bonuses applying to secondary turrets, since the others are not all that great. It would be consistent with the new Dorset Turret as well.

I think this is a good solution. Maybe even making the BT playable. Probably not, but interesting.

My vote for Omega Ace is "Jackpot".

I could live with that. I could also support all ranges bonuses applying to secondary turrets, since the others are not all that great. It would be consistent with the new Dorset Turret as well.

At that point you'd have to question whether it's turrets only or all secondary weapons (for both close and long range bonuses). Cause prockets get even scarier if they get the range bonus...

Even for turrets, a 4 dice ion turret, 4 dice dorsal turret (doubles the attack value at range 1 from range 2), 4 dice blaster turret, etc could get scary.

TLT fix is simple. Make turret secondary weapons subject to defensive range bonuses.

There is an assumption here that it requires a fix.

Let's say that it does (just playing devil's advocate here): wouldn't that nerf TLT to the point of un-usability? Except in the case of the Stresshog, the one thing in this conversation that perhaps should be reeled in?

I personally find TLT unenjoyable, but that's not a balance issue. I'm still hoping for an R3-A2 errata for "once per turn".

It does not work with ordnance. There is only one range three secondary turret: TLT. The die has been cast for offensive range bonuses with Dorset turret, and the other turrets are not worth their cost relative to TLT. A range 1 bonus will fix that. It is a simple FAQ to make and I think it would tip TLT back to where it is still effective in keeping balance without wiping all the 1 AG ships out of use.

I'm still hoping for an R3-A2 errata for "once per turn".

I do not agree. You are dealing with a single range 2-3 Y-wing in arc. It is little different than a shock hawk (tactician and TLT on a hawk) except you know that there is only going to be one Y-wing double stressing you. I can put 4 shock hawks on the board, albeit that they are limited to just range 2, not 2-3. Further, they do not loose the 360-degree turret that the Y does with BTL-A4. R3-A2 is annoying, but limited and I believe easily dealt with.

Hate to break it to the hosts, but maarek stele is just gonna miss out on the distinction of being the first pilot

In multiple ships. Hera's gonna beat him to it by a few months, being on both the ghost and the shuttle . That said, I cant wait for imp vets, the defender has been one of my favorite ships since xwing alliance, and was one of the first ships i got in this game, only to be disappointed that it wasnt that great a ship. Looking forward to trying it again at some point (though im all in scum nowadays)

I'm still hoping for an R3-A2 errata for "once per turn".

I do not agree. You are dealing with a single range 2-3 Y-wing in arc. It is little different than a shock hawk (tactician and TLT on a hawk) except you know that there is only going to be one Y-wing double stressing you. I can put 4 shock hawks on the board, albeit that they are limited to just range 2, not 2-3. Further, they do not loose the 360-degree turret that the Y does with BTL-A4. R3-A2 is annoying, but limited and I believe easily dealt with.

Shock HWKs are victims of their terrible dials.

I've adapted to arc dodging and PS killing Stresshogs, but to say that they are /easily/ dealt with is an overstatement. When various X-Wing luminaries start their squad building with those 26 points as a sunk standard cost, maaaaaybe it's a little out of hand.

Just because one guy (ok, a really good notable guy) starts every list with a stress hog does not make them OP. He has also said that every imperial list should start with Soontir Fel, so should we nerf that too? All factions have a PIA to work around. All factions have their own strong points, be it stress, cloaking, regen, high red/green dice, or trickery.

Personally, I greatly prefer dealing with a single stress hog than two Scum TLT's, a Decimator, Fat Han, or TLT K-wings. Giving a range 3 defensive bonus will lessen the pain even if it does still dish out two stress.

You discuss about how to further nerf Whisper? Really? Is this neccessary?

I'd errata Rhymers pilot card to cost 23 points.

It just makes sense.

+1 Rhymer errata.

I don't think we ever discussed nerfing Whisper further...

Somebody also completely misunderstood my Fly Casual rant. I must be a terrible communicator; gonna listen to the episode myself right now.

[EDIT: Okay, I discuss the elements of the Phantom that I believe led to it breaking the environment. When the meta collapsed a year ago into two squads, it was clearly a problem. I wasn't advocating nerfing it further.]

Wasn't it suggested to assign a stress token to a Phantom each time it decloaks?

I listened with one ear only (multitasking, you know) ... so I might be wrong.

But my impression is there was a discussion about Whisper is too strong ...

I agree with the TLT menace and I support to grant the defender the range 3 bonus.

This wouldn't help agility 1 ships that much - but we would probably see lesser TLT lists and this would help agility 1 ships indirectly.

Concerning Lists including Attanni Mindlink:

I call this Mandalorian Twins.

Mandalorian Mercenary (50) x 2
Firespray-31 (35), Heavy Laser Cannon (7), Recon Specialist (3), Attanni Mindlink (1), Engine Upgrade (4)

Maybe difficult to fly - but you need only one focus action to have 2 focus tokens assigned to each.

leaving one of the two to use Engine Upgrade or Target Lock for a good chance to score 4 hits with the HLC.

And If you need to K-Turn, just make sure you do a green move with the other ship to again assign 2 focus tokens to both.

Thats my list to go as soon as Attanni Mindlink is available.

TLT fix is simple. Make turret secondary weapons subject to defensive range bonuses.

There is an assumption here that it requires a fix.

Let's say that it does (just playing devil's advocate here): wouldn't that nerf TLT to the point of un-usability? Except in the case of the Stresshog, the one thing in this conversation that perhaps should be reeled in?

I personally find TLT unenjoyable, but that's not a balance issue. I'm still hoping for an R3-A2 errata for "once per turn".

TLT would still be strong. In reality its only a slight nerf and it really only helps ships with 3 agility naturally. I find that even with 3 agility, TLTs still will punch through at least once. 1 agility ships would still be shot to bits and it gives 2 agility ships a slight chance at range 3. What it will do is force the TLT pilot to have a bit more care in how he pilots his ship. Right now all you care about is keeping an enemy ship out of range 1 if you are a Y-wing. With a defensive range bonus, you'll try and get a target in that range 2 band where your TLT will be more effective.

Personally I think if you equip a TLT it should disable your primary altogether. Like the Outrider title. That gives something with a TLT a true donut hole. It also kind of nerfs the Stressbot as it will only be able to throw out 1 stress with TLT. That might be too drastic, but I think something should be done to nerf TLTs a bit.

I think dumping the primary makes sense on ships that have a turret as their primary, e.g. the K-Wing. How do you realistically have two turrets on a small based ship anyway? You cannot do it with a fixed primary because it could void the BTL-A4 title...maybe not. Most of the other ships except the Ghost that can take a turret have crap for a primary.

I still favor leaving the stressbot alone. They just don't bother me. Having one ship in the game that has the ability to dish two stress is fine with me; especially since it is not all that great ship otherwise. When the new Tie Bomber title is out, I know we will see Mara Jade and Rebel Captive being carted around the board like a flying Ebola virus. Stress is just one facet of the game that is starting to get several tools for application.

Concerning Lists including Attanni Mindlink:

I call this Mandalorian Twins.

Mandalorian Mercenary (50) x 2

Firespray-31 (35), Heavy Laser Cannon (7), Recon Specialist (3), Attanni Mindlink (1), Engine Upgrade (4)

Maybe difficult to fly - but you need only one focus action to have 2 focus tokens assigned to each.

leaving one of the two to use Engine Upgrade or Target Lock for a good chance to score 4 hits with the HLC.

And If you need to K-Turn, just make sure you do a green move with the other ship to again assign 2 focus tokens to both.

Thats my list to go as soon as Attanni Mindlink is available.

Not how the mindlink works. Recspec only works on the focus action itself so the ship that performs the focus action gets two focusiis but the other ship only gets one.

The die has been cast for offensive range bonuses with Dorset turret...

Huh? What do Dorsal Turrets have to do with offensive range bonuses?

You get +1 attack die at range 1.

Even for turrets, a 4 dice ion turret, 4 dice dorsal turret (doubles the attack value at range 1 from range 2), 4 dice blaster turret, etc could get scary.

It would be a huge boost for the Autoblaster Turret and it would make the Autoblaster Cannon an even worse deal. 5 points for three dice in arc or 2 points for 3 dice that can shoot out of arc.