Topic Title says it all.
I understand the need for BTL A4 for 2 stress tokens per attack, but with it being in a forward lock only, would it make sense to have a stress hog without it so that, although you get only 1 stress, you can at least do it in a 360 degree arc?
Just wanted to get peoples' thoughts on this.
Thanks!
I was saying something similar recently myself. given the dial, and the inability to clear stress, I personally prefer a turret.
R3-A2 only works in arc. You'd only give one stress to ships in arc and none to those out of arc.
That said, I played with R3-A2 on a Y-Wing with an Ion Turret before the title was released and was happy with it. I did also have 3 B-Wings with Tactician to help pile on the stress though.
Yes it is necessary as R3-A2 only works in arc, and 2 stress kills actions for at least 1 turn.
It's all about how you set up your stresshog for the fight. I can usually ensure that it stays effective by self bumping, blocking and engaging so you can stress one target then the next the following turn.
I usually make my opponents pay for ignoring him, and end up with 7+ stress on him by the time they beg for mercy 
BTL-a4 basically makes the stresshog what it is, only slightly less so than r3-a2
without the ability to double stress, it is many times less effective as a simple green will clear its effect
Edited by ficklegreendiceTopic Title says it all.
I understand the need for BTL A4 for 2 stress tokens per attack, but with it being in a forward lock only, would it make sense to have a stress hog without it so that, although you get only 1 stress, you can at least do it in a 360 degree arc?
Just wanted to get peoples' thoughts on this.
Thanks!
A single stress isn't enough to get the job, locking an action dependent enemy ace out of their actions, done unless your opponent is helping you out by stressing themselves with red maneuvers or PTL. The entire point of the Stresshog build is inflicting 2 stress tokens in a single attack, so that a single green manuever isn't all it takes to be able to act again. Nevermind the fact, as already pointed out by WWHSD, that R3-A2 only works on targets inside your firing arc anyway. Without BTL-A4 you're paying the same points for a ship that is basically an astromech-less TLT Y that doesn't have the same utility as the Stresshog.
1 Stress means take a green maneuver
2 Stress means you are denied an action and will need to take 2 greens
The TITLE takes it from being a nuisance to being a threat
An Ace missing actions is a fragile thing indeed.
I think it depends on the situation. Something I theory crafted recently was running Horton with 3 T-65 X Wings (one with R2-D2). On Horton I did the R3-A2 and an Ion Turret. My goal of the theory craft was to make it so you don't have to stress yourself as much. When you are stressing them, and ion'ing them at the same time, it makes it so they can't clear the stress (due to ion rules saying you must move with a 1 white straight).
Horton's ability allows him to re-roll all blanks at range 2 to 3. So all you do is follow the ship you are after in a parallel fashion. With a 2 straight you can clear the stress from the bot, while keeping it locked down (if you do it right).
I haven't attempted a Stresshog so who knows if my crazy theory will work. Just me.
I think folks have been spoiled by double-stress. Depending on what you are flying against, your own play style, and the make up of the rest of your list, it's quite possible that you'll like R3-A2 and TLT more without the title than with it.
The ability to toss out a single a stress is still powerful. It creates an area that ships with abilities like PTL want to stay clear of. It can keep enemy ships from K-Turning (or S-Looping or T-Rolling) the following round. It discourages your enemy from doing anything to gain stress and encourages them to ditch it as soon as possible. It disables BB-8 and Advanced Sensors.
If you are willing to spend 24 points for a ship that can deal damage out of arc, R3-A2 isn't a bad way to spend two more.
By naming nomenclature alone, the 'stresshog' is a variant of the 'ionhog', itself a nickname stolen for Y-wing's double-tap from the cannon-toting A-10 Warthog in american air service.
The nickname was for BTL-A4 toting Y-wings.
So yes, BLT-A4 title is needed for a stresshog... else it's not a stresshog. 
That said, mechanically speaking leaving a TLT unlinked isn't a bad upgrade anyway. You lose the extra-super-stress option... but you'll do more damage each game while the poor thing turns around and can at least shoot backwards. 
With Soontir and Vader and similar pilots, double-tapping stress has merely been an extremely effective tool, hence it's wild popularity of late.
Edited by Reiver
Y-wing: Horton Salm (25 + 9)+ Ion Torpedoes (5)+ Extra Munitions (2)+ R3-A2 (2)+ Guidance Chips (0)Sure you only Ion twice, but 4 dice with re-rolls and chips, and a regular stress hog dies after 2 shots anyway... The only problem is snagging the target lock (aaarrrrgg! Why doesn't Horton have an Elite slot?!?). I guess he pairs with VI Blount with tracers, VI Cracken, or some other TL giver. It's either awful, or I have doomed us all.
You can also combo him with Dutch Vander.
Y-wing: Horton Salm (25 + 9)+ Ion Torpedoes (5)+ Extra Munitions (2)+ R3-A2 (2)+ Guidance Chips (0)Sure you only Ion twice, but 4 dice with re-rolls and chips, and a regular stress hog dies after 2 shots anyway... The only problem is snagging the target lock (aaarrrrgg! Why doesn't Horton have an Elite slot?!?). I guess he pairs with VI Blount with tracers, VI Cracken, or some other TL giver. It's either awful, or I have doomed us all.
You can also combo him with Dutch Vander.
Sure, but the problem is, round 1 of combat the ace will move into range 3 after Dutch or Horton can grab a TL, so they won't be able to lock until round 2 of combat, when the ace will boost out of arc and/or into range 1, where Horton can't fire his torps. So to work, Horton needs a TL the same round the ace moves into range. If Dutch were PS 10 sure, but he can only VI up to 8, same as Horton.
All that said, Dutch with protons and chips + Horton + some way to give Dutch a lock after the ace moves = serious danger for the ace.
- Single stress is almost worthless against most targets
- Ion+stress is better, but you have to actually HIT with the ion, very hard against dodgy aces
- Stress bot only works in arc anyway, so yes, bring the title every time
Single stress is not worthless at all.
- If your opponent is using PTL, then a single stress will keep them from actually using it out of fear of a second token.
- It keeps your opponent from executing red maneuvers. This will all but shut down an Aggressor and will cause problems for the Lambda.
- Against ships with garbage green maneuvers (Y-Wings, TIE Advanced), it'll force them to make generally bad moves or live with stress. You also have a pretty good chance to keep enemies in arc after they execute a green, as most ships can only bank while clearing stress.
Fairly new to this, I was going with this: http://xwing-builder.co.uk/view/426029/xxys
|Going to try it Friday night, any comments or tweeks will be taken on board
Once Horton gets a load of stress he won't be able to target lock and fire his flechette torpedoes.
If your plan is to slow roll Horton and let off the torpedoes first then it could work out, but will you get two rounds of torpedo fire before they close on you...
Had two games where the streeshog lasted the whole match and ended up with 12 and 14 stress tokens on him. Both players said they thought it was over powered. I just pointed out that a K Wing with TLT and Tactician can deal out two stress a round at range 2, and a turret ship with gunner and tactician can do the same. The stresshog is a more effective delivery system though.
Y-wing: Horton Salm (25 + 9)
+ Ion Torpedoes (5)
+ Extra Munitions (2)
+ R3-A2 (2)
+ Guidance Chips (0)
Sure you only Ion twice, but 4 dice with re-rolls and chips, and a regular stress hog dies after 2 shots anyway... The only problem is snagging the target lock (aaarrrrgg! Why doesn't Horton have an Elite slot?!?). I guess he pairs with VI Blount with tracers, VI Cracken, or some other TL giver. It's either awful, or I have doomed us all.
You can also combo him with Dutch Vander.Y-wing: Horton Salm (25 + 9)
+ Ion Torpedoes (5)
+ Extra Munitions (2)
+ R3-A2 (2)
+ Guidance Chips (0)
Sure you only Ion twice, but 4 dice with re-rolls and chips, and a regular stress hog dies after 2 shots anyway... The only problem is snagging the target lock (aaarrrrgg! Why doesn't Horton have an Elite slot?!?). I guess he pairs with VI Blount with tracers, VI Cracken, or some other TL giver. It's either awful, or I have doomed us all.
Give Horton Flechettes, Targeting Astromech and Munitions Failsafe. He doesn't need to focus. Hell, he doesn't need to reroll if he doesn't want to hit. The flechettes will do their stress stuff. Maybe another pilot is more suitable for this.
Once Horton gets a load of stress he won't be able to target lock and fire his flechette torpedoes.
If your plan is to slow roll Horton and let off the torpedoes first then it could work out, but will you get two rounds of torpedo fire before they close on you...
Had two games where the streeshog lasted the whole match and ended up with 12 and 14 stress tokens on him. Both players said they thought it was over powered. I just pointed out that a K Wing with TLT and Tactician can deal out two stress a round at range 2, and a turret ship with gunner and tactician can do the same. The stresshog is a more effective delivery system though.
I did wonder whether to give the X wings the flechettes, for just that reason.
Given Horton's ability, you might consider Munitions Failsafe rather than GC.Y-wing: Horton Salm (25 + 9)
+ Ion Torpedoes (5)
+ Extra Munitions (2)
+ R3-A2 (2)
+ Guidance Chips (0)
Sure you only Ion twice, but 4 dice with re-rolls and chips, and a regular stress hog dies after 2 shots anyway... The only problem is snagging the target lock (aaarrrrgg! Why doesn't Horton have an Elite slot?!?). I guess he pairs with VI Blount with tracers, VI Cracken, or some other TL giver. It's either awful, or I have doomed us all.
Nah, the whole point is to ion+stress them, and Ion torps only work on a hit, GC is the optimal choice. Re-rolling 2 blanks for example is most likely to result in a hit+blank/focus, which GC can turn to hit if it's blank or if you don't have the focus (likely for shot 2). Also, he's unlikely to unload 3 shots anyway before being burned down, so an extra shot if you miss doesn't help much. Also, the Ion torps do normal damage if they hit, so max hits is desired.
The more I think about it, that hard to grab lock is just killer here, not sure it's going to work at all, and a joust is unlikely to result in a second Ion shot (though you could still primary stress them). Assuming I'm mathing right, if they are halfway through range 3, a 1 straight from both ships will be just inside range 1.
Now the second option with the flechettes... not sure it's worth it, I just don't like intentionally missing (exception for gunner+tactician combo attacks). Sure it's a guaranteed stress, eh. I'd rather have the +1 attack die on the Ions if nothing else, a 30+ point ship better put out some hits.
Edited by imprezagoateeI made a chart for this situation a while back, but i think its still relevant. (ignore the random numbers off to the side)
If your gold is the only control piece in your squad I would recommend running the ship with the title. Double stress is a big deal, and is what makes this ship so dangerous. If you are running lots of stress/ion control in your squad then things change. There might be a few corner cases where not taking the title makes sense, but I don't think there's very many. I would need to be convinced that you shouldn't take it.