Found footage of the Imperial Veterans design group.

I have been waiting so long to confirm that this is a thing I will be doing.Glaive Squadron Pilot (34)Juke (2)Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)TIE/x7 (-2)Glaive Squadron Pilot (34)Juke (2)Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)TIE/x7 (-2)Delta Squadron Pilot (30)Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)TIE/x7 (-2)Total: 99View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Ignore that because it hasn't updated to include the new Defender pilots yet

While I do dig the Mk II engine, I have to think this one would be a lot more fun...

2x Glaive + x7 + Juke

Ryad + x7 + Adaptability

hehehehe....Triple-6s!

(That said, while it'd be a heck of a lot of fun to fly...I don't see it taking down a U-boat wolfpack any time soon)

I thought about that! It was very tempting to toss Ryad in there too BUT one of my absolute favourite things in the entire game is the White 4-K of a Delta Defender. You see it coming. You know it's going to happen. And there isn't a thing you can do to stop it.

Having a PS1 blocker as sturdy as an x7 Delta has been a huge part of my game since the titles were spoiled. It can punch above its weight class and can mess with even the best PS8+ pilots.

I am fawning over Ryad like a school boy but she deserves a list that suits her; locking your list at PS6 is too rigid for someone of her magnificent capacities. In my opinion, anyway. She might actually be the first PtL/EU Defender I've ever run, for example.

I came up with a very similar list, but dropped the 3 Mk2s and the initiative bid for an Engine Upgrade on the Delta. The idea would be to swoop in for a long range block and then K-turn in behind the opposing group to get shots from both directions. I'm not sure which is better.

I really like the way the new defender meta is going to solidify PS around the 5-7 mark.

I'll be honest, I gasped when I saw Ryad's ability. That's amazing.

This! It will be so much fun!

Even at the one-point level, I'd probably prefer Crack Shot over Calculation. Calculation gives you the crit, but it could be dodged or forced into hitting shields. Crack Shot can be saved until you know that the crit you just rolled will actually push into hull, where it can do the most damage.

Crack Shot is great, but works once. For a pilot like Maarek, he's probably the one time I'd say to take Calculation. That Focus is super handy anyway and when you're only modifying one eyeball anyway it's always a solid upgrade to a crit.

Crit fishing with Maarek is one of the best-kept secrets of the game honestly. Being able to choose a Direct Hit to finish off an Ace or even just slap a generic fighter with a Blinded Pilot that round can really throw the game in Stele's favour.

I've been quite successful using Calculation on Maarek Stele. When coupled with ATC and Palpatine, Stele becomes extremely deadly, and typically either draws all of my opponent's attention (Leaving Vader to destroy everything with no resistance), or catches them completely off guard and lands 7 damage on one of their large ships, completely swaying the game in my favor.

I'm honestly having a hard time justifying to myself the upgrade from TIE Advanced to TIE Defender for Stele. I get it for thematic purposes, but the Advanced just seems like a much more affordable and effective way to capitalize on his ability to me. Yeah, the Defender has a better dial and one more shield, but the cost in comparison is pretty ridiculous compared to the x1 version of him.

Advanced Stele with Calculation and ATC: 29 points.

Defender Stele with Calculation and Mangler Cannon: 40 points.

Both get you roughly the same number of crits. Sure, the Advanced takes a turn to get the Target Lock (Though I tend to fly him with ST-321 Palp Jendon, which offsets that disadvantage), but at 11 points cheaper, it's much easier to fit into a list.

On the whole, I think I'll very rarely pick Stele in a Defender over Stele in an Advanced. Ryad, on the other hand, I'll be having a field day with when Veterans comes out.

I don't actually think I disagreed with anything you said. I said there aren't any pure jousters, you said, "you're wrong, here's a list of successful jousters". All of the three that you listed that also do stuff well other than jousting. Both Crack Shot and Scouts fall directly into the categories I described. Scouts sort of get both categories with both good area control and massive upfront damage.

Right, but, in theory, if you had a ship that could ONLY joust, but was super cheap, then you could bring so much firepower to bear that you wouldn't need any special tricks to stay competitive. It's an important distinction in fundamental game design, from FFG's point of view. For the health of the game you actually need a viable pure jousting archetype to exist.

As an extreme example, if the X-wing were only 15 points, then it would obviously do extremely well even against Palp Aces that could outmaneuver it. Because you would bring 6 of them and still have points to spare for upgrades.

But, no such ship exists in X-wing (even a more balanced, less extreme example). The TIE/A-wing Crackswarm is close, but that points more to the power creep from Crackshot than the ship itself being good. All the other best jousting ships in the game currently ALSO have some "extra" thing: Palp Aces have maneuverability, and U-boats have turrets to fall back on after the torpedoes are gone.

Even at the one-point level, I'd probably prefer Crack Shot over Calculation. Calculation gives you the crit, but it could be dodged or forced into hitting shields. Crack Shot can be saved until you know that the crit you just rolled will actually push into hull, where it can do the most damage.

Crack Shot is great, but works once. For a pilot like Maarek, he's probably the one time I'd say to take Calculation. That Focus is super handy anyway and when you're only modifying one eyeball anyway it's always a solid upgrade to a crit.

Crit fishing with Maarek is one of the best-kept secrets of the game honestly. Being able to choose a Direct Hit to finish off an Ace or even just slap a generic fighter with a Blinded Pilot that round can really throw the game in Stele's favour.

I've been quite successful using Calculation on Maarek Stele. When coupled with ATC and Palpatine, Stele becomes extremely deadly, and typically either draws all of my opponent's attention (Leaving Vader to destroy everything with no resistance), or catches them completely off guard and lands 7 damage on one of their large ships, completely swaying the game in my favor.

I'm honestly having a hard time justifying to myself the upgrade from TIE Advanced to TIE Defender for Stele. I get it for thematic purposes, but the Advanced just seems like a much more affordable and effective way to capitalize on his ability to me. Yeah, the Defender has a better dial and one more shield, but the cost in comparison is pretty ridiculous compared to the x1 version of him.

Advanced Stele with Calculation and ATC: 29 points.

Defender Stele with Calculation and Mangler Cannon: 40 points.

Both get you roughly the same number of crits. Sure, the Advanced takes a turn to get the Target Lock (Though I tend to fly him with Jendon, which offsets that disadvantage), but at 11 points cheaper, it's much easier to fit into a list.

On the whole, I think I'll very rarely pick Stele in a Defender over Stele in an Advanced. Ryad, on the other hand, I'll be having a field day with when Veterans comes out.

I agree that Defender Stele with Calculation and a Mangler is a bad idea. I'm not sure that any Defender pilot would ever want to spend more than 3 points on a cannon ever again once Veterans comes out. I'd much rather run x7 Stele with Calculation, which is only 34 points. For the extra five point difference, he gets much better survivability: a free Evade token, an extra point of shielding, plus a much better dial.

Although on further review I was unclear, my intent was to discuss ships that actually existed in the game. So I should have said something like "of the ships in the game right now, to be a successful jouster, you need to have something else you can do well as well".

I see where our disconnect was, and I agree that there's nothing inherently wrong with an X-wing type pure jouster if priced properly.

I'd like to thank the local player who ran dual Defenders at my first tournament in January for prompting me to buy one, and for Biophysical's batreps with Zeta and Omega for inspiring my second (and fourth) tournament.

Not having played the computer games way back, I'm not sure I would have found the Defenders quickly enough on my own. I do not regret for a minute preordering two sets of imperial veterans. The way Defenders flew just clicked with me, adding the Countess and the titles is beyond cool. This will make it hard to run something other than Defender(s) + friends for quite a while!

I can't wait to zip around with those new toys, and I may just clear stress this time, as opposed to mixing k-turns and 1 banks to adjust angles!

Looking forward to triple Onyx, X7, and Hull Upgrade. That is a lot of health to chew through.

Hi Folks!!! As promised, here is an update for the two new movement cards for our awesome new Pilot Countess Ryad (including with a Mk. II upgrade). God bless !

(Please note that the link has the full size movement cards - this is just a preview)

P.S. - What a most, awesome, exciting, stupendous and fraaaannnnttaaaassssticcc new Pilot!!! Yipee! Thank you FFG!!!!

[Edit: Added Thumbnail preview of new movement cards]

I'm glad they realized the situationalness of Stele's ability and priced him accordingly.

I'd prefer he be more expensive and have not quite so situational an ability, but yeah.

Think it could be a viable build? Would have to be D, though, so might as well add a Beam. 42 points with Calculation, TIE/D, Tractor Beam, Homing Missile, Guidance Chips.

I would think Marksmanship+Cluster Missile would be better than Calculation+Homing Missile.

Playing against my sons, I get to try out many "less than optimal" squads and learn something about how ships fly.

Over the weekend, I flew 2 naked Deltas and a naked patrol leader. Efficient? Naw. But you do realize the potential of the underlying chassis. I honestly think the X7 title would put Defenders on the table and into tourneys even without the point reduction.

I'm glad they realized the situationalness of Stele's ability and priced him accordingly.

I'd prefer he be more expensive and have not quite so situational an ability, but yeah.

I'm glad they realized the situationalness of Stele's ability and priced him accordingly.

I'd prefer he be more expensive and have not quite so situational an ability, but yeah.

Just means Mangler Maarek starts at 39 instead of 40, which I am fine with.

PTL Countess Ryad + Engine Upgrade can effectively perform a green speed 0 K-turn

Hi Folks!!! As promised, here is an update for the two new movement cards for our awesome new Pilot Countess Ryad (including with a Mk. II upgrade). God bless !

P.S. - What a most, awesome, exciting, stupendous and fraaaannnnttaaaassssticcc new Pilot!!! Yipee! Thank you FFG!!!!

Seeing a visual representation of the dial w/ MKII is absurd.

http://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Galactic%20Empire&d=v4!s!193:106,-1,-1:33:-1:;195:18,-1,-1:33:-1:;190:140,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1:35:17:u.183,u.95&sn=Unnamed%20Squadron

*swoons*

In fact, longtime X-Wing players often refer to the "jousting value" of a given ship, meaning the raw efficiency of its attack, agility, hull, and shield values when compared to the ship's squad point cost and a valuation of the maneuverability of its dial. With the TIE/x7 Title, the TIE defender vaults to the top of the list not only for its combat potential but also for raw efficiency.

That's downright f***ing cynical on the T-65. Which can do nothing but joust... poorly.

Marek with dead eye and advanced homing missiles. Ok BYE Corran!

But Marek can do that, for less points, with an advanced since always. Or not?

Springtime for Ryad, and the Empire!

Winter, for Rebels, and Scum!

Hi Folks!!! As promised, here is an update for the two new movement cards for our awesome new Pilot Countess Ryad (including with a Mk. II upgrade). God bless !

(Please note that the link has the full size movement cards - this is just a preview)

P.S. - What a most, awesome, exciting, stupendous and fraaaannnnttaaaassssticcc new Pilot!!! Yipee! Thank you FFG!!!!

[Edit: Added Thumbnail preview of new movement cards]

It's worth noting that she still has the white 4k, useful if someone is using the old damage deck and draws Injured Pilot, or has the new deck and draws Shaken Pilot (which I'm a little unclear on about its interaction with Ryad, but I could see it going against her).

But, no such ship exists in X-wing (even a more balanced, less extreme example). The TIE/A-wing Crackswarm is close, but that points more to the power creep from Crackshot than the ship itself being good. All the other best jousting ships in the game currently ALSO have some "extra" thing: Palp Aces have maneuverability, and U-boats have turrets to fall back on after the torpedoes are gone.

So you dont count FCS Lothal Rebel?

I can't wait. Nope. I just can't. I'll have 4 Defenders and can actually fly 3 at a time. It just won't get any better till I play Epic and can fly all 4 at once. :D

But, no such ship exists in X-wing (even a more balanced, less extreme example). The TIE/A-wing Crackswarm is close, but that points more to the power creep from Crackshot than the ship itself being good. All the other best jousting ships in the game currently ALSO have some "extra" thing: Palp Aces have maneuverability, and U-boats have turrets to fall back on after the torpedoes are gone.

So you dont count FCS Lothal Rebel?

I would argue that Lothal Rebel has a useful position control game by virtue of being a PS3 large base, although.

I can't wait. Nope. I just can't. I'll have 4 Defenders and can actually fly 3 at a time. It just won't get any better till I play Epic and can fly all 4 at once. :D

Well technically, to run this you will have 5 defenders. SO, get some Epic in and run all of em!