People, now we are in trouble.
TIE Defender: · Maarek Stele (35)
Juke (2)
TIE/x7 (-2)
TIE Defender: · Countess Ryad (34)
Push The Limit (3)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
TIE/x7 (-2)
Lambda-Class Shuttle: Omicron Group Pilot (21)
· Emperor Palpatine (8)
Yes! YES! I must haves it now!
So with childish glee I mentioned to my regular group of x wingers about the Defenders I use are finally going to become the superiority fighter they were destined to be and I was met with:
"PS5 is too low to make that ability useful"
"They all cost too much"
"Speed 3 is too fast for it is be constantly useful."
"Why would you ever take one over Vader or Fel, who are cheaper, higher PS, do more and survive longer."
"They are not the Imperial IG88 Aggressors like they were meant to be."
"Without autothrusters, they will still die and take away half your list in points."
"They can't turn and retain actions. . "
I gave up trying to justify them after that because I know they are going to be buying the pack.
Some of these are legit, but the speed 3 one is just dumb. I've played multiple GOTTAGOFAST games with /x7, and I've never had a problem with needing to go slow - not east because when your opponent is expecting you to go fast forever, you can really wrong foot him by doing a 1 bank...
(The Autothrusters one in particular is apt, but they have enough health to weather TLTs, and TLTs are nowhere near the meta-threat they were prior to u-boats anyway)
/D Maarek or Rexler will ruin Fel's day with nasty crits.
I don't see why red speed one and two turns are such a deal breaker on this ship. The B-wing has red one turns and yet is hailed as an awesome knife fighter. I know the systems slot helps it quite a bit but a defender with Wired can be rough too.
Flying the Defender means you take advantage of your opponent's expectations. That White K, those red turn, those green straights, use them when they are not expecting them to be used. A one point mod will more than double your greens too, and really, what other mod are you gonna put on there? Missiles are generally gonna be too expensive for the defender to justify, so no need for chimps, and EU is just 4 more points for a boost you don't need.
Defenders cost a pretty penny but they are now worth that cost.
People, now we are in trouble.
TIE Defender: · Maarek Stele (35)
Juke (2)
TIE/x7 (-2)
TIE Defender: · Countess Ryad (34)
Push The Limit (3)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
TIE/x7 (-2)
Lambda-Class Shuttle: Omicron Group Pilot (21)
· Emperor Palpatine (8)
If only they'd given us Vader in a Defender, we could fully reinact TIE Fighter...
Anyone else interested in the fourth Defender pilot? With all the flashy goodness Maarek, the Countess and the Glaives are sporting are we looking at a 3rd ace or will it be the standard 2 ace/2 generic spread
Are we looking at a PS4 generic with or without EPT slot what can we expect the price point to be? If we're looking at a 3rd ace are we looking at PS8 or PS9, and what would their ability be.
Either way, I wanna know!
All the pilots have been revealed now...
I'm impressed Ryad got an EPT honestly. I expected her to not have one. Works for me!
FFG already made that mistake. They're called Lt. Lorrir and Kir Kanos. May they rest in peace.
Are the full contents listed anywhere?
Are the full contents listed anywhere?
http://xwing-miniatures.wikia.com/wiki/Imperial_Veterans_Expansion_Pack
I just want to say that I am extremely excited about this expansion. I have always loved the Tie Defender. Countess Ryad is a beast! PTL is a must with her. The only problem is there are a lot of people moving after her and after a while those K-Turns will become super predicable. Even with VI she comes in at a 7 but the option to 2,3,4, or 5 K-Turn (3-5 getting an evade) and then action boosting to PTL for a focus just is too cool not to see done. Or even PTL to barrel roll then boost to arc dodge. Although with the current meta being Imp Aces, she is a sitting duck for Soontir to sneak up on and dodge her arc. Your only hope is to predict Soontir and 5 K-Turn to hopefully end up in R3 so you have an evade/focus and 4 dice. Then move slow to keep him in arc. Or even 3k then boost into his face ( where he will hopefully end up) at R1 and hope that your 3 shields gives you an advantage against his 3 hull. I don't know. What does everyone think about this?
People, now we are in trouble.
TIE Defender: · Maarek Stele (35)
Juke (2)
TIE/x7 (-2)
TIE Defender: · Countess Ryad (34)
Push The Limit (3)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
TIE/x7 (-2)
Lambda-Class Shuttle: Omicron Group Pilot (21)
· Emperor Palpatine (8)
I like it a lot.
I'd take Vessery instead, but I guess its personal preference.
I think predicting and blocking a 5 speed k turn is going to be harder than people think. It's going to be a lot of fun and I think that FFG did good to give her a low PS with such a strong ability.
Countess Ryad is a beast! PTL is a must with her. The only problem is there are a lot of people moving after her and after a while those K-Turns will become super predicable.
Also, unlike most Defenders, she will not do too badly in a knife fight since she can reliably accelerate out of a furball and then turn on a dime to point her guns back the way she came with no real penalty.
I think the PS5 is a balance to a very powerful ability. If you really want to maximise her potential then Intel Agent will help you to decide whether or not to turn your straights into K-turns.Countess Ryad is a beast! PTL is a must with her. The only problem is there are a lot of people moving after her and after a while those K-Turns will become super predicable.
Also, unlike most Defenders, she will not do too badly in a knife fight since she can reliably accelerate out of a furball and then turn on a dime to point her guns back the way she came with no real penalty.
What, is a regular white 4k not good enough for you? 4K-ing out of a knife-fight to get range and arc on stuff is pretty much Defender tactic #1. Granted, Ryad will be vastly better at this than all the other Defenders, but they are already pretty competent at it. She's just insane.
Edited by BiophysicalI think the PS5 is a balance to a very powerful ability. If you really want to maximise her potential then Intel Agent will help you to decide whether or not to turn your straights into K-turns.Countess Ryad is a beast! PTL is a must with her. The only problem is there are a lot of people moving after her and after a while those K-Turns will become super predicable.
Also, unlike most Defenders, she will not do too badly in a knife fight since she can reliably accelerate out of a furball and then turn on a dime to point her guns back the way she came with no real penalty.
What, is a regular white 4k not good enough for you? 4K-ing out of a knife-fight to get range and arc on stuff is pretty much Defender tactic #1. Granted, Ryad will be vastly better at this than all the other Defenders, but they are already pretty competent at at. She's just insane.
I'm also excited for the 5k and 2k for those times when the 4 is just too long or barely too short.
So with childish glee I mentioned to my regular group of x wingers about the Defenders I use are finally going to become the superiority fighter they were destined to be and I was met with:
"PS5 is too low to make that ability useful"
"They all cost too much"
"Speed 3 is too fast for it is be constantly useful."
"Why would you ever take one over Vader or Fel, who are cheaper, higher PS, do more and survive longer."
"They are not the Imperial IG88 Aggressors like they were meant to be."
"Without autothrusters, they will still die and take away half your list in points."
"They can't turn and retain actions. . "
I gave up trying to justify them after that because I know they are going to be buying the pack.
Well, I have very much instructed my playgroup in how well Vessery works at the moment. Enough to dread post Veterans Defenders.
The real trick for me is that, Vessery shenanigans aside, Ryad is the first pilot that really gets me motivated to try out the TIE/D. She doesn't need support from the rest of the squad in the same way.
I think Ryad with Predator, Ion Cannon, TIE/D, and an Engine Upgrade is going to be a sheer brutal force (and had better be for 44 points in 6HP). That leaves just enough points for two x7 Deltas, sooo.....
The real trick for me is that, Vessery shenanigans aside, Ryad is the first pilot that really gets me motivated to try out the TIE/D. She doesn't need support from the rest of the squad in the same way.
I think Ryad with Predator, Ion Cannon, TIE/D, and an Engine Upgrade is going to be a sheer brutal force (and had better be for 44 points in 6HP). That leaves just enough points for two x7 Deltas, sooo.....
The options are pretty much limitless. You can take Ryad w/ x7, PTL, engine upgrade with four crack BSPs, for example.
The real trick for me is that, Vessery shenanigans aside, Ryad is the first pilot that really gets me motivated to try out the TIE/D. She doesn't need support from the rest of the squad in the same way.
I think Ryad with Predator, Ion Cannon, TIE/D, and an Engine Upgrade is going to be a sheer brutal force (and had better be for 44 points in 6HP). That leaves just enough points for two x7 Deltas, sooo.....
The options are pretty much limitless. You can take Ryad w/ x7, PTL, engine upgrade with four crack BSPs, for example.
I agree, she's incredibly versatile. I'm no longer sure I'd bother with PtL on her now that I've digested things a bit more, but even just Juke or Predator and the x7 title will make her solid; season to taste with TIE MkII, Stealth Device, or Engine Upgrade.
The real trick for me is that, Vessery shenanigans aside, Ryad is the first pilot that really gets me motivated to try out the TIE/D. She doesn't need support from the rest of the squad in the same way.
I think Ryad with Predator, Ion Cannon, TIE/D, and an Engine Upgrade is going to be a sheer brutal force (and had better be for 44 points in 6HP). That leaves just enough points for two x7 Deltas, sooo.....
The options are pretty much limitless. You can take Ryad w/ x7, PTL, engine upgrade with four crack BSPs, for example.
I agree, she's incredibly versatile. I'm no longer sure I'd bother with PtL on her now that I've digested things a bit more, but even just Juke or Predator and the x7 title will make her solid; season to taste with TIE MkII, Stealth Device, or Engine Upgrade.
I have to play at least one game with her rocking x7, PTL, and engine upgrade - just to see what 2 K-turn, boost, barrel roll, green K-turn looks like on the table. My head hurts just thinking about it.
The real trick for me is that, Vessery shenanigans aside, Ryad is the first pilot that really gets me motivated to try out the TIE/D. She doesn't need support from the rest of the squad in the same way.
I think Ryad with Predator, Ion Cannon, TIE/D, and an Engine Upgrade is going to be a sheer brutal force (and had better be for 44 points in 6HP). That leaves just enough points for two x7 Deltas, sooo.....
Yeah Vessery is still going to be the undisputed king of the D (heh) but Ryad with X7 mk2s and PTL will be nearly impossible to pin down
Wave 4 was where I started with X-Wing. I'm not sure I'd have got into it so heavily if the Defender wasn't around. The idea that I could fly the ship I flew in TIE Fighter years ago couldn't be passed up! So I bought three, and soon realised that there were issues.
I'm so pleased that my favourite ship is getting not only so much attention, but such GOOD attention.
The only problem now is that everyone else will jump onto a wagon I've been on for years.
Edited by SDCCAll this wonderfulness aside though... I feel like Stele is best left on his Advanced, his ability works better there.
I think the PS5 is a balance to a very powerful ability. If you really want to maximise her potential then Intel Agent will help you to decide whether or not to turn your straights into K-turns.Countess Ryad is a beast! PTL is a must with her. The only problem is there are a lot of people moving after her and after a while those K-Turns will become super predicable.
Also, unlike most Defenders, she will not do too badly in a knife fight since she can reliably accelerate out of a furball and then turn on a dime to point her guns back the way she came with no real penalty.
What, is a regular white 4k not good enough for you? 4K-ing out of a knife-fight to get range and arc on stuff is pretty much Defender tactic #1. Granted, Ryad will be vastly better at this than all the other Defenders, but they are already pretty competent at it. She's just insane.
HAHA no it isn't! (Comin from a guy that 4Kd of the board) Now I get to 2,3,4, and 5K off the board as well! What would be enough would be an epistyle play with as many Defenders a as possible. I think there is a 10 (same ship) ship limit to epic right?
All this wonderfulness aside though... I feel like Stele is best left on his Advanced, his ability works better there.
It all depends on what you want in a list. An Advanced is different than a Defender. They fly differently, are strong against different things, and cost different amounts of points. I think the decision you make about which platform Stele flies is informed primarily by which ship you want in your list. Some ships you pick for abilities. Omega Leader or Palob are brought because they do really nasty things with their pilot ability, not because they are on some great platform that adds something to your list. The TIE/ad version of Maarek is sort of like this. The ship isn't great. A good build will cost just under a third of your list, but will reliably generate crits, particularly if you don't have to switch target locks too often. It's not super tough, and it's not super punchy if you're switching up Target Locks a lot, but it can be a crippler of certain kinds of ships.
Defender Maarek is the opposite. You don't take him because you want to manufacture crits for his special ability, you take him because you want a powerful fighter with an EPT and don't have squad support for Vessery (or you just want the PS bump over Vessery). On an x7 Defender, just Target Locking gives you a better than even chance at a crit turning up naturally, and you can use Juke to help hammer that crit home. The important part is that he's a fast, tough bruiser at PS7, though. On a TIE/D Defender with Predator, the Ion Cannon can strip shields and/or tokens to open up a crit from the Primary attack to get through, which with the Predator re-roll should come up about half the time. Again, the important part is that he's a vicious offense/control ship, and that ability is icing on the cake.
I think any of the Defender pilots end up being strongest when you just make them the best Defender they can be, instead of trying to key off their pilot ability as much as possible. This is what's so great about Ryad. Her ability is basically "I do Defender things, but way better". You don't need to engineer situations for her ability to work, you just do it.