The Uwing looks like the Rebellion needed a fast ship for a mission but this cell didn't have access to Awings. So they took the cockpit from a Ywing, the engines from an Xwing and then put stabilizing front foils and called it a day. I don't think we'll see more then the one "Uwing" in this movie while the Striker looks more common.

I like my starships to have logic behind them.

Star Wars probably sucks a bit for you then.

TIE fighter's massive solar wings are a massive target and seriously impair visibility.

The X-wing's scissor wings are functionally completely pointless

I imagine the tie's wing as resulting from minimising costs, maximising solar input and the fact it was the first one designed. Then the later, higher-end ties modify their wings design to provide protection for the pod or to improve visibility, and cut down on the amount of surface area needed by using higher-quality panels.

And something I've noticed about s-foils is that on x-wings and b-wings, when the s-foils are closed, the weapons are right next to each other. So I imagine there's something about them not working in proximity to each other and having to be spaced apart to fire, which would explain beautifully the design of the b-wing, which spaces its guns in a nice even triangle for combat.

Even if the lore doesn't come up with anything, I'll be happy if I can explain the designs with some neat little rule that ties it all together. Hence hoping that the U-wing's front pylon things justify their existence by folding out into wings that have some sort of function, or that sticking out so far forward has some sort of use.

Also, I'm liking the Tie Striker more by the minute, now I realise that having the panels angled down from horizontal ensures that it always has some solar input regardless of orientation.

The Uwing looks like the Rebellion needed a fast ship for a mission but this cell didn't have access to Awings. So they took the cockpit from a Ywing, the engines from an Xwing and then put stabilizing front foils and called it a day. I don't think we'll see more then the one "Uwing" in this movie while the Striker looks more common.

Could be their version of the HWK-290?

The logic for the s-foils on x-wings is cooling IIRC. They open so they can be cooled properly.

As the resident member of this forum that is fortunate enough to get sneak peeks of upcoming ships I would just like to say a few things about these new ships since its spoiled already.

- U-wing has s-foils that swings backwards about 135 degrees transforming the ship's U profile to a Y.

- A few of you may remember the first concept art image that was official spoiled at last year's Celebration. Its show Rebel commando's disembarking from troop transports. Those are U-wings so yes, they double as troop carriers.

- The Tie Striker has an elongated cockpit.

I have to say I fell in love with these new ships the moment I laid eyes on them, especially the U-wing. Can't wait to see them both in action:)

Ooooh hey, I was wondering if that was what those things were.

So they're starfighters/troop transports and it looks like they're being used in a landing action.

Iiiiinteresting.

BTW, the Mouse would make so many people happy if there was even the smallest scene in this movie with the Assault Gunboat...

* - And God, I know I'm one.

Thinking about it further the U-wing's design and role is consistent with how the Rebels fight, preferring starfighter's that can act in multiple roles. The U-wing seems the be used primarily for deep-strike insertion of troops but can also act as support for X-wings and Y-wings in ship to ship combat.

In contrast the Tie Striker looks like it's built to excel at one thing only, which seems to be air superiority fighter.

Is that an angry little Ewok on the far left?

If it is just air superiority it won't be seen in x-wing same as the snow speeder, maybe in a spin off game but if it can't enter space it's got no place here.

Is that an angry little Ewok on the far left?

Doesn't look like it to me.

If it is just air superiority it won't be seen in x-wing same as the snow speeder, maybe in a spin off game but if it can't enter space it's got no place here.

That was what I thought, but the description certainly implies that they can fight in space, as does the big poster image.

Is that an angry little Ewok on the far left?

Doesn't look like it to me.

If it is just air superiority it won't be seen in x-wing same as the snow speeder, maybe in a spin off game but if it can't enter space it's got no place here.

That was what I thought, but the description certainly implies that they can fight in space, as does the big poster image.

If anything it shows all rebel ships in an atmosphere while all the TIEs are in space. So yeah. Maybe it's a design that is better in atmospheric flight but also is spaceworthy, making it similar to the later IRD fighters

Dang, Disney. Lucasfilm, We don't need you to invent new TIE variants - there are so many in the EU.

BTW, the Mouse Lucasfilm would make so many people happy if there was even the smallest scene in this movie with the Assault Gunboat...

FTFY

But if that's the case we already have ties that can operate in both.

If it is just air superiority it won't be seen in x-wing same as the snow speeder, maybe in a spin off game but if it can't enter space it's got no place here.

Allow me to correct myself then. It's not JUST an air-superiority fighter. It's most likely better in atmosphere though, judging by the description.

TBF, in Star Wars there's almost no practical difference between an air-only fighter and a space fighter unless you're talking about a speeder that doesn't have enough repulsors to get far off the ground.

If it can fly, it's probably doing it by anti-gravity rather than aerodynamics, and therefore it can go into space if the fighter is well enough sealed or the pilot is...

I like my starships to have logic behind them.

Star Wars probably sucks a bit for you then.

TIE fighter's massive solar wings are a massive target and seriously impair visibility.

The X-wing's scissor wings are functionally completely pointless

I imagine the tie's wing as resulting from minimising costs, maximising solar input and the fact it was the first one designed. Then the later, higher-end ties modify their wings design to provide protection for the pod or to improve visibility, and cut down on the amount of surface area needed by using higher-quality panels.

And something I've noticed about s-foils is that on x-wings and b-wings, when the s-foils are closed, the weapons are right next to each other. So I imagine there's something about them not working in proximity to each other and having to be spaced apart to fire, which would explain beautifully the design of the b-wing, which spaces its guns in a nice even triangle for combat.

Even if the lore doesn't come up with anything, I'll be happy if I can explain the designs with some neat little rule that ties it all together. Hence hoping that the U-wing's front pylon things justify their existence by folding out into wings that have some sort of function, or that sticking out so far forward has some sort of use.

Also, I'm liking the Tie Striker more by the minute, now I realise that having the panels angled down from horizontal ensures that it always has some solar input regardless of orientation.

It'd be pretty easy to design those solar wings in a manner that doesn't blind the pilot.

Having your guns spread out really isn't something you want, you want them on the central axis so they go straight and what you're flying at. Notice how all actual fighter jets have their guns under the cockpit, not at the end of the wings. Older fighters that didn't like the Spitfire only didn't because of the giant propeller in the way, and they still had them as close to the middle as reasonably possible.

The Y-wing has sensible guns. The TIE fighter has sensible guns. The X-wing does not.

As for the Striker, I think the wings point down because it's an atmo craft.

I'd imagine they're designed for optimum function in their preferred environment.

Well that's it you need only navigational shields for a starfighter to fly in atmosphere, but a speeder needs to have life support and shielding added as well as engines that work without atmo.

Maybe that tie will be the first 4 green dice native. Possibly a whole new action too but I wouldn't expect much out of this thing. Remember this design happens before New Hope and do you see it after? No. So there has to be a reason be it's not cost effective or it's just not punchy enough. There has to be some logic why they abandon this thing for ln's and interceptors.

Maybe the TIE Striker will be cheaper than an Interceptor, but get an extra attack die for making a 3+ speed manuever. So it will naturally have 2 attack, but it will usually end up with 3 because of an offensive version of TIE/x7 that it gets.

It looks sweet too. Still not a TIE Avenger though. :/

U-Wing is alright I suppose. T-Wing or Leia's transport B-Wing thing look cooler though.

But if that's the case we already have ties that can operate in both.

At this point it's too early to tell if they'll perform similar to Tie Fighters. Game-wise I'm sure the game designers know better than to make a redundant ship.

It is somewhat similar to the concept art for the Force Awakens Special Forces TIE...

I would have been sooo much happier to have that in place of the TIE/COG

Here's what I would guess:

Tie Striker

2 Att/4 Evade /3 Hull /0 shields

Evade/Focus/Boost

No upgrades, EPT for all pilots, May not equip modifications.

16 points for PS 1.

And a mostly green dial.

Title that allows you to use Action: EPTs then preform an action, makes Exposed viable.

Heh, I just had a daydream that this Tie was some super fighter that would win the war and Rogue team destroys it and all the plans for it in dev stage hence the movies. That being said I thought about this ship as possibly powerful and came up with this idea.

Standard tie dial and stats with the exception of (moves 1-3 have sloop and moves 4-5 have K turn all in red)

All have EPT

All have missle slot

Cost 2 points higher than an Academy Pilot for lowest generic, basically whatever it takes to max it's generic swarm potential to 7 ships not 8 which should also kill it's missle swarm to 5

I'm hoping that rather than those specific little panels, the S-foils are actually those entire wings, which turn outwards and give it a massive wingspan. Otherwise I don't see what the point of having them stick out so far forward is. I like my starships to have logic behind them.

Also, I feel like the Striker would be something like 3-2-3 at 15 points, or maybe go full psycho at 3-3-2. Or they could sell millions if they made them 2-2-3 at 10 points.

Oooor they could be air-based only and be a counterpart to the rebel snowspeeder that I really hope they bring out one day in an atmospheric combat expansion that NEEDS to happen!

On the article it says S-Foil Wing Assembly. My guess is the wings do rotate straight out to form long wings. Could be interesting.