Then Lt. Lorrir would be almost playable.

Yeah, almost. I mean, he's playable now, but that stress token penalty...I know the designers shy from errata, but the good Lieutenant could really use it. And if he could PtL off of a banked barrel roll? Wow, the possibilities! Who cares if he's PS 5, I'd fly him all the time. But alas, it's not to be. Autothrusters is about all I dare put on him (so he can bank-barrel roll out of a HWK or Y-wing's arc and trigger the defensive boost).

Juke Red Ace might be broken in a different meta. Ditto for a few others.

Yep, although at ps6, around 32 points with the comms relay, it's surprisingly close to an x7 defender (Glaive).

This was the mistake they made with the Contract Scout. It is not that low PS ships should not have EPTs, the problem is when you have so many options available that you can start to stack bonuses and build synergies that are more powerful than those cards applied individually to other ships. If you want to add EPTs to all higher PS ships in casual games, sure, have some fun. But too many options can suddenly in previously sound ships becoming broken. Put VI on Hera for a PS9 Heragtor for example. Red Ace with Juke. I suspect there are others.

This would seriously power up Hobbie.

Juke Red Ace might be broken in a different meta. Ditto for a few others.

Yep, although at ps6, around 32 points with the comms relay, it's surprisingly close to an x7 defender (Glaive).

That is true but Red Ace also has an Astromech slot making it easy to take one of the regen droids. It is not being tough that makes Red Ace powerful, it is being tough AND being able to heal damage when it does slip through. You can use luck to nibble down a tough opponent but if a Regen Droid allows the player to heal after the odd unlucky roll then the only option left is spike damage. Red Ace is balanced by the lack of EPT meaning her offensive output is no better than a Blue Squadron Rookie. If you add an EPT then Red Ace suddenly gets an almost guaranteed Juke which means for 2 points, she gets a big boost to her offense as well as her already impressive defense.This was the mistake they made with the Contract Scout. It is not that low PS ships should not have EPTs, the problem is when you have so many options available that you can start to stack bonuses and build synergies that are more powerful than those cards applied individually to other ships. If you want to add EPTs to all higher PS ships in casual games, sure, have some fun. But too many options can suddenly in previously sound ships becoming broken. Put VI on Hera for a PS9 Heragtor for example. Red Ace with Juke. I suspect there are others.

Oh I agree, but EPT will boost the offence of this ship. Which is potent, agreed. But against a tokened up ship it doesn't change things enormously, and at ps6 yes you'd have a very powerful ship, but this was the whole idea in the first place. Juke regen red ace will still struggle against any higher PS ship with arc dodging.

The house rule we had was to give the upgrade to small ships only, and although nobody had taken any VI upgrades, its easy enought to restrict the EPT to 2 pts or more to avoid spamming of adaptability or crackshot.

We just found it was a nifty way to drive down the PS race,

We'll try out Red Ace and Miranda, and see how it goes

Winged Gundark + Calculation. /thread.

Winged Gundark + Calculation. /thread.

Also, calculation for wampa or any of the TIEs wouldnt be possible with epts only granted if they cost 2pts or more

C'mon, man. Work with me. Universally acclaimed worst TIE pilot gets an EPT that syncs with his pilot ability. Dude could rock two crits a turn! What's not to like?

Hmm... EPTs on all PS4s or better? (I.e. back to original post)

I bet it would make for some fum lists; It would also elevate many ships (that presently lack enough --bang-for-your-buck--) to more competitive lists.

Nevertheless, I believe EPTs are rare by design; --a necessarily scarce resource whose scarcity is part of the overall system of checks and balances that keep the meta diverse.

If EPTs were allowed on everything better than a PS3, I think that would create some low cost/ high return synergies that would unbalance the game, and dominate (or at least be greatly over-represented in) the meta.

It can be a fun thing to do at home, but not something I would ever wish upon the game in general.

I think he means wampa

EPTs should totally be based on PS level.

1-3, no EPT. 4-6, 1 EPT. 7-9, two EPT.

But the special ability of unique pilots counts as one of their EPTs.

So PS4-6 generics get 1 EPT slot. While PS4-6 uniques just have a special ability. And PS7-9 uniques get a special ability AND an EPT slot.

Of course, this means if there was ever a PS7+ generic, it would get two EPT slots. And that no unique should be PS1-3.

Juke Red Ace might be broken in a different meta. Ditto for a few others.

Yep, although at ps6, around 32 points with the comms relay, it's surprisingly close to an x7 defender (Glaive).

That is true but Red Ace also has an Astromech slot making it easy to take one of the regen droids. It is not being tough that makes Red Ace powerful, it is being tough AND being able to heal damage when it does slip through. You can use luck to nibble down a tough opponent but if a Regen Droid allows the player to heal after the odd unlucky roll then the only option left is spike damage. Red Ace is balanced by the lack of EPT meaning her offensive output is no better than a Blue Squadron Rookie. If you add an EPT then Red Ace suddenly gets an almost guaranteed Juke which means for 2 points, she gets a big boost to her offense as well as her already impressive defense.This was the mistake they made with the Contract Scout. It is not that low PS ships should not have EPTs, the problem is when you have so many options available that you can start to stack bonuses and build synergies that are more powerful than those cards applied individually to other ships. If you want to add EPTs to all higher PS ships in casual games, sure, have some fun. But too many options can suddenly in previously sound ships becoming broken. Put VI on Hera for a PS9 Heragtor for example. Red Ace with Juke. I suspect there are others.

Oh I agree, but EPT will boost the offence of this ship. Which is potent, agreed. But against a tokened up ship it doesn't change things enormously, and at ps6 yes you'd have a very powerful ship, but this was the whole idea in the first place. Juke regen red ace will still struggle against any higher PS ship with arc dodging.

The house rule we had was to give the upgrade to small ships only, and although nobody had taken any VI upgrades, its easy enought to restrict the EPT to 2 pts or more to avoid spamming of adaptability or crackshot.

We just found it was a nifty way to drive down the PS race,

We'll try out Red Ace and Miranda, and see how it goes

Marksman Wampa. F that.

Marksman Wampa. F that.

Yeah

Calculation is way better

There are already ships with EPTs at PS4 that don't see much play. There are also several ships that don't have PS 4 ships not to mention all the unique ships that have PS 4+ but without and EPT.

So lets just say for scenario purposes we gave all non-uniqe ships of PS >4 an EPT these are the ships that would gain an EPT. Ships with no EPTs on unique pilots Imperial Rebel S&V

• TIE Advanced (Storm squadron)
• X-wing (Red Squadron)
• Y-wing (Grey Squadron)
• B-wing (Dagger Squadron)
• TIE Bomber (Gamma Squadron)
• TIE Phantom (Shadow Squadron)
• Z-95 Headhunter (Tala Squadron)
• Scum-wing (Hired Gun)
• K-wing (Guardian Squadron)
• TIE Punisher (Black Eight Squadron)

So ignoring the ships that don't have EPTs in their pilot pool (Y-wings, K-wings, and TIE Punishers) that would give 3 Rebel ships, 2 Imperial Ships and 1 S&V ship an EPT. Also the S&V ship is the only ship that the rebels don't have that will have an EPT. The 5 ships with no EPTs are the

• Y-wings
• Lambda Shuttles
• K-wings
• TIE Punishers
• VCX-100

Ships that would not have generic(non-unique) ships with an EPT will still be the

• E-wing
• TIE Defender (After Imperial Veterans)
• Star Viper
• HWK-290 (and scumhawk)
• Every large base ship with the exception of the Firescum (Mandalorian Mercenary) and the Jumpmaster, also ships without non-unique pilots for obvious reasons.

Storm Squadrons with AC and Juke for 25 points - that's a pretty tough cookie

Marksman Wampa. F that.

Yeah

Calculation is way better

Nevertheless, I believe EPTs are rare by design; --a necessarily scarce resource whose scarcity is part of the overall system of checks and balances that keep the meta diverse.

If EPTs were allowed on everything better than a PS3, I think that would create some low cost/ high return synergies that would unbalance the game, and dominate (or at least be greatly over-represented in) the meta.

I agree up to a point that the inclusion/exclusion of EPTs is a conscious design decision but I think it is something that FFG have not consistently got right yet. Y-wings are a perfect (albeit old) example of a ship that really should have some EPTs on the higher level pilots. By contrast, the Scout is an example of a ship where an EPT on the generic made a ship that could cheaply spam overpowered combos.

Nevertheless, I believe EPTs are rare by design; --a necessarily scarce resource whose scarcity is part of the overall system of checks and balances that keep the meta diverse.

If EPTs were allowed on everything better than a PS3, I think that would create some low cost/ high return synergies that would unbalance the game, and dominate (or at least be greatly over-represented in) the meta.

I agree up to a point that the inclusion/exclusion of EPTs is a conscious design decision but I think it is something that FFG have not consistently got right yet. Y-wings are a perfect (albeit old) example of a ship that really should have some EPTs on the higher level pilots. By contrast, the Scout is an example of a ship where an EPT on the generic made a ship that could cheaply spam overpowered combos.

Right.

The JumpMaster illustrates the point well in that it is an example of what happens when you put an EPT ship on a ship that shouldn't have one. It turns into a meta bender.

Backstabber (was already pretty nasty; now with Crack Shot!)

This build shall henceforth be known as "CrackStabber".

Backstabber (was already pretty nasty; now with Crack Shot!)

This build shall henceforth be known as "CrackStabber".

The plumber's bane.

Backstabber (was already pretty nasty; now with Crack Shot!)

This build shall henceforth be known as "CrackStabber".

No, no. Backstabber wants Outmaneuver. It's like a Crackshot that doesn't go away (but only when the other guy isn't looking).

Backstabber (was already pretty nasty; now with Crack Shot!)

This build shall henceforth be known as "CrackStabber".

No, no. Backstabber wants Outmaneuver. It's like a Crackshot that doesn't go away (but only when the other guy isn't looking).

OutBackStabber?

Backstabber (was already pretty nasty; now with Crack Shot!)

This build shall henceforth be known as "CrackStabber".

No, no. Backstabber wants Outmaneuver. It's like a Crackshot that doesn't go away (but only when the other guy isn't looking).

OutBackStabber?

Reckon!

I could see a generic ship gets an EPT tournament. Sounds fun.

I do think there's a problem with giving pilots pets across the board though. Some ships need it, some would be broken with it. Some pilots *need* the help, some are already excellent without it. As somebody else mentioned above, Wampa does NOT need access to Calculation. I honestly think most of the named TIE fighter pilots have *great* abilities as is and shouldn't be fiddled with. They are wonderful little Micro-Aces on their own and perfectly competitive.

I think the FFG designers took into account the issue brought up in many of these threads; EPT is an upgrade and make OK pilots good or great depending on the selection of the EPT. Now maybe an across the board upgrade card at 0 or 1 point to add an EPT slot would be OK but not likely at all, but one that selects only certain ships or pilots would be terrible and perfectly unlikely. I'm no veteran of X-Wing nor do I have an inside scoop on the thoughts and inner-workings of FFG, but this doesn't seem like their type of retro-active meddling.

couldn't you do 4 hired guns with overclocked droid and deadeye? I wouldn't wan to play against that list