So when you have a Ghost with the docked shuttle, you get an extra shot with a turret equipped on the Ghost....Doesn't it make more sense to get that extra turret shot from a turret equiped ON THE SHUTTLE?
Ghost title...what exactly is going on there?
Nope, it wouldn't fit in the card
Well, you can fire from the special arc (shuttle cannon) as a primary weapon attack AND perform a second additional attack with the turret. It's giving the option because there is more crew on board with the attack shuttle docked.
I like new FAQ clarified that TLT can be used this way ....with both attack rolls each.
What I want to know is...is the shuttle a 'standard' fixture on a VCX-100 ?
If you're flying a Lothal Rebel (which I take to be akin to a generic, a bit like the ORS or WSF), should it [fluffy] have a shuttle? [and should it be (heavily) armed?]...the fact that the Ghost and Phantom are unique cards suggests not...
...but if the shuttle isn't a standard feature, what's usually in the space occupied by the docking bay ?
[i've put a tail turret on mine and did a custom card for it, but before the ARC-170 was announced, so waiting to see if that ships new tail gunner card is in any way usable)
What I want to know is...is the shuttle a 'standard' fixture on a VCX-100 ?
If you're flying a Lothal Rebel (which I take to be akin to a generic, a bit like the ORS or WSF), should it [fluffy] have a shuttle? [and should it be (heavily) armed?]...the fact that the Ghost and Phantom are unique cards suggests not...
...but if the shuttle isn't a standard feature, what's usually in the space occupied by the docking bay ?
[i've put a tail turret on mine and did a custom card for it, but before the ARC-170 was announced, so waiting to see if that ships new tail gunner card is in any way usable)
Personally, I'd presume that's not far wrong.
That is - a VCX-100 with no title cannot dock an Attack Shuttle, yet still has a special fire arc aft that allows torpedo attacks, only.
Pretty obviously, the Ghost/Phantom combo has an Attack Shuttle in the spot of the ship where it would normally have a swivel torpedo launcher.
On the other hand, it's also possible that the shuttle is a standard feature, but the standard one is a simple, unarmed personnel transport.
That is - a VCX-100 with no title cannot dock an Attack Shuttle, yet still has a special fire arc aft that allows torpedo attacks, only.
Pretty obviously, the Ghost/Phantom combo has an Attack Shuttle in the spot of the ship where it would normally have a swivel torpedo launcher.
Yeah, I guess that makes sense...I just wish they had opted for bombs [actually, mines] out of the rear, as that would make more sense to me for a fleeing freighter [who doesn't have a badass pilot like Hera]...
...but, then, the Ghost still has its rear torpedo launcher after the shuttle is undocked, so presumably it's [thematically] elsewhere in amongst the engine array ?
On the other hand, it's also possible that the shuttle is a standard feature, but the standard one is a simple, unarmed personnel transport.
This seems the most likely to me, for shuttling small loads down rather than having to, perhaps, pay docking bay fees...so would be nice if FFG offered a version of the shuttle with something like the HWK statline, with a cheap generic pilot ?
...I know some people dislike the ORS having a reduced statline, but it makes [thematic] sense to me to have similar, lower powered ships available...I realise they'd be no use for competive play, but it would perhaps be an easy way to keep the 'casual' players happier without any major game changes
That is - a VCX-100 with no title cannot dock an Attack Shuttle, yet still has a special fire arc aft that allows torpedo attacks, only.
Pretty obviously, the Ghost/Phantom combo has an Attack Shuttle in the spot of the ship where it would normally have a swivel torpedo launcher.
Yeah, I guess that makes sense...I just wish they had opted for bombs [actually, mines] out of the rear, as that would make more sense to me for a fleeing freighter [who doesn't have a badass pilot like Hera]...
...but, then, the Ghost still has its rear torpedo launcher after the shuttle is undocked, so presumably it's [thematically] elsewhere in amongst the engine array ?
Yeah, that is technically true, but...I mean, how many people have you seen equip the Phantom and a torpedo? They may as well have written it into the text on the card that the one replaces the other (although of course there wasn't room for that), given how people actually use them together.
So...head-canon says that's how it works.
Given that the VCX-100 seems capable of landing on almost any flat surface, would the basic version even need a shuttle? Shuttles make sense on large ships where you want to move stuff/people on or off without having to land the whole ship. But a freighter is designed to move stuff and people about anyway.
From a storytelling point of view, the attack shuttle allows the crew to split up and have different storylines. In-Universe it makes sense as well given the missions they perform. Whether it would make sense for a stock VCX-100 to have a shuttle, I am not entirely convinced.
Given that the VCX-100 seems capable of landing on almost any flat surface, would the basic version even need a shuttle? Shuttles make sense on large ships where you want to move stuff/people on or off without having to land the whole ship. But a freighter is designed to move stuff and people about anyway.
From a storytelling point of view, the attack shuttle allows the crew to split up and have different storylines. In-Universe it makes sense as well given the missions they perform. Whether it would make sense for a stock VCX-100 to have a shuttle, I am not entirely convinced.
Yeah, maybe a bit like the F-LER on the YT-1300:
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Freight-loading_external_rover
...offered as an [expensive, and not very useful ] option, so not often taken up.
(I know...why do I try and make sense out of Star Wars?...I'm one of those who espouses "just enjoy it", too!
)
Given that the VCX-100 seems capable of landing on almost any flat surface, would the basic version even need a shuttle? Shuttles make sense on large ships where you want to move stuff/people on or off without having to land the whole ship. But a freighter is designed to move stuff and people about anyway.
From a storytelling point of view, the attack shuttle allows the crew to split up and have different storylines. In-Universe it makes sense as well given the missions they perform. Whether it would make sense for a stock VCX-100 to have a shuttle, I am not entirely convinced.
Maybe if the freighter is fully loaded with cargo, it becomes limited in where it can land (maybe losing planetary re-entry ability). It could also be that it can haul external containers (as done in the old X-Wing Alliance game) and loses the ability to dock/land when doing so.
This is pure speculation. Also, I'm behind on Rebels, so it's possible that everything I've said has been disproved on the show.
Maybe if the freighter is fully loaded with cargo, it becomes limited in where it can land (maybe losing planetary re-entry ability). It could also be that it can haul external containers (as done in the old X-Wing Alliance game) and loses the ability to dock/land when doing so.
This is pure speculation. Also, I'm behind on Rebels, so it's possible that everything I've said has been disproved on the show.
I know Barry H has external containers on his Ghost:
Think I found one online image that confirmed the idea...but in this case the landing clear is tall enough to still land normally.
Given that the VCX-100 seems capable of landing on almost any flat surface, would the basic version even need a shuttle?
I think it makes a lot of sense even for regular cargo haulers to want to set their ship down at port, let the ship get unloaded by their crew, and the captain can fly off to get the next contract or whatever.
That's kinda how my headcanon works. The shuttle was an optional feature. Think of it kinda like a sidecar on a motorcycle or a dingy for a boat. Not a standard feature, but you could get one. Most would probably be used for sending to the offices while the ship dropped/recived the cargo. A convience, or allow crew shore leave while parking the ship. Cheaper to park a small shuttle then a larger ship.
Edited by Salted DiamondI have seen a fair few camper RV's with ATVs or even small cars on the back. So sure. It makes sense in-universe for standard VCX-100s to have a shuttle option.Given that the VCX-100 seems capable of landing on almost any flat surface, would the basic version even need a shuttle?
I think it makes a lot of sense even for regular cargo haulers to want to set their ship down at port, let the ship get unloaded by their crew, and the captain can fly off to get the next contract or whatever.
I will buy all the theories about this thing stock having a shuttle, what I won't buy is it being armed as good or better than military grade craft. How many ATV's or small cars have you seen off that RV with machine guns and rocket launchers welded to it? If it is a gopher craft as suggested then it's basically a Ford Ranger. The mods come with the Rebels pilots or smugglers needing the ability to repel hostile resistance but stock this thing has no excuse for the weapons it has. The ORS while it sucks is a correct example of how this should be handled.
I don't think that flying a freighter in Star Wars is like being a truck driver on earth (at least not in Europe or the US). Pirates and criminal gangs are a threat everywhere outside the core worlds and no one blinks twice at the level of armament the Falcon carries.
The necessity for ships to defend themselves blurs the distinction between military and civilian grade weaponry.
I have seen a fair few camper RV's with ATVs or even small cars on the back. So sure. It makes sense in-universe for standard VCX-100s to have a shuttle option.Given that the VCX-100 seems capable of landing on almost any flat surface, would the basic version even need a shuttle?
I think it makes a lot of sense even for regular cargo haulers to want to set their ship down at port, let the ship get unloaded by their crew, and the captain can fly off to get the next contract or whatever.
I will buy all the theories about this thing stock having a shuttle, what I won't buy is it being armed as good or better than military grade craft. How many ATV's or small cars have you seen off that RV with machine guns and rocket launchers welded to it? If it is a gopher craft as suggested then it's basically a Ford Ranger. The mods come with the Rebels pilots or smugglers needing the ability to repel hostile resistance but stock this thing has no excuse for the weapons it has. The ORS while it sucks is a correct example of how this should be handled.
I'm not a game designer or anything but I wish that these freighters, YT Series, VCX, HWK, etc. would have a max speed of 2 and max attack of 1 unless you equip the title. Otherwise they are mission fluff. Also gets rid of the triple U-Boat threat straight away.
I don't think that flying a freighter in Star Wars is like being a truck driver on earth (at least not in Europe or the US). Pirates and criminal gangs are a threat everywhere outside the core worlds and no one blinks twice at the level of armament the Falcon carries.The necessity for ships to defend themselves blurs the distinction between military and civilian grade weaponry.
I grant you that but it is pretty clear Han is a criminal to the Empire, pretty much the only Police faction of the OT, whether that is for what he drives or how he drives it is unclear but I am pretty confident the Empire is not ok with some of his mods.
Given that we have no generic Attack Shuttles, I think it's safe to assume that the stat line reflects the modifications specific to the Phantom, whether you assign the title or not. A standard version would probably have at best 2 attack, probably more like 0 and something akin to Anti-pursuit lasers for a small ship. Hera modded the shuttle for her ship to better serve as a weapon for an insurgency.
Probably, the VCX could be equipped with a similar, non-combat shuttle, and as we see in the game, a generic VCX isn't nearly so vicious itself as the Ghost. Same durability, but nothing close to the offensive potential of a fully functional rear cannon (4 attack as long as the shuttle is still docked vs. fire once and lose them rear torps) plus the ability to make 2 attacks every round. Ghost and the Phantom are clearly more militarized than the stock versions were meant to be.
The size of the guns on the shuttle are way oversized for them to be stock. Old (maybe still current) fluff about the YT-1300 was it's turrets were single/dual and much smaller. The upgrade to overchanged quads custom illegal mods. Same with the old round sensor, military spec.
With this is mind, with Hera knowing she was working with/for the early rebellion, I would be surprised if she hadn't upgraded to military grade equipment.
The shuttle could be an anti-pirate, utility craft. It's already been mentioned that freight pilots aren't truckers and have to deal with pirates. Having a small, armed, more agile craft that can double as a turret and move cargo would be great for anyone in the Outer Rim.
At first it allowed you to make a primary attack from aft as if it was an auxiliary firing arc and in the end phase a single attack from your equipped turret weapon. Back then the ghost title added " you cannot make any additional attacks " which when interpreted interrupted the second attack.
Now the timing has grouped " perform this attack twice" into the same attack. So when making an attack with a double attack weapon (aka weapons that read perform this attack twice) it counts as a single attack but the whole dice rolling modifying comparing results and dealing damage happens twice. Hit/did not hit effects happens only once just like declaring defender and attacking defender triggers.
So with that new ruling you can essentially attack twice with the TLT (or any other turret) equipped on the ghost as long as you have the phantom. This sort of acts like the pilot/crew upgrade still aboard the Ghost. It is a way to get two ships worth of attacks from the Ghost because while the phantom is still docked it is essentially still two ships. As for why not use the phantom's equipped turret it is just easier to keep track of the upgrades on the title card. While the phantom is docked it is not in play so the phantom title does nothing, it is the ghost title that is active .
I believe that it has more to due with the fact that the shuttle, while docked, is not technically on the table. So, this is more about abiding by basic game mechanics while still adding a little flavor to the game.
Following on from the above "Generic" shuttle discussion, I thought I'd try out some card designs,
:
https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/197062-post-you-custom-cards-here/?p=2302023