I find these discussions comforting as well as amusing. In relation to some of the newest wave ships that were "whatever" in style, use, and nostalgia, this needs to be done! It's glorious in all three phases and will sell like hot-vet-defender-expansions!!

I....just....can't....stop....posting.

They had their chance to release it and they did the TIE Punisher instead, so yeah. Prooooooobably won't happen. The design is nice I guess? The red markings kind of ruin it for me though. I am partial to the all gray metal CG models I see floating around.

Two things:

We remember it from playing X-Wing and TIE Fighter computer games as kids.

Seriously, have you seen the TIE Punisher?

I honestly think it comes from the fact that the Gunboat was the easy mode of the Tie Fighter game. In a game where you had no shields and struggled to stay alive from enemy attacks, this beefy shield and hull'd thing made all the people too young to play the harder ships feel safe and enjoy the game. That nostalgic urning has turned to a deep need.

Actually the gunboat was a death trap because it had the agility of an x-wing.

The easy mode was the avenger, defender and missile boat.

What's so awesome about the Gunboat?

That's like saying what's si awesome about Bacon.

Seriously, the XG-1 Alpha Class "Star Wing" Assault Gunboat is the bacon of the Imperial Navy. All of those poor Imperial players simply haven't been able to enjoy a proper breakfast for the past four years without it.

I'm convinced that the only reason FFG haven't released it so far is because they haven't worked out how to fit the ship's full name onto a maneuver dial. But now we have the plastic dials with the little ship symbol - problem solved!

Heresy! The gunboat is the stinking X-Wing of the imperial navy. Sure, it better than a rebel X-Wing, but so is a TIE-Fighter in the right hands.

If you want to make bacon comparisons you have to use the Avenger. Gecko, when will you ever learn? ;-)

I agree, I think all of you should have at least one Gunboat in your fleet. But I disagree that FFG should make it.

Good day

It's a meme. A symbol of undying, if dubious hope of players that one day FFG will make it happen: create a non-TIE ship for the imps, that will make ordnance work for them and look good.

I see. Another meme.

I think from the very beginning of this game, people had a strong sense of the video games X-Wing, TIE Fighter, and X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter. People just kind of expected the ships from those games to get put in this game because it seemed so obvious. When the TIE Defender came out, it was all but certain that the Gunboat would be released soon. I think there are quite a few people who LOVE the gunboat, but there are also a bunch of people who like it alright and have fond memories of it and are just scratching their heads at why the Gunboat hasn't made it to the game yet.

This seems to sum it up nicely. For those of us who played the games, the gunboat is an incredibly recognizable, even iconic, craft. Not only did you fly them quite a bit in TIE Fighter, but your reinforcements for most missions were gunboats. They and the TIE Defender were the only flyable craft with ion cannons, and you didn't fly the TIE Defender that often due to events in the game's storyline. I can understand people who haven't played the games not really caring for it, but the phenomenon doesn't seem all that different from people getting excited about ships from Rebels, and those of us who haven't watched the show going, "What in the world is that?"

I think there are quite a few people who LOVE the gunboat, but there are also a bunch of people who like it alright and have fond memories of it and are just scratching their heads at why the Gunboat hasn't made it to the game yet.

I can understand people who haven't played the games not really caring for it, but the phenomenon doesn't seem all that different from people getting excited about ships from Rebels, and those of us who haven't watched the show going, "What in the world is that?"

Great points!!

And to reiterate the fantastic point made by JJ48 for those of us over the age of 14, "but the (Gunboat) phenomenon doesn't seem all that different from people getting excited about ships from Rebels, and those of us who haven't watched the show going, "What in the world is that?""

OK, calm-down, I know some adults watch the Rebels cartoon too (I guess). I personally don't have a Ghost in my fleet, not because I haven't found the need yet for some interesting mod cards, but because I cannot relate to it at all. So, I'm just restating to the Gunboat nay-sayers the simple logic that the argument for or against ships of the current cartoon angle and the older video game angle is foundationally the same...save the fact that Disney wants to push their show to make more advertising and merchandising jack (but the Gunboat would sell like crazy).....but, aside from that, it's no more important to Star Wars history or cannon.

Nonono

you need This fellow.

he patiently waited for his master Gunboat

Nonono

you need This fellow.

he patiently waited for his master Gunboat

While the rest of us just went and made it happen... like GROWN-ASS-MEN.

I think from the very beginning of this game, people had a strong sense of the video games X-Wing, TIE Fighter, and X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter. People just kind of expected the ships from those games to get put in this game because it seemed so obvious. When the TIE Defender came out, it was all but certain that the Gunboat would be released soon. I think there are quite a few people who LOVE the gunboat, but there are also a bunch of people who like it alright and have fond memories of it and are just scratching their heads at why the Gunboat hasn't made it to the game yet.

This seems to sum it up nicely. For those of us who played the games, the gunboat is an incredibly recognizable, even iconic, craft. Not only did you fly them quite a bit in TIE Fighter, but your reinforcements for most missions were gunboats. They and the TIE Defender were the only flyable craft with ion cannons, and you didn't fly the TIE Defender that often due to events in the game's storyline. I can understand people who haven't played the games not really caring for it, but the phenomenon doesn't seem all that different from people getting excited about ships from Rebels, and those of us who haven't watched the show going, "What in the world is that?"

The Assault Gunboat first shows up in TIE Fighter's predecessor, X-Wing. It's suggested to be the ONLY hyperspace fighter in the Yavin-era Imperial Navy for special-deployment missions where shielded craft are needed to get the job done that TIE Fighters can't. It also looks far more attractive than the bizzaro kitbashes Galaxies throws at us that supposedly fit the same role.

Anyway, when you meet these, they arrive at long range and throw concussion missiles at you. Warhead hitboxes in X-Wing are notoriously tiny and the warheads themselves are hard to see. You can't play those missions without coming away with a lasting impression on how much you hate them as you die in the middle of a dogfight when their missiles catch up to you.

So I can totally believe in them being the Imperial B-Wing: Something lighter and cheaper on points, but can be outfitted in deadly fashion.

So we're doing dogs now?

At this stage, I'd applaud FFG for not making the gunboat just to annoy the people who keep perpetuating the thread in question.

And to those people who want more design diversity for the Empire:

You really don't understand the Empire, do you?

But, that said, I'm a curmudgeon when it comes to the TIE Defender and the TIE Punisher as well. I've only come to (somewhat) like the TIE Phantom because of Echo and how much fun she is to play.

For an ordnance platform, I would have preferred the gunboat over the fugly Punisher. By its resemblance to the Lambda, the XG-1 would have fit the Imperial aesthetic reasonably well, and it isn't the Punisher.

For me it's a few reasons.

First, aesthetics. The Empire are all about primary shapes and blades for their visual style. Like the Lambda, the Assault Gunboat is an array of wings. Top-down it still has a delta to suggest forward movement and speed, and it looks good at a few angles. It doesn't have things hanging off the sides awkwardly to make it look strange (like the TIE Oppressor), and the proportions and placement of the features don't make it look like an afterthought trying too hard (like the TIE punisher) or something that glued features together to make it "look cool" (again, like the TIE Oppressor's oddly placed third wing).

Second is visibility. The TIE Avenger and Assault Gunboat are both loved by TIE Fighter sim veterans, but these rare ships hardly make an appearance in the Legends scheme of things. So while FFG is offering up fugly duds from lackluster sources like TIE trying-too-hard punisher/interdictor, the R2-dome Decimator, and the derpy Scyk fighter, the popular fighters that are almost as obscure aren't being chosen. It's maddening that the gunboat is apparently being avoided on purpose, though thankfully the offerings of the Inquisitor Fighter and First Order craft are good substitutes. In the end it might be even too late for the Assault Gunboat if FFG is restricted to only Rebels/Episode-X ships, until those fighters are depicted somewhere in the new canon. Still, one can hope.

Third is gameplay. I may be removed from the game for several waves, but I still don't see the Empire having a tanky small-ship cannon carrier of their own. Both new TIE Defender options basically mess with Imperial small ships that can carry a Heavy Laser Cannon, and I think this is what the Gunboat could do.

I think you're more than a little off base with the scyck and decimator. Most of the SWG ships were very well designed to fit the theme of the star wars universe. The naming of the scum and villainy ships leaves something to be desired, but I mean we've already got a planet named Kashyyyk so. . . Yeah.

And to those people who want more design diversity for the Empire:

You really don't understand the Empire, do you?

Lucas and subsequently the Mouse want their villains immediately identifiable, even if that makes the Empire silly and caartoony on occasion.

From a historical standpoint, I highly doubt one can make a case that autoritary regimes/dictatorships tend more toward uniformity in military gear than democracies.

I'm not really for or against it being in the game. If they add it, fine. If not, not that big a deal.

I do agree either the gunboat or missile boat should have been added instead of the ugly and obscure punisher.

instead of the ugly and obscure punisher.

Pretty much this.

I'll take a Gunboat because moar!! Variety is awesome.

For me it's a few reasons.

First, aesthetics. The Empire are all about primary shapes and blades for their visual style. Like the Lambda, the Assault Gunboat is an array of wings. Top-down it still has a delta to suggest forward movement and speed, and it looks good at a few angles. It doesn't have things hanging off the sides awkwardly to make it look strange (like the TIE Oppressor), and the proportions and placement of the features don't make it look like an afterthought trying too hard (like the TIE punisher) or something that glued features together to make it "look cool" (again, like the TIE Oppressor's oddly placed third wing).

Second is visibility. The TIE Avenger and Assault Gunboat are both loved by TIE Fighter sim veterans, but these rare ships hardly make an appearance in the Legends scheme of things. So while FFG is offering up fugly duds from lackluster sources like TIE trying-too-hard punisher/interdictor, the R2-dome Decimator, and the derpy Scyk fighter, the popular fighters that are almost as obscure aren't being chosen. It's maddening that the gunboat is apparently being avoided on purpose, though thankfully the offerings of the Inquisitor Fighter and First Order craft are good substitutes. In the end it might be even too late for the Assault Gunboat if FFG is restricted to only Rebels/Episode-X ships, until those fighters are depicted somewhere in the new canon. Still, one can hope.

Third is gameplay. I may be removed from the game for several waves, but I still don't see the Empire having a tanky small-ship cannon carrier of their own. Both new TIE Defender options basically mess with Imperial small ships that can carry a Heavy Laser Cannon, and I think this is what the Gunboat could do.

I think you're more than a little off base with the scyck and decimator. Most of the SWG ships were very well designed to fit the theme of the star wars universe. The naming of the scum and villainy ships leaves something to be desired, but I mean we've already got a planet named Kashyyyk so. . . Yeah.

I cannot abide the TIE Oppressor or TIE Aggressor. Nor can I abide the TIE Interdictor honestly, all of them are examples of terrible cut-and-paste designs on ships that look more akin to Uglies than Sienar products. Every one of them pop into my head when someone accuses the TIE Defender of being designed by a three year old. And I still can't un-see the R2 dome on the "Evil Millenium Falcon" of the Decimator, which really only has the TIE cockpit as the only other interesting quality about the design.

Scum is actually all right. And the Rebels, as I recall, only got all of their screen ships. It's just the Empire that for some reason had to invent counterparts to the Y-Wing and B-Wing... though there were already enough well-loved examples to fill these roles (TIE Bomber, TIE Defender). Strangely, I do like the YE-4 gunship though... looks like a stablemate next to the Lambda and the old Escort Shuttles. Why couldn't we have gotten that instead of the Decimator?

At this stage, I'd applaud FFG for not making the gunboat just to annoy the people who keep perpetuating the thread in question.

And to those people who want more design diversity for the Empire:

You really don't understand the Empire, do you?

But, that said, I'm a curmudgeon when it comes to the TIE Defender and the TIE Punisher as well. I've only come to (somewhat) like the TIE Phantom because of Echo and how much fun she is to play.

Come to the darkside, let the hate flow.

On a serious note: You assume that FFG designers are trolls (aka sociopaths) and gratulate them to their excellent trolling.

Fantastic post.

Though does not work out as FFG designers are not allowed to read the boards. Company policy and all.

They can read they can't post, they know we want the gunboat.

It was nice a quiet for awhile. A mention here or there but no actual gunboat thread posting.Now we have two new ones today alone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H5uWRjFsGc

Hell guys. I want the Y-8 to be in the game. (and of course the DX9).

Hell guys. I want the Y-8 to be in the game. (and of course the DX9).

Who needs DX9 when you have DX12