Vectored thrusters is going to absolutely shine on HWKs

Agreed 100%. Can't wait to slap them on Palob.

Graz and Cobra will both enjoy them as well, as it will help both get more mileage out of their pilot abilities at a reasonable price.

As always, I'm amused by some of the tunnel vision comments on the topic from the usual suspects; it makes me wonder whether the authors have any actual experience flying them or are just basing their opinion on guesswork. I've been flying Kihraxz almost exclusively since their release in late summer last year - it wasn't a conscious decision, it just panned out that way because I've had decent success with them and enjoy flying them that **** much - and I know I'm really looking forward to slapping a couple of VTs on them once Wave 9 rocks around.

Whenever I hear the word, "shine" used on these forums, it's used in conjunction with some sub-par combo or ship.

Push the Limit shines on Soontir Fel.

Vectored Thrusters does not shine on a HWK. It's a modest benefit to something that's not very good.

Whenever I hear the word, "shine" used on these forums, it's used in conjunction with some sub-par combo or ship.

Push the Limit shines on Soontir Fel.

Vectored Thrusters does not shine on a HWK. It's a modest benefit to something that's not very good.

This is exactly my problem with Vectored Thrusters, by the by. It's going to be OK to decent on a beunch of currently uncompetitive ships, but I don't thin there's anywhere it shines the way PTL does on Soontir. There's nothing that has huge synergy with it.

You gotta look beyond the pale for VT synergy

For example, it doesn't shine on all hwks because some are just naff (esp generics). Put it on Palob/mux, though, and we could be in business

But no there won't be anything as obvious as ptl soonts. And given how much of a no brainer it is, you don't really want there to be

Also, I think jousting is going to be coming back with the latest bunch of ships. They all want to have you in their firing arc. They realize that they tilted the game too far to PTL arc dodgers and are trying to bring it back. I think with the repositioning, Integrated Astromech, and with (perhaps) more jousting actually happening...we should see X-wings and Kihraxz Fighters doing well.

... I respectfully disagree. Jousting won't come back with wave 9 ships. I would bet 10,000 galactic credits on this.

Well....it's quite possible you are right. I'm just hoping. I can see FFG wanting to make jousting a viable tactic. I think the pendulum has moved too far into the favor of PTL arc dodgers. I hoping they are addressing things that move the game back towards making jousting viable.

Also, I think jousting is going to be coming back with the latest bunch of ships. They all want to have you in their firing arc. They realize that they tilted the game too far to PTL arc dodgers and are trying to bring it back. I think with the repositioning, Integrated Astromech, and with (perhaps) more jousting actually happening...we should see X-wings and Kihraxz Fighters doing well.

... I respectfully disagree. Jousting won't come back with wave 9 ships. I would bet 10,000 galactic credits on this.

Well....it's quite possible you are right. I'm just hoping. I can see FFG wanting to make jousting a viable tactic. I think the pendulum has moved too far into the favor of PTL arc dodgers. I hoping they are addressing things that move the game back towards making jousting viable.

/x7 Defenders exist, as do crack swarms and Jumpmasters and Dengaroo, jousting is already a viable tactic.

Whenever I hear the word, "shine" used on these forums, it's used in conjunction with some sub-par combo or ship.

Push the Limit shines on Soontir Fel.

Vectored Thrusters does not shine on a HWK. It's a modest benefit to something that's not very good.

If you're turning your nose up at anything that doesn't offer PtL/Fel levels of synergy, you must play with a REALLY small collection Goomba.

Tsv beat me to it

Jousting is viable, you just gotta be one of those standout incredible ships to do it reliably

Though, if torpscouts ever get hardcountered, you'll see Regen jousters come back (ie Poe)

Wave 9 is NOT about jousting. It has ONE jouster (pfighter)

The others are two aux arcs and a mobile arc; they don't need to joust to contribute

Whenever I hear the word, "shine" used on these forums, it's used in conjunction with some sub-par combo or ship.

Push the Limit shines on Soontir Fel.

Vectored Thrusters does not shine on a HWK. It's a modest benefit to something that's not very good.

If you're turning your nose up at anything that doesn't offer PtL/Fel levels of synergy, you must play with a REALLY small collection Goomba.

I can make 100 point spam squadrons out of most of the ships in the game. 3 E-Wings, 4 Punishers, etc.

As for what squads I'm currently playing, I'm currently playing hyper competitive spike squadrons in order to acquire more challenge coins/store credit. That would be Juke x7 Vessery Inquisitor Palp Aces, and a Dengaroo variant that can double tap Advanced Proton Torpedoes.

Nothing my Kihraxz couldn't comfortably handle, then!

Nothing my Kihraxz couldn't comfortably handle, then!

I'm quite confident that you would automatically lose. What is your Kirahxz squad?

Much more better...why you do this to my language...why?

MOAR BETTAH!!!!!

YEAH DAWG!!!!!!

Nothing my Kihraxz couldn't comfortably handle, then!

I'm quite confident that you would automatically lose. What is your Kirahxz squad?

Five Cartel Marauders or three Mindlinked Aces and Palob. I have zero fear of two ship lists, regardless of hoe they're tricked out, and very few three ship lists worry me either. If you think either would "auto lose", then you have very little experience playing against them.

Thing about Graz which has already been said is Talon banes ability to get extra dice is just better plus the 9 pilot skill. Sure Graz has better consistency in keeping his extra green dice as most will shoot a cannon or torpedo at Talonbane to deny him 2 green die but still the pilot skill and EPT combined with the extra firepower makes the difference.

I'm about to start up a casual league with newer players, and this thread actually gives me some hope for seeing those too often forgotten middle ships instead of everything being hyper effective S-tier gaming.

I've tried to make a restricted list banning certain pilot/upgrade combinations based upon the top list of the premier tournaments but nobody liked it.

Instead I think maybe find the pilot upgrade combinations from the past tournaments (top list at regional, top 2 from nationals and top 8 from worlds) make a list of each pilot/upgrade combo and add 1 squadron point to every squadron list that uses those combinations (or a naked pilot that makes the top cut such as Academy pilot). I'd figure that should be enough to tone down the S-tier lists and bring some of the mid-tier up to them.

I've tried to make a restricted list banning certain pilot/upgrade combinations based upon the top list of the premier tournaments but nobody liked it.

Instead I think maybe find the pilot upgrade combinations from the past tournaments (top list at regional, top 2 from nationals and top 8 from worlds) make a list of each pilot/upgrade combo and add 1 squadron point to every squadron list that uses those combinations (or a naked pilot that makes the top cut such as Academy pilot). I'd figure that should be enough to tone down the S-tier lists and bring some of the mid-tier up to them.

Talonbane can technically use vectored thruster to (hopefully) either get in range 1 or move back to range 3. It's 2 points cheaper than engine upgrade, so you could imagine a combo like the cloaking device and vectored thruster.

I find vectored thrusters to be more at home on Palob. Hard turn 2 and barrel roll back into place where the pursuing ace might bump into it. That could be a life saver and a way to sneak behind him on the following turn to use the TLT again.

I'd prefer EU on Talonbane to get that range 1 shot. Moving into range 3 is not as valuable as secondary weapons exists still in the meta. Then again I do like using cloaking device on Talonbane.

Personally I've always preferred the lateral movement of Barrel Roll to Boost. As lng as you're banking/turning it gives you great mobility.

Nothing my Kihraxz couldn't comfortably handle, then!

I'm quite confident that you would automatically lose. What is your Kirahxz squad?

Five Cartel Marauders or three Mindlinked Aces and Palob. I have zero fear of two ship lists, regardless of hoe they're tricked out, and very few three ship lists worry me either. If you think either would "auto lose", then you have very little experience playing against them.

Three aces plus palob with mind link actually sounds decent. Better than the lower ps generics because you'd get ps killed by crack swarms and U-boats, plus everyone hates palob.

My main problem with Graz is that he just has a StarViper's statline against anything within his firing arc. For his price, he competes directly with the Black Sun Enforcer. He gains +5 PS and an Illicit slot, but loses:

- Boost

- Barrel Roll

- An arguably better dial (green 1-forward, plus S-Loops instead of K-Turns)

- +1 Agility when defending against an attack from outside of his firing arc

- Access to Autothrusters

He also trades the torpedo for a missile slot, but that's a bit of a break-even there.

I really like both to be honest. The five Marauders probably edges it for me through sheer attrition. 25 total health on five separate (focused) targets, 15(20) attack dice, no clear target priority causes 2-3 ship lists no end of problems. Don't get me wrong, I love Aces/Palob as well, but Palob has a big target on his back in that list.