So every ship in Wave IX is getting a Title, 3 of them are non-unique, and 2 of those three are free, meaning they're pretty much an auto-include.

What do folks think about this? I for one support the idea of free/low-cost 'generic' titles as one of the reasons I prefer to fly 'named' ships is they do stuff, and non-unique titles are a way to make generics do more stuff. I don't know if FFG plans to do something like this for future Waves (where every ship gets a Title), but I'd support it. It also seems like Titles are the go-to for fixes (see Defender and A-Wing), and may end up being the T-65 fix that I keep seeing people propose/plead for.

If titles are going to be fixes (they are) they shouldn't also be used to deploy special rules for specific ships, as they are with the ARC and SF. Since that makes it harder to patch them later, if needed.

Although I suppose FFG could design a "fix" title that includes language that permits the ship to equip two titles.

They aren't always fixes, though. Also important to point out, that the main A-wing fix isn't a title.

And special upgrades to give specific ships special rules is going to be a key way to distinguish the ships going forward. As more and more ships are released, it is going to be important for them to find their niche, which can't just be about stats and dial.

The titles let them design ships that the existing ship card format really doesn't allow for. Since they aren't unique and are free with no downside they are an auto-include. It also lets them add in abilities for ships for balance and to keep the pool of available ships from getting too stagnant. Without the title the Arc is so close to existing rebel ships it would seem redundant. I think we will keep seeing this as a was to increase the design space for more future ships.

0 point titles aren't auto-include

there are two kinds of 0 point titles, ones that add options by changing the nature of the ship (giving a new capability and removing an old one) ala

then there's the "fix" titles, which ARE auto-include as they just buff previously horribly costed ships

in the case of the ARC-170 and Tie/sf, they are "fix" titles.

What FFG is fixing is either

1.) the base ship, which is GARBAGE (2 dice primary). Unlike the Tie Advance, though, it was designed with the title in mind (whereas the Advance came out Wave 1 and was fixed YEARS later)

2.) the fact that the pilot cards don't have enough room to write the distinction between the primary arc and auxiliary arc

also, there's no point in trying to say they should've done it some other way. The title is THE upgrade slot to put these fixes on, as the only other general upgrade slot is the modification which can be used for other things (VTs, g-chips etc.)

Or the Missile slot for the A-wing. Or the System slot (which, granted, was added via the title) for the ATC.

I am a little confused as to why they couldn't have just made the Arc-170 have a 3 dice primary.....it would accomplish the same thing mathematically as the title...

Or the Missile slot for the A-wing. Or the System slot (which, granted, was added via the title) for the ATC.

no, you want the title

refit had the unfortunate side-effect of adding a missile tax to the A-wing, making ordnance very unattractive on it in general (apart from prockets)

problem is A-wings already had a title to give them an additional ept slot

I am a little confused as to why they couldn't have just made the Arc-170 have a 3 dice primary.....it would accomplish the same thing mathematically as the title...

no, it would've made the aux arc A LOT better

I wouldn't mind, of course, but that wasn't their intention

if "mathematically" means "naked dice 3 is approx equivalent to modded 2 dice" then we're not taking a LOT of things into account, such as

1.) max amount of hits versus X green dice or defensive tech (literally can't hurt c3po + evade fat han with two dice)

2.) the ability to get full mods (re-roll + focus), which just about every ARC pilot can get, which would make a 3-dice rear arc MANY times more valuable. Hell, Thane gets free actions built-in.

Titles are prime ways to fix and expand the capabilities of ships post release and any hull can have innumerable titles eventually.

Examples

Red-5

X-wing Only

When defending add a focus result.

If Luke Skywalker also assign an evade token

Red-2

X-wing Only

May treat 2 or 3 Turn as a red Tallon roll when revealed

If Wedge, remove one stress after

I like non unique titles very much. Gives more tools to use.

If titles are going to be fixes (they are) they shouldn't also be used to deploy special rules for specific ships, as they are with the ARC and SF. Since that makes it harder to patch them later, if needed.

Although I suppose FFG could design a "fix" title that includes language that permits the ship to equip two titles.

As noted above, titles are not always fixes. The first three titles in the game were the Slave-1, Falcon and ST-321 titles. FFG has been creative in using the Modification slot and Ordnance slots for their fixes. HotR seems like it's adding a YT-1300 mod that will allow you to equip a second mod. It's their game, they can make whatever rules they want.

I am a little confused as to why they couldn't have just made the Arc-170 have a 3 dice primary.....it would accomplish the same thing mathematically as the title...

It really doesn't.

- If you're attacking with a torpedo, the title doesn't allow you to get a free crit out of Guidance Chips.

- Two attack dice means the rear shot will be fairly easy to dodge, even with the free crit conversion.

All of which are unique. Wasn't Royal Guard TIE the first non- unique title?

Although, or maybe because it adds options and complexity to list building; I enjoy the idea of non-unique upgrades. I also like having multiple choices for each slot. I am there for against "auto includes" The example I use is that even though we all know that IA should be on every T-65, I often find myself wanting to make the torp slot useful by modding GC instead.

"This is a Rebellion, isn't it,........"

I enjoy both defender titles. I like the direction FFG is taking with these titles.

I do like non-unique titles that as some flavor to ships, but I'm not a fan of auto-includes. I would have preferred some cost on the ARC and SF titles and the ships be costed to their stats rather than the 0 point titles being launched with the ARC and SF. That way I could fly the ARC in a slightly cheaper support only capacity.