I am curious what the math is behind the differences between Stealth Device, Hull Upgrade and Shield upgrade for the TIE Defender with the TIE/X7 title. My gut tells me that stealth device is the best option as long as you are getting the free evade and a focus, or you can barrel roll behind a rock or into range 3.

Can someone please enlighten me.

Best mod imo is no mod

Apart from stealth (the effectiveness of which increases drastically with defensive mods and drops like a rock without; which is absolutely Worthless when the dice out fickle probability) these mods are designed to be HORRENDOUSLY overpriced so that they didn't become auto include

My go-to Defender mod is Hull Upgrade, but not for x7s. The virtue of the x7 is that it's cheap and tough. It doesn't need to become less cheap and even tougher. It needs offense. A few exceptions I would think about are if you're packing a Lone Wolf x7, in which case Stealth Device would be something I'd look at. Either attacks are initially directed at the ship, which has a the rough equivalent of 5 green dice supported by Focus/Evade, or that horrendous defensive profile is around in the end game.

In general, Stealth Device math is extremely complicated, so it's probably easier to think about what you want your mod to do.

I wouldn't take Shield upgrade over Hull Upgrade unless I have a shield recharging mechanic or dealing with a ship that has exactly 1 shield, (like a lot of scum ships).

Stealth device with x/7 might be okay but then again you will be back on a 30 point ship. To be fair the only mod I think a TIE Defender would take is Twin Ion Engines mkII because it makes those hard turns not as punishing when you make them. You will only be out of an action step for 1 turn unless you have to K-turn.

I have been playing my defenders with no mod and just using the -2 points to get Juke onto the ship. I've also tried them with predator and that was fine but pricey.

Lost my Stealth device on Rexler today in the first round of shooting, I only had 5 green dice and a focus... F%¤king green dice!

Stealth Device is my go-to for x7 Defenders, unless I can't afford the cost. TIE mkII is a good, cheap mod to make your Defenders a little less predictable if stressed, and I'll throw a Hull Upgrade on cannon-carrying Defenders. Those three are probably the most used in general for Defenders. They're worth their price for the most part- Defenders aren't cheap even with the x7 upgrade, and all three mods help them survive a bit longer.

*ahem*

IMO beats all of the above for the added green maneuvers, which open up the Defenders options quite a bit, both when in comes to maneuvers (doing one of the reds no longer forces you to got straight or be stressed) and builds (still not a good good ship for stress-cost EPTs but at least it's not the worst option anymore)

*ahem*

IMO beats all of the above for the added green maneuvers, which open up the Defenders options quite a bit, both when in comes to maneuvers (doing one of the reds no longer forces you to got straight or be stressed) and builds (still not a good good ship for stress-cost EPTs but at least it's not the worst option anymore)

I think this is the best mod for an expensive ship too. 1 point, gives you 6 extra greens and makes you ever so more less predictable. People say Defenders don't care a great deal about stress, which is partially true. You will always get your evade for 3 speed maneuvers, but you cant focus and target lock which can kill your attacking efficiency.

Edit: Only problem is that this upgrade comes from 1 ship which doesnt get a lot of action these days. I wish FFG would have their upgrade cards in at least 2 different faction ships.

On an x7 stealth device is good.

If your using ptl mk.ii is a no brainer.

Hull is really only for those rare times you don't have a better use for three points.

*ahem*

IMO beats all of the above for the added green maneuvers, which open up the Defenders options quite a bit, both when in comes to maneuvers (doing one of the reds no longer forces you to got straight or be stressed) and builds (still not a good good ship for stress-cost EPTs but at least it's not the worst option anymore)

Eh, with how I fly Defenders, I don't mind clearing stress that much. I find the extra health from Hull to be well worth it. Because there will be at least once per game where I will take 3 damage because of green dice.

mods are almost entirely defensive.

ive heard of stealth and lone wolf on x7 ryad though.

3 Onyx with Hull looks very good too.

Also seen Vessery Tractor D with Hull for a little more insurance too.

In general, when possible, put mk2 engine. You might not think you need the greens, but most players are idiots and don't realize how mathematically terribly they screw themselves by taking red moves and they love to take red moves. =P Even if you aren't that idiot, nowadays a lot of large ships are flying around choosing debris... so you're likely to run over one at some point.

However, they're not wholly necessary.

For a high PS x7 I always consider Engine Upgrade too. Boosting after a k-turn can get you into and out of though spots.

Best mod imo is no mod

Apart from stealth (the effectiveness of which increases drastically with defensive mods and drops like a rock without; which is absolutely Worthless when the dice out fickle probability) these mods are designed to be HORRENDOUSLY overpriced so that they didn't become auto include

The stealth device especially is as well designed to be effective for ships with tons of defensive dice Modifications. Though I am not sure if x7 are not okish with SD, Evade and Focus in that regard. And I am quite sure that x7 with Palp are definitely ok to take the SD. Experience might vary from game to game, but in general on those the SD should be more than worth it. Still, hot reds and cold greens may still make the SD a waste, but this should be rare enough.

I'm in the stealth device camp. Been running it on my Triple Deee-Lites.

I have a squad with three defenders that doesn't have room for the TIE mk. II upgrade and I wish it did. At least one defender became stressed in each game, and took several rounds to clear it, where as the mk. II upgrade would have made clearing stress a trivial task. This one has my vote for sure.

mods are almost entirely defensive.

ive heard of stealth and lone wolf on x7 ryad though.

3 Onyx with Hull looks very good too.

Also seen Vessery Tractor D with Hull for a little more insurance too.

In general, when possible, put mk2 engine. You might not think you need the greens, but most players are idiots and don't realize how mathematically terribly they screw themselves by taking red moves and they love to take red moves. =P Even if you aren't that idiot, nowadays a lot of large ships are flying around choosing debris... so you're likely to run over one at some point.

However, they're not wholly necessary.

Thing with an x7 Defender is that all the speed 3, 4, or 5 maneuvers are *already* white or green. You may run into a situation where you think you need to take one of the slower hard banks, but you'd be wrong. Any choice but speed 3, 4, or 5 in an x7 Defender is the wrong choice.

So...I dunno, conceptually I do like the MkII engines, but...stealth device tends to pair pretty well with that free evade to make the ship feel a bit more reliably 'tanky'.

*ahem*

IMO beats all of the above for the added green maneuvers, which open up the Defenders options quite a bit, both when in comes to maneuvers (doing one of the reds no longer forces you to got straight or be stressed) and builds (still not a good good ship for stress-cost EPTs but at least it's not the worst option anymore)

100% agree. This is my go-to mod on Defenders.

mods are almost entirely defensive.

ive heard of stealth and lone wolf on x7 ryad though.

3 Onyx with Hull looks very good too.

Also seen Vessery Tractor D with Hull for a little more insurance too.

In general, when possible, put mk2 engine. You might not think you need the greens, but most players are idiots and don't realize how mathematically terribly they screw themselves by taking red moves and they love to take red moves. =P Even if you aren't that idiot, nowadays a lot of large ships are flying around choosing debris... so you're likely to run over one at some point.

However, they're not wholly necessary.

Thing with an x7 Defender is that all the speed 3, 4, or 5 maneuvers are *already* white or green. You may run into a situation where you think you need to take one of the slower hard banks, but you'd be wrong. Any choice but speed 3, 4, or 5 in an x7 Defender is the wrong choice.

So...I dunno, conceptually I do like the MkII engines, but...stealth device tends to pair pretty well with that free evade to make the ship feel a bit more reliably 'tanky'.

Yeah but get a stress causing crit and you'll soon be cursing that lack of greens.

mods are almost entirely defensive.

ive heard of stealth and lone wolf on x7 ryad though.

3 Onyx with Hull looks very good too.

Also seen Vessery Tractor D with Hull for a little more insurance too.

In general, when possible, put mk2 engine. You might not think you need the greens, but most players are idiots and don't realize how mathematically terribly they screw themselves by taking red moves and they love to take red moves. =P Even if you aren't that idiot, nowadays a lot of large ships are flying around choosing debris... so you're likely to run over one at some point.

However, they're not wholly necessary.

Thing with an x7 Defender is that all the speed 3, 4, or 5 maneuvers are *already* white or green. You may run into a situation where you think you need to take one of the slower hard banks, but you'd be wrong. Any choice but speed 3, 4, or 5 in an x7 Defender is the wrong choice.

So...I dunno, conceptually I do like the MkII engines, but...stealth device tends to pair pretty well with that free evade to make the ship feel a bit more reliably 'tanky'.

Being able to clear stress by not going in a predictable straight line is handy. White maneuvers are handy, but not having an action to boost your offense is worth a point.

I woreded that weirdly. But I said the same thing. It is almost always totally completely incomparably wrong to red turn in a Defender x7. Or even going less than 3 speed usually is wholly wrong.

How wrong is it? Focus and Evade will give you about 2 damage mitigated in a trade. Therefore, your red move has to basically be worth MORE than 2 damage. MORE.