Where's the Arcs?

By Bigulf, in X-Wing

Thane especially just doesn't give a **** about anything dengaroo does, especially when he tries to ram himself into thane in order to deny shots (since he don't give a **** about his action) and thane just VTs out of base-to-base contact to fire range 1

Devious! I like it. Then again, I do like my plasma torps with guidance chips on Thane. Nothing sets up a game like throwing 4 hits at an opponent who's already used his tokens AND stressing him to boot during the first exchange. Granted it only works once but there's seldom too many opportunities to use it afterward anyway. The next turn you're usually in R1 and after that you mostly shoot behind you.

torp thane works alright, but I can't fly ARCs without b-roll anymore :P

too much fun

Thane with just r3-a2 and either tailgunner/tactician has been working very well, though, especially when the death of torp scouts has brought a lot of lower agility out of hiding that poor Braylen's gunner would look very foolish against

loss of double stress has not been a big deal either; defenders generally don't bother clearing unless they're ryad (who gets double stressed on ptl anyway). Really, just slapping on a red maneuver denying single stress has been enough to let him go around tailgunning ships to death

In general they're weak against Dengaroo, Twin Laser Turret, and TIE Defenders, which are 3 of the 4 the pillars of the meta right now. Aces have a harder time dodging both arcs when they get close, but even that is a hard match if they can keep their distance and stay in the wings.

They're expensive and fragile unfortunately, even though they do have utility and Norra can deal surprising damage at times.

Always fly Biggs and you can make them work, but they need a meta shift. Might be better off after Wave 10.

This is a good response.

Norra still sucks. Please check my Thread about her :D

I still wish she was awesome though!

"You can take an additional stress to take and spend a a target lock and do a barrel roll to receive an eye result on a die you dont really have, unless there is an enemy ship in range 1 or 2 and only if your ship is burning right now"

I really hate this kind of abilities. Can it be a little more straightforward please?

Why didn't they just give her an additional BOOM for spending a TL? Maybe she'd be a match against Defenders then. Finally.

This is not.

I often read that Biggs would be vital for an ARC build.

Somehow it feels as if Biggs was the true Star of the show then.

He is good enough to even make a weak list playable.

ive flown arcs without VTs in the past and yeah its a bad, bad idea. They are lacking a 1turn, and often a 1bank into broll or 2turn into broll is what you need to get the shot right. If they had a 1turn it would be different i imagine.

Doesnt help that im used to running SFs who have barrelroll innately. Unless you arent looking at me at all, im almost always barrelrolling

One of our guys was running three in a list, until my tractor beam defenders ate it for breakfast......I think the game only lasted 4 turns :(

I still feel bad about it!

I often read that Biggs would be vital for an ARC build.

Somehow it feels as if Biggs was the true Star of the show then.

He is good enough to even make a weak list playable.

no, norra is the star

Biggs is just six extra health for her

Also tbeam insurance

Edited by ficklegreendice

I played against a local guy running a Triple Target list (my name for a list with three solid "i want to kill him first" ships). It was Breylan with R3-A2 and Gunner, Regen Poe, and a Sabine shuttle. I managed to win, but Breylan was a stress monster! I'd take him over a stresshog any day.

MILF Moustache: "Mom's I'd like to fly"

Norra (PTL, Kyle, R5-P9, title)

Shara (DTF, Weap Eng, R2-D2, title)

Biggs (R4-D6, IA)

This is the ARC list I want to try out soon. In my local meta (mostly FFG HQ) you do see a few ARCs here and there and at times they do fairly well.

Edited by tortugatron

In general they're weak against Dengaroo, Twin Laser Turret, and TIE Defenders, which are 3 of the 4 the pillars of the meta right now. Aces have a harder time dodging both arcs when they get close, but even that is a hard match if they can keep their distance and stay in the wings.

They're expensive and fragile unfortunately, even though they do have utility and Norra can deal surprising damage at times.

Always fly Biggs and you can make them work, but they need a meta shift. Might be better off after Wave 10.

Npt sure terry laughs at norra

Hes annoying, but hes ultimately kinda insignificant in the long run. Like "oh no a 3 dice primary with nothing special!" Yawn

Ive played some 15 games across my local groups where fangs featured. I have yet to come close to losing

4 health really doesnt make for threatening opponents

Mildly impressed with mindlink rau, tbf. R3a2 still corrals him easily, though

Edited by ficklegreendice

Stress attacks really eff up fangs.

Guy in my area is running a lot of manaroo + fenn + teroch since he plans to goto worlds with that list. Generally its a difficult fight, but i ran the stress Braylen once and it just crippled him. Cant stressstack multiple ships, and he had enough greens to usually not care, but quite often his fangs got screwed out of a 2troll or a kturn and that let me walk all over him.

Even without attani mindlink, it really messes fangs up.

Honestly, it is worse without mindlink

At least mindlink gives modified dice

I hate flying Biggs and I love Kyle Katarn so much I grew my beard to match him. And I love the Ghost and I love Norra.

I have to fly them both.

I can't help it. I guess I'll just lose bad at the regional later this week. I have to get it out of my system though. I think after I get this out of my system I'm going to start experimenting with Rey and Miranda.

Hera Syndulla (57) VCX-100 (40), Fire-Control System (2), Autoblaster Turret (2), Flechette Torpedoes (2), Flechette Torpedoes (2), Kanan Jarrus (3), Lando Calrissian (3), Experimental Interface (3)

Norra Wexley (43) ARC-170 (29), R2-D2 (4), Push the Limit (3), Kyle Katarn (3), Alliance Overhaul (0), Engine Upgrade (4)

Biggs is great. He may be auto-include in ARC lists. Anything that denies choice to your opponent is a good thing.

BUT I think his ability makes people forget that there are other ways to split enemy fire. None of them are nearly as effective and you sometimes have to count on your opponent making a targeting mistake (which is admittedly a poor thing to count on), but they exist.

I really only bring this up because M9-G8 Tarn is so ridiculously fun to fly and he's starting to take Biggs' place in my 40/34/26 Rebel builds. I'm hoping he can be competitive.

Npt sure terry laughs at norra

Hes annoying, but hes ultimately kinda insignificant in the long run. Like "oh no a 3 dice primary with nothing special!" Yawn

Ive played some 15 games across my local groups where fangs featured. I have yet to come close to losing

4 health really doesnt make for threatening opponents

Mildly impressed with mindlink rau, tbf. R3a2 still corrals him easily, though

Npt sure terry laughs at norra

Hes annoying, but hes ultimately kinda insignificant in the long run. Like "oh no a 3 dice primary with nothing special!" Yawn

Ive played some 15 games across my local groups where fangs featured. I have yet to come close to losing

4 health really doesnt make for threatening opponents

Mildly impressed with mindlink rau, tbf. R3a2 still corrals him easily, though

Have to disagree fickle. Once you add manaroo to the mix you now have a fully modded attack and a modded defwnce between focus and the title. And with his ability Norra can't use hers. And r3a2 is good but in no way shuts down a mindlink list. Because Terry can have 40 stress tokens and still have 2 focus and an TL due to mindlink and Manny. Same with Fenn. The times i have flown against Norra and have had terry with me she has done almost nothing. Between his ability, title, and a focus he can be really hard to hit. Not soontir hard but still a pain. Another person that stops Norra is Palob. He just doesn't have the defense and speed to avoid her as well as Terry can. Again not saying she is bad. I am just saying that Terry is a bad matchup for her.

The ARC has made a pretty sizeable impression on my local scene. Norra/stress Breylen/Biggs is proving popular and effective, and we had lists featuring ARCs place 1st and 5th in our 30+ player Escalation event. I'm a fan of it in general. :-)

In general they're weak against Dengaroo, Twin Laser Turret, and TIE Defenders, which are 3 of the 4 the pillars of the meta right now. Aces have a harder time dodging both arcs when they get close, but even that is a hard match if they can keep their distance and stay in the wings.

They're expensive and fragile unfortunately, even though they do have utility and Norra can deal surprising damage at times.

Always fly Biggs and you can make them work, but they need a meta shift. Might be better off after Wave 10.

This is the big thing. They are kinda a jack of all trades thing. Okay against most things but not good. And there are way to many things that can mulch them (fangs for instance. Once biggs is down ARCs melt to those guys. And terry laughs at Norra. No focus for her) And also you hit the nail right on the head. Norra deals surprising damage at times but in my experience it is not consistent damage. And i take consistency over surprising any day of the week. Also they need biggles to last long making the whole formation rather predictable. Long time opponent of mine flew biggs ALL the time and he came to realize that his formations became uber predictable. Don't get me wrong though. The ARC is an amazing model and can be very useful in a list (like Braylen. Love that guy). But they can't carry a game on their own. I kinda see them as an xwing that shoots backwards. Not bad against all but not good either.

Norra inconsistent? Wut? When firing up front she's got 42% chance for 4 hits, 42% chance for 3 hits and the rest is 2 or less. That's rock solid consistency. It's better than a 4 att. ship with only one modifier. The only thing to beat it would be a 4 att. ship with both modifiers but those ships are typically rare, more expensive and/or less survivable than Norra. When you shoot from behind the consistency actually even improves although you need a Tail Gunner to take full advantage of it.

The way I see it, Norra is the perfect jouster. She's more dangerous than any defender, she doesn't need to k-turn and she's nigh-indestructible 1on1.

Npt sure terry laughs at norra

Hes annoying, but hes ultimately kinda insignificant in the long run. Like "oh no a 3 dice primary with nothing special!" Yawn

Ive played some 15 games across my local groups where fangs featured. I have yet to come close to losing

4 health really doesnt make for threatening opponents

Mildly impressed with mindlink rau, tbf. R3a2 still corrals him easily, though

Have to disagree fickle. Once you add manaroo to the mix you now have a fully modded attack and a modded defwnce between focus and the title. And with his ability Norra can't use hers. And r3a2 is good but in no way shuts down a mindlink list. Because Terry can have 40 stress tokens and still have 2 focus and an TL due to mindlink and Manny. Same with Fenn. The times i have flown against Norra and have had terry with me she has done almost nothing. Between his ability, title, and a focus he can be really hard to hit. Not soontir hard but still a pain. Another person that stops Norra is Palob. He just doesn't have the defense and speed to avoid her as well as Terry can. Again not saying she is bad. I am just saying that Terry is a bad matchup for her.

Thats 30some points of barely registered offense going into biggs

Now i love manny overall, esp with mindlink, but against ARCs and co her contribution ito mods is basically lost against how wimpy her gun is

As for terrys modded attack, it is still just a 3 die primary. Hes no rau or juke vess or anything; hardly the stuff of legends

Really, "badmatchup" is a gross exaggeration. Hes just slightly irritating. Hes bad for x7s and such who meed the defends mods and dont get Biggs, but between norras regen and aux arc modifications, he is an annoyance and little more

Palob is similar. I LOVE palob, but he is 5 health on 2 agility and an utterly garbage dial. Not exactly sweatin the prospect of nuking him there

See, the thing with norra is that her ability is excellent but people REALLY overvalue it. Norra isnt just strong because of it, but because of the combination of regen, dial and aux arc (enabled by tailgunner). Losing her ability for one round because terry decided that suicidally diving into your formation was a good idea really isnt going to hamper you in the long run

Ive run into palobs and terrys and hotshot cheris and the outcome is always the same: you will outlast them even without your ability. Dont even bother with ptl other than to lock + roll

Though remember to spend that TL on aux arc attacks that havnt rolled a focus

Also remember the most cruciql thing:

No matter how annoting X is, X can be focus fired down relatively easily

But norra cant

Because you have Biggs

And they dont

Edited by ficklegreendice

In general they're weak against Dengaroo, Twin Laser Turret, and TIE Defenders, which are 3 of the 4 the pillars of the meta right now. Aces have a harder time dodging both arcs when they get close, but even that is a hard match if they can keep their distance and stay in the wings.

They're expensive and fragile unfortunately, even though they do have utility and Norra can deal surprising damage at times.

Always fly Biggs and you can make them work, but they need a meta shift. Might be better off after Wave 10.

This is the big thing. They are kinda a jack of all trades thing. Okay against most things but not good. And there are way to many things that can mulch them (fangs for instance. Once biggs is down ARCs melt to those guys. And terry laughs at Norra. No focus for her) And also you hit the nail right on the head. Norra deals surprising damage at times but in my experience it is not consistent damage. And i take consistency over surprising any day of the week. Also they need biggles to last long making the whole formation rather predictable. Long time opponent of mine flew biggs ALL the time and he came to realize that his formations became uber predictable. Don't get me wrong though. The ARC is an amazing model and can be very useful in a list (like Braylen. Love that guy). But they can't carry a game on their own. I kinda see them as an xwing that shoots backwards. Not bad against all but not good either.

Norra inconsistent? Wut? When firing up front she's got 42% chance for 4 hits, 42% chance for 3 hits and the rest is 2 or less. That's rock solid consistency. It's better than a 4 att. ship with only one modifier. The only thing to beat it would be a 4 att. ship with both modifiers but those ships are typically rare, more expensive and/or less survivable than Norra. When you shoot from behind the consistency actually even improves although you need a Tail Gunner to take full advantage of it.

The way I see it, Norra is the perfect jouster. She's more dangerous than any defender, she doesn't need to k-turn and she's nigh-indestructible 1on1.

She hits hard. Just not as hard nor as consistently hard as the other heavy hitters in the game.

Npt sure terry laughs at norra

Hes annoying, but hes ultimately kinda insignificant in the long run. Like "oh no a 3 dice primary with nothing special!" Yawn

Ive played some 15 games across my local groups where fangs featured. I have yet to come close to losing

4 health really doesnt make for threatening opponents

Mildly impressed with mindlink rau, tbf. R3a2 still corrals him easily, though

Have to disagree fickle. Once you add manaroo to the mix you now have a fully modded attack and a modded defwnce between focus and the title. And with his ability Norra can't use hers. And r3a2 is good but in no way shuts down a mindlink list. Because Terry can have 40 stress tokens and still have 2 focus and an TL due to mindlink and Manny. Same with Fenn. The times i have flown against Norra and have had terry with me she has done almost nothing. Between his ability, title, and a focus he can be really hard to hit. Not soontir hard but still a pain. Another person that stops Norra is Palob. He just doesn't have the defense and speed to avoid her as well as Terry can. Again not saying she is bad. I am just saying that Terry is a bad matchup for her.
i love Manny

Thats 30some points of barely registered offense going into biggs

Now i love manny overall, esp with mindlink, but against ARCs and co her contribution ito mods is basically lost against how wimpy her gun is

As for terrys modded attack, it is still just a 3 die primary. Hes no rau or juke vess or anything; hardly the stuff of legends

Really, "badmatchup" is a gross exaggeration. Hes just slightly irritating. Hes bad for x7s and such who meed the defends mods and dont get Biggs, but between norras regen and aux arc modifications, he is an annoyance and little more

Palob is similar. I LOVE palob, but he is 5 health on 2 agility and an utterly garbage dial. Not exactly sweatin the prospect of nuking him there

See, the thing with norra is that her ability is excellent but people REALLY overvalue it. Norra isnt just strong because of it, but because of the combination of regen, dial and aux arc (enabled by tailgunner). Losing her ability for one round because terry decided that suicidally diving into your formation was a good idea really isnt going to hamper you in the long run

Ive run into palobs and terrys and hotshot cheris and the outcome is always the same: you will outlast them even without your ability. Dont even bother with ptl other than to lock + roll

Though remember to spend that TL on aux arc attacks that havnt rolled a focus

Also remember the most cruciql thing:

No matter how annoting X is, X can be focus fired down relatively easily

But norra cant

Because you have Biggs

And they dont

The big thing i have to admit with norra is this:

Miranda exists

I would NEVER take Norra over miranda

Except if i have biggs

Miranda has the advantage of ps, mobility (exacerbated by turret) and TLT scoring overall more damage at every range outside one

Norras advantages are r2d2 (much more flexible than on-attack regen) and range 1 (and, v dengaroo, tailgunner)

Problem is norra at ramge 1 is gonna get roasted by concetrated fire over 1-2 rounds

But worh Biggs? You can put norra in the most compromising positions with no issue

The trick is to use biggs to nuke the opponent down enough to the point where he just cant focus fire norra down in the late game. If you do, she will win you the game just by virtue of existing.

Edited by ficklegreendice

The big thing i have to admit with norra is this:

Miranda exists

I would NEVER take Norra over miranda

Except if i have biggs

Miranda has the advantage of ps, mobility (exacerbated by turret) and TLT scoring overall more damage at every range outside one

Norras advantages are r2d2 (much more flexible than on-attack regen) and range 1 (and, v dengaroo, tailgunner)

Problem is norra at ramge 1 is gonna get roasted by concetrated fire over 1-2 rounds

But worh Biggs? You can put norra in the most compromising positions with no issue

The trick is to use biggs to nuke the opponent down enough to the point where he just cant focus fire norra down in the late game. If you do, she will win you the game just by virtue of existing.

:)

The big thing i have to admit with norra is this:

Miranda exists

I would NEVER take Norra over miranda

Except if i have biggs

Miranda has the advantage of ps, mobility (exacerbated by turret) and TLT scoring overall more damage at every range outside one

Norras advantages are r2d2 (much more flexible than on-attack regen) and range 1 (and, v dengaroo, tailgunner)

Problem is norra at ramge 1 is gonna get roasted by concetrated fire over 1-2 rounds

But worh Biggs? You can put norra in the most compromising positions with no issue

The trick is to use biggs to nuke the opponent down enough to the point where he just cant focus fire norra down in the late game. If you do, she will win you the game just by virtue of existing.

My biggest concern flying Norra (which I will admit I have yet to directly run into) is the popularity of Asajj Ventress. She's very popular in my local meta, and her stress abilities can shut down Norra's PTL with no problems. Norra with one action per turn is not as much of a threat.

The big thing i have to admit with norra is this:

Miranda exists

I would NEVER take Norra over miranda

Except if i have biggs

Miranda has the advantage of ps, mobility (exacerbated by turret) and TLT scoring overall more damage at every range outside one

Norras advantages are r2d2 (much more flexible than on-attack regen) and range 1 (and, v dengaroo, tailgunner)

Problem is norra at ramge 1 is gonna get roasted by concetrated fire over 1-2 rounds

But worh Biggs? You can put norra in the most compromising positions with no issue

The trick is to use biggs to nuke the opponent down enough to the point where he just cant focus fire norra down in the late game. If you do, she will win you the game just by virtue of existing.

My biggest concern flying Norra (which I will admit I have yet to directly run into) is the popularity of Asajj Ventress. She's very popular in my local meta, and her stress abilities can shut down Norra's PTL with no problems. Norra with one action per turn is not as much of a threat.

I tell ya. These two things will solve all your problems. (in pumba voice)