For my custom card league expansion, I'm going to be working on an old favorite of mine, the little-loved Scimitar Assault Bomber.

According to wookiepedia :

"The Scimitar assault bomber was an advanced starfighter/bomber based on TIE Series technology... the Scimitar assault bomber was faster than any TIE Bomber... Its weapons included two laser cannons, concussion missile launchers, and chutes for thermal detonators and proton grenades"

so, the Scimitar was a ship intended to replace the TIE bomber, but what other reason is there to develop it? I'm so glad I asked....

1: The Imperials don't have a good ordnance carrier: The TIE Bomber and TIE Punisher are both panned competitively. The TIE Punisher has the dubious honor of being the only ship that nobody took during Worlds this year. Neither has been flown as an effective ordnance carrier in a while, despite even a recent aces pack for the TIE Bomber.

2: There are no good ordnance carriers in general: With the Jumpmaster nerfed out of competition, there are no really effective ordnance carriers in the metagame that I am aware of. Some ships do carry ordnance, such as Miranda Doni in the Corran/Miranda list that made it to the top table in Worlds this year (Miranda had a homing missile), but missiles or torpedoes were not the chief weapon in that case.

3: Jumpmasters were bad ordnance carriers anyway: Many people disliked triple Jumps, but what really made them bad? I break down their infamy as being due to a combination of traits that ended up making a build that often resulted in negative play experiences. These traits are (in no particular order): Bulkiness , ability to fire torpedoes without target locks (and thus at any target in arc), ability to heavily modify their torpedo attack (via R4 agromech (at first), Overclocked astromech (later), and guidance chips), a turret weapon, and a price tag that allowed three torpedo attacks from different ships in one turn. This combination resulted in builds that could reliably deliver a powerful alpha strike, and had lots of staying power afterwards. This ended up being too much and the developers took extreme measures to destroy this build.

The Scimitar Assault Bomber expansion is an attempt to make an ordnance carrier that approaches competitiveness, and doesn't result in NPEs the way triple jumps did. I'm going for a ship that can deliver an alpha strike, but not easily. It's designed to be less forgiving than a torpedo scout, but still potent if you can pull things off right, and able to zoom out of danger using SLAM when necessary. This version of the SAB has the ability to fire heavily modded torpedoes, is bulky, and can deliver up to 4 torpedoes on the first pass (with 4 PS2 generics using plasma torps/EM/GC). but the alpha strike lacks a lot of the flexibility that triple jumps did. Generic scimitars are much more dependent on their target locks, and even though they are good at picking them up at long range, they are not so good at switching targets at the last second. Scimitars in general also have a much harder time than jumpmasters following up on the alpha strike, since they don't have turrets.

Here's the current iteration of the SAB (please excuse duplicate art for the time being):

Design notes:

Basic Ship:

The statline I'm working with right now is 2/2/4/4, which is in-between the basic statlines of the Bomber and Punisher, and I think is pretty appropriate thematically for the Scimitar. Tough, and not too dodgy, but not the flying brick that the Punisher was. The statline does not distinguish the SAB from the other two Imperial bombers.

The SLAM action reflects the high-speed language that is always swirling around the Scimitar, and starts to set the ship apart. Especially with the Scimitar's dial, which will allow dramatic 3-bank -> 3-turn maneuvers. Note that the SAB's koiogran turn is a 5-speed maneuver and there are no other 5-speed maneuvers, so the SAB cannot SLAM into a k-turn.

The upgrade bar does not differ significantly from the TIE Punisher, including numerous ordnance slots and the system slot. The system slot is pretty important for opening up the SAB's ordnance capabilities with the 'dedicated telemetry module' system upgrade.

Dial:

I'm going for a fast, but not very maneuverable ship here. Only one white turn (2-speed) and lots of green straight moves. I was a little conflicted over including a red maneuver alongside a white or green maneuver of the same speed, since you can SLAM into that maneuver (the red 3-turn). Ultimately I don't think it'll be a huge problem, and I think it gives the ship some much needed character.

Upgrades:

The free 'Integrated launcher' title is really important to define the ship. The ability to SLAM and then fire is unique and very powerful; it's the SAB's main advantage compared with other ordnance carriers. Integrated Launcher (IL) lets the SAB make hard-to-predict maneuvers, and at higher PS, allows reactive SLAMS to get into good firing positions. However, the generic Scimitars won't be able to easily adjust targets the way Contracted Scouts with deadeye were able to - they will still be relying on target locks to launch.

The bomb chute allows more aggressive bombing runs in the SAB and the K-wing, but interferes with good torpedo and missile use since it competes with GC and LRS.

Dedicated telemetry module gives ordnance carriers with the systems upgrade a powerful tool to set up ordnance attacks at the price of limiting target lock's usefulness to torpedoes and missiles. Combining this with Guidance chips and extra munitions might make the B-wing or Punisher dangerous in their own rights.

Ship Pricing:

The pricing for the scimitar is a bit tricky, since there isn't a great baseline ship to compare it with. I started from the TIE Bomber, which costs 16 points for the PS2 pilot (and should probably should cost 15 points according to majorjuggler's early mathwing analysis), and increased the cost to 20 points based on the 2 extra hit points, SLAM action, upgrade bar, and the free integrated launcher title.

The free 'Integrated launcher' title is really important to define the ship. The ability to SLAM and then fire is unique and very powerful; it's the SAB's main advantage compared with other ordnance carriers. Integrated Launcher (IL) lets the SAB make hard-to-predict maneuvers, and at higher PS, allows reactive SLAMS to get into good firing positions. However, the generic Scimitars won't be able to easily adjust targets the way Contracted Scouts with deadeye were able to - they will still be relying on target locks to launch.

I'm going to be testing these in Vassal in the coming days. What are your thoughts about this ship?

This is really well thought out! Great job with the ship and all the cool upgrade cards! The ship has a unique role, and looks properly balanced, unlike U-Boats.

Is the bomb chute reveal bombs only or action bombs as well

And is the telemetry intended to only allow tls to be spent to FIRE ordnance (as the costnof attacking) or can they still be used to modify those attacks (homing missile for instance)

I like your expansion! You may want to change the Launch tubes to something like "You may treat performing a Slam action as revealing a dial when dropping a bomb." Great work overall though. I love the use of Slam on it. It is one of my favorite actions but sadly restricted to Ks at the moment. Outside of one off uses that is.

Great work! My only concerns were already addressed by VanderLegion.

I'd suggest a second torp slot. That way you can still take torps and EM if you want it to be a dedicated torp carrier. As it stands, with only a single slot; you're sort of locked into missiles as your long range ordnance as you'll want EM as default for this ship.

I'd suggest a second torp slot. That way you can still take torps and EM if you want it to be a dedicated torp carrier. As it stands, with only a single slot; you're sort of locked into missiles as your long range ordnance as you'll want EM as default for this ship.

This is pretty true, but I am at max upgrade slots at the moment (if I want to keep one free for EPTs). Maybe I will swap a missile for torp, but I feel odd having more torp slots than missile slots on what seems to thematically have been more of a missile carrier. I guess I could also sneak an extra torp slot in there via the integrated launcher title.

Is the bomb chute reveal bombs only or action bombs as well

And is the telemetry intended to only allow tls to be spent to FIRE ordnance (as the costnof attacking) or can they still be used to modify those attacks (homing missile for instance)

Good questions and points. I should go back through and clear up the language around the DTM, especially since we have that attack step flowchart in the FAQ now. As intended now, the bomb chute just works for no-action bombs, but I might want to change that - action-drop bombs are cool and underused.

-also I should change Scream's text to make the max speed 4; otherwise he can do a 4-straight into a 5-k. Seems dangerous.

I'd suggest a second torp slot. That way you can still take torps and EM if you want it to be a dedicated torp carrier. As it stands, with only a single slot; you're sort of locked into missiles as your long range ordnance as you'll want EM as default for this ship.

This is pretty true, but I am at max upgrade slots at the moment (if I want to keep one free for EPTs). Maybe I will swap a missile for torp, but I feel odd having more torp slots than missile slots on what seems to thematically have been more of a missile carrier. I guess I could also sneak an extra torp slot in there via the integrated launcher title.

Is the bomb chute reveal bombs only or action bombs as well

And is the telemetry intended to only allow tls to be spent to FIRE ordnance (as the costnof attacking) or can they still be used to modify those attacks (homing missile for instance)

Good questions and points. I should go back through and clear up the language around the DTM, especially since we have that attack step flowchart in the FAQ now. As intended now, the bomb chute just works for no-action bombs, but I might want to change that - action-drop bombs are cool and underused.

-also I should change Scream's text to make the max speed 4; otherwise he can do a 4-straight into a 5-k. Seems dangerous.

Would Scream's (as it is now) ability change the maneuvers you can use, or only the speed of the maneuver? For example, you could either have it work like:

Reveal a 4 straight, and SLAM into a 5K or a 3 speed maneuver of choice.

OR

Reveal a 4 straight, and SLAM into a 3, 4, or 5 straight. (If it's this option, does the colour of the maneuver stay the same?)

interesting

I'd suggest a second torp slot. That way you can still take torps and EM if you want it to be a dedicated torp carrier. As it stands, with only a single slot; you're sort of locked into missiles as your long range ordnance as you'll want EM as default for this ship.

This is pretty true, but I am at max upgrade slots at the moment (if I want to keep one free for EPTs). Maybe I will swap a missile for torp, but I feel odd having more torp slots than missile slots on what seems to thematically have been more of a missile carrier. I guess I could also sneak an extra torp slot in there via the integrated launcher title.

Is the bomb chute reveal bombs only or action bombs as well

And is the telemetry intended to only allow tls to be spent to FIRE ordnance (as the costnof attacking) or can they still be used to modify those attacks (homing missile for instance)

Good questions and points. I should go back through and clear up the language around the DTM, especially since we have that attack step flowchart in the FAQ now. As intended now, the bomb chute just works for no-action bombs, but I might want to change that - action-drop bombs are cool and underused.

-also I should change Scream's text to make the max speed 4; otherwise he can do a 4-straight into a 5-k. Seems dangerous.

Would Scream's (as it is now) ability change the maneuvers you can use, or only the speed of the maneuver? For example, you could either have it work like:

Reveal a 4 straight, and SLAM into a 5K or a 3 speed maneuver of choice.

OR

Reveal a 4 straight, and SLAM into a 3, 4, or 5 straight. (If it's this option, does the colour of the maneuver stay the same?)

I think I need a rewording on that ability; I want the ability to be able to SLAM as though you had performed a different speed maneuver for your first move.

It should have a crew instead of a system slot. The Scimitar has room for two people in its cockpit, which as we've seen from the Phantom is enough to give it the slot.

It also doesn't have torpedoes at all. Instead it has 32 missiles, so I'd be fine with giving it three missile upgrades. It should come with a EM version for missile slots.

Honestly this feels more like a redesign of the Punisher crossed with the Missile Boat than the actual Scimitar. The Scimitar does not have a SLAM system, but it is the fastest bomber in the Imperial arsenal. It's faster than X-wings, I'd give it a 5-straight and boost in place of the SLAM. It's also not that tanky of a ship, it should probably lose a shield.

I really like Hangman's pilot ability. It's quite neat and makes him a real threat.

That's only the standard compliment, as well that FFG has notoriously changed things for their own balancing purposes.

It should have a crew instead of a system slot. The Scimitar has room for two people in its cockpit, which as we've seen from the Phantom is enough to give it the slot.

It also doesn't have torpedoes at all. Instead it has 32 missiles, so I'd be fine with giving it three missile upgrades. It should come with a EM version for missile slots.

Honestly this feels more like a redesign of the Punisher crossed with the Missile Boat than the actual Scimitar. The Scimitar does not have a SLAM system, but it is the fastest bomber in the Imperial arsenal. It's faster than X-wings, I'd give it a 5-straight and boost in place of the SLAM. It's also not that tanky of a ship, it should probably lose a shield.

I really like Hangman's pilot ability. It's quite neat and makes him a real threat.

You know it may not be a bad idea to swap system for crew. Let me think on that a bit. Originally, I didn't think that the one extra guy in the scimitar was enough to justify a crew upgrade, and that since it was a late-model ship a system made plenty of sense. But it certainly is true that the upgrade bar doesn't distinguish it from the TIE/Pun.

As for the SLAM, I still think I want to keep it in there. I think there's enough gray space in the ship's background to justify it, and ultimately the SLAM is a big part of what sets this ship design apart. I suppose that does make it similar to the original missile boat's design with SLAM, but I find the Scimitar more interesting than the missile boat, personally.