I am seeing people mention Snipe as a way to take down Intel without having to chew through Escorts, but I am not convinced that is actually going to be that effective.

Snipe doesn't let you ignore Escort. So you have to manage to be at Range 2 of the Intel squad, but also not at Range 1 of an Escort squad. It seems like it won't be much work to position your Intel so that Escort is still protecting it, at least as the engagement is starting. And E-Wings only Snipe 3. You are going to need 3 or more E-Wings sniping a Dengar to get him worrying.

Sniping might work better against Rebels as Jan has no Scatter and thus takes damage more consistently.

Snipe still won't counter intel.

I think it's going to live up to its advertisement. I've never really seen escorts for the Intel group stray far enough away that they'd have a good range bubble, largely because you get too isolated if you aren't balled up enough. It will likely hit Jan harder, but Snipe might do better with him to kill that Tie Advanced a little faster, or to kill Rhymer.

Well, snipe wont exactly let you ignore escort, but it requires a bit more planning and more than 1-2 escorts to reliably cover your intel source from snipe. Rebels have a number of viable escort squadrons and bringing Biggs even adds to that. They are also able to field multiple snipe squadrons. Imperials on the other hand only have TIE advanced, and often you try to cut their numbers to a minimum to bring other squadrons that fit into the imperial synergy - they also only have one unique squad with snipe.

With all that said I think Dengar lives more dangerous than Jan in wave 5..

Why bother trying. Snipe allows you to take out generic squadrons with impunity outside the range of Intel. They need to close with you to do their job. Your job is done at distance 2.

Well you've gone part way there already with the situation you've described - you've locked down the escorts already, and potentially some of the bombers...

You are also arguing from the assumption that the intel is a single unique. A really potent Rebel intel combo is HWK290+YT1300 at 25 points. 2 of these HWK-1300s is really effective. Snipe will do wonders against that.

2xJumpmasters and advanceds, same result. Only Dengar, with that scatter, really resists.

You are also arguing from the assumption that the intel is a single unique. A really potent Rebel intel combo is HWK290+YT1300 at 25 points. 2 of these HWK-1300s is really effective. Snipe will do wonders against that.

2xJumpmasters and advanceds, same result. Only Dengar, with that scatter, really resists.

To be fair, I believe that it usually is.

And while Jan doesn't have the Scatter to defuse the attacks, Rebels by far have better/more consistent Escorts on the table, at least that's how it trends.

Well, snipe wont exactly let you ignore escort, but it requires a bit more planning and more than 1-2 escorts to reliably cover your intel source from snipe.

If you're beyond range 1 of the escorts, then it seems to me that you can ignore escorts, because the text on escort is:

Squadrons you are engaged with cannot attack squadrons without Escort unless performing a Counter attack.

So, if you're out of engagement range (range 1), then it seems to me that you can target what you want to target among the squadrons that are in snipe range.

Snipe still won't counter intel.

You don't have to counter intel. Kill it.

And Snipe is effective against escort: "Escort: (Squadrons you are engaged with cannot attack squadrons without escort unless performing a counter attack.)" At distance 2, if you are not engaged with another squadron, you can virtually ignore anything.

The idea is to engage the enemy squadrons with some cheap Z-95 or hard to kill VCX-100 and then to snipe out of secure distance. That's what a sniper does.

Personally I'm thinking 4 E-Wings and 4 A-Wings, with maybe another 2 E-Wings or 2 HWK-290s.

You either Snipe the Intel and engage with the A-Wings, or Snipe the Escort and kill the Intel with A-Wings.

Can we pick one of these to continue responding to and drop the other?

Can we pick one of these to continue responding to and drop the other?

I couldn't find an option to delete a post.

I agree for avoiding the mention ''Escort'' but I don't know if I'm the only one who saw the potential to never have to face a counter attack too (or is it because it's so obvious we don't need to tell). It's not something bad when you have a swarm of Tie-Interceptor with Dengar behind them (''counter 3'' start to be a pain in the +++).

I believe, by the letter of the rules, If you're Engaged, you're not Sniping, and thus, you're subject to counter-attacks.

Mostly because Snipe is "Distance 2" and not "Distance 1-2".

There are many precedents and statements involved with this... You can argue an ongoing discussion with it - but even in that case, if there's an ongoing discussion, its not advised to be making Blanket Statements about what is Good and What is Bad when it is somewhat undecided...

Hell, that's why I prefaced this whole thing with "I believe"

Snipe will be helpful, but I don't think it is necessary if your sole purpose in using it is to take out Intel. Coordinated alpha strikes will always get that job done. If anything snipe adds an element of survivability, allowing you to first tie the enemy up and shoot with less repercussions.

I didn't mention it cause I tougth it was a evidence. If you are engage (distance 1 and less), I hope everybody knew that there is no way to use your snipe ability.

The rules of engagement stay the rules of engagement. Snipe only give you the ability to shoot from a farther distance to keep your squadron out of reach from retaliation (like a real sniper).

The imperials have 1 ship with snipe. I don’t think you are going to see it be a huge game changer for them yet. What it does do is the same thing as ig88. It makes Jan have to look to saving a Brace for herself, lest she be snipped out.

With the arrival of Biggs, Jan will receive some help in that domaine (saving my X-Wing life)

The imperials have 1 ship with snipe. I don’t think you are going to see it be a huge game changer for them yet. What it does do is the same thing as ig88. It makes Jan have to look to saving a Brace for herself, lest she be snipped out.

You should be able to kill Jan in one turn with Saber+Jendon (to activate snipe twice)+IG (provided at least one attack rolls 3 damage)

IG88 will be my main Sniper-hunter

I'm also thinking that Soontir and Ciena will also be of use.

And Whisper's ability is very cool, too. Hit it, it moves closer

The imperials have 1 ship with snipe. I don’t think you are going to see it be a huge game changer for them yet. What it does do is the same thing as ig88. It makes Jan have to look to saving a Brace for herself, lest she be snipped out.

You should be able to kill Jan in one turn with Saber+Jendon (to activate snipe twice)+IG (provided at least one attack rolls 3 damage)

If people keep their formation as a ball like they are doing it now, yes you will be able to do this but i'm pretty sure the technique will change with this new wave and player will keep a buffer zone between their figther and their support (i.e. Jan Ors).

At least that what I will do.

I can see how Intel can be overwhelming if you only took a token fighter screen. With a full squad compliment enemy Intel isn't really a priority to kill, taking out their best anti-squad units usually is. I took my own Intel ship out of my list as I found I didn't really need it, I ended up bringing back Dengar more for the counter than anything else. I don't really see a way of countering squad heavy builds aside from taking your own squad heavy build, as least the way things stand at the moment.

I really think the game could benefit from some more upgrades that buff squads that stay close to the ships they are protecting. That might allow us to take less than full squad compliments without getting rolled. This wave just made going all out on squads even better.

The imperials have 1 ship with snipe. I don’t think you are going to see it be a huge game changer for them yet. What it does do is the same thing as ig88. It makes Jan have to look to saving a Brace for herself, lest she be snipped out.

You should be able to kill Jan in one turn with Saber+Jendon (to activate snipe twice)+IG (provided at least one attack rolls 3 damage)

If people keep their formation as a ball like they are doing it now, yes you will be able to do this but i'm pretty sure the technique will change with this new wave and player will keep a buffer zone between their figther and their support (i.e. Jan Ors).

At least that what I will do.

Then I've still won, as now you are not making my squads heavy and they are able to tie up your bombers

I think this is the exact reason why FFG put Snipe. They want you to choose wich setup you want to play. Is the use of ''intel'' more important for you or you prefer only relied on other aces ability (like Jan Ors ability to spare ''Brace''). It's a fair bargain and it will bring some new way to play the squadron game.

Nice move FFG