My group and I just started playing this campaign and it's overall very immersive and fun.

I actually have a question about XP and bombs specifically. The rules specifically state that you gain XP when you deal damage during the combat phase. Bombs are activated either during the end of the activation phase or when they are collided with. By the letter of the law you can’t gain XP using bombs.

Thanks for any thoughts!

On 12/23/2016 at 3:12 AM, Marinealver said:

I don't have drop box account so I couldn't get it yet.

Still I would like to see an AI system for Scum and Rebels. Although you might have to make adjustments as Rebels will act differently against Scum then they do for Empire.

There was a “defenders of the Arturi cluster” thread awhile back. I think they had a basic functioning AI for the main rebel ships (X,Y,B,A, and Z).

55 minutes ago, Heferito said:

My group and I just started playing this campaign and it's overall very immersive and fun.

I actually have a question about XP and bombs specifically. The rules specifically state that you gain XP when you deal damage during the combat phase. Bombs are activated either during the end of the activation phase or when they are collided with. By the letter of the law you can’t gain XP using bombs.

Thanks for any thoughts!

1 point if you damaged enemy ships with a bomb...

1 point and lots of congratulations if you manage to wreck eight enemy fighters with a single bomb.

I personally think the Z-95 should be a starter ship. In functionality it's an A-Wing with a worse dial, one less agility, and 1 less EPT slot. I envision it as a ship that a pilot would stick with to max out pilot skill and elite pilot talents before moving on to a more survivable attack craft.

On December 23, 2016 at 3:15 AM, McCaber said:

One thing the designer suggested about your first point is to have collective group XP that gets evenly split among everyone. This also cuts down on people angling to get the killshot away from the person who did most of the work.

But stealing xp is the most fun and interesting part of HOTAC. So is putting your ships dial face down. Competitive HOTAC is the best HOTAC. The Star Wars universe is built on betrayal.

3 minutes ago, Yakostovian said:

I personally think the Z-95 should be a starter ship. In functionality it's an A-Wing with a worse dial, one less agility, and 1 less EPT slot. I envision it as a ship that a pilot would stick with to max out pilot skill and elite pilot talents before moving on to a more survivable attack craft.

We play almost strictly by the published HotAC rules, and even in our game we'd let you start in a Z-95 with, say, 12 XP. (No PS bump permitted until after the first real mission, though.)

2 minutes ago, Yakostovian said:

I personally think the Z-95 should be a starter ship. In functionality it's an A-Wing with a worse dial, one less agility, and 1 less EPT slot. I envision it as a ship that a pilot would stick with to max out pilot skill and elite pilot talents before moving on to a more survivable attack craft.

I've actually seen an idea that has you fly two z-95s in the place of the standard ships. Considering how the Z stacks on in comparison with the other ships and in points, it actually seems like it would work out.

9 minutes ago, Boom Owl said:

But stealing xp is the most fun and interesting part of HOTAC. So is putting your ships dial face down. Competitive HOTAC is the best HOTAC. The Star Wars universe is built on betrayal.

Sounds like scum to me!

10 minutes ago, Boom Owl said:

But stealing xp is the most fun and interesting part of HOTAC. So is putting your ships dial face down. Competitive HOTAC is the best HOTAC. The Star Wars universe is built on betrayal.

Rebel Scum indeed.

41 minutes ago, FlyingAnchors said:

There was a “defenders of the Arturi cluster” thread awhile back. I think they had a basic functioning AI for the main rebel ships (X,Y,B,A, and Z).

I have seen an app that has one for the X-wing and Z-95 I think for use of scenarios. But I was also thinking of changing the algorithm for the other factions to make them behave differently than Imperial. For the Rebels I want them more of an ally so don't need to develop the independent AI that much. Also since nearly all Rebel and Scum ships have the Target Lock icon I'm thinking of using it as sort of an agro mechanic where their movement instead of being based upon the nearest enemy it is based upon the enemy ship that is target locked. But there are ways someone can pull it (such as roiling a crit during an attack).

44 minutes ago, LagJanson said:

1 point if you damaged enemy ships with a bomb...

1 point and lots of congratulations if you manage to wreck eight enemy fighters with a single bomb.

So what about points scored during the actual combat phase? Are you limited to 1 point per turn regardless of how damage is dealt?

4 minutes ago, Heferito said:

So what about points scored during the actual combat phase? Are you limited to 1 point per turn regardless of how damage is dealt?

So, the earning XP Chart notes that you get the points in the Combat Phase, yes. There is also a tiny paragraph on page 42 regarding scoring XP for things like asteroid collisions and such. As these are during the movement phase, scoring points in the movement phase is possible. This happens outside the combat phase, so the points here are in addition to the points in combat - so if you shoot something you get an additional +1 on top of the +1 from the bomb in the movement phase.

I had to make some leaps here in the logic as Josh didn't really record anything for bombs.

6 minutes ago, LagJanson said:

So, the earning XP Chart notes that you get the points in the Combat Phase, yes. There is also a tiny paragraph on page 42 regarding scoring XP for things like asteroid collisions and such. As these are during the movement phase, scoring points in the movement phase is possible. This happens outside the combat phase, so the points here are in addition to the points in combat - so if you shoot something you get an additional +1 on top of the +1 from the bomb in the movement phase.

I had to make some leaps here in the logic as Josh didn't really record anything for bombs.

Thanks for your thoughts, this is exactly where I wasnt sure if that leap is the correct interpretation.

1 minute ago, Heferito said:

Thanks for your thoughts, this is exactly where I wasnt sure if that leap is the correct interpretation.

Well, simple way to deal with it... allow it and see if it's broken. If it makes the game something that most of the players don't like, revoke it.

On 12/23/2016 at 3:13 AM, Chucknuckle said:

The point of the limited ships is that it was intended as an OT only romp. No K Wings, E Wings or whatever.

Just so I understand:

Players get annoyed that the OT ships are too weak to play in "modern" 100/6 but really want to play them.

Said players transition to HotAC to try something new and are annoyed they can't use any of the latest ships.

1 minute ago, Darth Meanie said:

Just so I understand:

Players get annoyed that the OT ships are too weak to play in "modern" 100/6 but really want to play them.

Said players transition to HotAC to try something new and are annoyed they can't use any of the latest ships.

Well, that was a year ago. Things change...

1 minute ago, LagJanson said:

Well, that was a year ago. Things change...

Oi, fair enough, didn't notice the date.

I still need to get my group to try this. Darth Meanie in an X-Wing!!

(I'll leave the targeting computer on. But I'll turn the shields off. Shields are for wimps.)

2 hours ago, Boom Owl said:

But stealing xp is the most fun and interesting part of HOTAC. So is putting your ships dial face down. Competitive HOTAC is the best HOTAC. The Star Wars universe is built on betrayal.

Face down dials and not a lot of table talk about what you’re planning also speeds the game up immensely.

1 minute ago, Darth Meanie said:

Just so I understand:

Players get annoyed that the OT ships are too weak to play in "modern" 100/6 but really want to play them.

Said players transition to HotAC to try something new and are annoyed they can't use any of the latest ships.

It's more than just those who wish to play OT ships that get into HotAC. My group has a regular core of a HWK, an Arc, a B-Wing, and an E-Wing. There are a couple of guys who aren't as regular who give us two more Arcs and a Y-Wing. While there is certainly excitement for the OT ships (I personally had a plan to make a super arc-dodger X-Wing before a different role was found lacking in our group), most of us are there for the co-op nature of HotAC. I am personally hoping that the Scum version that I've heard rumored comes out. I would love to fly a Fang or a Starviper in a HotAC setting.

I fully agree that pooling XP changes the game immensely for the better. Also, we (ST podcast) interviewed the creator and he said the next official version he comes out with will change it so that you pool XP. He's just super busy with real life.

There is an active Facebook group that talks about HotAC and have all sorts of variants. Is say check it out.

There are ways to get XP without damaging things. Being a support ship can do that. J-bot is playing a ship with M9-G8 and Dutch's ability. Every time someone shoots at him he can give out a free TL action. There are tons of crazy things like that for GEL.

A-wing gets bonus EPT and Extra Munitions is a modification it can get. You can use Outmanuever or a bunch of other options that can give out bonus XP. I think my next time playing will try to be an A-wing just to try it. Also, they can go for objectives while rest of team blows stuff up.

I think one reason for different ships is that some people consider the OT ships boring when compared to other ones. They started later in game and think T-65 dial is bad and lack of repositioning makes it worse. What they don't get is all the crazy things you can do to get maneuvering on those things. BB-8, Sabine's ability, mods, PTL, and other stuff allow you to just go crazy even before you put a dial down.

13 minutes ago, heychadwick said:

They started later in game and think T-65 dial is bad and lack of repositioning makes it worse. What they don't get is all the crazy things you can do to get maneuvering on those things. BB-8, Sabine's ability, mods, PTL, and other stuff allow you to just go crazy even before you put a dial down.

I really want to fly an X-Wing with PTL, Sabine's ability, Blue Ace's ability, and Hera's ability. Thrown on R2 Astro, Engine Upgrade, and Vectored thrusters to make a nigh-uncatchable ace! And you still got some mod slots and torps to sweeten the deal.

18 hours ago, SabineKey said:

It's more than just those who wish to play OT ships that get into HotAC. My group has a regular core of a HWK, an Arc, a B-Wing, and an E-Wing. There are a couple of guys who aren't as regular who give us two more Arcs and a Y-Wing. While there is certainly excitement for the OT ships (I personally had a plan to make a super arc-dodger X-Wing before a different role was found lacking in our group), most of us are there for the co-op nature of HotAC. I am personally hoping that the Scum version that I've heard rumored comes out. I would love to fly a Fang or a Starviper in a HotAC setting.

I really want to have a mission in the rebel side where you play as scum ships for a single mission. I might even be willing to try to write it.

43 minutes ago, SabineKey said:

I really want to fly an X-Wing with PTL, Sabine's ability, Blue Ace's ability, and Hera's ability. Thrown on R2 Astro, Engine Upgrade, and Vectored thrusters to make a nigh-uncatchable ace! And you still got some mod slots and torps to sweeten the deal.

BB-8 with Sabine is redundant. I have:

- Sabine's Ability

- Push The Limit

- R2 Astromech

- Predator

- Squad Leader (for free)

I might change Predator to Expertise, though, as I find I don't need an action as much. Well, maybe keep Predator and always Focus.

As stated above by many others, pooling XP is a good move.

My experience with HotAC was fun and with good people, but I burned out on not getting kill shot XP and lost interest when other players lurched ahead with fun upgrades.

I'll give it another spin soon.

2 hours ago, Yakostovian said:

I really want to have a mission in the rebel side where you play as scum ships for a single mission. I might even be willing to try to write it.

That could be fun. There is enough overlap of upgrades that switching to a Scum ship for a mission might work out.

1 hour ago, heychadwick said:

BB-8 with Sabine is redundant. I have:

- Sabine's Ability

- Push The Limit

- R2 Astromech

- Predator

- Squad Leader (for free)

I might change Predator to Expertise, though, as I find I don't need an action as much. Well, maybe keep Predator and always Focus.

Solid.

Predator is such a good upgrade in HotAC. My one regret with my X-Wing build is that I don't have room for Predator.

Now, another scary combo is taking Predator and Expertise together. One of our regulars flies a HLC B-Wing with both EPTs. If something really needs to die, we send him after it.