Talk about flammable, they literally have 1d2 Hull. I really appreciate the designers' depiction of poor, desperate sods that man these flying coffins.

It's actually slightly better than that. There's about 1/3 chance of exploding, not 1/2.

In theory, you're right, Direct Hits only make 1/3rd of the deck. But in practice, the reminder holds enough crippling crits to spell doom just about every fourth card (bad Major Explosion roll, Console Fire, Blinded Pilot, etc.), for a total of 50% deadliness.

9 ship swarm will be the real reason to do it.

Trouble with swarm leader, aside from having one ship doing all the work, is that you also really have a big bullseye on that one ship. "Get me first". Your opponents squad will focus fire on it, then plink away at the little, fragile light interceptors who can't stick damage reliably with only two red dice.

Bodyguard. Mindlink, and maybe Serissu could fix a lot of those issues.

But I admit, I am not convinced about it either. Tractor beam M3As might do the trick as well to help with the offensive power, while Serissu deals with the defensive problem and becomes the new primary target instead of Xixor. A mini-biggs is always nice to have around, especially at 4 HP, and Agi 3 with Focus + Evade.

The issue is that the whole package is too expensive for 100 point lists, but it might be pretty awesome for epic, because in epic you have to points to upgrade the M3As to mindlink.

Xizor and his Minions (100)

Serissu (20)

Bodyguard (2)

Tractor Beam (1)

"Heavy Scyk" Interceptor (Cannon) (2)

Prince Xizor (31)

Swarm Leader (3)

Fire-Control System (2)

Autothrusters (2)

Virago (1)

Cartel Spacer (14)

"Light Scyk" Interceptor (-2)

Cartel Spacer (14)

"Light Scyk" Interceptor (-2)

Cartel Spacer (14)

"Light Scyk" Interceptor (-2)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

This looks familiar.

Was it you I just played who was running this?

9 ship swarm will be the real reason to do it.

The PS1 is unique. Difficult to make out, I know, but the text specifically mentions 4 new unique pilots and both of the generics we currently have are visible in the spread. It's possible that we get a 13 point unique that can be reduced to 11, but I'd say it's more likely he/she still ends up at 14. But we are almost assuredly not getting an 11 point generic.

The only doubt arises from the fact that we still see errors in the article text... Anywho thanks for the announcement video, I always enjoy hearing your thoughts on this and Imperial Assault.

9 ship swarm will be the real reason to do it.

Unless FFG plans to raise the point cap a single 11 point scyk and 8 12 point scyks will still add up >100 points.

Also the ship cap too, isn't there a no more than 8 of the same ship (4 for large ship) cap as well? So they could go for an increase from 100 to 125 or even 150 points?

I have to admit that Xizor sounds like a terrible idea for a Scyk Swarm. While they can always BR to get in R1, they will pop like crazy with Xizor's ability. I would probably want to try using someone like Cobra Talonbane instead.

I've seen many posts saying the Light Scyk doesn't match the TIE fighter, let alone x/7 in efficiency. That's not the point, it's just to get the Scyk closer to the (former) gold standard of the joust, the TIE fighter.

So, I think this does a pretty decent job. It'll be fun to see a bunch of Scyks flying around. And just some variety from Heavy Scyk. Also, we might see some Heavy Scyks without weapons now.

Light Scyk is not a balance patch - that was in the errata, though they've now made it official on a card somewhere, too.

It's a diversity patch, intended in the same way the B-wing/E2 was meant to be - persuading players to try other builds sometime.

In terms of gold-standard balance, they're pretty well set - the Light Scyk will fly well against the TIE Fighter, and the Heavy Scyk compares well enough to A-wings and Interceptors (provided you bolt a weapon on it). Now they just need to bring in x7 Defenders, and all should be well.

My one quibble: They're putting six identical cards in the pack. I get why, of course... but they release the same number of cards either way, so six identical ones means less other interesting for the little guys, you know?

I miss MJ. We could really use his Mad sKillZ right about now.

He is naked 2pts cheaper than Xizor, but would probably profit from maybe Vectored Thrusters and Cloak Device.

No "Probably" about it. Pairing up these two cards, especially with Predator, takes him from something not much better than an X-wing to an incredibly unpredictable fighter. Being able to decloak to the side and barrel roll to 'sideslip' at speed 4, or combine a forward decloak with a speed 5 k-turn for an effective "speed 8 K-turn" means that he can do some serious jank so someone who expects him to joust.

I'm liking the idea of 4 Tansarii Vets with Light title and Mindlink and then an Ace with Swarm Leader as the 5th ship.

problem with Swarm Leader is you have one ship (i.e the leader) doing just about all the work

unless you get really REALLY lucky with 2 naked red dice

I don't know about not bad, but it definitely isn't good

And if you have Mindlink of the Light ones, then all but 1 will (hopefully) have Focus and Evade, with 1 having just Focus. So suddenly 8 naked red dice becomes 8 focused red dice.

And if Talonbane is the ace alongside them, then he has 5 or 7 red dice, either focused or locked and/or (as the point fit it) Glitterstim'ed.

And if you have Mindlink of the Light ones, then all but 1 will (hopefully) have Focus and Evade, with 1 having just Focus. So suddenly 8 naked red dice becomes 8 focused red dice.

And if Talonbane is the ace alongside them, then he has 5 or 7 red dice, either focused or locked and/or (as the point fit it) Glitterstim'ed.

Fenn is WAY better than Talonbane in this and basically any other context at the moment.

I'm so not used to fitting so many in lol It's blinding me to what I can have as the Ace. Cheers!

My one quibble: They're putting six identical cards in the pack. I get why, of course... but they release the same number of cards either way, so six identical ones means less other interesting for the little guys, you know?

Not true actually.

The Imperial Gozanti, an equivalent release, had 26 upgrade cards. The Scum Gozanti has 30. Four of those Light Scyk titles are bonuses, only two count against the total.

My one quibble: They're putting six identical cards in the pack. I get why, of course... but they release the same number of cards either way, so six identical ones means less other interesting for the little guys, you know?

Not true actually.

The Imperial Gozanti, an equivalent release, had 26 upgrade cards. The Scum Gozanti has 30. Four of those Light Scyk titles are bonuses, only two count against the total.

Well, the Gozanti had 4 additional pilot cards for the TIEs, so the math checks out.