So now that FFG has graced us with the Ghost for Armada (thank you by the way)what are the chances we will see prototype TIEs? I think having the Inquisitors chasing the cooler than life crew of the Ghost is just about beyond cool! Especially when throwing in an ISD or two and some light cruisers! Man pack my bags! Going to Lothal!

I hope we don't get squadrons of prototype TIE Advanced, the depictions in Rebels don't support their deployment at the squadron scale.

Huh. That's one way to look at it. With respect neither should e-wings and phantoms but we have them available. I may be sout but some of these new ships make no sense to me. The TIE prototype makes sense since we have seen them on the show.

they are in X Wing, they will be in Armada.

they are in X Wing, they will be in Armada.

Okay so I am trusting you on this. If they don't make an appearance. . .

they are in X Wing, they will be in Armada.

Not saying they will never show up in armada, but they have to fit in under circumstances differing from those in X-wing. We have already quite an abundant choice of squadrons in SW:A, and the limited amount of stats with which you may differenciate - and balance - squadrons internally mean that there is only a finite amount of squadrons FFG could publish before any new wave will essentially just be an existing craft with new cardboard. We are already close to that point, so I am not sure they will "waste" the remaining combinations of stats for squadrons anytime soon.

they are in X Wing, they will be in Armada.

Not saying they will never show up in armada, but they have to fit in under circumstances differing from those in X-wing. We have already quite an abundant choice of squadrons in SW:A, and the limited amount of stats with which you may differenciate - and balance - squadrons internally mean that there is only a finite amount of squadrons FFG could publish before any new wave will essentially just be an existing craft with new cardboard. We are already close to that point, so I am not sure they will "waste" the remaining combinations of stats for squadrons anytime soon.

To be fair, there is always the 'keyword' mechanic - which changes the in-game behavior of squadrons with otherwise-similar stats considerably.

IMHO, though, it does feel a bit unlikely we'll get the TAP. Squadrons only seem to come in larger sets, and there really isn't that much "missing" from Armada that could be thematically linked with the TAP.

Well I agreee with that objection, but keywords or keyword-combinations are limited as well. Balancing is another issue, as you only have four stats plus keyword(s) which have to be balanced by point values between 7(z-95) to 22 (Decimator) for generic squadrons. Difficult enough, so that is why I dont expect another full squadron pack anytime soon..

it will come down to sales when FFG are looking for there next 8 squadrons to sell to us, 4 each side, they will have to get the ships from somewhere. why not a TAP?

I'm not sure TAP would be at all distinguishable from a regular tie at Armada scale. I already have trouble with seas of unpainted fighters, imperials particularly.

And Rudor, the first TIE Adv. Prototype pilot, is already in the game as a regular TIE - leaving the Grand Inquisitor as the best bet for a unique squadron.

For Imps, Prototype, Punisher & Striker lack Armada models. Maybe throw in the Upsilon as a single ship squadron - and maybe make First Order TIEs and Special Forces TIEs squadron cards rather than models.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was released as a unique pilot only. They did that with 2 X-Wing models already. Creates the concept that this was very uncommon to see.

I'm not sure TAP would be at all distinguishable from a regular tie at Armada scale. I already have trouble with seas of unpainted fighters, imperials particularly.

They'll have the same issue with the (inevitable) Force Awakens-era stuff.

That is - how do you tell a TIE/fo apart from a TIE/ln, at this scale, if neither model is painted?

They'll make sure the silhouette picture on the base includes the Antenna or somesuch.

For the most part, its the bases that count - and they've already shown that they consider "minor" base variations (ie, just keyword symbols) enough to distinguish a unique squadron from a basic.....

Actual model differences can be negligable at that point.

Which buggers me off to all extents... But is the way it is.

I shouldn't complain

Means more people want things painted in the end.

Even the worst painter in the world can spray some TIEs black and call them F/Os.

The differences are so negligible I doubt FFG would produce a new model for them.

I'm not sure TAP would be at all distinguishable from a regular tie at Armada scale. I already have trouble with seas of unpainted fighters, imperials particularly.

They'll have the same issue with the (inevitable) Force Awakens-era stuff.

That is - how do you tell a TIE/fo apart from a TIE/ln, at this scale, if neither model is painted?

... Do you have to be able to tell them apart? As long as they have different cards and different bases, they should be as distinct as normal- and unique-squadrons are already, at least. EDIT: So very, very ninja'd. I'm so slow.

On the TAP - maybe an Irregular squadron? It's kind of small for it, but it kind of works. I'd kind of love to see another version (closer to Rebels, maybe?) of Vader done that way as well.

We could also get the Phantom, maybe? It would kind of be neat to see, but also kind of just terrible. A terrible idea. Forget I said anything. I hate this idea.

I think the Phantom could be something like this-

Phantom: 1 hull, 1 Blue against ships, 1 Blue against squads

Special Ability: Any time this squadron attacks, the target of the attack is immediately destroyed.

New Keyword! Plot Armor:

If this squadron is brought to 0 hull, it immediately regains 1 hull.

Counter 1

I think the Phantom could be something like this-

Phantom: 1 hull, 1 Blue against ships, 1 Blue against squads

Special Ability: Any time this squadron attacks, the target of the attack is immediately destroyed.

New Keyword! Plot Armor:

If this squadron is brought to 0 hull, it immediately regains 1 hull.

Counter 1

Oh yeaaaaaaaaaaa Yavaris double tappin' popping 2 ISDs.

New Keyword! Plot Armor:

If this squadron is brought to 0 hull, it immediately regains 1 hull.

Ironic, since the Phantom was destroyed, and they're onto the Phantom II now.... Which looks like Sabine borrowed a light saber and used it as an angle-grinder to shorten the fin...

they are in X Wing, they will be in Armada.

This isn't really a guarantee going in either direction. There's no Scurrg in X-Wing as of yet.

I think it wouldn't be safe to assume that everything in X-Wing will make the jump to Armada. Squadrons in Armada are much reduced in their functionality. X-Wing can support multiple types of bombers, as one example, because of their various upgrade, ordnance, and movement options.

While a lot of that applies to squadrons in Armada, it's not nearly so fine grained. I think FFG is going to require a fair amount of new design space and utility before they bring things over from X-Wing. Barring that, there needs to be a coolness/relevance factor. Movie stuff will almost always have priority over anything else. With a movie coming out every year, this is going to be something we see for a long time to come.

If I had to make a guess I'd say the TAP is unlikely to make it over since it doesn't fill out any new design space. Though it would be more likely to make it over than something like the Tie Punisher, assuming they came up with a cool ability for it. That's not to say I wouldn't want to see them, I generally hate the way they design ships in Rebels, but the TAPs are an exception.

New Keyword! Plot Armor:

If this squadron is brought to 0 hull, it immediately regains 1 hull.

Ironic, since the Phantom was destroyed, and they're onto the Phantom II now.... Which looks like Sabine borrowed a light saber and used it as an angle-grinder to shorten the fin...

Only cause they parked it and it fell into a ditch.......

Ok, so let have it the caveat- If at the end of turn Phantom overlaps the station, immediately destroy it.

There Dras. Are you happy now. NOW it's balanced.

Here, I even made you a card- CAREFUL, WAVE 6 SPOILERS BELOW!

I want to see Ghost and Whisper square off just to hear the commands.

Whisper's Phantom blasts the Ghost...

Wow. Much hate against Rebels across the forums. That's too bad. Personally I dig the Rebels look and design. It truly captures the spirit of 1977 and helped make Star Wars exciting again. (And sorry kids. This crotchety old man found Clone Wars virtually apolegetic after Episode 3.) All that being said I hope they continue to focus on the antics from Rebels and introduce Scum from the Outer Rim into Armada. That would make for some interesting time at the table.

Wow. Much hate against Rebels across the forums. That's too bad. Personally I dig the Rebels look and design. It truly captures the spirit of 1977 and helped make Star Wars exciting again. (And sorry kids. This crotchety old man found Clone Wars virtually apolegetic after Episode 3.) All that being said I hope they continue to focus on the antics from Rebels and introduce Scum from the Outer Rim into Armada. That would make for some interesting time at the table.

Its not hate by any means, its just.. people grew older. When I watched the original Star Wars movie I was maybe ~ 11 and thought, oh boy that is the greatest movie ever and mankind will not come up with anything better. I even loved return of the Jedi with all those fluffy retards in it when it released. Now I am 31, I saw a lot of movies that surpassed SW on many levels and I personally would wish for a more, well, grimdark version of SW somewhere. I enjoyed KotoR and SW:ToR to a great extend as both depicted SW with much more depth as a fantasy movie ever could, and a much more comprehensible background story for the "evil" side over the "yeah lets rule the freakin galaxy and force-choke random dudes!" (I know thats oversimplifying it and I know I force-choked random dudes as a Sith, but anyway..).

That being said I enjoyed the clone wars on the occasional friday I had to stay at home (was broadcasted on fridays on a TV channel for children in germany by that time..), and I still hope to find out when and where this rebel series is broadcasted on a free channel (not Disney XD, stop grinning Disney!) or get the time to find.. darker means of getting to watch it. But some part of me is still hoping for GoT in space, or the grimdark that is battlefleet gothic: Armada introduced into SW. Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment, hm?

I hope we don't get squadrons of prototype TIE Advanced, the depictions in Rebels don't support their deployment at the squadron scale.

The entire canon portrayal of the Tie Advanced x1 didn't depict their deployment at the squadron scale and yet here we have them.