With Unguided Rockets not having to be discarded; put them on Tomax Bren with Crack Shot and watch the fun unfold

Differences in the dials aside, the only added stipulation over Wedge is that you *have* to be focused - but you want that anyway. You still get to modify your attack with it.

No range bonus for the defender either,being a secondary weapon.

Who would make good wingmen for this combo?

Upsilon for co-ordination?

Or would a pair of Gamma Squadron Veterans kitted out the same way be a more efficient use of the points?

Interested to hear your thoughts

Better and worse in some ways.

Better because it's cheaper, Tomax w/ UR and CS comes right in at 29 points; The base cost for Wedge. That's a plus right there. Also better because native Barrel Roll. Crackshot is better than -1 AGI in nearly every way, too.

Worse because you can't use that barrel roll and get 3 dice in the same turn. Dial is worse. Lower pilot skill. Less durable(no shields, no IA, can't generate defensive tokens on it's own). Worst of all, though, Wedge's ability and 3 dice are ALWAYS there, regardless of stress or other factors. If Tomax does not get a focus(this may happen more than you think, as Stress comes back into the meta), then Tomax is not doing anything particularly useful.

Wedge can also take an EPT. Crackshot Tomax by his very nature has to take Crackshot, using the rockets precludes you from taking crew.

Yes

Tomax is super solid with CS, UR, LWF.

A Coordinating Upsilon with something like Adv Sensor seems like a great addition for him. It would allow Tomax to get a Focus prior to a red maneuver or let him Barrel Roll after a maneuver.

28 minutes ago, Skargoth said:

Tomax is super solid with CS, UR, LWF.

A Coordinating Upsilon with something like Adv Sensor seems like a great addition for him. It would allow Tomax to get a Focus prior to a red maneuver or let him Barrel Roll after a maneuver.

Striden with Adv. Sensors and Systems Officer would be an excellent addition, possibly giving up to 3 actions to Tomax a turn out to range 3. There's just enough points there for a Glaive w/ x7 and Adaptability, but the 3rd ship is obviously to flavor.

4 hours ago, Razgriz25thinf said:

Tomax w/ UR and CS comes right in at 29 points

Fewer. Tomax is 24, Unguided Rockets is 2 and Crack Shot is 1, so the grand total is 27 points.

Seems UG was designed just to piss off poor Captain Jonus. Can you imagine the havoc you would create with that swarm?

Yeah not the same. You could also put crackshot on wedge as well for like a once per game super ability, plus there is the astromech for regen. A TIE-Bomber is just not a match for an X-wing, and that's saying something.

4 hours ago, Kumagoro said:

Fewer. Tomax is 24, Unguided Rockets is 2 and Crack Shot is 1, so the grand total is 27 points.

UG is 2 points? I thought it was 4.

Why try to be Wedgie when you can have the most maneuverable ship in the game with Lighning Reflexes? And why settle for 3 focus only dice when you can use any munitions, or bombs.

Thing is, everyone hates Wedge and try to kill him first, but with Tomax coming in at only 29 points, I am looking to pair him with a classic Ryad and a classic Inquisitor (with prockets) for 99 points. That would leave him as the low man on the totem for attack order, or, if they do attack him, he's a slightly more expensive Biggs. I'm fine either way.

8 hours ago, Skargoth said:

Tomax is super solid with CS, UR, LWF.

A Coordinating Upsilon with something like Adv Sensor seems like a great addition for him. It would allow Tomax to get a Focus prior to a red maneuver or let him Barrel Roll after a maneuver.

I've been running Inquisitor in this list, but you make a good point for Tomax:

31 Tomax w/ CS, UR, LWF.

26 Omega Leader w/ Juke, Comms.

43 SKBP w/ AdvS, Recon, Vader, Weapon Guidance, Title.

Omega and Tomax are good at pushing through damage, and the upsilon just wrecks face.

8 hours ago, Razgriz25thinf said:

Striden with Adv. Sensors and Systems Officer would be an excellent addition, possibly giving up to 3 actions to Tomax a turn out to range 3. There's just enough points there for a Glaive w/ x7 and Adaptability, but the 3rd ship is obviously to flavor.

Except that the TL can't be used with the rockets and since coordinate just gives them a free focus action rather than a token he still won't be able to take both an offensive and defensive focus.

1 hour ago, Makaze said:

Except that the TL can't be used with the rockets and since coordinate just gives them a free focus action rather than a token he still won't be able to take both an offensive and defensive focus.

You can do Stridan with Hux, that'll do it.

I swear, when I saw the title of this thread I thought the topic was going to be how Bren and Wedge are pilots with solid abilities and PS, but rarely/never see play due to the ship they're in.

3 hours ago, Makaze said:

Except that the TL can't be used with the rockets and since coordinate just gives them a free focus action rather than a token he still won't be able to take both an offensive and defensive focus.

Then you give the TL to the Defender, or whatever third ship you have.

My list is:

Bren- UR, CS, LWF

Oicunn- Intimidation, Operation Spec

Academy TIE x2

3 hours ago, NakedDex said:

I swear, when I saw the title of this thread I thought the topic was going to be how Bren and Wedge are pilots with solid abilities and PS, but rarely/never see play due to the ship they're in.

"Rarely sees play" is not a phrase you could use about Tomax in my local area, the Imperial players love him!

9 hours ago, GrimmyV said:

Why try to be Wedgie when you can have the most maneuverable ship in the game with Lighning Reflexes? And why settle for 3 focus only dice when you can use any munitions, or bombs.

Because other munitions disappear after 1-2 shots and are more expensive.

1 hour ago, USCGrad90 said:

Because other munitions disappear after 1-2 shots and are more expensive.

How many shots at 3 focus only dice are you gonna get before Xamot's brother goes down in flames?

1 hour ago, GrimmyV said:

How many shots at 3 focus only dice are you gonna get before Xamot's brother goes down in flames?

Xamot? GI JOE reference?

Just pointing out that for 2 points, you get a cheap 3 dice attack that doesn't get discarded.

Other Missles and Torps are typically going to cost at least 3 points, plus the 2 point extra munitions. Flechette Torps being an exception at 2 points, but requires the 2 point EM and to spend a TL to fire - which you may not get if you have to move first.

Unguided rockets with Crack Shot is an inexpensive option - but may not necessarily be the best - time will tell. Sounds fun though.

10 hours ago, NakedDex said:

I swear, when I saw the title of this thread I thought the topic was going to be how Bren and Wedge are pilots with solid abilities and PS, but rarely/never see play due to the ship they're in.

More of this. Unguided rockets has a lot of downsides but some folks keep saying "it's a three dice attack!" It's not: stress, red maneuver, using your action for anything else, action loss all shut it off and it makes all of your defense rolls unmodified for higher PS.

I'll give it a go on crackshot Bren because that seems a good place for it: 6hp, high PS, cheapish, used to flying him already.

They might be the best option available, to that ship, but that doesn't actually mean you're flying the best option, at that price point, available (nor make that option competetive).

18 hours ago, flyboymb said:

Seems UG was designed just to piss off poor Captain Jonus. Can you imagine the havoc you would create with that swarm?

While Unguided Rockets aren't great on ships flying with Jonus, they look like they do help with one of the problems people face when including Jonus in squads. Either you make him expensive giving him ordnance or you accept that he's not going to directly contribute much to your offense with his 2 dice attack. Unguided Rockets give him a meaningful attack while not taking too many points away from the ships that he is there to support.

I was lucky enough to have 2 opponents last night who let me fly Tomax with LightFrame, Crackshot and the new Unguided Rockets. I'm no X Wing don, but I was pretty underwhelmed.

3 red dice with only a focus is not that impressive, and if he can't get that focus (bumped, stressed, needed to roll; not uncommon) then he is just an expensive TIE fighter. Even if he did fire them, 2 hits only were fairly typical, which is comfortably dodgable; Crackshot didn't always trigger.

It came back to the common thought; there are several other ships in a similar price bracket which do a better job and are probably more survivable; Inq, Juke OL, x7 Delta...

I was disappointed, but will try again; it was fun to get my stripey bomber on the table!