I love flying Corran Horn. At PS 8, though, I frequently wish that he could act after those PS 9 Imperials. That situation, combined with Corran's relative weakness in the face of spike damage, I've moved away from him.

I was tinkering around with a notion that might offer a slightly new angle on him (and possibly a few other lower PS pilots) and I would love some feedback.

The basic idea is to execute my maneuver and get an action first, like a blocker might, but then somehow gain the ability to reposition after the highest PS aces.

Here's how Corran Horn, or any other ace-type with a Sensor upgrade icon might approach this:

E-Wing Corran Horn (35) : Engine Upgrade (4), Push the Limit (3), Enhanced Scopes (1), R2-D2 (4)

The Enhanced Scopes makes Corran active at PS 0 during the Activation Phase, but he maintains his natural PS in the other phases. Moving first like a blocker is easily accomplished with this upgrade.

The tricky part is getting a way to then reposition after PS9, 10, or 11 pilots. There are several ways to feed actions to Corran. Anyone with the Squad Leader EPT can give an action, although this will take place at the timing of the Squad Leader's PS. Not bad. Keep in mind that this Squad Leader need not be someone with a natural PS higher than Corran's 8. Squad Leader can give an action to a lower PS ship, but during Activation, with Enhanced Scopes, Corran is lower than everyone else. The drawback is that if the Squad Leader pilot is not the last ship to activate, there will be ships that move after Corran's Squad Leader-granted action. Lando's pilot ability functions similarly, but is attached to a pretty expensive ship. At PS 7 naturally, Lando could give an action at 6,7,8, or 9 depending on whether Adaptability or Veteran's Instincts are equipped on Lando. Only the 9 from V.I. would be an improvement on Corran's natural PS of 8 and doesn't look like a good way to go, as it doesn't put Corran's actions after pilots like Soontir, Vader, Quickdraw, Fenn, Dengar, etc.

Airen Cracken could give an action when he fires at PS 8 (or 9, or 10) in the Combat Phase, but that's a bit unreliable and tricky to pull off. Ahsoka Tano's pilot ability allows her to give an action to Corran at the start of the Combat Phase if she spends a focus to do so. This is the perfect timing. It's definitely after all ships have moved in the Activation Phase, but before the shooting starts.

Here's a list I've created to try to make this idea work. Remember, the goal is to move first, and act last - potentially allowing a single ship to block and arc dodge in the same round. Please let me know any feedback on this list, and any other ideas you might have that could help this idea work. Have you tried this before? Did it work? What were the strengths and weaknesses? Thanks so much!

E-Wing Corran Horn (35) : Engine Upgrade (4), Push the Limit (3), Enhanced Scopes (1), R2-D2 (4).

TIE Fighter Ahsoka Tano (17) : Captured TIE (1), Sabine's Masterpiece (1), Veteran's Instincts (1), Rey (2).

A-Wing Jake Farrell (24) : Experimental Interface (3), A-Wing Test Pilot (0), Veteran's Instincts (1), Squad Leader (2), Chardaan Refit (-2).

This list is 97 points - so a strong initiative bid. If Ahsoka feeds an action to Jake at the start of Combat, Jake could use it Focus/Boost or Focus/Barrel Roll then Experimental Interface into Squad Leader for Corran. This lets Jake get in on the Combat Phase repositioning game, as well. With those repositions, actions to spare, and 3 green dice, Jake and Corran might be able to get out of danger more often than not, hopefully setting up a nice shot for Corran's double-tap. Corran might be so safe in fact, that he could pick a different astromech. Thoughts?Ahsoka is safe from anyone PS 8 or lower. What do you think?

10 minutes ago, Incard said:

I love flying Corran Horn. At PS 8, though, I frequently wish that he could act after those PS 9 Imperials. That situation, combined with Corran's relative weakness in the face of spike damage, I've moved away from him.

I was tinkering around with a notion that might offer a slightly new angle on him (and possibly a few other lower PS pilots) and I would love some feedback.

The basic idea is to execute my maneuver and get an action first, like a blocker might, but then somehow gain the ability to reposition after the highest PS aces.

Here's how Corran Horn, or any other ace-type with a Sensor upgrade icon might approach this:

E-Wing Corran Horn (35) : Engine Upgrade (4), Push the Limit (3), Enhanced Scopes (1), R2-D2 (4)

The Enhanced Scopes makes Corran active at PS 0 during the Activation Phase, but he maintains his natural PS in the other phases. Moving first like a blocker is easily accomplished with this upgrade.

The tricky part is getting a way to then reposition after PS9, 10, or 11 pilots. There are several ways to feed actions to Corran. Anyone with the Squad Leader EPT can give an action, although this will take place at the timing of the Squad Leader's PS. Not bad. Keep in mind that this Squad Leader need not be someone with a natural PS higher than Corran's 8. Squad Leader can give an action to a lower PS ship, but during Activation, with Enhanced Scopes, Corran is lower than everyone else. The drawback is that if the Squad Leader pilot is not the last ship to activate, there will be ships that move after Corran's Squad Leader-granted action. Lando's pilot ability functions similarly, but is attached to a pretty expensive ship. At PS 7 naturally, Lando could give an action at 6,7,8, or 9 depending on whether Adaptability or Veteran's Instincts are equipped on Lando. Only the 9 from V.I. would be an improvement on Corran's natural PS of 8 and doesn't look like a good way to go, as it doesn't put Corran's actions after pilots like Soontir, Vader, Quickdraw, Fenn, Dengar, etc.

Airen Cracken could give an action when he fires at PS 8 (or 9, or 10) in the Combat Phase, but that's a bit unreliable and tricky to pull off. Ahsoka Tano's pilot ability allows her to give an action to Corran at the start of the Combat Phase if she spends a focus to do so. This is the perfect timing. It's definitely after all ships have moved in the Activation Phase, but before the shooting starts.

Here's a list I've created to try to make this idea work. Remember, the goal is to move first, and act last - potentially allowing a single ship to block and arc dodge in the same round. Please let me know any feedback on this list, and any other ideas you might have that could help this idea work. Have you tried this before? Did it work? What were the strengths and weaknesses? Thanks so much!

E-Wing Corran Horn (35) : Engine Upgrade (4), Push the Limit (3), Enhanced Scopes (1), R2-D2 (4).

TIE Fighter Ahsoka Tano (17) : Captured TIE (1), Sabine's Masterpiece (1), Veteran's Instincts (1), Rey (2).

A-Wing Jake Farrell (24) : Experimental Interface (3), A-Wing Test Pilot (0), Veteran's Instincts (1), Squad Leader (2), Chardaan Refit (-2).

This list is 97 points - so a strong initiative bid. If Ahsoka feeds an action to Jake at the start of Combat, Jake could use it Focus/Boost or Focus/Barrel Roll then Experimental Interface into Squad Leader for Corran. This lets Jake get in on the Combat Phase repositioning game, as well. With those repositions, actions to spare, and 3 green dice, Jake and Corran might be able to get out of danger more often than not, hopefully setting up a nice shot for Corran's double-tap. Corran might be so safe in fact, that he could pick a different astromech. Thoughts?Ahsoka is safe from anyone PS 8 or lower. What do you think?

I like the thought process! Hope this is obvious and there is no need for me to point it out, but if either of your pilots PTL their standard action, Ahsoka can't give them a free one. I like R2 Astro on Horns to give him that 2 turn to clear stress, but I think I would keep R2-D2 for late game, I would guess with all that repositioning Ahsoka may go down in the first round against several aces, but otherwise it should work well. It'll take a lot of preplanned maneuvers and won't be very forgiving.

Regarding PTL/EI stress: For sure, you're right - Corran and Jake would hold off on using those cards until acting in the Combat Phase.

Regarding Ahsoka: PS 9 opponents might target her for sure, especially if they cannot get a shot on Corran or Jake. Hopefully Corran would be able to block one of those guys, maybe Jake could, too - depending on which side has initiative. Because of that scenario, going after PS 9 + enemies first would be my priority. Even if Ahsoka dies, this list could still work, with Jake using Squad Leader in the Activation Phase (and if he's doing so after other PS 9 pilots due to initiative, nothing is lost timing-wise). I feel nervous about lists that require intricate interactions, but this one has a kind of backup. And if it comes down to it, Corran with R2-D2 in the end game is a situation he is comfortable with.

This list looks super fun against a triple ace list, but wouldn't it get eaten up by other stuff?

A list not relying on high ps such as a Ventress list or even a PWT, TLT, or alpha strike list will just hang back and wail from range 2-3 where it is harder to arc dodge. If they can't shoot at the Tie, so what? They will just direct all damag e at the two other squishy ships.

And after Jake prockets, you really only have one guy putting out damage, every OTHER turn.

I am no tourney player, so am hardly Johnny Meta, but I would be weary for sure.

You're not wrong, Elrodthealbino. It is kind of designed to fly against a particular kind of list. That said, I think if it were flown carefully, like those aces lists are flown themselves, it might have the ability to do ok. Play the cautious range game, then zoom in when the moment is right.