Vaksai and Star Viper MK.II titles! Talk!

By Zazaa, in X-Wing

11 hours ago, Johen Dood said:

It's an amazing expansion- and the ships needed it. However, Scum on the whole DOESN'T need any help. Scum is just going to utterly dominate this game for the next year or more. I look forward to next worlds where the top 32 are all Scum, and you literally never see any Imps and only the occasional Rebel list.

People were saying that same thing with Empire and Scum switched before last year.

4 minutes ago, Marinealver said:

Well for the titles the concern is is there an "overcorrection" on that part.

For the Kihrax it is a super Royal Guard Pilot with no pilot skill restrictions so that includes Cartel Marauders. Not only does it allow you to equip 3 modifications but all your upgrades that are >0 point costs are reduced by 1 point. So potentially it has the ability to be a -6 point title.

It could be up to -6 points, but it's not like it just straight up reduces the chassis by that much. To get -6 you have to equip non-free upgrades in every slot (and can only get to 6 on pilots with an ept), qns

some of those are going to cost more than 1 originally so the total cost of the ship still does go up

4 minutes ago, Marinealver said:

Speaking of negative squadron point cost the Star Viper mk 2 not only comes at a -3 squadron point cost (traditionally it was -2) but also one that doesn't take away any upgrade slots, not even the title so it can be paired with the Virago title as well. The only downside well isn't a downside because the curved barrel-roll is superior to the straight barrel-roll.

There's no real "traditional". A-wing was decided to be 2 points overcosted apparently. Defender was probably more than 2 points overcosted but they decided to give it the defensive boost in x7 instead of reducing the price more. Nothing locks them in to only being able to do 2 point reductions. And the viper was absolutely more than 2 points overcosted.

4 minutes ago, Marinealver said:

Bottom line, both titles are auto-include and I detest auto-include no drawback titles. You could say maybe the SVmk2 title barrel roll is the only reason to not take it so in terms of balance I like that title better. In terms of power I think the Vaksai and also that the Vaksi is not unique is the superior title of the two. That title is literally one single point modification away from beating Jumpmasters in terms of power.

Doesn't bother me when the ships need it. You can give an underperforming ship a buff without also adding a drawback. And the inability to do normal straight barrel rolls wil probably BE a drawback at times. Overall it's good, but there will be times you could do a normal br but not a bank one. Or where you don't WANT to do a bank but abnormal one would be good.

As for the vaksai it ONLY works if you equip upgrades. It does nothing for the naked chassis, or already free upgrades. Unlike x7 or starviper mk2, or chase Dan, you can't just equip it to the hull with nothing else and get a cheaper or better ship

2 minutes ago, Princezilla said:

People were saying that same thing with Empire and Scum switched before last year.

Yeah, because Empire totally won worlds last year......wait NOPE, SCUM DID. SCUMWING STRIKES AGAIN.

4 minutes ago, Johen Dood said:

Yeah, because Empire totally won worlds last year......wait NOPE, SCUM DID. SCUMWING STRIKES AGAIN.

"before last year" D- reading comprehension :P

2015 and back empire made up something like two thirds of all top worlds list for most years.

Edited by Princezilla
3 minutes ago, Princezilla said:

"before last year" D- reading comprehension :P

2015 and back empire made up something like two thirds of all top worlds list for most years.

Hush you! None of your "facts" here, only complaints and "scumwing".

Just now, Princezilla said:

2015 and back empire made up something like two thirds of all top worlds list for most years

That's not even close to true. Look at the actual statistics:

2013: 43.75% Imperial

2014: 37.5% Imperial

2015: 25% Imperial

2016: 29.3% Imperial

2017: 9.7% Imperial (3 out of the 31 7-2 lists entered, one is still missing)

Imperials have, in fact, been the least represented faction at the top tables at Worlds every year except last year, where they were 5% above Rebels. Scum was the other 46%.

1 minute ago, defkhan1 said:

That's not even close to true. Look at the actual statistics:

2013: 43.75% Imperial

2014: 37.5% Imperial

2015: 25% Imperial

2016: 29.3% Imperial

2017: 9.7% Imperial (3 out of the 31 7-2 lists entered, one is still missing)

Imperials have, in fact, been the least represented faction at the top tables at Worlds every year except last year, where they were 5% above Rebels. Scum was the other 46%.

You are just angry that Imperial privilege is no longer a part of X-wing and that you now got to understand what it means to be marginalized. You really should be forfeiting your games to relieve you of your Imperial Guilt.:P

13 minutes ago, streamdragon said:

Hush you! None of your "facts" here, only complaints and "scumwing".

We like to call them "Alternative facts";)

8 minutes ago, defkhan1 said:

That's not even close to true. Look at the actual statistics:

2013: 43.75% Imperial

2014: 37.5% Imperial

2015: 25% Imperial

2016: 29.3% Imperial

2017: 9.7% Imperial (3 out of the 31 7-2 lists entered, one is still missing)

Imperials have, in fact, been the least represented faction at the top tables at Worlds every year except last year, where they were 5% above Rebels. Scum was the other 46%.

I said 'top' its an important distinction, those stats change drastically when you look at only the top ten at each.

19 minutes ago, Johen Dood said:

Yeah, because Empire totally won worlds last year......wait NOPE, SCUM DID. SCUMWING STRIKES AGAIN.

C'mon man! Leave that attitude and try to see bit further away in future and check also what was going on two years ago in world's. Scum has been playable factions an year now, before that they were below mediocre factions at best.

Scum needed these buffs big time and these should have been made year ago already, Scyk, Kihraxz and Star Vipers were just unplayable and never really seen in competitive level and now when they are going to be given chance to be so there is always haters who doesn't care overall "health" of X-Wing, all the ships should be good enough for tournaments and once in awhile there are need for buffs. Now because Scum has been fixed pretty much, or now we are going to wait till end of the year or next year to get there, but there is time to go for priority #2 stuff, what ever it is at the moment. Most likely there will be TLT, Jumpmaster and Mindlink nerfs, how they do it is up to FFG and when, but they're coming for sure! There will be fixes in nearish future for Imperial and Rebel factions, for sure!

So drop it and chill out dude!! Enjoy X-Wing, not only your factions, but all of them! :ph34r:

Just now, Princezilla said:

I said 'top' its an important distinction, those stats change drastically when you look at only the top ten at each.

Those are the top lists. Juggler puts cutoffs for every year if you read the post I linked to.

I still remember the cry about Palp aces! You guys remember how many Palp aces variations there was in tournaments before the "BIG" nerf?!

Does the Starviper title seem... underwhelming to anyone else especially compared to the Kihraxz? It's certainly better than it was, clearly, but, with the possible exception of Guri, I just don't see anyone choosing a Starviper over the alternatives.

If you want a cheap, low ps space filling generic, 22 points gets you a PS1Starviper with the title and nothing else. The same points buy you a trivked out Cartel Maurauder Khiraxz (there's a hell of a lot you can squeeze into those two points with the title). And if you're willing to spend just one more point, you can have a Zealous recruit with the Concord Dawn title and Autothrusters, or an even better Khiraxz (you could be at PS7 for that money with tracers, chips, MF, ot build the Cartel Maurauder in half a dozen different ways). I just don't see the generics sticking up against those options, especially without an EPT generic option (though it looks like we're getting one of those).

Named pilots, maybe Guri has a shot, but she's competing at 32 points (for what is probably a basic build of both titles, Autothrusters, FCS) plus whatever EPT you want with the likes of Fenn Rau, Old Teroch, a newly resurgent Talonbane, torp scouts etc. It's a hard sell. And Xizor, well, I don't think point cost was ever his problem so much as the fact that by his nature he really only works with one archetype (Xizor+Miniswarm), and that's just never proven to be a particularly powerful list choice.

We don't seem to be getting any new high PS pilots in the pack, so unless there's some kind of Ryad equivalent, or those new (presumably EPT bearing) generics are priced to more or less invalidate the existing generics, I guess I'm struggling to see a niche for the Viper, even three points cheaper.

8 minutes ago, defkhan1 said:

Those are the top lists. Juggler puts cutoffs for every year if you read the post I linked to.

I did look, those stats make no sense, they use a different cutoff point nearly every year which renders the data completely useless for comparison purposes.

5 minutes ago, MacchuWA said:

Does the Starviper title seem... underwhelming to anyone else especially compared to the Kihraxz? It's certainly better than it was, clearly, but, with the possible exception of Guri, I just don't see anyone choosing a Starviper over the alternatives.

If you want a cheap, low ps space filling generic, 22 points gets you a PS1Starviper with the title and nothing else. The same points buy you a trivked out Cartel Maurauder Khiraxz (there's a hell of a lot you can squeeze into those two points with the title). And if you're willing to spend just one more point, you can have a Zealous recruit with the Concord Dawn title and Autothrusters, or an even better Khiraxz (you could be at PS7 for that money with tracers, chips, MF, ot build the Cartel Maurauder in half a dozen different ways). I just don't see the generics sticking up against those options, especially without an EPT generic option (though it looks like we're getting one of those).

Named pilots, maybe Guri has a shot, but she's competing at 32 points (for what is probably a basic build of both titles, Autothrusters, FCS) plus whatever EPT you want with the likes of Fenn Rau, Old Teroch, a newly resurgent Talonbane, torp scouts etc. It's a hard sell. And Xizor, well, I don't think point cost was ever his problem so much as the fact that by his nature he really only works with one archetype (Xizor+Miniswarm), and that's just never proven to be a particularly powerful list choice.

We don't seem to be getting any new high PS pilots in the pack, so unless there's some kind of Ryad equivalent, or those new (presumably EPT bearing) generics are priced to more or less invalidate the existing generics, I guess I'm struggling to see a niche for the Viper, even three points cheaper.

I'm absolutely going to be flying guri. For generics compared to the protectorate I dunno if I'll use the viper or not since they are so similar with the fang still being cheaper. I might take out xizor again as well (played him a bunch int he past), and can't wait to see what the new name dpilots do.

2 minutes ago, MacchuWA said:

Does the Starviper title seem... underwhelming to anyone else especially compared to the Kihraxz? It's certainly better than it was, clearly, but, with the possible exception of Guri, I just don't see anyone choosing a Starviper over the alternatives.

If you want a cheap, low ps space filling generic, 22 points gets you a PS1Starviper with the title and nothing else. The same points buy you a trivked out Cartel Maurauder Khiraxz (there's a hell of a lot you can squeeze into those two points with the title). And if you're willing to spend just one more point, you can have a Zealous recruit with the Concord Dawn title and Autothrusters, or an even better Khiraxz (you could be at PS7 for that money with tracers, chips, MF, ot build the Cartel Maurauder in half a dozen different ways). I just don't see the generics sticking up against those options, especially without an EPT generic option (though it looks like we're getting one of those).

Named pilots, maybe Guri has a shot, but she's competing at 32 points (for what is probably a basic build of both titles, Autothrusters, FCS) plus whatever EPT you want with the likes of Fenn Rau, Old Teroch, a newly resurgent Talonbane, torp scouts etc. It's a hard sell. And Xizor, well, I don't think point cost was ever his problem so much as the fact that by his nature he really only works with one archetype (Xizor+Miniswarm), and that's just never proven to be a particularly powerful list choice.

We don't seem to be getting any new high PS pilots in the pack, so unless there's some kind of Ryad equivalent, or those new (presumably EPT bearing) generics are priced to more or less invalidate the existing generics, I guess I'm struggling to see a niche for the Viper, even three points cheaper.

3pts is a massive discount, and the barrel roll is, while strings-attached for sure, overall a boost as well - it'll be trickier to fly because it'll be fundamentally different again (much like it was when it was the only slooper about, only even more emphatically this time), but being able to change your facing while repositioning is massive, and doing so laterally allows some really nasty arc-dodging-but-keeping-guns-on-target options.

It's not as interesting, but a 22pt, 5HP Agi3 generic with a 3 die attack and a funky barrel roll is one heck of a brawling blocker.

You're right that it doesn't help Xizor (who would've wanted the chassis to get a firepower boost for anyone to care about him), but at least they're affordable now.

And on the bright side...

Prince Xizor (31)
Intensity (2)
Fire-Control System (2)
Autothrusters (2)
StarViper Mk. II (-3)
Virago (1)

Black Sun Soldier (13)

Black Sun Soldier (13)

Black Sun Soldier (13)

Black Sun Soldier (13)

Black Sun Soldier (13)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

... at least Prince Xizor can afford to go to battle with actual Black Sun pilots in escort, now. :D

13 minutes ago, Zazaa said:

I still remember the cry about Palp aces! You guys remember how many Palp aces variations there was in tournaments before the "BIG" nerf?!

about the same as many as there were Whisper victories before the (de)cloaking nerf.

5 minutes ago, MacchuWA said:

Does the Starviper title seem... underwhelming to anyone else especially compared to the Kihraxz? It's certainly better than it was, clearly, but, with the possible exception of Guri, I just don't see anyone choosing a Starviper over the alternatives.

If you want a cheap, low ps space filling generic, 22 points gets you a PS1Starviper with the title and nothing else. The same points buy you a trivked out Cartel Maurauder Khiraxz (there's a hell of a lot you can squeeze into those two points with the title). And if you're willing to spend just one more point, you can have a Zealous recruit with the Concord Dawn title and Autothrusters, or an even better Khiraxz (you could be at PS7 for that money with tracers, chips, MF, ot build the Cartel Maurauder in half a dozen different ways). I just don't see the generics sticking up against those options, especially without an EPT generic option (though it looks like we're getting one of those).

Named pilots, maybe Guri has a shot, but she's competing at 32 points (for what is probably a basic build of both titles, Autothrusters, FCS) plus whatever EPT you want with the likes of Fenn Rau, Old Teroch, a newly resurgent Talonbane, torp scouts etc. It's a hard sell. And Xizor, well, I don't think point cost was ever his problem so much as the fact that by his nature he really only works with one archetype (Xizor+Miniswarm), and that's just never proven to be a particularly powerful list choice.

We don't seem to be getting any new high PS pilots in the pack, so unless there's some kind of Ryad equivalent, or those new (presumably EPT bearing) generics are priced to more or less invalidate the existing generics, I guess I'm struggling to see a niche for the Viper, even three points cheaper.

I think at first the Starviper is a little underwhelming but the more I've been thinking about it, the more I like it. While I'll miss having access to a normal barrel-roll the banked barrel-rolls do give the Starviper something that differentiates it from other ships with similar stat-lines and costs. In my experience playing Starvipers, the thing that they did well was knife fighting. The change to their barrel roll should really help them maneuver tighter than anything else out there. I've always favored Sensor Jammer or FCS on Starvipers but I think that Advanced Sensors just became a much stronger choice.

5 minutes ago, VanderLegion said:

I'm absolutely going to be flying guri. For generics compared to the protectorate I dunno if I'll use the viper or not since they are so similar with the fang still being cheaper. I might take out xizor again as well (played him a bunch int he past), and can't wait to see what the new name dpilots do.

The PS4 looks like they'll copy the pilot abilities of other ships. I just can't wait to make Rebels shoot at an Agility 3 ship with Autothrusters and a Sensor Jammer that has Biggs's ability.

1 minute ago, WWHSD said:

I think at first the Starviper is a little underwhelming but the more I've been thinking about it, the more I like it. While I'll miss having access to a normal barrel-roll the banked barrel-rolls do give the Starviper something that differentiates it from other ships with similar stat-lines and costs. In my experience playing Starvipers, the thing that they did well was knife fighting. The change to their barrel roll should really help them maneuver tighter than anything else out there. I've always favored Sensor Jammer or FCS on Starvipers but I think that Advanced Sensors just became a much stronger choice.

This, definitely. The Vipers have an amazing low speed dial and both major repositioning actions one of which now has even more options. They are going to be incredibly good a knife fighting and close range arc dodging now.

Just now, Princezilla said:

I did look, those stats make no sense, they use a different cutoff point nearly every year which renders the data completely useless for comparison purposes.

That's because every Worlds has had a different tournament format. 2013 had only a Top 16 cut, 2014 had a Top 32 cut, 2015 had a Top 16 compressed into one flight, 2016 first introduced 8 rounds of swiss split across 2 days (leading to a cut to Top 16), 2017 did the same but increased the number of Swiss rounds to 9. 2015 onwards it makes more sense to take into account every list that had 2 loss or better because of the sheer number of players participating. You can't just pick an arbitrary number like '10' and look at only those lists. You have to take into account the increasing number of players every year.

4 minutes ago, defkhan1 said:

That's because every Worlds has had a different tournament format. 2013 had only a Top 16 cut, 2014 had a Top 32 cut, 2015 had a Top 16 compressed into one flight, 2016 first introduced 8 rounds of swiss split across 2 days (leading to a cut to Top 16), 2017 did the same but increased the number of Swiss rounds to 9. 2015 onwards it makes more sense to take into account every list that had 2 loss or better because of the sheer number of players participating. You can't just pick an arbitrary number like '10' and look at only those lists. You have to take into account the increasing number of players every year.

No what is arbitrary is to alter your sample size for each draw, that's not how statistics work you need consistency. Otherwise its impossible gauge any sort of meaningful tends from the data.

Just now, Princezilla said:

No what is arbitrary is to alter your sample size for each draw, that's not how statistics work you need consistency. Otherwise its impossible gauge any sort of meaningful tends from the data.

If you want to make any meaningful conclusions you have to consider the fact that the size of the total population is changing. This is why it makes more sense to look at the X-2s instead of the same arbitrary number of players every year. But fine, if you want to look at a fixed number, then let's look at Imperial representation in the Top 16 for every year.

2013: 43.75%

2014: 37.5%

2015: 37.5%

2016: 37.5%

2017: 6.25%

Once again, Imperials have never been the dominant faction at the top tables.

45 minutes ago, VanderLegion said:

I'm absolutely going to be flying guri. For generics compared to the protectorate I dunno if I'll use the viper or not since they are so similar with the fang still being cheaper. I might take out xizor again as well (played him a bunch int he past), and can't wait to see what the new name dpilots do.

Guri's prevalence will depend heavily on just what that PS 5-with-ept pricetag will be. I mean, it obviously won't be more than 30... but if Guri can fly mindlinked with a squadron of same-PS buddies, that might work out very well indeed.

35 minutes ago, WWHSD said:

I think at first the Starviper is a little underwhelming but the more I've been thinking about it, the more I like it. While I'll miss having access to a normal barrel-roll the banked barrel-rolls do give the Starviper something that differentiates it from other ships with similar stat-lines and costs. In my experience playing Starvipers, the thing that they did well was knife fighting. The change to their barrel roll should really help them maneuver tighter than anything else out there. I've always favored Sensor Jammer or FCS on Starvipers but I think that Advanced Sensors just became a much stronger choice.

Just take one Viper and give it Advanced Sensors and see how it will maneuver with that Mk.II tittle, it is insane! You can basically do one bank barrel roll and do one or two turn and you have just made close to 180° turn and these are just basic maneuvers. It is hard to imagine how much that tittle opens up that dial with Advanced Sensors. I think these guys are going to be so crazy arc dodgers, I think it is good that we are restricted to one ships with those two tittles, otherwise it would be too much.

I don't even know which one is better, MK.II or Vaksai!! Both insane good. Very different but insane! :rolleyes:

1 hour ago, Reiver said:

Guri's prevalence will depend heavily on just what that PS 5-with-ept pricetag will be. I mean, it obviously won't be more than 30... but if Guri can fly mindlinked with a squadron of same-PS buddies, that might work out very well indeed.

I'm not sure I agree. Only one ship can get virago, so the other 2 ps5s wouldn't get a system slot. At that point, there's probably better options you could take. Like a mindlinked fenn for 32, when you're probably going to spend close to that for anps5 viper anyway. I'm guessing they'll be 29 points, -3 for title, +3 if you do mindlink and autothrusters. I'd rather spend 3 more for fenn. At a similar cost to fenn you could also have talonbane with the new title