Now that both articles are out, what do you think? Both sides got plenty of new stuff to play around, but who got the better toys?

The Rebels got an awesome new admiral, although she's kinda costly (Costs more than the cheapest combat ship!). They also got two super cheap ships ideal for mega-MSUs, and Cham, who will be the nightmare of any big Imperial ship. I don't think we'll see Hondo too often. I would rather bring two Skilled First Officers instead. Also the task force titles feel slightly underwhelming, they are basically Biggs cards for ships. And you need one for every member of the task force to work. An interesting concept but not that great.

They also have arguably the best platforms for boarding parties in the sturdy Assault Frigate and the expendable Hammerhead.

The Imperials on the other got some toys that may turn the balance of the squadron game to their favor. So far the Rebels were dominating it but with Sloane and the Quasar Fire the often ridiculed TIE Fighters and Bombers are back in the game and are more fearsome than ever. It is rather thematic that the Imperials can now use a huge number of squadrons, so I'm happy how it seems to work out. Their new officer,t eh Grand Inquisitor also seems to be slightly underwhelming so here they are in par with the Rebels, and as I already said, I think the Rebels have better platforms for boarding parties. The Quasar Fire is too important for your fighters to risk it in a boarding operation and Raiders are too expensive and better in other roles. And they aren't sturdy enough.

What turns this wave in favor of the Imperials are the two new weapon cards. Both the Disposable Capacitors and External Racks are great cards for the Imperials. Raiders, VSDs, Quasars, Interdictors are benefit from them greatly. heck, even an ISD-I likes those cards. And did I mention that a VSD-I can equip BOTH? Although it doesn't have blue dices so it would be pointless, but still.

And all in all, this is what turns the wave in favor of the Imperials for me. While the Rebels got new ships for their already prospering MSU game, the Imps got their squadrons revitalized plus they got two powerful new cards that helps basically all their ignored ships to become meaningful. I'm saying this despite the fact that the Rebels will most likely be messing up Imperial lists with their boarding actions,

TLDR: I think both sides got great stuff to play with, but the Imperials will benefit more. This is great because they were underrepresented lately. And I do not think that any of the new stuff would lead to Imperial dominance on a competitive level either.

What do you think guys? Are you agreeing with me? Do you have any points that I missed? Who will gain more on these upgrades?

Really? Really?

The hammerhead is crap. Hondo is not faction specific. And Cham whilst magical has no ship to sit on!

Don't mince words Ginkapo, tell us what you really think.

Funny to think how Hondo can actually make only your ship have the tokens. So you have TF Antilles covered by a pelta, one of them with Cham, they are being covered by a Liberty. So Hondo gives the Shields to maximum for the Pelta and the Squad for Cham, then a CF and Nav to enemy. NOW if the Liberty has Phylon and NK7, it can use Phylon to negate the Nav and if it manages to crit on blue, bye bye CF. VERY HARD AND UNLIKELY TO PULL OFF, but can work

Back to the point, I think the Imps win this round, with the strong squadron support, although the TFs can be a strong annoyance to big ships.

Imps, no question. And you know what? I'm fine with that. I've been able to make more diverse Rebels builds for a while, where as I keep feeling locked in with Imperials. The Quasar and Sloane open up some good options.

16 minutes ago, Truthiness said:

Imps, no question. And you know what? I'm fine with that. I've been able to make more diverse Rebels builds for a while, where as I keep feeling locked in with Imperials. The Quasar and Sloane open up some good options.

a big problem with imperial listbuilding is the limited "efficient" options.

Rhymerballs

Black Dice lists

dual ISDs

other than that, there isnt really much to play with. sure, you can try a Konstantine list, but at 400 points it has so many limitations(currently! no wave 6)

not much else has really found success consistently. sure, i've beaten people with Tagge TRC arquittens, but thats anecdotal evidence (i.e. low competition locally).

for rebels, you have your Mon Mothma mc30 lists, TRC90 spam, Ackbar assault frigates, Rieekan aces, Dodonna crit builds with bombers/admonition, and others. it has reached the point where its not even a balance problem anymore but a playing experience problem (one side having limited options/archetypes to choose from). i am not "ranting as imperial player", i have bought more rebs than imps. just calling it like i see it. so, the quasar gives some more options. nice change of pace.

also, it is sad to see the generic TIE fighter not really used in imperial lists. sloane fixes that.

2 hours ago, Ginkapo said:

Really? Really?

Yes...yes...let the hate flow through you.

IMO Reasons Empire takes Wave 6 fo sho:

Quasar.

2 hours ago, Ginkapo said:

Really? Really?

Okay more reasons:

Sloane beats Leia.

VSD gets a boost again.

Konstantine/Tagge garbage admirals get a boost.

Raiders get a boost. (Get ready because they are about to haunt you)

TIE fighters of all shapes and sizes get a boost.

Hondo (Ha!)

2 hours ago, Ginkapo said:

Really? Really?

Rebels get:

Hammerhead. It'll be okay, but not as IMPACTful as the Quasar. (A lot like the Pelta. Great in certain lists and situations but not everywhere by any means.)

Leia will be great in swarm builds, but her restriction is a real weakness IMO.

Cham wants to defect to the Empire so he can ride on all the nice ships (Not the AF and HH)

Just a minor nitpick while the VSD-1 can take both external racks and disposable capacitors it doesn't have any blue dice to take advantage of the effect of DCs

4 hours ago, Norell said:

Now that both articles are out, what do you think? Both sides got plenty of new stuff to play around, but who got the better toys?

The Rebels got an awesome new admiral, although she's kinda costly (Costs more than the cheapest combat ship!). They also got two super cheap ships ideal for mega-MSUs, and Cham, who will be the nightmare of any big Imperial ship. I don't think we'll see Hondo too often. I would rather bring two Skilled First Officers instead. Also the task force titles feel slightly underwhelming, they are basically Biggs cards for ships. And you need one for every member of the task force to work. An interesting concept but not that great.

They also have arguably the best platforms for boarding parties in the sturdy Assault Frigate and the expendable Hammerhead.

The Imperials on the other got some toys that may turn the balance of the squadron game to their favor. So far the Rebels were dominating it but with Sloane and the Quasar Fire the often ridiculed TIE Fighters and Bombers are back in the game and are more fearsome than ever. It is rather thematic that the Imperials can now use a huge number of squadrons, so I'm happy how it seems to work out. Their new officer,t eh Grand Inquisitor also seems to be slightly underwhelming so here they are in par with the Rebels, and as I already said, I think the Rebels have better platforms for boarding parties. The Quasar Fire is too important for your fighters to risk it in a boarding operation and Raiders are too expensive and better in other roles. And they aren't sturdy enough.

What turns this wave in favor of the Imperials are the two new weapon cards. Both the Disposable Capacitors and External Racks are great cards for the Imperials. Raiders, VSDs, Quasars, Interdictors are benefit from them greatly. heck, even an ISD-I likes those cards. And did I mention that a VSD-I can equip BOTH? Although it doesn't have blue dices so it would be pointless, but still.

And all in all, this is what turns the wave in favor of the Imperials for me. While the Rebels got new ships for their already prospering MSU game, the Imps got their squadrons revitalized plus they got two powerful new cards that helps basically all their ignored ships to become meaningful. I'm saying this despite the fact that the Rebels will most likely be messing up Imperial lists with their boarding actions,

TLDR: I think both sides got great stuff to play with, but the Imperials will benefit more. This is great because they were underrepresented lately. And I do not think that any of the new stuff would lead to Imperial dominance on a competitive level either.

What do you think guys? Are you agreeing with me? Do you have any points that I missed? Who will gain more on these upgrades?

Imperials has not been under represented, where I do my Armada gaming, quite the opposite, so I think its more a local thing of which side is most popular to play.

Rebel... Imperial...the real winner is Hondo, a unique that can be used by both sides.

But are you really using him or is he using you whilst he takes your shuttle with his 3 credits only to be captured by the enemy?

External racks is going to get jammed into any normally unused or underused ordinance slot. So.... Hammerhead, non-flechette raiders, and....??? GSDs and MC30s want APT or ACMs. Maybe some goofy Sato-style lists

DC... unused Offensive slots. So... VSD2 and Interdictor.

I think Sloane will see more table. Leia looks potent, but with a more limited list-building freedom. I had some fun proxying her in entrapment formation lists. That actually worked really well.

Rebels got the better unique in Cham. The Inquisitor seems underwelming.

Im uncertain on which ship I think is better. The QF fits a needed hole for Imps, but the ship itself is a turd. The hammerhead seems like you have to run 3 or more to see purpose. A solo hammerhead seems like a bad choice.

Im going with Imps by an inch (2.54cm for all you who don't use a useless measurement system)

I think it is pretty equal. Both ships blow open fleet building, where wave 5 did not. The Quasar will be a staple carrier since it's cheap and has amazing slots and titles. But the Hammerhead is dirt cheap and allows for extremely point efficient activations that can also carry a variety of upgrades. And there is a lot of synergy in running multiple Hammerheads.

I think Cham and Grand Inquisitor on are the same level. Neither is amazing, but if they are put on the right ship they can be very effective.

Sloane totally beats Leia in every way.

I have a feeling more people will be buying multiple Hammerheads to run swarm fleets instead of multiple Quasars, so that makes them equal IMO.

It also depends on the effect of quad batteries. If they are really good it helps imperial more.