I think we need to look at the Silencer differently.

Realistically you cannot be an arc dodger unless you are at least PS8 and have multiple actions a turn. The dial ( and when we talk about a great dial we always talk green) only matters if PTL is your go to for multiple actions.

So only Kylo has the opportunity to be a the Arc Dodger. Like all other ships of this archetype, the lower PS pilots cannot be Arc Dodgers. They need to be something else or they do not get played.

So instead of comparing Kylo to Corran Horn, Fel or even Vader, let's compare the genetics to the generic SFs because they share a lot of similarities.

The Omega Specialist (the PS5 SF) is 29pts with FCS, LWF, an open EPT slot and a rear arc.

Factoring for 1 more PS but a Hull instead of a shield the PS6 Silencer should be 29pts with FCS. That makes them remarkably similar (assuming it has an EPT). No rear arc. It does have boost but at lower PS boost is not that strong other than the ability to equip Autothrusters. It does have native 3 agility which is better than LWF. It likely will show much more green on its dial but let's not kid ourselves the SF dial is really quite good.

The Silencer should be considered a Heavy Fighter like the SF and the Defender. The Defender takes defence (evade) over offence (FCS) but all three ships will get their double actions in one way or another.

As a Heavy Fighter it feels much more in like with the SF but it looks like it will cost 3-4pts more. That is a lot to pay for boost and an arguably better dial. Maybe Autothrusters is enough to make it playable in a Turret feuled meta but when you are competing with significantly better Heavy Fighters within the faction like Quickdraw, Vader, Backdraft, Vessery and Ryad then the price is likely just too much to pay.

As for Kylo, who will be the only Arc Dodger here, maybe he has some game thanks to the health. I get the sense that the lacklustre ability (you need to take damage and then line up a shot go deal a grit the next round) and the cost (which really eliminates what you can bring with him to remove Nym) will make him a hard sell.

As always, we need to get it on the table and we don't know everything, but for now the Silencer doesn't feel like the great white hope that Imperial players of old were hoping for - the thing that would once again let arc dodgers fight against the insanity of the bomb TLT meta.

2 hours ago, Managarmr said:

@Rinzler in a Tie

No Empire does not need more OP stuff to counter other OP stuff. Unless you want to spiral the game finally out of control. What is needed, is some nerfing. Or better yet, certain combis are just banned (better than blunt nerfs making whole cards totally unplayable).

FFG's track record speaks for itself. Power-creep/OP/whatever you want to call it is here - and likely to stay.
They nerf some of the OP stuff, then immediately release hellspawns that wreak havoc on the meta. Excuse the dramatic language but there's really no other way to describe Lowrrhick and Nym. And on record, I'm guessing the Kimogila fighter is going to do wonders against the Silencer, is very dependent on green dice, not being stressed, and living. Just wait until that Kimogila ace is released... Ya know, the one that had to be PS 8 or 9 or whatever with the ability to auto-damage or stress anyone in it's bullseye?

But I agree - ideally, we see a reduction in speed, rather than this acceleration into the spiral. Unfortunately, my take has the advantage of being proven right by the Devs - thus far. I, too, hope the game stays healthy for another ten years so my money wasn't spent on a game that no one will know in that time.

1 hour ago, DodgingArcs said:

As always, we need to get it on the table and we don't know everything, but for now the Silencer doesn't feel like the great white hope that Imperial players of old were hoping for - the thing that would once again let arc dodgers fight against the insanity of the bomb TLT meta.

This......even with an amazing dial, it'll just be another fit into a good but not great squad. Looks like the Imp will still be the only "balanced" faction. Plus, no assistance to Interceptors in this Expansion, that was my real outside hope ☹️

I'll get one....maybe.

Just now, clanofwolves said:

This......no assistance to Interceptors in this Expansion, that was my hope ☹️

I'll get one....maybe.

Pouring one out with you...

So, what makes this ship a "silencer?"

1) I initially thought it would "run silent" and therefore have cloaking of some sort. 2) Or maybe I thought, it "silences the opposition" and that would mean it has a nasty alpha strike like attack or could double tap or attack each time it was attacked. 3) Or, way outside the box, it "silences its enemies weapons" by somehow absorbing the attack and using the energy therein to perform some other action or function.

Looking at this preview, it seems it's just a beefy, expensive Interceptor; released at a time you can't f***ing fly Interceptors due to all the anti-Ace s*** that FFG is plastering every expansion with.......so, I'm uninspired.

37 minutes ago, clanofwolves said:

Looking at this preview, it seems it's just a beefy, expensive Interceptor; released at a time you can't f***ing fly Interceptors due to all the anti-Ace s*** that FFG is plastering every expansion with.......so, I'm uninspired.

So dont fly ACE intercepters! People have been placing at tournaments with autothruster swarms in this meta, despite the "ace hate", and I suspect the Sienar-Jamus Pilot with title and autos will also be an outstanding build piece, much as the Delta X7 was before it.

I like the sound of that "Debris" whatever Elite upgrade. I'm hoping it gives Evade tokens based on the number of debris clouds and/or asteroids at range 1-2 of your ship. Maybe it'll suck in practice and the old days of arc dodging aces will still be getting bombed and TLT'd out of existence, but the thought of piloting a highly maneuverable Hunter through a tightly-packed obstacle field, gaining extra defense dice because of the obstacles plus evade and autothrusters, and then punching back with carefully-aimed FCS-aided shots is exciting to me. This is the kind of X-Wing I want to play.

Just now, SEApocalypse said:

Firecontrol System on the silencer AND Mindlink Protectorate Fighters disagree. Single Reposition can be enough IF there is enough other positive factors. In case of the fangs you gain extreme strong additional abilities, and action efficiency is still there, without the stress limitation from PTL on your dial.

That is completely different. Mindlink gives Protectorates a Focus AND reposition. FCS only gives an offensive action and your normal action: either Focus or reposition. With an arc dodger at the very least you need to be able to reposition once AND modify your green dice. That's what Protectorates do. That's not what single action Kylo does.

49 minutes ago, clanofwolves said:

So, what makes this ship a "silencer?"

Its cockpit is completely and utterly sound-proofed - thus, when the pilot is inside, you can't hear his incessant spoilt-brat whining.

So it looks like we have some idea of what every upgrade in these two expansions can do, except for two of them. One looks like a B/SF only upgrade so we'll ignore that. The other is a tech in the top left corner of the Silencer spread whose text is obscured. I'm reaaaaally hoping this is some sort anti-bomb tech. Judging by the picture, maybe it lets you shoot bombs before they detonate? That would be great. If it's not an anti-bomb card, then we'll be waiting for a bomb counter for a very long time.

11 minutes ago, defkhan1 said:

So it looks like we have some idea of what every upgrade in these two expansions can do, except for two of them. One looks like a B/SF only upgrade so we'll ignore that. The other is a tech in the top left corner of the Silencer spread whose text is obscured. I'm reaaaaally hoping this is some sort anti-bomb tech. Judging by the picture, maybe it lets you shoot bombs before they detonate? That would be great. If it's not an anti-bomb card, then we'll be waiting for a bomb counter for a very long time.

I cannot come up with a name for that card other than "The Trash"

Just now, Rakaydos said:

I cannot come up with a name for that card other than "The Trash"

LOL I was trying to think of what it could be. Now I can't unsee "The Trash". Hopefully the card isn't that bad.

On 9/8/2017 at 6:19 PM, Darth Meanie said:

It's true. All of it.

I am spreading lies and altfacts simply because Space Hatchetfish does not have a ring to it.

Oh. It does now. I'm calling it now, the Resistance Bomber is now and forever called the Space Hatchetfish, courtesy @Darth Meanie

I was thinking it might be Tractor for the second word. A tech based tractor token would be sweet.

1 hour ago, clanofwolves said:

So, what makes this ship a "silencer?

It's made by an organization whose apparent modus operandi is "edgy 90s teen neo-nazi trenchcoat mafia who are compensating for something".

The working title was "TIE Vengeance" hence TIE/VN. Hopefully they remember this movie's technical details should not be aimed at small children and make the more sensible decision to say that "Vanguard" was a more likely working name, like FFG seems to have.

That bomber looks like utter crap, and the Tie Silencer looks like a shitter version of a kit bash i made years ago....

https://www.dropbox.com/s/umgrith0cp18wji/TIEV Intercepter.PNG

Just now, Biophysical said:

I was thinking it might be Tractor for the second word. A tech based tractor token would be sweet.

Comparing it to the lettering on Primed Thrusters and judging the placement relative to the "Small ship only" header, I'd say the first word is 5-6 letters and the second word is 6-7 letters. "Tractor" certainly fits that criteria.

Also worth noting, it looks like on the card art that the Silencer is not shooting from it's wing tip cannons, but from the missile launchers on its side. Maybe this tech is subtle way of giving the Silencer a passive missile mechanic of some sort similar to how APL was meant to replicate the Lambda's rear guns?

EDIT: Or wait maybe those are its regular guns? I can't tell.

1 hour ago, defkhan1 said:

So it looks like we have some idea of what every upgrade in these two expansions can do, except for two of them. One looks like a B/SF only upgrade so we'll ignore that. The other is a tech in the top left corner of the Silencer spread whose text is obscured. I'm reaaaaally hoping this is some sort anti-bomb tech. Judging by the picture, maybe it lets you shoot bombs before they detonate? That would be great. If it's not an anti-bomb card, then we'll be waiting for a bomb counter for a very long time.

How about "Threat Tracking" Whenever an enemy ship at range 1-2 drops a bomb token you may perform a free barrel roll or boost action.

Now that would be sweet

So Resistance is the large ship subfaction now. Well time to go pull out A&M format and see how this will bring the Resistance and 1st Order lists up with the Rebel Alliance and Galactic Empire lists.

1 minute ago, Marinealver said:

So Resistance is the large ship subfaction now. Well time to go pull out A&M format and see how this will bring the Resistance and 1st Order lists up with the Rebel Alliance and Galactic Empire lists.

Large ship faction? They've got T70s and B17s, and the Falcon. Scum has Brobots, jumpmasters, party busses, the shadowcaster and firesprays.

Just now, Rakaydos said:

Large ship faction? They've got T70s and B17s, and the Falcon. Scum has Brobots, jumpmasters, party busses, the shadowcaster and firesprays.

2 out of the 3 Resistance ships are large base. Sure Scum has the numbers but Resistance has the concentration.

1 minute ago, Marinealver said:

2 out of the 3 Resistance ships are large base. Sure Scum has the numbers but Resistance has the concentration.

After the Resistance Awing drops, how many more large ships does the resistance HAVE?

12 minutes ago, Rakaydos said:

After the Resistance Awing drops, how many more large ships does the resistance HAVE?

3 out of 4, only 2 behind scum but where scum is 31% large ships Resistance will be 75% (go large base A-wings)

Okay I don't think the Resistance A-wing will be large base (I was hoping that would be the announcement instead of another large resistance ship). But you got to admit with only 3 ships to their subfaction and two of them are large bases the composition is higher for resistance. Sure that only brings the Rebels up to Scum with 5 large ships (not counting YT-1300 twice). If you do count HotR separately then Rebels have more large base ships than Scum.

I like the Silencer

Doesnt seem immediately overpowered (it's very good, but expensive) but doesn't suck.

Surely that's the perfect power level?

Also seems to add something a little different the "beefy ace".

My initial thought seems to make it a tank:

FCS, Intensity and Comm Relay + title should make for a very hard ship to kill. That deals decent damage.

The other "obvious" build is things like advanced sensors and PTL or VI for super arc (pro bomb) dodging.

Kylo ability is a bit "meh" (awesome if it's every time he is attacked, but having to be hit reduces the effwctiveness a lot) although still very handy against most 2 ship builds.

Main problem is for the points it competes against the Phantom... and I love the Phantom.