Despite the infancy of the Tie Silencer preview, there's already been a lot of concern over Kylo's ability being lackluster on the Silencer chassis. Initially, I was a little disappointed as well, because it just doesn't fit the arc dodger mentality. But upon further introspection, I realized something.

I'm sick of seeing the strongest pilot abilities on PS 8-9 pilots.

FFG has had a mixed track record of keeping the busted abilities away from PS 8-9 where they become exponentially more powerful.

They did a good job with the Starviper, where no pilots are above PS 7 base to fully leverage how absurd a bank-barrel roll is. I've played Lorrir + Vader-Squad Leader before, to use the silly barrel rolls at PS9. It's outrageous. Similarly, anyone who has had the pleasure of playing Guri against a squad of all PS 1-4s knows how busted she feels when she moves/repositions last. With StarViper mk II, you pay a real price for a PS9 Xizor; losing an ept slot and making it more difficult to keep friendlies at range 1 for his ability without telegraphing your movements.

But for each Guri in X-wing, there's a pilot whose ability should not have been combined with the ability to act with most (if not all) the information already on the table. Miranda's regen becomes much stronger when she can react between SLAMing away from any shots or taking some uncontested TLTs to reload her shields. Nym's 1/4 of the board bomb dropping zone is only so threatening because he acts at PS10. Fenn Rau's procket cannons benefit greatly from always being able to pick the right boost/barrel roll. We'd probably be able to see some aggressive E-Wing fixes if Corran was a PS6-7. Meanwhile, pilots like Vader and Soontir are mostly held back by the limitations on their respective chassis, and the fact that they still allow for low PS pilots to interact via bumping.

I think that a native PS 8-9 should be a big enough bonus on its own, and we can stand to have those pilot abilities be tamer, saving the spicy ones for lower PS scores. Although it's too late to fix what's already been done (looking at you, Nym), I'm happy that Kylo's ability isn't synergistic with his pilot skill. In fact the imperial faction has been good about this recently - Kestal, Vyndar, new Kylo, Kylo shuttle, and to a lesser extent Duchess don't have annoyingly good synergies between ability and pilot skill. Maybe we can hope FFG continues this trend into the other factions as well?

IMO having Kylo retain his usual ability on the best arc-dodging platform in the game (native PS9, Advanced Sensors, Primed Thrusters, green Hards for PTL) was a way of balancing him out.

You get "something" if you get hit on a ship that would theoretically thrive on not being shot at all, but it's not as crazy as Soontir's free Focus.

I also think of it as a mild counter for all those hard to avoid turrets and mobile arcs. If they get you because you can't dodge them, they will feel it as well. It's almost like Kylo's ship was conceived out of all those Interceptor tears, lol.

Relax, when Kylo Ren becomes Ben Solo again in Ep 9 we will get a Resistence T-70 (or T-85) version with a new ability.

3 hours ago, GrimmyV said:

Relax, when Kylo Ren becomes Ben Solo again in Ep 9 we will get a Resistence T-70 (or T-85) version with a new ability.

That, or stick him in the Falcon, because of course they will.

I think Kylo's ability actually works much better on the Silencer. At PS9, he has a good chance at being the first one to shoot in a round. As such, he can plan his maneuver around shooting whichever target picked up ISYTDS last round.

Upsilon Kylo isn't threatening because it's easy to ping-pong his condition to any high-PS pilot that's outside his firing arc. That's not going to be easy to do here.

4 hours ago, GrimmyV said:

Relax, when Kylo Ren becomes Ben Solo again in Ep 9 we will get a Resistence T-70 (or T-85) version with a new ability.

"The first time you are hit by an attack each round, assign the 'I'll show you the Light Side' Condition card to the attacker."

The question is a good one.

On one hand I feel like Kylo should have a different ability for each thing (like vader) but I love sounding like a whiny teenager that had his phone taken away for spending 3000 on a pay to win game, when I say " I will show you the dark side"

So mmmm pancakes are the answer or 43.

Well it is kind of standard that pilots keep their ability within their subfaction even if they change ships. When looking at Marek Steele in Imperial Veterans he has the same ability in the TIE Defender as he had in the TIE Advanced.

However when a pilot cross factions (even subfactions) the pilot ability changes. Sabine has a different pilot ability in scum than she does in the attack shuttle, Resistance Chewie's pilot ability is different from Rebel Alliance Chewie.

Now with Kylo the question is what faction could he be in other than 1st Order. As for now there is none and probably will never be. Just like Darth Vader will never have a 1stOrder pilot ability.

I think the ability works for him on the Silencer chassis. On the Upsilon is is incidental, but occasionally useful. The Silencer makes it a lot more directed, because you can control who actually ever has a chance to hit him much better.

I believe that its better this way. You have options now. VI for the ps11 over everyone or can bait him. Instead of VI, i would take ASTS, then if Nym hits him you can assign the ps0 card to him with your hit right after. And if they leave him alone, well, even better.

Thats my personal thoughts.

2 hours ago, PhantomFO said:

I think Kylo's ability actually works much better on the Silencer. At PS9, he has a good chance at being the first one to shoot in a round. As such, he can plan his maneuver around shooting whichever target picked up ISYTDS last round.

Upsilon Kylo isn't threatening because it's easy to ping-pong his condition to any high-PS pilot that's outside his firing arc. That's not going to be easy to do here.

Good point. Do you think that's a compelling argument for Advanced Sensors over Fire Control System? Sensors makes it a lot easier to follow after ISYTDS targets, while FCS kind of disincentivizes breaking off.

Maybe that's a good way for Kylo to make his points back; spreading blinded pilots and damaged cockpits while his wingmen clean up.

Keep in mind bombing doesn't trigger the ability, I personally like PTL advanced sensors for this guy

I really echo what others are saying that it fits better on the Silencer. He manages to get hit and then he WILL show someone the dark side. Pilot skill 0 Nym, or just take his attack away. Deny other ships their hard turns.

I think it's pretty brilliant, especially on a ship that is as survivable as Kylo. This is the ace we were waiting for. Looking forward to see the other pilots too but definitely think Kylo will make a splash

Gotta agree with the OP. It is good that it's not a better ability, because it relays strength on other stats, adds a balancing element, incentivises use of other pilots-

but it is bad because well, as the saying goes, "if it ain't broke nobody flies it". And that begets whining from the imperials, who potentially have been pulled back in line yet again while other PS9s still enjoy having the best in all categories.

All in all, as an (almost) Imperial-only player mind you, I'm happy that Kylo doesn't go that way. But I get where contention might come from, even while this should be the norm.

It can also enforce mind games. "Do I shoot Kylo and hope to deal enough damage he can't enforce his ability on me?"

There's already a ton of mind games on Quickdraw because of that threatening return fire, I think it'll be even worse on Kylo since he can make you PS 0 or worse unable to shoot the next round.

The Silencer has to have a great dial if Kylo is going to be able to enforce his ability. The green 2-turn is a good sign, but FFG might try being cute with the dial (like they were with the Defender), giving greens to all the two speed maneuvers while everything else is white or red.

4 hours ago, Cubanboy said:

The question is a good one.

On one hand I feel like Kylo should have a different ability for each thing (like vader) but I love sounding like a whiny teenager that had his phone taken away for spending 3000 on a pay to win game, when I say " I will show you the dark side"

So mmmm pancakes are the answer or 43.

If you really want to maximize the Kylo Ren RPG......Advanced Sensors + Rage + ISTDs, with Inspiring Recruit nearby on something.

Yes. I think it is a good thing, and I think it is consistent with Marek Steele and Sabine with multiple ships.

Your idea matches perfectly with FFG's development cycle:

1. "Ok guys, since everything seems fixed now, proceed with the next ship, pick anything from the shows... Ah! and don't forget we need MOAR CREW cards! ===> Rebel Ship

2. "Well, so far, things look good, but the gameplay is stagnating... GO BANANAS!!! CREATE NEW DELIRATING MECHANICS!!!, what can possibly go wrong?? ===> Scum ship

3. "Whoa guys, we clearly went overboard and broke many things. We have to be much more cautious with the next ship. Try to learn from our previous mistakes... ===> Imperial Ship

1. "Ok guys, since everything seems fixed now.... "

People that say Kylo's ability sucks never played the Upsilon. It screws with Target selection and is going to be wayyy better on the ace platform. You can manipulate autothrusters to take a shield and make the ship you want it on take the card and then that ship is going to have to play differently or you'll cause their other ship to follow you and you can play the run away game and get your other ships behind it.

15 minutes ago, Tbetts94 said:

People that say Kylo's ability sucks never played the Upsilon. It screws with Target selection and is going to be wayyy better on the ace platform. You can manipulate autothrusters to take a shield and make the ship you want it on take the card and then that ship is going to have to play differently or you'll cause their other ship to follow you and you can play the run away game and get your other ships behind it.

Oh that's actually an awesome idea - I never would have thought of letting a damage through by not triggering the autothrusters. That makes it so much better!

10 hours ago, FirstOrderProblems said:

I'm sick of seeing the strongest pilot abilities on PS 8-9 pilots.

It's fluffy. The best pilots are also likely to have the best pilot abilities.

3 hours ago, Marinealver said:

Well it is kind of standard that pilots keep their ability within their subfaction even if they change ships. When looking at Marek Steele in Imperial Veterans he has the same ability in the TIE Defender as he had in the TIE Advanced.

However when a pilot cross factions (even subfactions) the pilot ability changes. Sabine has a different pilot ability in scum than she does in the attack shuttle, Resistance Chewie's pilot ability is different from Rebel Alliance Chewie.

Now with Kylo the question is what faction could he be in other than 1st Order. As for now there is none and probably will never be. Just like Darth Vader will never have a 1stOrder pilot ability.

There's already precedent for changing pilot abilities within the same faction (same subfaction even). Dalan Oberos, the SV pilot in GFH, has a completely different pilot ability from his Kimogila counterpart. There's no reason Kylo couldn't change pilot abilities between the Upsilon and Silencer too.

As for Kylo's ability, I think the key will be finding a good wingmate to follow up on the ISYTDS trigger. Especially if Kylo is being used as bait. I'm thinking OL backed by a Palpshuttle. You can guarantee a crit goes through on basically any ship.

2 minutes ago, defkhan1 said:

There's already precedent for changing pilot abilities within the same faction (same subfaction even). Dalan Oberos, the SV pilot in GFH, has a completely different pilot ability from his Kimogila counterpart. There's no reason Kylo couldn't change pilot abilities between the Upsilon and Silencer too.

As for Kylo's ability, I think the key will be finding a good wingmate to follow up on the ISYTDS trigger. Especially if Kylo is being used as bait. I'm thinking OL backed by a Palpshuttle. You can guarantee a crit goes through on basically any ship.

Well FFG doesn't have to stick the precedents, it is their game. But I wouldn't put too much faith into splash images. Release products have been known to differ from the image provided in the announcement. There could be a couple of conditions cards hiding there.

But yeah there is nothing in FFG's contract that says they have to keep pilots with the same pilot ability and skill for each ship. It is just now for all current releases (and you can count wave 12 as a current release) the precedent is that pilots keep their ability when they change ships in their subfaction but change when they go to another subfaction.

11 minutes ago, defkhan1 said:

There's already precedent for changing pilot abilities within the same faction (same subfaction even). Dalan Oberos, the SV pilot in GFH, has a completely different pilot ability from his Kimogila counterpart. There's no reason Kylo couldn't change pilot abilities between the Upsilon and Silencer too.

As for Kylo's ability, I think the key will be finding a good wingmate to follow up on the ISYTDS trigger. Especially if Kylo is being used as bait. I'm thinking OL backed by a Palpshuttle. You can guarantee a crit goes through on basically any ship.

Backdraft is another good candidate. He's serviceable at 32 points and excellent at 34, should be able to squeeze him in there to force crits. No Palp shuttle at that point, but imps have plenty of fodder for filler in the 20 point range.