Easy fix for both X wings with one simple title

By ClassicalMoser, in X-Wing

After (Finally!) seeing Hera fly an X-wing in the last Rebels episode, I want a good, thematic fix for the T-65 more than ever. But of course, FFG is still taking an eternity to get around to it. The Flight-Assist Astro will do some good, but it still leaves them out in the cold as far as meta goes. The T-70 needs a little help as well. So what I propose is a simple, very thematic fix for both. The T-70s get a good trick, while T-65s finally become capable flyers.

X-Wing (Attack)

X-wing only. Title. Dual Card.

When attacking, you may add one focus result to your roll. You cannot perform any red maneuvers. Your action bar loses the Boost icon.

After performing an action, you may flip this card.

(0 pts)

X-Wing (Flight)

X-wing only. Title. Dual Card

Your action bar gains the Boost icon.

After performing an action, you may flip this card.

(0 pts)

Very thematic, and best used by pilots with good action economy, but also gives some punch to the (still somewhat fragile) Rookie Pilots. Now they can dodge a little, but still succumb if focused down. I'm certain FFG doesn't want to make 5 rookies a possibility, so this instead gets them to be worth their points by hitting harder and moving faster.

Let's try a build or two:

Wedge Antilles (29)

Push The Limit (3)

BB-8 (2)

Integrated Astromech (0)

Title (0)

TOTAL: 34 points

Wedge starts the round on Attack, reveals a green maneuver, and performs a barrel roll. Since he performed an action, he can flip the card to the flight side. PTL off the barrel roll to boost or focus, then execute a green maneuver to clear stress. Finally, he boosts or focuses and flips the card back to attack. Three actions, no stress, lovely dodging. Boom.

Hobbie Klivian (25)

Targeting Astromech (2)

Integrated Astromech (0)

Title (0)

TOTAL: 31 points

Hobbie Starts out in flight mode and K-turns. Gains a free target lock, discards stress, focuses, then flips to attack mode. Fully modified 4-die attack after a K-turn. He obviously can't do this every turn, since he starts the next round in attack mode, but even for every other turn, this is scary. Throw on Vectored thrusters for more crazy fun.

Luke Skywalker (28)

Push the Limit (3)

R2-D2 (4)

Vectored Thrusters (2)

Title (0)

TOTAL: 37

Same cost as average Darth Vader build, but both dodgy and tanky, while throwing four attack dice every turn. Certainly not Soontir Fel, but he can take a hit, and his attacks will be no joke.

Rookie Pilot (21)

Flight Instruct Astromech (1)

Integrated Astromech (0)

Title (0)

TOTAL: 22 points

Speed, action economy, and firepower make this a wonderfully versatile and hard-hitting, though still slightly fragile, little filler.

So all in all, does it make the T-65 overpowered? No. Is the T-70 still better? Of course, but not by quite as much, and the generics will be much improved. Does this run the U-wing risk of telegraphing your intentions? Not entirely. Since you're always moving and shooting, "Moving" or "Shooting" doesn't always communicate what the intent is, only the priority.

Anyone want to proxy this card and try it out? I'd love to hear some T-70 ideas too.

I like the idea.

I really like this. Elegant and simple, which all the best fixes are.

I like it, but here's another idea I've had for a while.

Dual Card

Side A: Linked Fire - When attacking you may roll an additional die. If you do, the defender doubles their agility value for this attack.

After performing a maneuver, you may flip this card

Side B: Intermittent Fire - When attacking, you may roll an additional die. If you do and this attack hits, you must cancel all dice results. Then, the defender recieves 1 damage.

After performing a maneuver, you may flip this card

This gives the X-Wing an unparalleled versatility on who they are attacking. Attacking a Decimator or a B-Wing? Use Linked fire to make them pay for their lack of agility. Attacking a Soontir Fel with a million token? Use Intermittent Fire to nick him that one crucial damage. With two or three X-Wings, even the likes of a Soontir Fel or a Fenn Rau would not be happy. What this card would cost is anyone's guess however, and would need to be playtested.

Edited by SirCormac
2 hours ago, ClassicalMoser said:

After (Finally!) seeing Hera fly an X-wing in the last Rebels episode, I want a good, thematic fix for the T-65 more than ever. But of course, FFG is still taking an eternity to get around to it. The Flight-Assist Astro will do some good, but it still leaves them out in the cold as far as meta goes. The T-70 needs a little help as well. So what I propose is a simple, very thematic fix for both. The T-70s get a good trick, while T-65s finally become capable flyers.

X-Wing (Attack)

X-wing only. Title. Dual Card.

When attacking, you may add one focus result to your roll. You cannot perform any red maneuvers. Your action bar loses the Boost icon.

After performing an action, you may flip this card.

(0 pts)

X-Wing (Flight)

X-wing only. Title. Dual Card

Your action bar gains the Boost icon.

After performing an action, you may flip this card.

(0 pts)

Very close to what I've been thinking lately.

Adaptive S-Foils

Attack Position

X-wing only. Title. Modification.

When attacking, you may add one focus result to your roll.

After performing a manuver you may flip this card.

(0 pts)

Adaptive S-Foils

Flight Position

X-wing only. Title. Modification.

If you are not stressed, you may treat your Koigran turn as a white maneuver.

After performing a manuver, you may flip this card.

(0 pts)

I especially want to keep X-Wing titles free for things like squadron titles. (Red squadron, Rogue squadron, Gold squadron, etc...)

Edited by Koing907

I still think my new unique x-wing only EPT would be the only way to fix them, it would be just like the movies and show. ;)

  • Plot Armor

X-wing only

When defending if hit cancel all dice results. You cannot equip this title is your pilot skill is 7 or lower.

-3 points.

:P

Edited by Marinealver
11 hours ago, Mangostrike said:

I really like this. Elegant and simple, which all the best fixes are.

I am not so sure about it. It's yet another super jouster.

Wedge Antilles (29)
Expertise (4)
Flight-Assist Astromech (1)
Integrated Astromech (0)

Total: 34
Free Boost or Barrel roll to get arc and 82% chance for 4 hits and negating one agility dice, while having outside of the 4k a complete open dial.

And the second issue with this is that a lot of X-Wing pilots have abilities which work around target lock, but with that suggested title they all would prefer having an offensive focus at all times, so basically their abilities go to waste.
Lastly T-70 are not fixed at all by this title, quite to opposite actually, even intensity Poe would rather have the black one title.

Edited by SEApocalypse

I really meant to add the "You may equip one additional title" text, but forgot. Frees up Poe for his Black One and also allows other squadron titles in the future.

While it's true that they would prefer to focus, I consider that somewhat thematic (and already the case much of the time anyway) when they can get a shot. When a shot isn't available, target lock in the hopes of getting a fully-modified shot next round.

Also, this wouldn't just be another super-heavy jouster. This does nothing defensive for the X-wing at all, other than offering a little more maneuverability in the form of boost, and that itself diminishes firepower. It's a different niche from something like a B-wing or Protectorate Starfighter, and one that I believe fits the X-wing quite well.

Edited by ClassicalMoser

S-Foils (Flight Position)

After performing a maneuver, if you did not overlap a ship or obstacle, you may perform a 1-straight Boost as a free action.

After performing an action, you may flip this card.

S-Foils (Attack Position)

When attacking, roll 1 additional attack die.

Before the compare results step, cancel one attack die.

Action: You may flip this card.

* * *

The idea is similar to OPs, of course - indeed, suggestions like this have been bandied about so often that it's practically assumed that the fix will come in such a format. A key part of this card is preserving the arc-dodging identity of A-wings and their ilk by not giving the X-wing the full advantage of the Boost action (If you want it, take a T-70 or Flight Assist Astro, or an actual Engine Upgrade), but still allowing them to choose between being fast , and being able to throw a great deal of firepower when they give it up.

When in Flight position, X-wings effectively get a free speed-boost (Albeit no extra arc-wiggling; that's the purview of an A-wing or T-70), but can use it to nonetheless, eg, get closer forward before attempting a Target Lock. Wording is careful to allow technical compatability with Flight Assist Astromech - until you get ships into arc, you can boost-straight then barrel roll each turn! :D

Then, you can flip to Attack Position. Rather than adding a Focus result (which all but forces the ship to use Focus every single round), it's an extra die for the purposes of rolling - another chance to get an eyeball, or be rerolled into a hit. It does not actually increase their total number of possible hits, nor count as a reroll, so Target Locks and Focus tokens are as useful as ever... it's just giving you even more accurate firepower than ever before (Remember, you can always choose to cancel a blank result).

A final subtlety is that locking the wings into attack position is free, while closing them again is not, meaning that it's a tougher choice to make, but also preserving the identity of ships that actually have the boost action - the X-wing instead is expected to 'change gears' if it wants to run (or pursue) at greater speeds. Previous examples of the card left the last line off entirely (So choosing when to flip from 'flight' to 'attack' mode was to be a choice to be chosen carefully), but we have enough canon examples of X-wings closing their wings for Cool Stunts mid combat that I guess we gotta accept that flapping their wings is a thing they do, now. ;)

Edited by Reiver
1 hour ago, Marinealver said:

I still think my new unique x-wing only EPT would be the only way to fix them, it would be just like the movies and show. ;)

  • Plot Armor

X-wing only

When defending if hit cancel all dice results.

-3 points.

:P

*Not valid for Porkins or Biggs

tenor.gif

Really like it OP.

24 minutes ago, Reiver said:

S-Foils (Flight Position)

After performing a maneuver, if you did not overlap a ship or obstacle, you must perform a 1-straight Boost as a free action.

After performing an action, you may flip this card.

S-Foils (Attack Position)

When attacking, roll 1 additional attack die.

Before the compare results step, cancel one attack die.

Action: You may flip this card.

* * *

The idea is similar to OPs, of course - indeed, suggestions like this have been bandied about so often that it's practically assumed that the fix will come in such a format. A key part of this card is preserving the arc-dodging identity of A-wings and their ilk by not giving the X-wing the full advantage of the Boost action (If you want it, take a T-70 or Flight Assist Astro, or an actual Engine Upgrade), but still allowing them to choose between being fast , and being able to throw a great deal of firepower when they give it up.

When in Flight position, X-wings effectively get a free speed-boost (Albeit no extra arc-wiggling; that's the purview of an A-wing or T-70), but can use it to nonetheless, eg, get closer forward before attempting a Target Lock. Wording is careful to allow technical compatability with Flight Assist Astromech - until you get ships into arc, you can boost-straight then barrel roll each turn! :D

Then, you can flip to Attack Position. Rather than adding a Focus result (which all but forces the ship to use Focus every single round), it's an extra die for the purposes of rolling - another chance to get an eyeball, or be rerolled into a hit. It does not actually increase their total number of possible hits, nor count as a reroll, so Target Locks and Focus tokens are as useful as ever... it's just giving you even more accurate firepower than ever before (Remember, you can always choose to cancel a blank result).

A final subtlety is that locking the wings into attack position is free, while closing them again is not, meaning that it's a tougher choice to make, but also preserving the identity of ships that actually have the boost action - the X-wing instead is expected to 'change gears' if it wants to run (or pursue) at greater speeds. Previous examples of the card left the last line off entirely (So choosing when to flip from 'flight' to 'attack' mode was to be a choice to be chosen carefully), but we have enough canon examples of X-wings closing their wings for Cool Stunts mid combat that I guess we gotta accept that flapping their wings is a thing they do, now. ;)

Well, to me, there's no danger of the X-wing just becoming another A-wing. There's not nearly enough green (or even white) to offer the kind of maneuverability a real interceptor-type ship can put out (especially the likes of Jake or Tycho with PTL). The T-65 can already get a situational boost with FAA and the T-70 has it naturally.

Honestly, even with that title, no one would take the X-wing. It's like a worse Adaptive Ailerons that costs an action, telegrams its intent, and offers no benefit to aces at all. Either it needs more agility (which is unlikely, for good reason), more health (which wouldn't make sense relative to the T-70) or some form of situational repositioning. Not full-time, because it isn't an interceptor, but enough to live up to it's starwars.com description: "Nimble engines give the X-wing an edge during dogfights" and "X-wings were nimble enough to dogfight with TIE fighters while tough enough to slug it out with Imperial ships of the line." Without changing the dial or offering reliable repositioning of some sort (be it boost or barrel roll), that's quite a stretch for FFG's T-65.

9 minutes ago, Rat of Vengence said:

*Not valid for Porkins or Biggs

tenor.gif

Forgot the cannot on 7 or lower requirement. There now when Hera is in an X-wing she can equip it.

2 hours ago, SirCormac said:

I like it, but here's another idea I've had for a while.

Dual Card

Side A: Linked Fire - When attacking you may roll an additional die. If you do, the defender doubles their agility value for this attack.

After performing a maneuver, you may flip this card

Side B: Intermittent Fire - When attacking, you may roll an additional die. If you do and this attack hits, you must cancel all dice results. Then, the defender recieves 1 damage.

After performing a maneuver, you may flip this card

This gives the X-Wing an unparalleled versatility on who they are attacking. Attacking a Decimator or a B-Wing? Use Linked fire to make them pay for their lack of agility. Attacking a Soontir Fel with a million token? Use Intermittent Fire to nick him that one crucial damage. With two or three X-Wings, even the likes of a Soontir Fel or a Fenn Rau would not be happy. What this card would cost is anyone's guess however, and would need to be playtested.

I like this 10X more than any of the S-foil ones, it makes it scary rather than making it a t70

3 hours ago, SirCormac said:

I like it, but here's another idea I've had for a while.

Dual Card

Side A: Linked Fire - When attacking you may roll an additional die. If you do, the defender doubles their agility value for this attack.

After performing a maneuver, you may flip this card

Side B: Intermittent Fire - When attacking, you may roll an additional die. If you do and this attack hits, you must cancel all dice results. Then, the defender recieves 1 damage.

After performing a maneuver, you may flip this card

This gives the X-Wing an unparalleled versatility on who they are attacking. Attacking a Decimator or a B-Wing? Use Linked fire to make them pay for their lack of agility. Attacking a Soontir Fel with a million token? Use Intermittent Fire to nick him that one crucial damage. With two or three X-Wings, even the likes of a Soontir Fel or a Fenn Rau would not be happy. What this card would cost is anyone's guess however, and would need to be playtested.

Yeah, but attacking a rank and file TIE fighter? Forget about being able to carry out a thematic one shot kill unless those 6!!! dice really are fickle...

Edited by Larky Bobble
3 minutes ago, Larky Bobble said:

Yeah, but attacking a rank and file TIE fighter? Forget about being able to carry out a thematic one shot kill unless those 6!!! dice really are fickle...

Nah, you just use side B and forego your extra die, then get lucky like always.

They already used the perfect X-wing fix.

It's called "Vaksai" and they accidentally released it for the scum X-wing (which had been bad for far too long I guess).

Seriously though, being able to take a mod in addition to integrated astromech would be huge for the T-65. And the -1 point per upgrade would help with how overpriced ****-near every single astromech is.

1 hour ago, ClassicalMoser said:

Well, to me, there's no danger of the X-wing just becoming another A-wing. There's not nearly enough green (or even white) to offer the kind of maneuverability a real interceptor-type ship can put out (especially the likes of Jake or Tycho with PTL). The T-65 can already get a situational boost with FAA and the T-70 has it naturally.

Honestly, even with that title, no one would take the X-wing. It's like a worse Adaptive Ailerons that costs an action, telegrams its intent, and offers no benefit to aces at all. Either it needs more agility (which is unlikely, for good reason), more health (which wouldn't make sense relative to the T-70) or some form of situational repositioning. Not full-time, because it isn't an interceptor, but enough to live up to it's starwars.com description: "Nimble engines give the X-wing an edge during dogfights" and "X-wings were nimble enough to dogfight with TIE fighters while tough enough to slug it out with Imperial ships of the line." Without changing the dial or offering reliable repositioning of some sort (be it boost or barrel roll), that's quite a stretch for FFG's T-65.

Only takes an action once. And can be equipped that way before you start flying.

Don't think of it as arc-dodging, think of it as a 'Getting across the board/keeping up with super-quick ships' repositional move. Note that the freebie move from Adaptive Aelerons is huge in terms of board-covering capability; on an X-wing you've effectively given it the ability to use a white 6-straight. That's pretty dang nimble, and being able to choose to then immediately swap to the extra-shooty side is plenty potent.

(The choice to flip could also become an instead -of-zoom option, but that reduces their punchiness on the first joust.)

50 minutes ago, Nyxen said:

Nah, you just use side B and forego your extra die, then get lucky like always.

Aha. The crucial " may". I missed it. Thanks

I have not one, but TWO fixes for the X-wing

Quote

Frontal Deflector Shields

Small ship only.

You may not equip this modification if your shield value is 4 or higher

When defending from a ship inside your primary firing arc you may remove a shield token to turn up to 2 of your dice to an evade result.

2 pts.
Modification


It turns shields into a resource. It's not faction locked, but rebels have access to regen so its better for them. It's a bit ugly on the Vaksai.

Quote

S-Foils (Double sided)

X-wing only. Title.

Attack:
When attacking with your primary weapon, if you have a target lock on the defender, you may turn 1 focus result to a hit result. You may flip this card in the beginning of the activation phase


Flight:
Your attacks cannot be modified. Treat your straight maneuvers as green maneuvers. After performing a green maneuver you may perform a free boost action, if you did not overlap. You may flip this card in the beginning of the activation phase

0 pts

Gives an offensive buff centered around target locks, and gives a speed buff making the X-wings quite speedy and agile. It also adds extra ways to trigger green moves astromechs. It helps out in action economy in both ways, so its great.


Awesome fix

5 hours ago, Marinealver said:

I still think my new unique x-wing only EPT would be the only way to fix them, it would be just like the movies and show. ;)

  • Plot Armor

X-wing only

When defending if hit cancel all dice results. You cannot equip this title is your pilot skill is 7 or lower.

-3 points.

:P

VI porkins new meta.

1 hour ago, FlyingAnchors said:

VI porkins new meta.

Can X-wings take 2 EPTs?