So, on the right there you can see the familiar outline of what has been shown in Legends to be the T-65BR or "ReconX" configuration. While I don't know the exact canonicity, Rebel Files is an upcoming publication and looks to have a lot of reference to new canon materials. At the very least, it means LFL isn't averse to using the T-65BR concept.

Flown by wedge, hand scribbled note by Poe.... yes please. Also this would be a neat counter to a canon Tie Phantom...

They are worried about Interdictors? I'm starting to think the Rebels got bad intel.

I do not mind a ReconX title coming with a systems slot - or capability to grab Long Range Sensors - showing up alongside a more 'canonical' fix title. Not one bit.

UGHHH, freaking Poe underestimating the capabilities of a designated Dedicated fighter. lol

This looks really cool and I think I am going to buy this book!

1 hour ago, FlyingAnchors said:

Flown by wedge, hand scribbled note by Poe.... yes please. Also this would be a neat counter to a canon Tie Phantom...

Wedge is Snoop 2.

I guess the top dog has to be Snoop Dogg in Snoop 1, then. Nice flight goggles, Dogg.

10 minutes ago, Mackaywarrior said:

UGHHH, freaking Poe underestimating the capabilities of a designated fighter. lol

This looks really cool and I think I am going to buy this book!

Wait, what? He's expressing preference for X-Wing + sensors over a specialized sensor craft.

24 minutes ago, RampancyTW said:

Wait, what? He's expressing preference for X-Wing + sensors over a specialized sensor craft.

"Smart Stuff packing the Recon Gear into an X-Wing beats a dedicated recon craft every time" - Poe

I disagree with this statement and I believe he is under-estimating the power of dedicated aircraft. Because of weight restrictions and volume available, designating a specific craft to recon stuff means you can put even larger sensor arrays and radar shtuff aboard as opposed to weapons. If you make it large enough you could add stealth as well. Sure, it would not be a fighter but if it's job is to do recon then focus on recon.

The other problem with the Recon-X is that it is a modified X-Wing. I also assume it is modular so it can still be converted back to a T-65B. Either way this means that there would be added maintenance time converting them back and forth.

Also, that is such a small recon package that it is probably pretty weak. Think about the size of the radar dish on the Falcon.

In short, no, Poe, packing the Recon Gear into an X-Wing Does not beat a dedicated recon craft every time. lol

I think a better statement would be "Converting X-Wings to recon craft is a brilliant way to work with what you have. What clever Rebels they were."

But this is also Star Wars land where things are designed to look cool and make people look cooler. I will still very happily buy this book and enjoy lol But Poe is not going to be in the design meetings for new aircraft as far as I am concerned.

2 minutes ago, Mackaywarrior said:

"Smart Stuff packing the Recon Gear into an X-Wing beats a dedicated recon craft every time" - Poe

I disagree with this statement and I believe he is under-estimating the power of designated aircraft. Because of weight restrictions and volume available, designating a specific craft to recon stuff means you can put even larger sensor arrays and radar shtuff aboard as opposed to weapons. If you make it large enough you could add stealth as well. Sure, it would not be a fighter but if it's job is to do recon then focus on recon.

The other problem with the Recon-X is that it is a modified X-Wing. I also assume it is modular so it can still be converted back to a T-65B. Either way this means that there would be added maintenance time converting them back and forth.

Also, that is such a small recon package that it is probably pretty weak. Think about the size of the radar dish on the Falcon.

In short, no, Poe, packing the Recon Gear into an X-Wing Does not beat a dedicated recon craft every time. lol

I think a better statement would be "Converting X-Wings to recon craft is a brilliant way to work with what you have. What clever Rebels they were."

But this is also Star Wars land where things are designed to look cool and make people look cooler. I will still very happily buy this book and enjoy lol But Poe is not going to be in the design meetings for new aircraft.

Gotcha. Got tripped up by your usage of "designated fighter" as opposed to "dedicated spacecraft," since the X-Wing is definitely a designated fighter and a dedicated recon craft is not.

1 minute ago, RampancyTW said:

Gotcha. Got tripped up by your usage of "designated fighter" as opposed to "dedicated spacecraft," since the X-Wing is definitely a designated fighter and a dedicated recon craft is not.

OOO, good catch. Thank you. I am going to edited that now. Sorry for the confusion.

44 minutes ago, Darth Meanie said:

Wedge is Snoop 2.

I guess the top dog has to be Snoop Dogg in Snoop 1, then. Nice flight goggles, Dogg.

"Snoop 1, foshizzle we got tie fizzles droppin outta that star destroyer!"

19 minutes ago, FlyingAnchors said:

"Snoop 1, foshizzle we got tie fizzles droppin outta that star destroyer!"

"Copy my nizzle, but we got hella bigger problems- we got Defenders droppin' outta Hyperspizzle."

Smoke Glitterstim every day

5 hours ago, Mackaywarrior said:

"Smart Stuff packing the Recon Gear into an X-Wing beats a dedicated recon craft every time" - Poe

I disagree with this statement and I believe he is under-estimating the power of dedicated aircraft. Because of weight restrictions and volume available, designating a specific craft to recon stuff means you can put even larger sensor arrays and radar shtuff aboard as opposed to weapons. If you make it large enough you could add stealth as well. Sure, it would not be a fighter but if it's job is to do recon then focus on recon.

The other problem with the Recon-X is that it is a modified X-Wing. I also assume it is modular so it can still be converted back to a T-65B. Either way this means that there would be added maintenance time converting them back and forth.

Also, that is such a small recon package that it is probably pretty weak. Think about the size of the radar dish on the Falcon.

In short, no, Poe, packing the Recon Gear into an X-Wing Does not beat a dedicated recon craft every time. lol

I think a better statement would be "Converting X-Wings to recon craft is a brilliant way to work with what you have. What clever Rebels they were."

But this is also Star Wars land where things are designed to look cool and make people look cooler. I will still very happily buy this book and enjoy lol But Poe is not going to be in the design meetings for new aircraft as far as I am concerned.

It depends what he's thinks it beats a dedicated recon craft at.

It clearly won't be as good at actual recon (I agree with both the opinion and your reasons), but if something goes wrong, it's still (more or less) an X-wing.

i.e. in the hands of an ace like poe or wedge who thinks in terms of dogfighting, an X-wing with a recon package is "better" because it's much more capable of defending itself if it gets spotted than a scout not designed for combat like a Longprobe Y-wing or some such.

Given the position of the snoop, I'm guessing a putative title would replace the [torpedo] upgrade slot with [systems]?

7 minutes ago, Magnus Grendel said:

Given the position of the snoop, I'm guessing a putative title would replace the [torpedo] upgrade slot with [systems]?

That is something like how the T-65BR worked, removing the torpedo launchers for the forward sensor package, as well as additional sensor pod launchers and a self-destruct system to protect the intel.

11 minutes ago, Magnus Grendel said:

It depends what he's thinks it beats a dedicated recon craft at.

It clearly won't be as good at actual recon (I agree with both the opinion and your reasons), but if something goes wrong, it's still (more or less) an X-wing.

i.e. in the hands of an ace like poe or wedge who thinks in terms of dogfighting, an X-wing with a recon package is "better" because it's much more capable of defending itself if it gets spotted than a scout not designed for combat like a Longprobe Y-wing or some such.

Given the position of the snoop, I'm guessing a putative title would replace the [torpedo] upgrade slot with [systems]?

You make a good point. Given that most fighter to fighter kills for an X-Wing are while using their quad lasers, I imagine losing their torpedo is not that big of a deal.

You know what I want? I want a new canonical answer for why the wings pivot. In the old canon it increased the speed, making the X-Wing like the F-14 which was a great recon/interceptor that could also dogfight. Given that an Astromech would function like a RIO, the X-Wing would be great with some recon sensors.

As it stands now all we have is that it CAN pivot but for no stated reason. Is it for storage? Is it to increase the accuracy of the lasers? We don't know. Because of that, I would argue the X-Wing is not a great platform for recon. Now an A-Wing with it's speed or the B-Wing with its survivability? Now we are talking.

The X-Wing could just hyperjump out but that means the moment things get dicey the intel gathering would end. If it were faster or could take more of a beating, then at least it could gather more. Since the X-Wing is not stealthy (as far as we know) ground radar would be able to pick it up before the X-Wing could get the sensor data of the target area (assuming the target area is near enough to the ground radar system). When the Recon target is a base I imagine a Tie Swarm would be deployed the moment something fishy comes up on the radar.

All this really wants me to have some In-universe numbers for speeds and what not. lol A lot of this is just assuming what the X-Wing is like and we all know what happens when you assume to much lol

I mean, there's all kinds of stats in Legends, I don't think they've been retold in canon again.

Having seen some other images from this book though, the strike foils open up to give you greater accuracy and coverage with the lasers, and also increase the size of your deflector envelope, so deflections can happen hopefully farther away from your vital system components. In Legends they also did heat-dissipation for the lasers, so you could maintain a higher rate of fire.

An A-Wing, especially hot-rodded to lose shield generator and extra armor plating, will be faster and more maneuverable than even the TIE/IN, but this comes at the cost of frame durability, and thus pilot survivability. Adding in additional sensors would just hurt that bonus, and like you said, they lack the Astromech socket to provide additional technical support.

(Also A-Wings actually usually carry ECM units)

3 minutes ago, UnitOmega said:

I mean, there's all kinds of stats in Legends, I don't think they've been retold in canon again.

Having seen some other images from this book though, the strike foils open up to give you greater accuracy and coverage with the lasers, and also increase the size of your deflector envelope, so deflections can happen hopefully farther away from your vital system components. In Legends they also did heat-dissipation for the lasers, so you could maintain a higher rate of fire.

An A-Wing, especially hot-rodded to lose shield generator and extra armor plating, will be faster and more maneuverable than even the TIE/IN, but this comes at the cost of frame durability, and thus pilot survivability. Adding in additional sensors would just hurt that bonus, and like you said, they lack the Astromech socket to provide additional technical support.

(Also A-Wings actually usually carry ECM units)

Speed and maneuverability can keep a pilot alive but you are probably right. The frame of an A-Wing is probably just too compact for a sensor package which would slow it down and make it dead meat.

Final answer, HWK with a Recon package and a stealth device lol

Unfortunately, as seen in several canon comics, canonical HWKs are a bit bigger than the space van size we first see in Dark Forces. They actually have standing room now.

EDIT: Also in my personal experience, the best way to get intel on imperial bases without being noticed is a illegally modified E-9 Explorer with Nightshadow Coating and a WhisperThrust engine flown by a very cowboy Verpine.

4 minutes ago, UnitOmega said:

Unfortunately, as seen in several canon comics, canonical HWKs are a bit bigger than the space van size we first see in Dark Forces. They actually have standing room now.

Which comic has HWKs? I have been kind of choosy with catching up on the new canon just because I don't have space for all the new books and comics lol

Kanan. Issue 12 according to the wiki is where it appears.

Seems pretty roomy compared to the old cross-section.

1 hour ago, UnitOmega said:

Kanan. Issue 12 according to the wiki is where it appears.

Seems pretty roomy compared to the old cross-section.

Just so you know? The Cross Section wasn't ever canon or in any book. It is literally just fanart by a friend of mine, Millennium Falsehood. But it's that convincing, isn't it?

But she is reasonably roomy.

That’s pretty cool. I didn’t realize it was canon again!

3 hours ago, Mackaywarrior said:

You know what I want? I want a new canonical answer for why the wings pivot. In the old canon it increased the speed, making the X-Wing like the F-14 which was a great recon/interceptor that could also dogfight. Given that an Astromech would function like a RIO, the X-Wing would be great with some recon sensors.

As it stands now all we have is that it CAN pivot but for no stated reason. Is it for storage? Is it to increase the accuracy of the lasers? We don't know. Because of that, I would argue the X-Wing is not a great platform for recon. Now an A-Wing with it's speed or the B-Wing with its survivability? Now we are talking.

• We don't know, precisely.
  • it's long been canon that non-combat 'flight mode' is S-foils closed.
  • S-foils are deployed (immediately) prior to combat
  • This appears to have been standard practice, even for ships which didn't have engines or weapons on the 'foils - like the ARC-170 or Jedi interceptor.
  • This is usually explained as being somehow related to heat dispersal (essentially exposing panels which act as heat-sinks, like I always assumed the TIE fighter's panels did until I first got a cross-sections book),
• Which raises the question "why would you ever have them closed"?
  • We have now seen someone close their wings in a combat situation. Hera Syndulla closes her S-foils prior to pulling an inertial snap turn in an X-wing at Lothal, so presumably this made her more capable of doing so.
  • In the case of the move, increased engine power would make sense as the reason she'd do it, but I don't understand why covering up your heat sinks could help you go faster.
  • As an aside, she was clearly able to fire with S-foils closed. Whether that fire was less effective than it otherwise would have been can be handwaved away with "maybe it was but Hera is amazing protagonist pilot +1 and therefore she hit anyway"

47 minutes ago, Mackaywarrior said:

That’s pretty cool. I didn’t realize it was canon again!

Quite a few things have popped up in the comics over the last year or two. Khiraxz, Uglies (including the what the actual [censored] AT-STIE), you name it.

3 hours ago, Magnus Grendel said:

• We don't know, precisely.
  • it's long been canon that non-combat 'flight mode' is S-foils closed.
  • S-foils are deployed (immediately) prior to combat
  • This appears to have been standard practice, even for ships which didn't have engines or weapons on the 'foils - like the ARC-170 or Jedi interceptor.
  • This is usually explained as being somehow related to heat dispersal (essentially exposing panels which act as heat-sinks, like I always assumed the TIE fighter's panels did until I first got a cross-sections book),
• Which raises the question "why would you ever have them closed"?
  • We have now seen someone close their wings in a combat situation. Hera Syndulla closes her S-foils prior to pulling an inertial snap turn in an X-wing at Lothal, so presumably this made her more capable of doing so.
  • In the case of the move, increased engine power would make sense as the reason she'd do it, but I don't understand why covering up your heat sinks could help you go faster.
  • As an aside, she was clearly able to fire with S-foils closed. Whether that fire was less effective than it otherwise would have been can be handwaved away with "maybe it was but Hera is amazing protagonist pilot +1 and therefore she hit anyway"

Quite a few things have popped up in the comics over the last year or two. Khiraxz, Uglies (including the what the actual [censored] AT-STIE), you name it.

So.. theory

Closed S-foils: Increased engine power and "flight stability" (as if that was needed in space, but nvm, maybe it is needed in Star Wars space)
Open S-foils: Increased rate of fire or the ability to fire more sustained bursts of fire, maybe both

It is possible that Hera needed the extra engine power or flight stability to pull that shot, but one shot was enough so the drawbacks didn't matter that much.

Now, a way to add this to the game would something like this, so what Hera did is possible with X-wings, and puts them a bit on pair with the Defenders mechanics wise. (which is neat )

Quote

S-Foils
Title. X-wing only

Combat mode: When attacking with your primary weapons, you may turn one of your [focus] results to a [hit] result. You may flip this card at the beginning of the Activation phase.

Flight mode: Treat all your straight maneuvers as green, and treat your red maneuvers as white. When attacking, you must turn all of your [focus] results to blanks. You may flip this card at the beginning of the Activation phase.

0 pts

So, in combat mode, you get a free mod without doing anything, even after K-turns which is really nice. It adds a bang to X-wings, without adding extra attacks or extra red dice ( I don't really like those options). It is also not too good, so X-wings don't invalidate everything. BUT

The flight mode is really good for removing stress, especially with R2, X-wings will have all the green moves ever. It also turns K-turn into white, and it even allows you to shoot, but weakens the shot.

This card adds great flexibility to X-wings. They aren't at Defender levels, but they don'T cost as much either, but they gain surprising maneuverability, and we know White k-s are strong.