Sheathipede - Docked or Undocked?

By j_man_04, in X-Wing

I’ve seen a few thought pieces about the new Shuttle, and I’m just curious about what the majority thinks regarding docking the new Shuttle on the Ghost.

Do you think it adds value over the original Phantom/Ghost Title? Or, will the Sheathipede work better Undocked and on the battlefield?

I’ve always ran a Ghost/Norra list, and I’m hoping I can find other uses for Norra outside of Push the Limit since I can focus/TL using the free coordinate.

Most likely undocked without the VCX, for 1 the VCX is in a separate expansion and for two the Ghost/Phantom 1 title is just better so if you bring a Ghost odds are you are going to go with Phantom 2.

The only time I think you would dock it is if you have a list that heavily depends on Coordinate but considering that you have two ships and VCX is rather expensive I don't know how that 3rd ship abusing coordinate will fit. Maybe in Epic when you have more points and already have a huge ship and want more coordinate actions. VCX could protect the shuttle for a bit until it has to launch.

Undocked. Ezra and Fenn will get a lot of use.

Phantom I is far better on the Ghost than the II; I think the Sheathipede will shine as a stand-alone ship.

I think the Ghost/Phantom 2 docked might work if you approach the list-building very differently from the Phantom 1. For one thing, the cheapness of the Phantom 2 (15 points for AP-5!) and saving points from not having TLT (because this VCX doesn't revolve around the turret) gets the Ghost/Phantom2 combo cheap enough that you can afford a proper ace to benefit from the free coordinate actions, instead of the Biggs or skinny Lowhhrick compromise wingmen of the old Ghost. For another, the Phantom 2 is a good enough support ship in it's own right that in some match-ups or game states it could be worth undocking voluntarily to fly alongside the Ghost.

Why "Sheathipede"?

Docked of course ;) !!!

I just love the idea of being able to undock an additional ship to the battlefield, plus for 3 points cheaper then the cheapest Phantom I, more economical to being able to use the special firing arc to fire out of.

Not to mention, without an Elite Talent slot, the Ghost - indirectly - gets to do a free coordinate action for another ship. Finally, I love the idea of the Ghost blowing up and the Phantom II hightailing it away from the explosion (even if it costs 1 damage point) like the Hound's Tooth :D !

(However - I am speaking from a "fly casual" players perspective and not a tournament player :huh: .)

44 minutes ago, That One Guy said:

Why "Sheathipede"?

I’m not sure what you mean.

Docking the Phantom2 just removes a ship from your list for a 15 point (at least) free action

I think people are severely overvaluing a free action when you can get them through upgrades for 2/3/4 points

the Phantom2 itself is already basically a quadjumper, utterly horrible offense for its price. Saving it for the lategame is pointless and only fails to utilize abilities such as the PS 1's or Rau's, or any of the astro's and crew they can carry

Phantom 1 gives you basically a TLT y-wing at whatever PS your VCX is that benefits from any upgrades the VCX is taking. It then also farts out a 3-dice ship. The value it generates is worlds apart from the new title

Edited by ficklegreendice

You guys are taking it too seriously. It is just little plastic ships. Fly it docked if you want, fly it undocked if you want. Whatever is most fun! :D

2 hours ago, ficklegreendice said:

Docking the Phantom2 just removes a ship from your list for a 15 point (at least) free action

I think people are severely overvaluing a free action when you can get them through upgrades for 2/3/4 points

the Phantom2 itself is already basically a quadjumper, utterly horrible offense for its price. Saving it for the lategame is pointless and only fails to utilize abilities such as the PS 1's or Rau's, or any of the astro's and crew they can carry

Phantom 1 gives you basically a TLT y-wing at whatever PS your VCX is that benefits from any upgrades the VCX is taking. It then also farts out a 3-dice ship. The value it generates is worlds apart from the new title

It also gives a cheaper option for Ghost pilots who want to shoot primary weapons out of their rear arc without packing turrets. The cheapest Phantom-I turret combo is still 5 points more than AP-5.

But there's one other thing that makes this title bad: stress. Most of the original Ghost crew were basically built around the idea of "You'll get stressed, but it's not a big deal." Since the Phantom II title only lets you take a free action to Coordinate, it has no synergies with the crew versions of Hera or Ezra. Kanan and Chopper only have mild use with it (Kanan for clearing stress faster, Chopper for letting you burn health to use your free Coordinates). Even the pilot version of Hera doesn't like it, since it hinders her ability to use those red maneuvers.

Edited by PhantomFO
2 hours ago, jwilliamson12 said:

I’m not sure what you mean.

What made people decided to refer to this ship as "sheathipede"?

Just now, That One Guy said:

What made people decided to refer to this ship as "sheathipede"?

That's the name of the ship class.

6 minutes ago, PhantomFO said:

That's the name of the ship class.

S-seriously?

That's really..... really stupid.

Edited by That One Guy
1 minute ago, That One Guy said:

S-seriously?

That's really..... really stupid.

yup

but not stupid enough for FFG to rename, apparently

220?cb=20171111011503

Edited by ficklegreendice
8 minutes ago, ficklegreendice said:

yup

but not stupid enough for FFG to rename, apparently

220?cb=20171111011503

Interesting, they reused a pilot but gave them a different ability.

6 minutes ago, That One Guy said:

Interesting, they reused a pilot but gave them a different ability.

Not without precedent. They did the same for the Scum version of Sabine, and the Resistance versions of Han and Chewbacca.

I was originally planning on flying it separate, but some of the ideas in here made me wonder if I shouldn't try it docked.

Absolutely plan to use it both ways. Really like the idea of tossing it onto a ghost with Leebo and Experimental interface. And then bringing wingman Ahsoka. Start of combat round reposistion them both and out ace the aces.

....Don’t you mean sheathed or unsheathed?

2 hours ago, That One Guy said:

Interesting, they reused a pilot but gave them a different ability.

Which has happened with every cross-faction pilot thus far.

2 hours ago, PhantomFO said:

Not without precedent. They did the same for the Scum version of Sabine, and the Resistance versions of Han and Chewbacca.

Why does everyone forget Boba and Kath?

6 hours ago, ficklegreendice said:

Docking the Phantom2 just removes a ship from your list for a 15 point (at least) free action

I think people are severely overvaluing a free action when you can get them through upgrades for 2/3/4 points

the Phantom2 itself is already basically a quadjumper, utterly horrible offense for its price. Saving it for the lategame is pointless and only fails to utilize abilities such as the PS 1's or Rau's, or any of the astro's and crew they can carry

Phantom 1 gives you basically a TLT y-wing at whatever PS your VCX is that benefits from any upgrades the VCX is taking. It then also farts out a 3-dice ship. The value it generates is worlds apart from the new title

There's more to it than just a free action. Those 2-4 point upgrades you mentioned usually have some associated cost to them, either direct (stress from PtL) or indirect (using up a valuable upgrade slot you'd much rather have for something else) or something else.

The free action from the new Ghost can give action economy to a ship that just couldn't get it otherwise, or it can stack with any action economy it already had.

One more thing that's easy to overlook is that this free action is at the end of the activation phase. That is a big deal. It's an action at pilot skill infinity, with all that implies. Target locks for ordnance strikes from ships too low PS to reliably lock on their own, arc-dodging shenanigans, action-bombs from low PS bombers that can be placed either on their own early activations or the free-action last activation... there are lots of possibilities here.

Edited by Dasharr
1 hour ago, Pewpewpew BOOM said:

....Don’t you mean sheathed or unsheathed?

Is that a sheathipede in your pocket or are you just happy to play X-wing?

(no, it’s a GUNBOAT with a biiiiig cannon)