I was thinking about the U-wing and how the upcoming possible fixes will possibly help it, possibly, when I put together a little build:

BS Pathfinder (24)

FCS, Rex, Gunner, title, total 32 points.

this is basically analogous to the old Lambda Buzzsaw build of so long ago, a somewhat viable build alongside Doomshuttle, before the Palpshuttle. Lambda Buzzsaw was 28 points with gunner and FCS, so a good but cheaper but the U-wing gets a focus on the second shot as well as 2 agility and actually working hard turns. So overall an improvement and maybe worth the extra points if this ship was released back in wave 3 instead of the HWK. The only other thing the Lambda build has was an open crew slot for Tactician, weapons engineer or Rebel captive for a few points more, but we all know points being piled into a Lambda is a money pit. HLC instead of Gunner was also an option and was actually scary in the days before red dice creep.

so, with the U-Wing we have a 32 point ship that can dish out some nice damage if it gets someone in arc. That might be a big if at PS 2. So of course this thing isn’t viable in the modern era. Right? That’s a third of your list that’s arc locked with a weak option for a zero k turn. Mauler Fenn ghosts, Wookiee’s and Miranda lists make this thing seem quaint, like it’s from another time, playing catch-up to a ship from 10 waves ago.

Are there other more viable builds for the U-wing? Of course, but they aren’t flown either, being considered janky and relying on a lot of support.

So, what’s my point? I guess it’s to point out that a fully moded arced 3 die primary on a below average dial (T-65 is being taken as average) just wont cut it in the 75 min 100/6 scene. Which is no surprise. But in a format outside of that restrictive play style the U-wing can be a monster, or heavy support, or a mine layer with the right crew. This ship is beautiful and fun, like the Lambda before, but imaginative builds and scenarios aren’t what drives this game or it’s rules. What drives the game is outrageous combos and npe apparently. So our swing-wing flappy crew carriers have no real role in the meta, but I will gladly include them in any scenarios that could benifit from iconic ships with iconic crew.

I’d say drop Rex for Hera, allowing the U-Wing to its whip around or stop as much as it likes. With FCS, it’ll still get mods.

BSPF with Hera & FCS is cool. She can just sit in one spot forever shooting away.

And the U wing gets a fix before the lambda.

That's how liberty flies, actually.

The Lambda is a tool of the oppressors.

Your poisonous words have no power here, traitorous scum!

Now I'm not saying what Palpatine did was right, but at the end of the day, a totalitarian form of government just works!

Drop Rex, add Op Spec

Same concept, but allows the U-Wing to support squadmates as well.

2 minutes ago, RufusDaMan said:

Your poisonous words have no power here, traitorous scum!

Now I'm not saying what Palpatine did was right, but at the end of the day, a totalitarian form of government just works!

Exactly! How else can you explain Putin!

27 minutes ago, RufusDaMan said:

And the U wing gets a fix before the lambda.

I dunno, the unrevealed pilots and upgrades in Saw's expansion better be pretty good if they are going to bring the U-Wing to the table (and I love the U-Wing, but every time I fly it it just isn't good).

I mean, even with a fix, the U ain't got **** on the Auzzie

Your only hope is Obi Wan Kenobi... or ,failing that, some badass pilots

As I've said before, only U I can see being even the least bit cool is cass + jyn heff supporting via blocks + focus

Problem is the U just...******* sucks. I've actually really enjoyed support blockers (Manaro being the best out there and, despite ALL THE NERFS, is a blast to play) and compared to even the thrice neutered jump...yeah the U just doesn't offer a goddamn thing

When your competition is low/Rau, you better be just as crazy

1 minute ago, gadwag said:

I dunno, the unrevealed pilots and upgrades in Saw's expansion better be pretty good if they are going to bring the U-Wing to the table (and I love the U-Wing, but every time I fly it it just isn't good).

How bout the ability to equip more mods? Sounds pretty nice to me.

I'm 99.99% sure renegade refit fits the U-wing. Look at the text restrictions.

3 minutes ago, gadwag said:

I dunno, the unrevealed pilots and upgrades in Saw's expansion better be pretty good if they are going to bring the U-Wing to the table (and I love the U-Wing, but every time I fly it it just isn't good).

Also. It's a better Lambda. In almost every way. That ship is fine. The problem is you have too many ships that outperform it. (Which is a first world problem, if there ever was one)

2 hours ago, SabineKey said:

I’d say drop Rex for Hera, allowing the U-Wing to its whip around or stop as much as it likes. With FCS, it’ll still get mods.

then put Luke instead of Gunner, if you have points.

34 minutes ago, RufusDaMan said:

And the U wing gets a fix before the lambda.

Palp was the shuttle fix. At least in terms of getting it on the table.

1 minute ago, MegaSilver said:

then put Luke instead of Gunner, if you have points.

That could work.

i’m actually wondering if it would be worthwhile to replace Gunner with Ezra, and just keep the U-Wing stressed?

I was looking into using Saw for a U-Wing doom shuttle, seems pretty decent.

Buzzsaw is odd these days. It's great against Defenders; I had HLC/FCS IG-88s against one the other week, and ripping through a Defender was the one high point of that day's X-Wing (the real high point were the great tacos I got afterwards in a great dive Taqueria, but that's not X-Wing). But mostly, there aren't ships which (1) buzzsaw is good against--too many low-agility ships out there (2) which you can get in arc as a U-Wing at PS 2.

//

I think if Empire could fly a U-Wing, I'd probably put Palp on one for the 2-point cost increase. The higher agility and better dial probably make up for the 2 HP lost.

However, if I had any Rebel ship, it'd 100% be Palp on an Auzituck. Reinforce + 180 degree arc > all.

I read a comment on here that really stuck with me: the U-Wing's biggest problem is 3 attack dice. If it had only 2, it'd have been cheap enough to fill a unique a clear role as an inexpensive crew carrier and systems ship. But then it'd probably be too good with Accuracy Corrector (is that a card limiting design space?). But between Auzituck with 2 crew, B-Wing, and Ghost (now Sheathipede) there's really no room for it. It doesn't do anything better than any other ship. As such, I hope the fix, whatever it does, will do something wild. A U-Wing isn't really a ship which can be fixed by cheapness. An X-Wing could have, I think. I'm probably alone in *not* being excited for S-Foils, since I'd be fine with an X-Wing being a no-frills efficiency jouster, so long as the price-point was right. If it got a boost, it'd just be the same as a T-70 (been there, done that)... However, the only hope for a U-Wing, as I see it, is to do something odd. Being cheaper such isn't really going to be that impressive. Thing is, I have no idea what that sort of wild thing could be. Anything in the game can, by definition, already be done, and the U-Wing will just be worse at doing stuff already in the game than other ships.

And I say this as someone who enjoys flying Super-Cassian (Expert Handling/AdvS/IRecruit/Kyle).

It's not late, but it's ****ing daylight savings. Ramble done.

Imagine if the U-Wing had a Mobile Arc that only worked on each side (no rear arc) and the Landing (name should be changed) side of the title allowed you to switch the Mobile Arc passively (like Gyroscopic Targeting). The dial would probably need a k-turn, but not really. Thematically and functionally that fixes the U-Wing. Oh and add K2SO to the game...

9 minutes ago, DubWing said:

Thematically

No the door guns shouldn't even scratch snubfighters.

43 minutes ago, UnitOmega said:

No the door guns shouldn't even scratch snubfighters.

Bistan's Ion Repeater worked just fine on an AT-AT.

Opening a door in space is the real issue. Or successfully hitting a ship doing +950km/h...

FCS?????

15 minutes ago, BVRCH said:

Bistan's Ion Repeater worked just fine on an AT-AT.

Opening a door in space is the real issue. Or successfully hitting a ship doing +950km/h...

AT-ACT, and that's because they need repulsor tech in the legs to stay standing.

Also FFG has printed what the door guns are like in Dawn of Rebellion for the RPG line, they use very standard personal scale stats, it would take a very skilled Player Character to be able to even harm TIE fighters with those stats. Equip APL or Ion Projector and you'll get the basic effect.

25 minutes ago, UnitOmega said:

AT-ACT, and that's because they need repulsor tech in the legs to stay standing.

Pedantry, and not pertinent. AT-ACTs also had shielding just like that of a Starfighter.

25 minutes ago, UnitOmega said:

Also FFG has printed what the door guns are like in Dawn of Rebellion for the RPG line, they use very standard personal scale stats, it would take a very skilled Player Character to be able to even harm TIE fighters with those stats. Equip APL or Ion Projector and you'll get the basic effect.

That is a completely different game first of all, that operates with very different mechanics. Its not a tangible comparison. The power of the weapon is also not the issue. Trying to fire a mounted rifle, in a moving ship, most likely from a perpendicular position to a target moving at that velocity would be incredibly difficult whether it be in zero gravity or simulated gravity. The rifle could be ten times as powerful as a starfighter's cannon, but it still doesn't do any damage if it can't hit its target. A door gunner is not suitable for space combat and that was the point I was making.

1 hour ago, UnitOmega said:

No the door guns shouldn't even scratch snubfighters.

Side Mounted Scratch Guns (mod, U-wing only)

3 att, range one

Attack: attack one ship outside your firing arc. This attack may not target ships within your firing arc.

if this attack hits cancel all dice and target suffers one damage.

2 pts

I'd love to see title that lets the ship treat any enemy ships overlapping its base as 'inside its firing arc'.

The title would simulate door gunners without explicitly having them, whilst maintaining the blocker archtype. It could then get better use out of cards like Zeb and Jyn, providing both support and legitimate area denial.