Sharpshooter 2 is basically ignore cover?

By Deuzerre, in Star Wars: Legion

According to the rules (page 40, Sharpshooter X (unit keyword) ), "when determining cover, add cover value (not exceeding Heavy cover), before substracting cover value" followed by an example.

Now this means that a unit (like the upcoming Leia Organa) with sharpshooter 2 basically ignore any and all cover while shooting, even if a unit has "cover X (unit keyword)"

Now combine this with the "Coordinated Bombardment" order she gets (range 4-infinite, 2 red dice against 3 different targets) and she basically is certain to deal some impressive damage right from the start of a battle, with an average of 1.5 crits (she has ranged critical surge) and 3.75 hits for 5.25 potential hits to save, with basically no cover in addition to her other actions.

Rather obnoxious dontchathink?

If you watch the original movies, Leia is the best shot amongst the heroes.

To be fair, the main guns on a Mon Cal. Cruiser should ignore cover. At least that's what I imagine she's calling in, I suppose it could also refer to artillery or a bombing run.

Veers will get something very similar with Maximum Firepower..

Well, maximum firepower is a single target annihilation more than anything else.

Luke and Vader can one shot squads, let the princess have some fun too.

Coordinated Bombardment doesn't really bother me. 2 damage really isn't that bad. Plus you still get to roll your defense dice. I think it will be more used to try and deny early actions with the 4 suppression than inflict critical damage.

Personally if I were playing a Luke and Leia list I would have a hard time giving up either Son of Skywalker or Assault for Bombardment.

I'm hoping it's just my prior experience with FFGs history of power creep influencing my paranoia here, but for only 10 points, Leia seems miles ahead of Veers.

I'm hoping I'm just missing something, but her ignore cover, her higher health, better rally, better orbital attack, far improved melee, vastly improved range damage (at a cost of range), she just seems so much better for just 10 points.

8 hours ago, NukeMaster said:

Coordinated Bombardment doesn't really bother me. 2 damage really isn't that bad. Plus you still get to roll your defense dice. I think it will be more used to try and deny early actions with the 4 suppression than inflict critical damage.

Personally if I were playing a Luke and Leia list I would have a hard time giving up either Son of Skywalker or Assault for Bombardment.

You can keep both. You are limited to 2 1 pip cards, so drop Ambush.

36 minutes ago, Gadgetron said:

I'm hoping it's just my prior experience with FFGs history of power creep influencing my paranoia here, but for only 10 points, Leia seems miles ahead of Veers.

I'm hoping I'm just missing something, but her ignore cover, her higher health, better rally, better orbital attack, far improved melee, vastly improved range damage (at a cost of range), she just seems so much better for just 10 points.

I think Leia and Veers serve different purposes. Veers is incredibly beneficial when it comes to improving vehicle efficiency, where as Leia is built to improve Troop efficiency. Given that the meta is very Troop focused right now, Leia may look better. However, I really think that both are valuable units.

11 minutes ago, Copes said:

I think Leia and Veers serve different purposes. Veers is incredibly beneficial when it comes to improving vehicle efficiency, where as Leia is built to improve Troop efficiency. Given that the meta is very Troop focused right now, Leia may look better. However, I really think that both are valuable units.

I think Veers works great with speeder bikes and HH-12s. One command to give dodges to the speeders and improve defense dice, and the other to allow HH-12s to Recover and give them a free Aim.

2 hours ago, Gadgetron said:

her ignore cover

So does Veers, he has Sharpshooter 1.

2 hours ago, Gadgetron said:

her higher health

With far worse defense die.

2 hours ago, Gadgetron said:

better rally

If you mean Inspire, than yeah, no arguing here.

2 hours ago, Gadgetron said:

better orbital attack

Debatable, i'd say different. Leia is more restricted in that she needs to get 3 targets in LOS instead of 1, and is kind of useless against vehicles. Veers with aim can put some serious dent into an enemy vehicle early on. And 4 dmg on an enemy ATRT, which is not impossible, outright cripples it.

2 hours ago, Gadgetron said:

far improved melee

What are you doing in melee with either of them?

2 hours ago, Gadgetron said:

vastly improved range damage (at a cost of range)

And this cost is significant, actually. Range 2 is that much closer of being sabered or Maser of Evil'ed. Or both.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Leia is bad - quite contrary, she's great! However, so is Veers. While they seem comparable, I believe they will play quite differently, as others above have stated :) Veers is much less mobile, and will feel most comfortably sitting back with two HH12 units, while other, more self-sufficient units go to the front lines. Leia is more mobile, and will likely be in more risk, closer to front lines.

2 hours ago, Gadgetron said:

I'm hoping it's just my prior experience with FFGs history of power creep influencing my paranoia here, but for only 10 points, Leia seems miles ahead of Veers.

I'm hoping I'm just missing something, but her ignore cover, her higher health, better rally, better orbital attack, far improved melee, vastly improved range damage (at a cost of range), she just seems so much better for just 10 points.

Let's try to break them down here (keeping comand card out of the discution):

Resistance (Veers > Leia):

- Leia => 6 health + white defence (with surge) = every 3 hit you make she'll lose 2 hp => you'll need an average of 9 hits to kill her

- Veers => 5 health + red defence = every 2 hit you make he'll louse 1 hp => you'll need an average of 10 hit to kill him

NB: Nimble mean Leia will have an increased resistance against focusing fire from separate units if she has time to dodge, the fact that her unique action give dodge token is to take into acount.

Offence(Leia > Veers):

- Leia => 3 black with surge = 1.875 average damage per shot (2.57 with aim) => the Sharpshooter 2 ensure that thouse will go into hit.

- Veers => 3 white with surge = 1.125 average (1.82 with aim) => Sharpshooter 1 get rid of light cover.

NB: there are 7 very important things to note here

1) Veer's will be marginaly more effective again armor due to precise allowing more rerol to fish for crits.

2) Veer's Sharpshooteer 1 and 1.25 average hit without reroll can look underwhelming but the fact that 2/3 of the hit you are gone make are gone be crits that ignore cover anyway and the ability to fish for crits with precise (and that a decision you can make based on you first roll) mean that veers is gone put hit on units under cover.

3) The lack of precise 1 on Leila is not that much of a drawback in the comparison (outside of point 1 that is marginal) because she got sharpshooter 2 and so dos not need to fish for crits to shoot in eavy cover and she'll rarely miss more than 2 hit.

4) Veers action got to have us think that aim token will be see more than often on him

5) They both got Pierce 1 meaning that the first hit is ensure to go trough the armor while the second may be canceled. This mean that Veers average 1.125 hit is a bit more closer that Leia average 1.875 hits in term of effeciency that what the number can suggest (depending on the oponnent defense dice)

6) Leia melee is just better that Veers but I tend to think this is marginal because they got so many action to do before thinking to go into melee.

7)Leia range is a real issue

Buff vector (Leia> Veers):

Inspire 2 on Leia is just beter that inpire 1 on Veers.

The comparison betwen spotter 2 and take cover 2 is not that easy and we may call it a draw.

There is however a point to be maid on Leia:

Inspire is more usefull if you activate after friendly units took an hit while take cover is something you want to be used early on (especialy with nimble) meaning that you'll be put in front of the dilema of activing her early in the round or a bit later (will you rather save your troops or ensure there all do 2 actions). Veers dilema is less of a thing.

Price (Veers>Leia):

Veers chiper that's it.

Conclusion:

They both look to have the same efficiency to me, Leia being a bit above veers but more expensive. They just does't have the same flavor and playstyle.

Edited by CCassier

She ignores cover with sharpshooter 2,while sharpshooter 1 doesn't. Sharpshooter 1 is nice, but way worse than completely ignoring cover. On the other hand, his 4 to ∞ range command has impact 2 which is sweet.

The orbital attack is better on turn 1 than Veers, because it can suppress several units right off the bat, which can be huge on some settings based on objectives that you can grab before the opponent that's stuck on a single action.

That being said, I don't beleive that she is fundamentally stronger than Veers. Her range disadvantage is troublesome, she will have less opportunity in using the upcoming Esteemed leader upgrade because her armour is worse (5+ is pretty trash) and that's where veers will shine I think.
Better melee isn't fundamentally better for such a character. However, Inspire 2 is kinda bollocks honestly compared to Inspire 1. It is the biggest difference IMO between the two of them

34 minutes ago, Deuzerre said:

she will have less opportunity in using the upcoming Esteemed leader upgrade because her armour is worse (5+ is pretty trash)

I don't see in what her save is related to friendly trooper catching the bullet for her.

Quote

She ignores cover with sharpshooter 2,while sharpshooter 1 doesn't. Sharpshooter 1 is nice, but way worse than completely ignoring cover.

The fact that 2/3 of Veers hit are gone be crits somehow mitigate the issue.

Quote

The orbital attack is better on turn 1 than Veers, because it can suppress several units right off the bat, which can be huge on some settings based on objectives that you can grab before the opponent that's stuck on a single action.

Sure this is nice to put 3 supression on the opponent but there are good chance that 1 is gone to be removed before the activation (not counting on the potential presence of veers or another leia). So yes it's very nice but that may be mitigated. Also using a speed 1 card with only one unit activation that has to be Leia is not the best 1st turn command. I found the standing order or assault way more useful as there let's you delay the important activation(s) while there is not much in fire range. Veers one's got the same problem. But is way more usefull at killing big stuff so overall there both situational on who is best.

Edited by CCassier

Argh, I read it totally backwards actually, misread the second line of Esteemed leader.

Leia seems a lot better for her additional cost but she also pays for things that don't necessarily assist the backfield commander playstyle these models go for. Veers maybe be the more economical choice between the two.

6 hours ago, CCassier said:

Also using a speed 1 card with only one unit activation that has to be Leia is not the best 1st turn command.

Depends on the set up, but I really like this turn one (if we're close enough to be shooting turn one) or turn two. Leia going first is great, because she can move somewhere safe, then pop dodge on two Trooper squads. They can then double-move to cover, and you've got a nice first turn land-grab.

Also depends on your list, of course: I don't have a T-47 in my list, so with 4 squads / 3 range-4 ATRTs and Luke (who is being cautious turn one anyway), I've got a hard-to-mess-up order of activations anyway.

Followed by My Ally is the Force on the following turn, on those same two units, you've got a good solid push that can realistically survive quite a lot of attention. Other squads are more cautious.