Hi all,

So the other week I was toying with the idea of 4 tie interceptors and a tie striker. Wow I thought, thats a lot of firepower 3 on the board . Sure a fragile one but I was interested to see how well it could do. I never did get it out but I don't think I ever will now as 5 x-wings will decimate it.

So, the humble Tie Interceptor, I can't remember the last time I saw one that wasn't Jax or Soontier and even those two are very rare. I blame the bomb and turret meta of course but looking at that they bring to the table, they really do seem to be lacking now.

Tie interceptor as the next fix?

You can blame the bomb/turret/high ps meta for soontir

But everyone else (apart from maybe Jax) just always, ALWAYS sucked horribly

Horribly overpriced for their statline, too expensive for how they popped like soap bubbles

Really, Strikers are interceptors done "right" apart from the fact that theres no ps 9 with thrusters

I ran 5 Interceptors once. It melted everything before it.

1 hour ago, Celestial Lizards said:

I ran 5 Interceptors once. It melted everything before it.

Now you can have 5 xwings for double the health. Because balance.

We should get the interceptor fixed. It's the only way.

12 minutes ago, Commander Kaine said:

Now you can have 5 xwings for double the health. Because balance.

We should get the interceptor fixed. It's the only way.

Then they'll have to fix the Xwing again...

I mean, the interceptor's already fixed...it's called the Striker

difficult to imagine another blend of "fragile but maneuverable" appearing in this game. Imo the striker gets it perfectly because its maneuverability doesn't affect its mods (since it's "free" with adaptives) and because Adaptives allow for some very unique maneuvering

I guess we could give Interceptors the same thing I'd give TIE fighters (free outmanuever, free xizor ability but you can only pass damage to other fighters/interceptors) but oh boy that'd just be handing Soontir a meal-ticket and a bib

note: the "xizor ability" isn't because TIEs are like xizor using human shields, but because you have no idea which one you're really shooting at

we'd call the title "There's too many!"

Is this enough or too much? If too much, would a price of 1-2 points fix it?

Ending your turn with stress shuts it down the next turn, but bumping or going over rocks only takes away the normal action. You can PTL off the free action and do a green to clear the stress before it hurts you, but you only get 1 reposition before maneuver and 1 after.

Alpha squadrons and Saber squadrons swarm. Royal Guards get Autos+hull upgrade or autos+stealth device.

Kir Kanos gets a token stack. Lorir, unfortumately, still self-stresses at the worst time. Soontier chooses between PS11 or using his ability with PTL, but even PS11 soont has 2 focus on a Kturn and 1 action the following turn. Tur Phener has been replaced by a tech slot, but Carnor may still have a place. And Tetran Cowell can use his ability without instatly exploding.

2 hours ago, ficklegreendice said:

I mean, the interceptor's already fixed...it's called the Striker

difficult to imagine another blend of "fragile but maneuverable" appearing in this game. Imo the striker gets it perfectly because its maneuverability doesn't affect its mods (since it's "free" with adaptives) and because Adaptives allow for some very unique maneuvering

Really, the problem is that they actually aren't that maneuverable. It's **** trying to "get behind a target" with them - and that was just with regular 80-degree arcs and an enemy that was paying attention. With the 180-degree arcs, even AT isn't going to be helping much anymore.

To emphasize maneuverability, you'd need some kind of ability like Valen Rudor's, combined with an attacker penalty.

Something like: "The first time you are attacked in a turn, the enemy may not modify their attack dice. After defending against this attack, you may perform a free boost action."

(Which shouldn't help Soontir too much, as he's usually stressed by the time he's being attacked, so cannot take free actions - and as often as not, has already used a boost action in the activation phase, anyway.)

Too much with Fel, imo

Maybe try "if you're not stressed" so we don't go ptling all over the place

Still nifty with intensity

Also nice and simple, which I really appreciate in a fix

12 minutes ago, Rakaydos said:

Is this enough or too much? If too much, would a price of 1-2 points fix it?

Ending your turn with stress shuts it down the next turn, but bumping or going over rocks only takes away the normal action. You can PTL off the free action and do a green to clear the stress before it hurts you, but you only get 1 reposition before maneuver and 1 after.

Alpha squadrons and Saber squadrons swarm. Royal Guards get Autos+hull upgrade or autos+stealth device.

Kir Kanos gets a token stack. Lorir, unfortumately, still self-stresses at the worst time. Soontier chooses between PS11 or using his ability with PTL, but even PS11 soont has 2 focus on a Kturn and 1 action the following turn. Tur Phener has been replaced by a tech slot, but Carnor may still have a place. And Tetran Cowell can use his ability without instatly exploding.

Hrm. My only real issue is PTL. Use the free focus action to Push the Limit here (probably an Evade, but you could be extra spicy and Boost or BR for a sick block), and execute a green move later. You'll still have your normal action, too.

If it was rephrased "if you are not stressed, assign 1 focus token to your ship" that might work better. I'd much rather have Interceptors be able to double-focus, rather than gain wonky start-of-activation actions.

I like the basic premise, though. Interceptors become token-stack ships, while Strikers are fast.

Tie Interceptor have no shields and 3 hull, how will you make something like that better? Unless it gains a tittle or modification that lets it equip missiles... still, better to look on different ships to fix, like the Tie Punisher. Or maybe ask for something new like the Assault Gunboats instead of new ship with 2 seats for the Palpatine to sit.

24 minutes ago, Rakaydos said:

Is this enough or too much? If too much, would a price of 1-2 points fix it?

Ending your turn with stress shuts it down the next turn, but bumping or going over rocks only takes away the normal action. You can PTL off the free action and do a green to clear the stress before it hurts you, but you only get 1 reposition before maneuver and 1 after.

Alpha squadrons and Saber squadrons swarm. Royal Guards get Autos+hull upgrade or autos+stealth device.

Kir Kanos gets a token stack. Lorir, unfortumately, still self-stresses at the worst time. Soontier chooses between PS11 or using his ability with PTL, but even PS11 soont has 2 focus on a Kturn and 1 action the following turn. Tur Phener has been replaced by a tech slot, but Carnor may still have a place. And Tetran Cowell can use his ability without instatly exploding.

This should be for Tie Fighters, Interceptors, and Bombers. Would give all three ships some good buffs without making them overpowered.

53 minutes ago, theBitterFig said:

Hrm. My only real issue is PTL. Use the free focus action to Push the Limit here (probably an Evade, but you could be extra spicy and Boost or BR for a sick block), and execute a green move later. You'll still have your normal action, too.

If it was rephrased "if you are not stressed, assign 1 focus token to your ship" that might work better. I'd much rather have Interceptors be able to double-focus, rather than gain wonky start-of-activation actions.

I like the basic premise, though. Interceptors become token-stack ships, while Strikers are fast.

I like the PTL options because it's a glimmer of what the wave-of-the-future Silencer can do.

However, I would definitely want to remove the "you can equip another title" bit in exchange. Make some choices! You can be in the Royal Guard *or* you can be in the something Garrison

4 minutes ago, Rakaydos said:

Leaving the PTL cheeze in place but increasing the cost to 2- Alpha takes it in place of Autothrusters, Saber has 2 points for mod/EPT, and the elites get elite cheese. Also opening it to Fighters and bombers. (or other ties, if they think 2 points is worth something when their shields are down)

The price increase means that you dont have "9 point tie fighters with PTL, but better" but still get some value out of it.

Does this need to be Imperial only? Otherwise, you would let Ahsoka do her pilot ability every turn with no hang ups.

4 minutes ago, nitrobenz said:

I like the PTL options because it's a glimmer of what the wave-of-the-future Silencer call do.

However, I would definitely want to remove the "you can equip another title" bit in exchange. Make some choices! You can be in the Royal Guard *or* you can be in the Vanguard Garrison

Psh, have you SEEN Sfoils? Choices arnt a thing anymore, it's everything for everyone now.

1 hour ago, Rakaydos said:

Psh, have you SEEN Sfoils? Choices arnt a thing anymore, it's everything for everyone now.

Not in list building anyways

Maybe we're thinking too small! It should be a dual sided title that you can flip at some point to get different effects.

How about a TIE Interceptor only "Power Shunt" modification? Weapons on one side (+1atk with some downside like 'cannot spend tokens on defense' or 'remove the [boost]and/or[roll] icons') and engines on the other (+1agi and/or may treat revealed banks as red talon rolls and a different downside like 'must perform a bank 1 maneuver after executing your maneuver' or 'treat all turn maneuvers as red')

Just throwing out spitballs. Super nonsense to compete with reality. Maybe it should be the first tri-sided card with a Shield side as well for Regen!

3 hours ago, ficklegreendice said:

Too much with Fel, imo

Maybe try "if you're not stressed" so we don't go ptling all over the place

Still nifty with intensity

Also nice and simple, which I really appreciate in a fix

Not sure which that comment is in reply to - either mine or the other suggestion wouldn't work if stressed, given the "free action" requirement (you cannot take free actions when stressed). And since Fel is basically always stressed...

(And, honestly, Fel needs help himself)

Anyway, as a card with appropriate details to slot it into the ship...

Soontir's reputation killed much more people and won much more matches than its lasers.

10 hours ago, Celestial Lizards said:

I ran 5 Interceptors once. It melted everything before it.

Yea it’s legit. But bombs

Always thought Interceptors should have 4 or 5 Hull. Between TIE/F and TIE/B.

8 hours ago, ficklegreendice said:

Too much with Fel, imo

So, what you're saying is Fel needs a Biggsie Nerf, then we can make the rest of the chassis worth something?

2 hours ago, Darth Meanie said:

So, what you're saying is Fel needs a Biggsie Nerf, then we can make the rest of the chassis worth something?

Honestly, he really doesn't. Citation: all the top lists, no Fel. He's not competitively viable at the moment.

So a TIE Interceptor buff that helps most Interceptor pilots a lot , and Fel a little , is probably a good place to start. I think the card I proposed does both - both Fel and the generic Interceptors are effectively getting autothrusters for free with it (for what good they do anymore, but the Interceptor chassis is junk without them, so...) and the lack of enemy modifiers on the first attack helps both pilots with their glass-balloon-fragility. Pilots who aren't already stressed...say from running PtL...and who haven't already boosted that turn, then get a second advantage from a maneuver change after that attack.

I think it splits the difference nicely. It gives Interceptors a lot more movement , helps non-PtL Interceptors more than PtL Interceptors, but generally just makes Interceptors more like the flankers they are SUPPOSED to be .

I would love a system where ships we're divided into types (Fighter, Interceptor and Ordnance) and each ship got some kind of upgrade that was unique to them. Such as Interceptors getting the Outmaneuver upgrade card as a rule for their type of ship, Ordnance getting Guidance Chips for free without taking up the mod slot, Fighters get some kind of bonus for shooting at something in arc, etc.

Anyways, Interceptors would LOVE to have Outmaneuver without taking the coveted EPT slot, to be honest I think that would cause a resurgence, maybe make it a title like the Royal Guard card, but make it PS 4 or higher to simulate the pilot's skill?

Plus, a bonus to health would be nice. With all the auto damage around 3 health doesn't cut it anymore unless you have some ridiculous gimmick.

14 hours ago, Commander Kaine said:

Now you can have 5 xwings for double the health. Because balance.

We should get the interceptor fixed. It's the only way.

Pretty much this.. I thought I was so smart with my nice thematic and simple list but no.. I very quickly realised that why bother with 5 interceptors when you can have 5 x-wings, which are now very much the superior ship.

As I see it the original point of the Interceptor was a nippy little bugger that could zip around and out manoeuvre the enemy. Not getting shot was part of the point. Then if you did get shot you had as many, if not more, green dice than your opponent had red dice. The enemy had to block you / focus fire in order to take you down.

That game doesn't exist any more. Bombs, many turrets, better manoeuvrability of enemies, and more red dice have taken that game away.

So if we want the original point of Interceptors to be viable again then they need

1. A way to defend against bombs
2. A better way than the existing (autothrusters) to defend against multiple turrets
3. Better manoeuvrability or a way to reduce enemy manoeuvrability
4. More green dice or a way to reduce enemy red dice

That's a lot of stuff. No idea where to start.

I don't think that giving them more hull / shields is the way to go. They lose their identity. Maybe an extra point hull at most.