https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2018/10/9/specialize-your-army/

I dig that the Comms specialist is only 9 points but you HAVE to equip a comms upgrade to the unit.

Comms Specialist + HQ Uplink + weapon that needs to Reload at least makes the action more efficient. Just crazy expensive.

I don't get why it's only 9 points when a standard model would be 10. I guess a discount on having to take the comms upgrade. But I would think it would be a 11 point model at a minimum.

On many units that translates into a slightly discounted comms upgrade, which is interesting. It does prevent abuse by taking the comms specialist instead of the normal "extra ____" card to save a few points. I would like to see even more Imperial units in the garb of the Imperial Navy.

Bastards, making me write code. Tabletop Admiral should be updated soon.

Alright, so solid discount on +1 Infantry, but requires you to take at least 10 more points (at the moment). It's not unique, so if you wanted to buy a lot of Specialist boxes you could have some fun, I'm just not sure it's worth it. CQB units with Jammer might be fun, prevent the enemy from making sure they can't activate a unit to get out of the way of Fleets or Snows, but that's an extra 5 points on your most expensive Corps. Until we know what the new Comms upgrade in box is, I think the default use is LRC to make a Corps unit able to flank and do some objective shenanigans, but it's very risky leaving the commander's morale bubble. Too bad you can't also take the generic officer for more Morale. FFG has balanced these new minis very well it seems.

As has been mentioned in another thread, very likely the new Comms upgrade will be a relay (as the article talks about them being able to relay orders to other units). How exactly this plays out we will have to see, but could be the comms tech has to be within 3 of the commander and can then relay an order out to another unit within some range of themselves (maybe out to 3, but maybe a bit shorter). This will be a way to extend a commanders command range for issuing orders, which could be very helpful, particularly with leaders that tend to lead from the back lines more (like Leia and Veers).

If it say allows the comm tech to relay the order out to range 3 of themselves, then it is giving a commander effectively range 6 for issuing orders. This is like giving long range comlink to all units in your army, as the comm tech can relay the order to any of them, even ones that don't normally have a comms upgrade slot.

I suspect there will be some limitations on this, like maybe they can only relay 1 order a turn.

Okay I think Tabletop Admiral should be working properly with the new upgrade. The only thing (that I know of) that DOESN'T work, is removing the Comms option when you remove that comms technician. I'll have to tackle that tomorrow.

Feel free to test and let me know what I broke in the process.

Edit: got so wrapped up in the code part that I forgot to add the image. Will do that soon

Intresting! I do think we will get some kind of relay upgrade..

So is this really a discount at 9 points? RAW this mini doesnt have a weapon right?

8 minutes ago, Lukez said:

So is this really a discount at 9 points? RAW this mini doesnt have a weapon right?

Just like the officer they come with whatever weapon the unit has.

13 minutes ago, Lukez said:

So is this really a discount at 9 points? RAW this mini doesnt have a weapon right?

"Personnel and heavy weapon upgrades can add trooper
minis to a unit. While attacking, these minis can use the
weapons of the unit card they are equipped to."

Page 53.

Also, not a discount - card requires you to spend a further 10 points minimum on a comms upgrade. Its not a discount trooper, it's a discount comms upgrade. ?

20 minutes ago, Jedirev said:

"Personnel and heavy weapon upgrades can add trooper
minis to a unit. While attacking, these minis can use the
weapons of the unit card they are equipped to."

Page 53.

Also, not a discount - card requires you to spend a further 10 points minimum on a comms upgrade. Its not a discount trooper, it's a discount comms upgrade. ?

Also note under upgrades

"• Some upgrade cards feature the heavy weapon (?) or personnel (?) icons; these are trooper upgrades.

» Trooper upgrades add specific trooper minis to a unit, represented by unique sculpts to easily identify them. These minis always share the defense value, wound threshold, and weapons of the unit card they are equipped to, but may have an additional weapon of their own."

3 minutes ago, TallGiraffe said:

These minis always share the defense value, wound threshold, and weapons of the unit card they are equipped to, but may have an additional weapon of their own."

Indeed. The point there, though, is that additional weapons have their own stats on the card.

So the effect of adding an officer or other specialist to a squad will be +1 to number of basic unit card weapon attacks, and +1 to wounds, in addition to the card text.

It will be interesting to see if the astromech and medical droids have specific text saying the DO NOT add a unit card weapon attack.

59 minutes ago, Jedirev said:

Also, not a discount - card requires you to spend a further 10 points minimum on a comms upgrade. Its not a discount trooper, it's a discount comms upgrade. ?

I started thinking about it that way too. I guess comms upgrades on the basic core units are considered less beneficial than on the support, special forces, and heavies.

Also, if the comms mini gets picked off somehow (only one in LOS for some reason), or if you only have your unit leader left, I wonder if the Comms upgrade stays equipped or not?

Based on X-Wing, I will guess it will. There were a few cards in X-Wing that affected squad building, and if they were lost in the game, whatever effect on squad building they had stayed the same. (So, for example, an EPT equipped with R2-D6 stayed even when R2-D6 was discarded)

9 minutes ago, HanScottFirst said:

Also, if the comms mini gets picked off somehow (only one in LOS for some reason), or if you only have your unit leader left, I wonder if the Comms upgrade stays equipped or not?

Based on X-Wing, I will guess it will. There were a few cards in X-Wing that affected squad building, and if they were lost in the game, whatever effect on squad building they had stayed the same. (So, for example, an EPT equipped with R2-D6 stayed even when R2-D6 was discarded)

Do you still get the z-6 when he dies?

Hmm good point, you do not! As far as I know the commander cannot pick it up

I guess the only difference is the z6 is an inherent part of the mini's unit card, while the Comms Upgrade will simply be attached to the squad as a whole. I.E. you do not lose concussion grenades as you drop units.

I guess we will have to see what they say.

9 minutes ago, HanScottFirst said:

Hmm good point, you do not! As far as I know the commander cannot pick it up

I guess the only difference is the z6 is an inherent part of the mini's unit card, while the Comms Upgrade will simply be attached to the squad as a whole. I.E. you do not lose concussion grenades as you drop units.

I guess we will have to see what they say.

I could see it going either way. Fun for speculations, not so fun for actually knowing how it will interact.

Also, very curious to see the chosen mechanics for the droids and how they will work out.

I think I’m still most interested in using the officer as a super unit leader currently. And I can’t wait to see the 2 and 3 pip command cards.

16 hours ago, TallGiraffe said:

Do you still get the z-6 when he dies?

The Z-6 Trooper is actually carring the Z-6 and it is part of their card.

The Comms officer is not the upgrade card but rather allows it to be included in army building.

3 hours ago, ScummyRebel said:

I could see it going either way. Fun for speculations, not so fun for actually knowing how it will interact.

I think we will see a rules update, because right now the rules only cover weapon armed trooper upgrades.

Might see rules for Droid troopers too?

There will probably be an RRG clarification. Precedent from other FFG games is no, the slot and its upgrade doesn't go away, but we'll see. The logic that it's on the unit card and thus shared by the unit though seems sound. I mean, Commandos and Scout Troopers can carry comm upgrades somewhere in the team, they don't even need a special guy for it.

The rebel commander and comms specialist look easy to paint in my snow scheme. Looks like it's time for Luke to retire from my lists forever.

1 hour ago, TauntaunScout said:

The rebel commander and comms specialist look easy to paint in my snow scheme. Looks like it's time for Luke to retire from my lists forever.

I can not wait for First Quarter 2019. I agree the Rebel Specialists seem generic enough to fit into any themed terrain. I also agree with you about wanting Imperial Navy Troopers and Imperial Army Troopers to have an alternative to the full on "bucket heads" only option.

Okay I think Tabletop Admiral should be working properly all around.

FFG, please don't do that again.

Thanks.