Rebel list // Imperial list // VASSAL file

Whisper. She's a real tricky number. But so is this advanced sensors/daredevil Corran! In this game we have a 1-hull Corran remaining against a 1-hull cloak n' choke Whisper. The Rebel player has killed 140 points while the Imperial player has killed 155. There are 30 seconds on the clock: Whisper will choose to cloak or not, then there will be 1 final round. Corran moves first. Today's puzzle asks: can Whisper can reduce Corran's chances of winning to 0%? Or does Corran have a move which guarantees arc on Whisper? Else what are the chances that Corran will catch Whisper in arc, and what are the optimal moves to do so?

The best replies on the FFG forums, Reddit, or on the Xwing Puzzle Club blog site will be added as solutions to the blog post!

Answer to last puzzle: Dice of Derring-Do

Corran needs to either get arc on whisper and focus, or somehow dodge whisper's arc and still have a shot. I honestly don't think it's possible for Corran, best he can hope for is a guess on which way whisper decloaks and hope he has a shot. I think he just does an advanced sensor focus and 1 hards.

I think whisper just dials in a 1 hard and picks decloak right/left. If corran doesn't have a shot, imps win. If corran gets caught without a focus, imps win. If whisper bumps, imps win. If they shoot each other, it'll be unmodified corran vs focus/evade whisper. Any way you slice it, it's hard for corran.

Cloak, dial in a 1-hard and decloak the opposite direction so you're turning back towards Corran's current position. You move last, so you'll know whether you can escape Corran's arc or not. Worst case scenario, you trade shots, but Vader means Corran has to spend any token he gets and you'll have an Evade, probably with a Focus too.

Actually, the best move for Corran is to advanced sensors a boost, then kturn in whichever direction whisper decloaks. He could alternatively dial in a sloop for more spice. Knowing this, I think I would 1 bank instead of 1 turn with whisper. This gives more flexibility, since she just has to get arc on corran to kill him with vader.

9 minutes ago, pyoinator said:

Actually, the best move for Corran is to advanced sensors a boost, then kturn in whichever direction whisper decloaks. He could alternatively dial in a sloop for more spice. Knowing this, I think I would 1 bank instead of 1 turn with whisper. This gives more flexibility, since she just has to get arc on corran to kill him with vader.

Corran moves first. Don't think there's space to fit a boost past Whisper so he's pretty much restricted to a Barrel Roll, which kills him if Whisper gets arc, thanks to Vader, or taking a pre-move Focus and crossing your fingers. The bank is probably better with Whisper, now I think about it.

13 minutes ago, Jike said:

Corran moves first. Don't think there's space to fit a boost past Whisper

If whisper decloaks, there's plenty of room for an advanced sensors boost, no matter where she decloaks. That being said, now I'm kind of leaning towards slooping to a side. If you pick right, advanced sensors a focus and now you're behind whisper at range 1. If you pick wrong, advanced sensors a boost towards whisper and now you're flanking. Assuming whisper does the expected candy cane maneuver.

Whisper just has to successfully disengage to secure the win. Cloak, decloak roll either direction, take the free evade action, 3 Hard the direction of the Decloak then Barrel Roll away from the initial point. Force point + Evade should cover her if the Rebel player guessed the direction correctly. This isn't BSG.

This is a good one. I think that there MAY be enough room to do an advanced sensors daredevil boost, but that may not help corran at all. He needs to have a green token (if in Whisper's arc) or it's game over. He needs to kill whisper or it's game over.

Whisper just needs to live. I'd say that Whisper either stays cloaked and does a K-turn (trying to get corran in arc) OR decloaks in the most annoying way possible, takes the free evade and then re-cloaks as an action.

Well, Whisper 101 states "input hard 1 and await your enemy's move" but I can see, I guess (grumble, grumble) that a bank might just be a good pick...like a 40% might. But if you are gambling to simply get out of Horn's Arc, maybe a 3 speed maneuver is better on the get outta dodge move? K-turning at a 3 cloaked might just set up a good position as in, if Horn K-turns, she probably bumps; or a K-4 might clear and be the kill shot.

But, like Sun Tzu would inquire first, "know your enemy." That would give you your best choice. We all know Horn has to gamble to win in one last-ditch move, so one needs to play to counter the only probable winning gamble that Horn has. He is forced to attempt to get a shot. He's looking for that 2-declaok and 1-hard. So 4-K cloaked would be best for Whisper to counter his probable 4-K which he will more than likely be forced to dial up to grab as much possible arced real estate he can....not that I really ever K-turn a Phantom, but my final answer is such. Yep.

Hmm. How about this: Use Corran's initiative 0 shot? Since the evade token has not been spent for a cloak, this must be the end of the engagement phase, so Corran should have that chance. Granted, 4 unmodded reds vs 2 greens with an evade is only 0.644 expected hits (http://xwing.gateofstorms.net/2/multi/?d=AiAAAAAAAAAA&a1=QQAAAAAAAAA), but maybe that is the way to go? You only need 1 hit to go through afterall.

It seems more risky to maybe get a shot next round when you have a shot this round that could finish the game. Odds are Vader would take any token you get, so no matter what, the shot will be unmodded. I say take the range 1 shot with his double tap right now instead of wait.

1 hour ago, HanScottFirst said:

Hmm. How about this: Use Corran's initiative 0 shot? Since the evade token has not been spent for a cloak, this must be the end of the engagement phase, so Corran should have that chance. Granted, 4 unmodded reds vs 2 greens with an evade is only 0.644 expected hits (http://xwing.gateofstorms.net/2/multi/?d=AiAAAAAAAAAA&a1=QQAAAAAAAAA), but maybe that is the way to go? You only need 1 hit to go through afterall.

It seems more risky to maybe get a shot next round when you have a shot this round that could finish the game. Odds are Vader would take any token you get, so no matter what, the shot will be unmodded. I say take the range 1 shot with his double tap right now instead of wait.

For the purposes of this puzzle the intent was to assume it was end phase, and the engagement phase is over. Bit of a hitch I realize since yes Corran would have double tapped in this position, but alas I am not perfect

These puzzles are fun, no worries. And odds are the Corran player forgot the trigger (a lot of triggers in 2.0 ?), so onto the final round!

I like the idea of 4k on Corran. Advanced sensor boost once you see the decloak and then hope Whisper does not get arc.

18 minutes ago, HanScottFirst said:

These puzzles are fun, no worries. And odds are the Corran player forgot the trigger (a lot of triggers in 2.0 ?), so onto the final round!

I like the idea of 4k on Corran. Advanced sensor boost once you see the decloak and then hope Whisper does not get arc.

If Corran double tapped already the puzzle is moot. Imps have the points lead and there is one round left in which Corran would have a disarm token so unable to fire, thus Whisper survives and the Imp player wins. Assume he didn't use his I 0 attack to get Whisper down to 1 hp.

If I am the Whisper play I dial in a 4 forward, then decloak to forward and then recloak again. GTFO of there.

1 hour ago, Jo Jo said:

If I am the Whisper play I dial in a 4 forward, then decloak to forward and then recloak again. GTFO of there.

Same, but I'd go with the 3 bank just to make sure I cant be bullseyed.

Range 1 in bullseye, Corran should f'ing double tap with only 1hp whisper left and 1 round remaining. Why play a guessing game?

10 minutes ago, wurms said:

Range 1 in bullseye, Corran should f'ing double tap with only 1hp whisper left and 1 round remaining. Why play a guessing game?

This is started in that round's End Phase, Corran's pilot ability procs at Initiative 0 of the Engagement Phase. IF Corran has done his double tap this round then the Rebels have lost since he failed to kill Whisper and has a disarm token starting next Planning Phase and the puzzle is moot. Reassess with him having not done his bonus attack and not gaining a disarm token in the Planning Phase of the on coming round.