In my dream world, FFG keeps XWM fresh by adding 2 new factions: The New Republic and the Imperial Remnant from the SW EU. Just to kick it around, I'm going to make it my pet project, hopefully with a little help from y'all.

Presenting the New Republic Faction for X-Wing!!

The faction will launch with a card pack allowing you to use your existing XWM as brand new variants for the New Republic. The following ships are "recyclable:"

The RZ-1 A-Wing. It becomes the RZ-1 Mk II, with rear arc cannons everyone wished for. And in the EU, they are completely legit!

The T-65 X-Wing. It becomes the T-65AC4, a slightly modified variant of the venerable T-65B.

The B-Wing. We bring back the /E2 variant, complete with a crew gunner slot!

The Y-Wing. We'll use the BTL-S3 variant, with a defensive turret.

And guess who fits already?

The E-Wing and the K-Wing. AS IS!!

Heck, the faction is 1/2 done with no new plastic!!

But wait, I'm not FFG so I can spoil the ENTIRE FACTION!

You'll also be able to fly The I-7 Howlrunner , the Stealth-X, the A-9 Vigilance Interceptor, the Lady Luck, the X-83 Twintail, and the V-Wing Airspeeder*.

*Because now that the TIE Striker, LAAT/i, and the HMP Droid are a thing, there's no need to not use an airspeeder.

Did I miss anything obvious? I intend to make cards/pilots for everything, just as a way to pass my non-table-X-Wing-hours. Comments, critiques, and contributions welcome!

This sounds like The Rebellion with extra steps. But like, sound off, let's see what you got.

PULSAR SKATE or GTFO!

Luke, Mara, Anakin Solo, Jaina and Jacen in a Stealth X or an XJ, Count me in!

Force sensitive Corran and Wedge in a E-wing.

Techo in an A or an X.

Corran, Tycho and Ibtisam in X-WINGS where they belong!

And at least the following Rogue Squadron Pilots:

Wedge, Hobbie, Tycho, Wes, Ooryl Qrygg, Nawara Ven, Rhysati Ynr , Aril Nunb, Gavin Darklighter, Asyr Sei'lar , Inyri Forge, Dllr Nep, Plourr Ilo, Nrin Vakil, Herrian Ingre, Xarcce Huwla

Then I'll finally be happy with this game.

(I kid, I kid...)

10 minutes ago, dadocollin said:

(I kid, I kid...)

Same team

Not a hater, just prefer my game with fewer storyline/thematic inconsistencies (cue all the jokes about the Sequel Trilogy... sigh).

Personally, I'm just not feeling it. I think the factions are probably where they ought to be in terms of tournament X-Wing.

However.

They TOTALLY ought to release a campaign set based on the old X-Wing books. As @Darth Meanie has noted, most of it can be done with no new plastic.

It really does seem like FFG is having trouble selling new plastic for old factions. The way to get folks who already have 6 X-Wings to buy more stuff for "rebels" is to release a Rogue Squadron books and other New Republic campaign. The way to get folks who already have 15 TIE Fighters to buy more stuff for Imperials is to release a campaign based on the video games with Maarek Stele and stuff. There's going to be enough folks out there who love the books, love the video games, that they'd spend $40 on a "tonnes of cardboard" expansion for content folks are nostalgic about.

My potential list is now up to like 9 scenario/campaign boxes. In my head, some are battle-recreation scenarios and missions. Mostly like the current Epic Battles expansion, but more thematic. Some are campaigns with new rules somewhat like how Imperial Assault characters improve over time, with multiple "hero" players fighting together against a GM.

1. Clone Wars Battles
2. Rebels (probably Rogue One since I'm guessing there ought to be more content added here) Battles
3. Original Trilogy (maybe Rogue One, but probably not, because there's probably enough content already) Battles
4. Sequel Trilogy Battles
5. Video Games/Maarek Stele Co-op Campaign -- Imperial-centered campaign.
6. Rogue Squadron Books Co-op Campaign -- Rebel and New Republic campaign.
7. Scum Bounty Hunter "Co-op" Campaign
8. Scum Free Trader Co-op Campaign -- Yes, two Scum ones, because there ought to be a different vibe from someone who is more of a vicious killer bounty hunter, and someone is a charming rogue who perhaps colors a bit outside the law, but has a good heart.
9. Old Republic Jedi Knight Co-op Campaign - You build your Jedi over several missions, from Padawan to Knight to Master (to dead, because Vader wins in the end).

17 minutes ago, theBitterFig said:

Scum Bounty Hunter "Co-op" Campaign

What about a competitive campaign for Scum and Villainy? Build your rival cartels, develop thriving businesses, or bring in the most prestigious bounties to make the rest of the Galaxy respect and/or fear you?

19 minutes ago, theBitterFig said:

from Padawan to Knight to Master (to dead, because Vader wins in the end)

TOO SOON 😢 😢 😢 😢

3 hours ago, KCDodger said:

This sounds like The Rebellion with extra steps.

I'm not sure what you mean by this.

2 hours ago, SomeDudeWhoMostlyLurks said:

PULSAR SKATE or GTFO!

So, this is for the New Republic. S&V is down the hall.

1 hour ago, Tyhar7 said:

Techo in an A or an X.

1 hour ago, SomeDudeWhoMostlyLurks said:

Corran, Tycho and Ibtisam in X-WINGS where they belong!

Finished Tycho today at lunch. Will post tonight at home. 😁

51 minutes ago, ClassicalMoser said:

Not a hater, just prefer my game with fewer storyline/thematic inconsistencies (cue all the jokes about the Sequel Trilogy... sigh).

Obviously, this is mostly just as a fun diversion for me. BUT. . .

More factions that are internally balanced will not detract from the game as a whole, since if they are well designed they will be externally balanced as well. Also, I had kinda decided to try to be "internally consistent" in-game with the other factions by NOT using characters like Jacen and Jaina and Ben Solo that are now "awkward*."

*Of course, I reserve the right to release those pilots later in the Tempus: Fudge It!! card pack. 🤣

RZ-1 A-Wing Mk II:

So, this brings together 2 fan desires in 1 package. The re-appearance of Tycho, and the rotating cannons of the RZ-2. Since the ship is still an extension of the Alliance A-Wing, it features the same dial as the Rebel A-Wing, with the rotational cannon ability stapled on. Points are going to be more based on the RZ-2.

Pilots are Tycho (Rogue 2/7/9), Captain Tarrik (Nomad Leader), and generics are Blue Squadron, Comet Squadron, Polearm Squadron (and other aces}, Surprise Squadron, Nomad Squadron, Gold Squadron, Comet Squadron, and Rogue Squadron.

And let's not forget that in the EU, Greer Sonnel goes here, with her purple racer a-wing, the Ossifrage.

(If anyone has a cool pilot ability for Tarrik, I'm all ears.)

@Prosk_019 , Tarrik didn't have much of a "thing" so he got dumped.

4 hours ago, Darth Meanie said:

You'll also be able to fly The I-7 Howlrunner, the Stealth-X, the A-9 Vigilance Interceptor, the Lady Luck, the X-83 Twintail, and the V-Wing Airspeeder*.

*Because now that the TIE Striker, LAAT/i, and the HMP Droid are a thing, there's no need to not use an airspeeder.

All of those are canonically spaceworthy, though. I mean, you could use the V-wing in space missions, but that's in the same level of canon as driving around a convertible in space.

They need to do this for new ships for Rebels and Imperials, no need for new factions. Ignoring the two biggest factions for new ships is just stupid from a game and product line perspective. If Naboo's will sell, XJs and TIE droids will too.

@Darth Meanie you forgot about Hawk-bat Squadron!! Tie interceptors for the new republic, but only with the secret identities of the Wraiths as pilots (no generic). I want my i6 Lt Kettch. Yub yub, commander.

I will tolerate them being scum ships as well, because they were being piratey at the moment to build cred. Bonus if they get Alt paint schemes as described in the book.

11 minutes ago, DarkArk said:

They need to do this for new ships for Rebels and Imperials, no need for new factions. Ignoring the two biggest factions for new ships is just stupid so from a game and product line perspective. If Naboo's will sell, XJs and TIE droids will too.

I’ll be honest: I never connected much with the old EU. Only exceptions were Dark Forces and Shadows of the Empire. So I don’t have much of a dog in the race here.

Buuuuut , may I ask what harm it does to have the HWK, Starviper, E-Wing, and other dubiously-Disney-canon ships in X-Wing? I mean, I’ve been singing the Kimogila’s praises lately, and I couldn’t care less if it’s blessed by the Mouse or not—it’s a ship that sits in a design niche and enables jank while going pew pew. And it fits the feel of the SW universe.

IMO, that’s all that really matters. Let’s get some more crazy ships in this game, fill out some more spots in the design space, and enable some more jank. As long as the ships fit the feel more or less, bring ‘em in. Find a faction to put ‘em in and DEWIT.

(I still say the Lancer is a frickin’ Star Trek ship, tho)

16 minutes ago, ScummyRebel said:

@Darth Meanie you forgot about Hawk-bat Squadron!!

Dude!! I'm still on Wave 1!!!

(OTOH, noted, and filed for later. . .}

14 hours ago, Darth Meanie said:

The T-65 X-Wing. It becomes the T-65AC4, a slightly modified variant of the venerable T-65B.

So how does that actually change the ship?

I think you have to be careful with incremental upgrades. XMG doesn't really have a lot of granularity when it comes to stats, not compared with an RPG or even Armada.

The AC4 was the latest in a series of improvements to avionics and engines. I guess that would mean the AC4 would probably end up with a 5 straight, an extra blue maneuver and a native white boost that doesn't require s-foils closed. Thing is, that's basically the T-70 we already have. Maybe if you keep the boost to s-foils only and just add the 5 straight? Maybe make the 5 straight red?

I guess it doesn't matter if the Rebels, New Republic and Resistance all have an essentially identical ship with very minor differences when the major difference will be the pilots.

14 hours ago, Darth Meanie said:

The B-Wing. We bring back the /E2 variant, complete with a crew slot!

Hot take: the crew slot doesn't add anything to the B-Wing.

Obviously this depends on how you define the identity of the New Republic, but if you keep the theme of their crew being mostly support focused, then the B-Wing doesn't really want to be a support ship.

I think I'd probably rather make the E2 version have a gunner slot, and introduce some NR specific gunners that make sense on it. Of course, the obvious application for a B-Wing gunner would have been cannon double tap, but we have the s-foils to do that now.

14 hours ago, Darth Meanie said:

The Y-Wing. We'll use the BTL-S3 variant, with a defensive turret.

The Y-Wing we have is already the BTL-S3.

I know it says BTL-A4 on the box, but that's wrong. With the current slots and upgrades, it's a Y-Wing with space for a gunner and a turret that can be rotated to fire independently of the front arc weapons. That's the S3.

The Y-Wing we have should have a BTL-A4 config card that removes the gunner slot and lets you double tap with the cannon, but also prevents you using the rotate action.

I'd probably just not include Y-Wings in the NR faction. They don't get a lot of appearances past the defeat of Zsinj.

15 hours ago, Darth Meanie said:

You'll also be able to fly The I-7 Howlrunner

Wasn't the Howlrunner mostly used by the Remnant?

The big inclusion I'd suggest would be the XJ.

Give the New Republic its own pure Jedi fighter. Jaina, Kyp, Corran with Force powers, Mara, Luke if you want to give the NR a Vader/Anakin anologue. Maybe a Twin Suns generic single Force pilot.

15 hours ago, Darth Meanie said:

the Lady Luck,

The Lady Luck would be so cool to finally get as a ship in X-Wing.

Don't forget a title for the Jade's Fire, though.

Jade Sabre and Jade Shadow are sadly probably a bit too big for large bases, and a shade too small to be Huge.

11 hours ago, Darth Meanie said:

So firstly, Tycho is definitely an I5.

The RZ-1 as is is screaming for an I5. Tycho was PS8 in 1e, and most PS8 pilots became I5s.

Secondly, why Rogue 7? Doesn't Tycho spend most of his time with the Rogues post Endor either not being officially active and stuck in a shuttle; as Rogue 2 or Rogue Leader? I know the callsigns jump around a bit in the books, but I don't remember Tycho ever being Rogue 7. That's not a flight element leader, which Tycho would have been if not flying as Wedge's wingman.

Lastly, I really think Tycho's 1e ability is totally fine as is in second edition. It really isn't that strong. It's actually weaker than it was now that Push the Limit, Rage and Experimental Interface are gone.

If you want to limit the crazy token piles of 1e, which I can see being an inconvenience, then just state that he can only perform white actions while stressed. Now he has no way of gaining additionaly stress tokens unless it's by running over debris or something. Limiting his ability to just three times a game really makes it bad. It either means you get very little use out of it and have to keep pulling blue maneuvers anyway (because no one wants to end up with a pile of four stress tokens when his charges run out) or you... end up with a pile of stress at the end of that and now you're a useless ship.

There's basically now no benefit to Tycho's 1e ability other than it keeps your dial a bit more open.

11 hours ago, Darth Meanie said:

and Generics are Surprise Squadron, Nomad Squadron, and Rogue Squadron.

Why not give Polearm Squadron from the Wraith Squadron books a bit of love?

I've never even heard of Surprise Squadron (And it's a rubbish name, tbh).

Polearm has a more fleshed out roster than any of those, and Dorset Konnair was a pretty cool character.

Pash Cracken definitely deserves a look in as a New Republic A-Wing pilot too.

15 hours ago, KCDodger said:

This sounds like The Rebellion with extra steps. But like, sound off, let's see what you got.

Sooo.... the Resistance?

2 hours ago, GuacCousteau said:

So how does that actually change the ship?

I guess it doesn't matter if the Rebels, New Republic and Resistance all have an essentially identical ship with very minor differences when the major difference will be the pilots.

Not sure yet and 100% agree.

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Hot take: the crew slot doesn't add anything to the B-Wing. I think I'd probably rather make the E2 version have a gunner slot

Perfect.

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The Y-Wing we have is already the BTL-S3.

I know it says BTL-A4 on the box, but that's wrong. With the current slots and upgrades, it's a Y-Wing with space for a gunner and a turret that can be rotated to fire independently of the front arc weapons. That's the S3.

The Y-Wing we have should have a BTL-A4 config card that removes the gunner slot and lets you double tap with the cannon, but also prevents you using the rotate action.

I'd probably just not include Y-Wings in the NR faction. They don't get a lot of appearances past the defeat of Zsinj.

I would include them just because they make for a great "insta-faction" starter.

As for the -S3 vs. -A4, I just picked the "other one" than was not in the Rebel faction.

I was looking at some of my 1.0 Title cards for the Y-Wing and had the same realization about the versions being wrong. I already have an idea for the "-S3" that I was going to use, so I'll take another look at it.

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Wasn't the Howlrunner mostly used by the Remnant?

Oops!

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The big inclusion I'd suggest would be the XJ.

Give the New Republic its own pure Jedi fighter. Jaina, Kyp, Corran with Force powers, Mara, Luke if you want to give the NR a Vader/Anakin anologue. Maybe a Twin Suns generic single Force pilot.

The Lady Luck would be so cool to finally get as a ship in X-Wing.

Don't forget a title for the Jade's Fire, though.

Two things about the XJ:

A. I'd like to do the Stealth-X. I'm not sure the faction would need another all-Jedi X-Wing.

B. I'm already reluctantly including the Stealth-X. I sorta consider the New Jedi Order yet another era, and if I were lumping designs from the Yuuzhan Vong garbage storyline, I would actually make them a Subfaction of the New Republic. I guess even further down the line you have the Galactic Alliance and the Second Civil War, which I guess I would definitely avoid. . .

Jade's Fire should be Imperial, since she was still The Emperor's Hand at that point.

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So firstly, Tycho is definitely an I5.

The RZ-1 as is is screaming for an I5. Tycho was PS8 in 1e, and most PS8 pilots became I5s.

Secondly, why Rogue 7? Doesn't Tycho spend most of his time with the Rogues post Endor either not being officially active and stuck in a shuttle; as Rogue 2 or Rogue Leader? I know the callsigns jump around a bit in the books, but I don't remember Tycho ever being Rogue 7. That's not a flight element leader, which Tycho would have been if not flying as Wedge's wingman.

Lastly, I really think Tycho's 1e ability is totally fine as is in second edition. It really isn't that strong. It's actually weaker than it was now that Push the Limit, Rage and Experimental Interface are gone.

Why not give Polearm Squadron from the Wraith Squadron books a bit of love?

I've never even heard of Surprise Squadron (And it's a rubbish name, tbh).

Polearm has a more fleshed out roster than any of those, and Dorset Konnair was a pretty cool character.

Pash Cracken definitely deserves a look in as a New Republic A-Wing pilot too.

OK, I5 it is, with his 1.0 ability intact. Sadly, the callsigns are all over the place. Why he is not Rogue 2 (second in command) is beyond me, but he is also Rogue 9. I found Rogue 7 in Wookieepedia, so, meh.

Again, I found Surprise Squadron by scrumming around. I'll look at Polearm Squadron (especially if it has more pilots. . .)

Pash is a great suggestion.

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Sooo.... the Resistance?

Yeah, my thought exactly. In fact, the New Republic could actually feature more new designs than what the Resistance is looking to get.

And technically, I haven't even tossed in the Millennium Falcon, which would make yet another faction appearance. . .

And, thanks, this is exactly the kind of input I'm looking to get

7 hours ago, GuacCousteau said:

Sooo.... the Resistance?

At least the ships are actually different models.

I love this idea as I personally prefer legends to the ST. Mara Jade should be either scum or new republic, she stopped being the emperors hand when he died in rotj.

For imperial remnant I'd like to see pray birds and chiss claw craft.

22 hours ago, Darth Meanie said:

(If anyone has a cool pilot ability for Tarrik, I'm all ears.)

What's his 'thing'? I could take a stab at it with info on some kind of defining character trait, that's how I try to do all my canon character abilities

The Hawkbats are Scum pilots. They work for the new republic, in secret, but they have Scum restrictions.

You mention adding the Imperial Remnant, but what exactly do they add over the Empire? IIRC, it's mostly hyper-capable intercepters and Empire standbys like /ln spam.

5 minutes ago, Rakaydos said:

The Hawkbats are Scum pilots. They work for the new republic, in secret, but they have Scum restrictions.

You mention adding the Imperial Remnant, but what exactly do they add over the Empire? IIRC, it's mostly hyper-capable intercepters and Empire standbys like /ln spam.

I would accept them as scum, but I’d be ok with them here as well since the final battle of Hawk-bat Squadron was essentially as a New Republic force.

Remnant? I think it’s pretty much howlrunners (the ship not the pilot), tie droid fighters, and maybe a few other edge cases?

Ssi-ruuk or Ssi-ruuvi Imperium as a faction or I riot.

1 hour ago, Rakaydos said:

The Hawkbats are Scum pilots. They work for the new republic, in secret, but they have Scum restrictions.

You mention adding the Imperial Remnant, but what exactly do they add over the Empire? IIRC, it's mostly hyper-capable intercepters and Empire standbys like /ln spam.

You'll have to wait until the latter half of 2020 for that.

But. . .<<spoilers>>, TIE Droids, Scimitar Bombers, and

SKIPRAY BLASTBOATS.

Sheet, that last one justifies the whole faction!!

47 minutes ago, dsul413 said:

Ssi-ruuk or Ssi-ruuvi Imperium as a faction or I riot.

Between the why bothers and the you'd betters, I'm getting a sense of why the devs stay out of here.