I am just playing around here. This is just a speculation, but I think this would be cool.

TIE Bomber

Attack: 2

Agility: 2

Hull: 4

Shields: 0

Actions: Barrel Roll, Evade, Target Lock, Focus

Upgrades: 2 Missiles

They basically fill the role for people who want to field TIE Advanced just so they can shoot missiles, but they don't want to pay the expensive point cost.

Possible Changes: no evade, and proton torpedo instead of one of the missile slots.

I think this load out for a TIE Bomber would be far from overpowering, fullfill a useful nich in the Imperial force and add to the game.

I don't have an equally good ideas for the B-Wing

I think it would be quite neat to have the tie bomber be TOTALLY different from any other ship, what I'm thinking is:

No attack

1 evade

6 hull

3 shields

3 missiles, 2 torpedoes, an ion cannon and one crew member

Basically, to have it as a repository for missiles rather than a usable attack ship

Maybe also have an ability that allows the transfer of missiles to nearby ships

It could also be quite neat if the b-wing's s-foils came into the game, with 1 dial for open and one for closed, and an action to change between them. Also, when open, able to attack, when closed, extra evade dice (i know the x-wing's s-foils are not used, but they are not as profound as the b-wing's)

Just some thoughts

poloniumandrats said:

This isn't a fighter it isn't even a bomber, it is a ammo carrier.

Hrathen said:

Well, it should be still able to fire missiles and torpedoes

poloniumandrats said:

This thing. It's already well established.

I know, and I remember from the rogue squadron series of games that it had no lasers, only bombs and missiles

In the TIE fighter game they had the same lasers as a TIE Fighter. They also had lasers in X-wing.

poloniumandrats said:

You remember incorrectly. TIE Bombers had a pair of laser cannons.

Okay, to be fair, you may be right with respects to how the TIE Bomber was portrayed in Rogue Squadron; it's been so long that I don't remember. But in that case, the game portrayed them inaccurately.

Hrathen said:

I don't think a Tie bomber would have evade or barrel roll, they're pretty clunky. Probably using Y-wing ish movement. The rest seem right though. Just my 2 credits.

The TIE Bomber is basically the Y-Wing of the Empire. It will also finally give the Empire the chance to field Torpedo upgrades like the A-Wing opens up the concussion missile slot for the Rebels.

My guess:

(Lower initiative, TIE bombers were usually slower)

1/2 Attack
1 Agility
4/5 Hull
0 Shields

Actions: Focus, Lock on

Upgrades: 3x Torpedo slots

Movement Dial very similar to the Y-Wing.

The expansion pack would come with Proton bombs as a Torpedo upgrade, or more Proton Torpedoes. Protons are better with dogfigthing… Bombs are cannonical to the TIE but I don't see much utility for them in a dogfighting starfighter game. Perhaps a modification card to make the torpedo slots into missiles to pack concussion missiles.

The B-Wing would be a little different.

(mid initiative)

3/4 Attack
1/2 Agility
5/6 Hull
4 Shields

Actions: Focus, Lock on

Upgrades: 3x Torpedo slots

Movement Dial similar to Y-Wing or X-Wing

The B-Wing, like the TIE Defender, packs a lot of oridinance and has a high firepower rating. While the TIE/D is fast and fragile, the B-Wing is slow and very tough.

The exciting thing about the TIE bomber, at least IMO, is the space it opens up for scenarios. I can imagine some pretty tense games that force the Rebellion player to pick between strafing an incoming wave of bombers or breaking off to deal with covering TIEs.

The thing that has me most excited about the Falcon are the scenario-building elements that come with it, and I'd love to see the bomber come with some cardboard pieces for installations, transports, and stuff for it to target.

Surtur said:

Surtur said:

Yeah I thought about that. With an agility of 2 and no shields (even with a hull of 4) I don't expect them to live long without evade, but that could be factored into their point cost. Their wings are just sound rounded for me to want to leave out barrel roll.

I think in Chapter 1 of the first xwing book, the guy barrelrolls his tie bomber (though it was using expert handling as his ship avoided the target lock)

My guess:

Attack: 2

Agility: 2

Hull: 6

Shields: 0

Actions: Focus, Target Lock

Upgrades: Torpedo, Missile, Bomb

The Torpedo, Missile, and Bomb upgrades should be a given in that the TIE Bomber write-up in Wookieepedia states that the TIE Bomber did in fact carry Proton Torpedoes, Concussion Missiles, and Bombs!

I would say:

Attack: 2 (TIE bombers have 2 laser cannons)

Agility: 2 (its a bomber . . . )

Hull: 5 (Tough, but no more so than an Y-Wing)

Shields: 0 (Shields are for lesser pilots!)

Actions: Barrel Roll, Target Lock, Focus (focus and Barrel Roll seem TIE standard, and with its low agility and no evade, it would seem to balance out)

Upgrades: Torpedo, Missile, Bomb. Possible elite talents to represent veteran pilots (IE Scimitar Wing bombers)

joewrightgm said:

I would field this craft for sure. Looks great. Even if it only had 2x Torpedo OR 2x Missile OR 2x Bomb I would be happy. I'm hoping they'll get bombs as seen in The Empire Strikes Back, but those would be pretty worthless in a dogfight.

Parakitor said:

Much obliged sir! The way the entry in the Essential Guide to Vehicles & Vessels (yes, I own it . . . ) Seems to imply it can be outfitted with multiple payloads on the same vehicle; but I think for balance sake, and to keep it from introducing weird specific rules, just leave it one of each upgrade.

What if the bomber (or bombs in general) could target ships it is in contact with? Basically representing it swooping upwards and opening the bomb bays as it passes.

mines instead of bombs would seem to be a better mechanic for the bomber… creating obsticles essentially. Isn't the current rumor that the slave one might have a similar weapon (due to new chip in images?)

It will probably be a Y-wing with no shields. 2/1/5/0, with Focus, Lock, Barrel Roll, and (maybe) Evade. The Firespray has mines, so the bomber will, too. It's gotta have missiles. It could have two slots for mines and missiles. The base model may come in at 14-15 to make it just impractical enough to run one armed to the teeth, just like the y-wing.

Here is an idea, I could be wrong but I am sure I have read somewhere that the tie bombers could lay proximity mines. Mines would have more use in a dog fight, particulary against rebel ships who already lack good agility! What's your thoughts?