I have been giving quite a bit of thought to how a B-wing might be more "unique" and of value to the game. The only remotely good idea I have come up with is an idea that originally came up when I was trying to stat out some Tie Defender miniatures I ordered from Shapeways.

I have come to call this mechanic the "integrated ion cannon" for lack of a better name. The essence of the mechanic is that you perform your primary weapon roll normally, and then if you scored at least one hit roll a die (or dice?) of some kind to determine whether any of the shots that hit were ion cannon shots. If this secondary roll is successful, the target ship receives one ion token (but does not take any additional damage).

Mediocre example text:

"After performing an attack roll that scores at least one uncancelled hit, roll one additional attack die. On a hit or critical hit icon, the target ship also recives one ion token."

Some various thoughts, of varying relevance:

-obviously the type/number of dice rolled to determine the effect is open to debate and tweaking

-should it be an innate ability of the ship type, or an equippable secondary weapon?

-If equippable, should it be a free or otherwise extremely cheap upgrade (basically just to allow more space for the weapon mechanic description on the upgrade card) or a costly upgrade like gunner/heavy laser cannon?

-it could also be a normal ship upgrade category with "B-Wing only" text to limit its use. This could also serve as a slight balancing tool if needed as it would prevent other ship upgrades from being used along with it.

-to balance the weapon, possibly limit the use of this ability to range 1-2 like the y-wing ion cannon

-possibly alter the number of dice rolled based on the number of hits. Less hits equals less opportunities for those hits to be ion hits

-if dice are based on number of hits, exclude critical hits. The way ion cannons work both in the game and in the fiction implies that a critical hit would never be an ion hit. This also means that critical hits against shielded targets would be of less value which could be considered another balancing mechanic of a sort.

-it could also have text for just using it as a standard ion cannon like the y-wing's (minus the 360 firing arc) so you could strategically choose between going for max damage with the possibility of an ion hit or limiting your damage to go for a guaranteed ion hit (assuming you hit in the first place)

Just some thoughts I had while theorizing the possibility of wave 3 ships and mechanics. Like I said this all came more from thinking about the Tie Defender and other possilbities for wave 3 so it's not especially well thought out in terms of the B-wing (or at all really)

Seems like you could simplify that a little by tying the Ion hit to Focus in some way.

Fun thread, I'm really looking forward to seeing what FFG comes up with for one of my favorite SW ships.

In the end, the B Wing is stronger and cheaper then my predictions…

Which I think is fine, the B-Wing is an attractive rebel ship simply for the option of mounting heavy laser cannons for cheap. The suggested Advanced targeting computer (Free target locks for 3 points) stands in for the gunner on firesprays, and choosing Focus also helps a typical shot. In fact I can see one successful list flying 3 B-Wings with this setup, and extra points going into enhancing all of them (an ace and two generics?)

I do arch my eyebrow at barrel rolling… I didn't think that gyrating cockpit to be worth anything more than pure aestheitcs. The B-Wing never barrel rolls in any shot of the movie. The A-Wing, on the other hand, sees Arvel Crynyd barrel-rolling into the Executor's bridge and does not have that manuver. So it makes little sense to me that the B-Wing has this where the A-Wing doesn't.

I didn't expect the sensors option… it does feel a little out of place on something like the B-Wing and I would have expected it on the YT (for the rectenna). On the other hand I can kind of get behind it by rationalizing that it's a special equipment slot. Tractor beams and jamming beams (from TIE Fighter flight sim) might be similar equipment items and would work just as well on those vessels. In fact I'd expect an Assault Gunboat/TIE Defender Marek Steele card to also carry the sensor upgrades to mount those items.

I'm not as stoked about the B-Wings as I am the TIE Bombers, but I do think they're an essential part of future Rebel builds… and they outright replace Y-Wings as ordinance carriers. I never saw the Ion cannons as viable or desireable options when it comes to playing compeditively.

Norsehound said:

I am partially with you and partially not…

the HLC will make them an attractive option and also stock they are decent. But they are not that cheap, this is the pilot skill 2 ship shown which is probably the cheapest available. More firepower but not more durability than Y-Wings and more expensive, sounds fair to me!

I dont think this is the end of the Y-Wing, it is still cheaper and if it would get a new turret option this would differentiate it from the B-Wing further. I hope it will!

i also think the support option would have better fitted on the HWK 290 really, but the barrel roll fits the B-Wing nicely, if you gave it to A-Wings then why not also to X-Wings…