I would love to see the z-95, it is the most well known/iconic EU ship. The Imps should get a new TIE, either Hunter or Defender. Third ship should be the Blastboat (Falcon/Slave I sizeed base) and it should be "neutral" and by that I mean the model can be used by either side but it will have faction specific pilots (essentially double the pilots of a normal expansion). Instead of fourth ship we should get a pack of new pilot and upgrade cards, booklet of new scenarios and the appropriate tokens to go along with said scenarios.

Gullwind said:

I know I should keep my mouth shut because of my dislike of the Z-95, but still… The Z-95 is an iconic EU ship? More so then say The Rogue Shadow, The Outrider (YT-2400), Lady Luck / Jade Fire (Sorosuub 3000), The Virago, an E-Wing or Tie Defender? What games are you playing or books are you reading that the Z-95 is anything more then a cheap underpowered ship?

Also out of curiosity, who would fly the ugly's since neither the Rebellion or Empire flew them? This would be a great neutral ship, too bad FFG squashed those hopes at The May 4th press release.

I can't say that the Z-95 is "the most iconic EU fighter", or anything similar. However, it's the first fighter I remember ever being mentioned in any EU literature; Han Solo flew one in one of the Brian Daley Han Solo novels (the first one, I think). That was between ANH and TESB, and I was starving for any additional information about star fighters in the Star Wars Univers.

So no matter what their attributes end up being (assuming they are ever made), I would get a couple, if only for the sake of nostalgia.

On a separate note, I wonder if FFG is necessarily going to keep releasing ships that are more and more powerful. That seems like a good way to make your existing ships obsolete. Maybe they could release some fighters from 10-0 BBY so that the Wave 1 fighters were the uber fighters instead of TIE Defender fodder.

esmolinski said:

esmolinski said:

Z-95 is a rather Iconic EU ship. It does not have a high profile in a single source, like some of the other ships do, but it regularly appears in a large number of various works. Outrider is mainly from Shadows of the Empire, same with Virago. Rogue Shadow is from TFU and the sequel only. PLY 3000 is semi-well known, but is a large yacht, not really suited for the scope of X-Wing.

Z-95 first appeared in 1978, and has had appearances all over the place since then- X-Wing/TIE-Fighter game series, Jedi Academy, Star Wars CCG and TCG, Rogue Squadron comics, multiple novels, even Micro-Machines and a variant in Clone Wars.

As for pilots, since the TIE Bomber draws heavily from the Decipher TCG, we can do the same for the Z-95 and go with Colonel Cracken, Lieutenant Blount, and Tala Squadron Pilot to cover 3 options.

For Wave 4 craft, there are a decent number of options-

Rebel small-

Z-95

E-Wing

Rebel Large-

YT-2400 Outrider

Nova Courier

YT-2000 Otana

Imperial Small-

TIE Defender

XG-1 Starwing

TIE Aggressor (rear turret)

Imperial Large-

DX-9 Stormtrooper Transport

Skipray Blastboat

VT-49 Decimator

Fringe Small-

Cloakshape Fighter

T-Wing

Preybird

Kihraxz

R-41 Starchaser

IRD-A

G-1A Mist Hunter

Virago/Starviper

Fringe Large-

IG-2000

YT-2400 Outrider

Muurian Transport

Ghtroc 720 Freighter

bsmith13 said:

As an Imperial player I don't feel particularly threatened by the HWK-290. It's primary purpose is to be a support ship and doesn't seem to do well on the attack. Now, a list running four of them with laser cannons might do what I wished I could do with Y-Wings: circle the wagons and blast away…

So I don't think FFG is going to continually release ships that are more and more powerful than the last wave. Some of the decisions made here I think are in light of feedback from previous waves which is why I think partly why the HWK-290 was chosen: A new Turret for the Y-Wing.

If by your TIE Defender comment you mean that super fighter is going to destroy everything… I disagree. TIE Interceptors are superior to TIE Fighters, but the point difference between the two keeps Interceptors from being the go-to choice of filler fighters for Imperial lists. From the seat of a swarm player it's a big difference between being able to fly 8 ships versus 5. Interceptors have the same dodge and hit points are regular TIE fighters do, and it's an iffy trade to give up three fighters to boost the attack for everyone else. Frankly I find safety in numbers, going to 5 ships is pushing it.

So I kind of expect TIE Defenders to be the same, only pushing down to 2-3 ships max in a list. The hope is that these few ships could out-rebel the rebellion, but with only 2 ships it's going to hurt more when you loose one.

I would also dispute the Blastboat and the DX-9 on large bases. The Blastboat seemed more like a heavy fighter than a ship with volume (like the YT-1300/Lambda shuttle), and the DX-9 is only slightly longer than an X-Wing. In fact it fits on the senator shuttle token, which is where I've been using it in some scenarios.

And please, I hope FFG doesn't waste time on Uglies. Uglies are kitbashses, not proper fighters, and if FFG is going to spend energy, effort, and money to mold and create new fighters for distribution I'd rather them hit other less desireable fighters (like prequels) before something so hacked-together.

Lastly I expect the pirate-third party ships (R-41, T-Wing, Cloakscape) to show up in Rebel hands. If TIE Fighter's flight sim is any indication most third parties either use rebel equipment anyway or sympathize with the Rebels. But if anyone insist on some ships in other factions (like the Lambda as a rebel), I'd like to see a YT-1300 under Imperial control as a NARC ship.

Norsehound said:

Seconded.

I. J. Thompson said:

thirded'd XD

Uglies are about the last thing i want to see in X-Wing. And certainly not before other ships come out that are not only way cooler but also make much more sense gameplay and storywise!

ForceM said:

Fourthed. I'd rather not have uglies.

I could see the Z-95 in the game because it does show up in many many places. Importantly it was found in many of the LucasArts X Wing games.

now I am NOT a fan of the E Wing. I don't find it asthetically pleasing and I wouldn't want it's roll to ursurp the X Wing.

Outfielder and Hounds Tooth…yes please

MajorWesJanson said:

I'm not saying that the Z-95 is not in The Star Wars Universe, I'm just saying it's not iconic. The named ships that I listed (outside of the E-Wing and Tie Defender) are iconic. I would compare the Z-95 in the sports world as a utility baseball player who plays for 15 years and when he is done no one remembers who that person was. I also figure FFG will eventually release the Z-95, I don't think they care whether or not I like the ship. If it works in the Spectrum of game play, it will be released. Also you say that the Z-95 is rather iconic one sentance and then the very next sentance say it doesn't have a single high profile source, you are contradicting yourself as iconic means high profile.

How can you say The PLY 3000 is semi-well known, when 2 of the more famous people in the EU used them? At 50 meter it's about 2.5 inches longer then the YT-3000 to scale, so it's not a stretch to add it. I could also see Lucas/Disney come back and shorten the length officially like they did with the WHK-290, which up to a couple of weeks ago was thought to be 29 meters long. I don't think the YT-1300 is a very powerful ship, look at the 3 named pilots compared to the un-named card, you get different stats for the card. I could see them doing the same to the PLY 3000 as I know at least 2 of them that are heavily modified.

bsmith13 said:

Fifthed, as neither side used them, so why introduce them.

While I don't expect we'll see any form of Uglies, I have to admit, the Twi'Lek Chir'daki "Deathseeds" from the Rogue Squadron novels would be cool to see a mini of, particularly if they could spin.

Personally I would like to see something in the way of support material, Maybe even a book with a narrative campaign, some one-off missions, and a few more actual scenarios to play to add to the lonely three that are provided in the rulebook..You can add as many ships as you like, the game gets stale if your playing the same 3 missions over & over again. Me personally with the soon to be released wave 3, I'm happy with the varity of ships, Don't care if Tie-defenders make it to the game or any other EU material I have all the ships from waves 1-3 (or will soon have thanks too pre-orders) would like too see the system expanded upon with campaigns or even rules to generate or dice up our own pilots.

Personally I would like to see something in the way of support material, Maybe even a book with a narrative campaign, some one-off missions, and a few more actual scenarios to play to add to the lonely three that are provided in the rulebook..You can add as many ships as you like, the game gets stale if your playing the same 3 missions over & over again. Me personally with the soon to be released wave 3, I'm happy with the varity of ships, Don't care if Tie-defenders make it to the game or any other EU material I have all the ships from waves 1-3 (or will soon have thanks too pre-orders) would like too see the system expanded upon with campaigns or even rules to generate or dice up our own pilots.

I'm not saying that the Z-95 is not in The Star Wars Universe, I'm just saying it's not iconic. The named ships that I listed (outside of the E-Wing and Tie Defender) are iconic. I would compare the Z-95 in the sports world as a utility baseball player who plays for 15 years and when he is done no one remembers who that person was. I also figure FFG will eventually release the Z-95, I don't think they care whether or not I like the ship. If it works in the Spectrum of game play, it will be released. Also you say that the Z-95 is rather iconic one sentance and then the very next sentance say it doesn't have a single high profile source, you are contradicting yourself as iconic means high profile.

How can you say The PLY 3000 is semi-well known, when 2 of the more famous people in the EU used them? At 50 meter it's about 2.5 inches longer then the YT-3000 to scale, so it's not a stretch to add it. I could also see Lucas/Disney come back and shorten the length officially like they did with the WHK-290, which up to a couple of weeks ago was thought to be 29 meters long. I don't think the YT-1300 is a very powerful ship, look at the 3 named pilots compared to the un-named card, you get different stats for the card. I could see them doing the same to the PLY 3000 as I know at least 2 of them that are heavily modified.

The PLY…what? What is that thing? * checks Wookiepedia * oh, Lando's EU Ride. I kind of thought you were talking about the flying turtle for a second.

Meanwhile I've known about the Z-95 for practically forever, since it was in TIE Fighter as an enemy fighter that was easily destroyed!

I don't think the Z-95 is the iconic fighter of the EU, but it's appeared in many places across the expanded universe since the beginning. It's certainly a iconic craft, and I don't doubt we'll see it sooner or later in X-Wing as a playable fighter. My only wonder is if it would be comparatively under-powered next to their older bretherin… Z-95s were rather easy to take down in a TIE Fighter.

Z-95 would be the rebels answer to the Tie swarm, make em cost 13 points pilot level 1 or 2 with one slot for missile upgrades and there you have it the birth of the Zswarm

Buckaroo said:

Aye, the E-Wing looks like a space version of a Unicorn crossed to a Walrus. Also they explain S-Foils by the heat generated by the laser cannons, so they separate for more efficiency. And then comes the E-Wing and puts a huge laser cannon exactly above the cockpit. Bad enough the pilot would be blinded by the huge flash of a laser being fired half a meter from his head, no he would also be cooked by its heat… Not that i am a fan of scientificly accurate sci-fi but this???

But it will come in handy once the ims will have the Defender!

Yeah, not a fan of the E-Wing. Wish the New Republic could have come up with something more photogenic.

I didn't hear anything about X-Wing foils being for heat dissipation…

I don't know… the E-Wing felt like the Hawker Hurricane to the X-Wing's Supermarine Spitfire. It was produced in significant numbers but overshadowed by the more popular X-Wing, always being the second fiddle but there when X-Wings were unavailable. I don't think it's a particularly ugly design but it feels very much the second-fiddle-fighter to the X-Wing.

Assuming we apply any amount of scientific accuracy to Star Wars…

It wouldn't matter how close you sat to a Laser, you wouldn't see a thing unless it actuallly hit you. In atmosphere there is a chance supercharged air molecules may light up (think lightning), but otherwise the whole point of a Laser is that the photons are all travelling in the same direction.

Besides, I actually like the look of the E-Wing. :-)

KineticOperator said:

Get that science away from our opinion. If you need an explanation as to why something is the way it is, ask yourself the question and then answer "because Star Wars."

I know this isn't going to be a popular opinion, but that's okay. I'd like to see them add the GHTROC 720. Not only because it's a flying turtle, but also because it's the third of the starting ships for their new SW RPG and I want a mini I can put out for the players when I use the ship in game.

renegadethumper said:

Norsehound said:

Well in fact no, the E-wing was meant as a replacement for the X-Wing and they were developed somewhat later to counter newer Tie designs like the Defender. The E-Wing should outmatch the X-Wing in pretty much every category, but it had problems with some technical parts like its guns or Astromechs. It did also replace the X-Wing eventually after all these issues were fixed. For all i know they were not developped until much after the galactic civil war.

In fact did you perhaps mean the wrong E-Wing or another craft like… say the Z-95?

Also Wookiepedia says:

"Historically, S-foils had been developed to address overheating issues on wing-based starfighters. Because of the proximity of engines and weapons systems to narrow wiring that fit inside the thin wings, an excess of heat could cause mechanical meltdowns that would be devastating to the capacity of the fighters to function. "

Now i am not a big fan of ultrarealistic sci-fi tech-talk as stated already (i'll leave the discussions if beaming really works to the Trekkies), but if the excess of heat could damage engines and weapons, i would say it is not a great idea to put a laser cannon that close to a pilot as seen in the E-Wing. They also write that on the E-Wing the outer Engines were too close to the cannons which again caused malfunctions. (Do they ever learn from mistakes? On X-Wings it worked because engines and weapons were apart, then they think, hey let's just build a fighter where we put them close together again XD)

One can also find that the huge solar panels on Tie Fighters are in fact not only solar panels but radiators that are equally built for heat dissipation.

nimdabew said:

LOL. Roger, roger. Oh, wait. That one is "because George Lucas". :-)