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Don't read the first post only!

There is a development in this topic.

The current solution is to give the Advanced a free FCS in exchange for the 2 points it is overcosted.

If you want to take part in this discussion, please take the time and read first!

Thank you.

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When I stumbled over information about a "TIE Advanced x2":

The little known successor to Darth Vader's famous fighter. It has numerous improvements over the first version, but was never produced. Several more versions were produced, up to the Advanced x7. It had boosted weapons.

I thought like: Hey sounds like a way to fix the TIE Advanced. Upgrade it to its successor with "boosted weapons", so I guess boosting the attack value to 3 would be quite right and it would also fit to the background:

What do you think about this? Is this an acceptable way to fix the TIE Advanced? Are 4 points feasible? Would ...

Maarek Stele be useful in the end?

Darth Vader became too powerful - yet too expensive?

a battle between 4 x Tempest Pilots + Title VS 4 X Red Squadron Pilots + R2 be in balance?

thats my only beef with the Advanced ... Its naff attack value

I like the idea, at 4 points it is certainly not a "no brainer" add on If you consider that the basic X-Wing can take an engine upgrade or a shield upgrade for that price they would come out quite well balanced.

It would also encourage folks to use the ship.

It would be a great addition to Vader, but would rightly make him very expensive with all his other tricks.

What I might be tempted to do is make it a "modification" card that applies only to the advanced. Then you need to think about what you are trading it against, if you took this, you can't get an Engine Upgrade or Stealth Device for instance, which I think balances it perfectly.

OOooooo, now that idea about a modification is a good one. Either way if someone would be ever so kind to tell me the dimensions of the smaller cards so I can print it off and use it in my own in house games that would be ace. That is under the assumption Starkiller gives the permission for use and what not.

I would love to see this happen. SOON!

I think there is already a +1 FP ship upgrade for then same points cost. I may be wrong though.

ETA: There is one in the pipes, not one currently. I don't have insider info about this, but it is the next logical step.

I feel the title is appropriate, much like the fix for the interceptor, it leaves other slots open and wouldn't take away form what it was trying to do. remember that the x2 was more maneuverable AND stronger.

Nice to hear that this could be a way to make the Advanced useful at last

Yes, 4 points are expensive. It makes you choose between the X2 title and a missile.

As a modification, I would say its 3 points, because it occupies an important slot.

And: Just use this card right away. I would like to see reports and feedback ... and ideas

If FFG wants this, I'll sell it for a Transport

Good idea, and I think the price is about right.

If there is a common primary weapons +1 modification upgrade in the pipes already, I think giving the Advance a title for less points is a good idea nevertheless.

But I hope there will never be a common modification upgrade like this. It sounds like a game breaker to me ...

I can't get behind it. I think it's a way to ignore the fact of the matter. The tie advanced, like the a-wing, y-wing, tie fighter, tie-bomber, hwk-290, yt-1300 (the smuggler variant) and a number of other ships that may be released including but not limited to: the head hunter and the assault gunboat, do not have the primary weapon capabilities of the x-wing, tie interceptor etc.

The point is that the different ships feel different and play different. I think it's okay that the tie advanced doesn't see a lot of competitive play. If we look at the dice, yes, it's not super valuable. It costs too much and doesn't do enough damage. This makes sense with the cannon too. There are very few tie advanced that are used, because they can't dish out the damage that an interceptor or a defender can. But they do have missiles, and they are survivable. Three with the hp of an x-wing. Awesome. My group plays a lot of scenarios as opposed to the 100 point kill fest. I'm not saying that scenarios are better, but sometimes it's worthwhile to have a fast, survivable, missile loaded ship (maybe with an engine upgrade). This is the empire's ship to fit the bill. They don't really have another one that does.

Sorry if it came off as ranty. I just wanted to offer a different opinion. I understand the desire to see more tie advanced in tournaments, but I just wanted to offer another opinion.

instead of pumping the attack, why not simply give it the sensor upgrade slot for 0 cost? that way, it still retains its supposed role as being a tank (even better now with sensor jammer), can setup missile launches probably better than the TIEbomber when you put FCS on it, can dogfight on the same level as a regular TIE with help from advanced sensors, and doesnt steal the job of the TIEint, and the best part of all these is that you have not done anything to its cost yet, and once you take into account the TIEadv pilot abilities, FCS or adv sensors is insanely good on Vader, and sensor jammer would allow you to bring maarek into close range 1 exchanges more often, where you have a higher chance of using his ability effectively, and also forcing your opponent to use focus tokens to dodge your crits, and him not being able to hit you back as hard afterwards

Nice to hear that this could be a way to make the Advanced useful at last

Yes, 4 points are expensive. It makes you choose between the X2 title and a missile.

As a modification, I would say its 3 points, because it occupies an important slot.

And: Just use this card right away. I would like to see reports and feedback ... and ideas

If FFG wants this, I'll sell it for a Transport

I'm pretty sure they don't look at the forums specifically for this reason

I could get behind the idea of adding the Systems Upgrade as a 0pt option.

instead of pumping the attack, why not simply give it the sensor upgrade slot for 0 cost? that way, it still retains its supposed role as being a tank (even better now with sensor jammer), can setup missile launches probably better than the TIEbomber when you put FCS on it, can dogfight on the same level as a regular TIE with help from advanced sensors, and doesnt steal the job of the TIEint, and the best part of all these is that you have not done anything to its cost yet, and once you take into account the TIEadv pilot abilities, FCS or adv sensors is insanely good on Vader, and sensor jammer would allow you to bring maarek into close range 1 exchanges more often, where you have a higher chance of using his ability effectively, and also forcing your opponent to use focus tokens to dodge your crits, and him not being able to hit you back as hard afterwards

I never thought about a 'tank'-role ... Is the Advanced a tank just because its attack value sucks compared to the defence value? ... What do you think are X-Wings then?

But yeah - adding a free sensor upgrade slot would be an option - as well as adding a free cannon upgrade slot.

Neither option is covered by the background, though. But still, interesting thoughts and worth being tested.

TIEadv cannot get OHKOed by han at range 1 or random lucky HLC shots, and can even reasonably survive things like Wedge + APT. Pair that with focus, evade, maybe a rock or range 3 or stealth device, it actually does take quite a bit of beating before it goes down. especially for a small ship. in fact, it's hardiness is nearly that of a firespray, could even be on par or better if you are a bit lucky with the dice rolls and/or fly it around properly dodging arcs. it's shields also help it shrug off random crit hits, which is something that none of the other TIE series can do. Of course, 2 regular TIEs are much better at the exact same thing and offer even more benefits if you treat them as 1 ship combined, but if you are looking at individual ships without considering the point cost, the TIEadv is the most hardy ship that the empire has, followed closely by the TIEbomber

it would also make sense for the TIEadv to have sensor upgrades, just treat it as better onboard computers or something

Xwings are the best small ships in the game, no contest whatsoever. They have above average stats in all areas (I consider the Ywing as average for maneuverability, 2 attack dice as average, 2 evade as good, have a total of 5 hp which is pretty impressive, and is the only ship in the game so far with the ability to regenerate, it's pilots have a very good mix of support and solo/ace pilot abilities) Even with the upcoming imperial aces expansion, I still see the Xwing as the best small ship in the game, all things considered. 2nd probably the TIEint, or the Bwing, depending on what qualities you want to argue for

I got your point and I like the idea.

If you added the System Upgrade card, this would be a highly successful squad.

If you added the System Upgrade card, this would be a highly successful squad.

39 points

Darth Vader

Daredevil, Engine Upgrade, Advanced Sensors

30 points

Storm Squadron Pilot #1

Engine Upgrade, Advanced sensors

30 points

Storm Squadron Pilot #2

Engine Upgrade, Advanced Sensors

And suddenly Storm Squadron Pilots would see action for the first time in the history of the X-Wing minis game.

Can you imagine the stuff Vader could pull with that set up?

I might even be bold enough to say I'd match it against a set of B-Wings and probably come out on top.

I might have to persuade a friend to fly against me and see what it does and report back.

(btw, do you have a card creator for making the small cards?)

Lets do a squad with the title card:

I second the Sensor upgrade. It's a more subtle fix, and higher skilled players will get more from it, making the Adv appear to be the meanest machine around. A "simple" cannon upgrade will just see this little machine being flown straight at opponents to gun it out.

There's a reason why Vader chose a TIE Advanced! (There must be!)

That is a serious killer now. The Advanced is now significantly better than an X-Wing. I'm beginning not to like the extra attack die :-(

I am, however, very interested in the System Upgrade concept.

Can you imagine the stuff Vader could pull with that set up?

I might even be bold enough to say I'd match it against a set of B-Wings and probably come out on top.

I might have to persuade a friend to fly against me and see what it does and report back.

(btw, do you have a card creator for making the small cards?)

I got the feeling you favour the versatility of the free sensor upgrades

Its intruiging, i must confess ... it would render the Advanced an interesting craft - without overpowering it.

I use photoshop and some templates I found in the internet some time ago.

I think it's okay that the tie advanced doesn't see a lot of competitive play.

If it was just that you didn't see it much in the tourney scene that would be one thing, but it's almost universally accepted that there's no reason to ever buy more then one Tie Advanced because even in friendly play you'll never use it for anything other then Vader.

Y-Wings, A-Wings, Tie Interceptors aren't seen a ton in Tourneys but they're still fairly popular outside of them, the same can't be said for the Advanced, and for that reason FFG should do something about it.

If for no other reason then seeing more of them sold...