Also, the more I have been thinking about it, if I was a game developer and had to re-balance the Advanced, I would go with the built-in FCS and not add the EPT to the PS4 ship, so the Advanced would be at parity with the X-wings.

Well except that the X-Wing has FAR more unique Pilots, and an Astromech slot. I don't think there really needs to be parity between the two. But having some choices on how you customize your Advance would be nice. And as pointed out before all PS4 Imperial Fighter (Interceptor, TIE/Ln) pilots have EPTs, and I wouldn't think a test pilot would be less elite.

The X-Wing was the standard work horse fighter of the Rebels, the Advanced was a test ship for trying out new systems.

I havn't said that the crit should bypass the shields if Maareks ability produces them

Its either [produce crits] or [crits can't be cancelled by defence] or [crits ignore shields]

The issue with the X-Wings is that they could not only add a torpedo (e. g. Rookie + Proton Torpedo x 4) but they can also have astro droids providing a significant advantage for only 1 point (e. g. Red + R2 x 4). So the X-Wings still have an undoubly advantage over the Advance. An EPT with the Storm pilots would correct this.

• Ten Numb already has [crits can't be cancelled by defense], so that should be ruled out IMO, for multiple reasons:

1. It's already been done
2. It's already been established to be a PS9 ability, and Steele is only PS7.

• [crits ignore shields] is too powerful when combined with his deal 3 choose 1 ability. You could argue for changing his ability to this and tssing his old ability, but I think it would be better to tweak than completely nuke and reinvent it.
• [hit to crit] would actually make his existing ability useful, and very interesting, so that's my vote.

I don't have a strong preference on allowing -2 points vs. forcing the built in FCS, and I also don't have a strong opinion on the elite pilot talent. It would be interesting to play with everything and see how some games play out.

As far as fixing the advanced, my vote is to give it the built in FCS and that's it, but this is an untested opinion.

Ignoring Maarek's current ability for now

As far as Maarek I was thinking if you went with crits bypass shields you should limit it to only one crit bypasses. This got me thinking of another option.

If Maarek

"rolls at least one crit you may either choose to deal one crit direct to the ship ignoring shields and forego any other damage you may have rolled or deal all damage rolled as you normally would like any other pilot."

yyou could even errata Maarek's current ability to make it like homing missiles, that is to say players cant use evade tokens to cancrl hits.

this is bot a perfect fix but easy enough to do and does make him a little better.

I took Maarek in a tournement the other day. He was flying shotgun with three bombers! He was man of the match with his missile - combined with Jonus's ability!

I took Maarek in a tournement the other day. He was flying shotgun with three bombers! He was man of the match with his missile - combined with Jonus's ability!

And this is how people use him right now. So embarrassing.

A missile carrier ... completely ignoring about his ability. Whatever you take with secondary weapons shines with Jonus next to it. You should take Maarek because of his ability - but nobody does.

This is exactly what we want to change.

I took Maarek in a tournement the other day. He was flying shotgun with three bombers! He was man of the match with his missile - combined with Jonus's ability!

And this is how people use him right now. So embarrassing.

A missile carrier ... completely ignoring about his ability. Whatever you take with secondary weapons shines with Jonus next to it. You should take Maarek because of his ability - but nobody does.

This is exactly what we want to change.

The issue I would see with the elite slot and FCS is everyone would take PtL which means TL, focus and another action every turn. Might be a tad to much then.

I think this is more of a problem of PTL being too cheap rather than giving the Storm an EPT slot. How good is PTL? Well, if we are settled on the Advanced all being 1-2pts overcosted then you're "paying" 4-5 for PTL. Yep. People would probably still pay 4-5 for PTL. It's only as cheap as it is because I don't think interceptors could function without it.

I took Maarek in a tournement the other day. He was flying shotgun with three bombers! He was man of the match with his missile - combined with Jonus's ability!

And this is how people use him right now. So embarrassing.

A missile carrier ... completely ignoring about his ability. Whatever you take with secondary weapons shines with Jonus next to it. You should take Maarek because of his ability - but nobody does.

This is exactly what we want to change.

That's not entirely true. If he's landing crits, he's still getting the use of his ability. I like this because it does support my belief that these ships still have a solid opportunity to improve through the natural course of the game. Jonus is a great companion for the ADVs, and vice-versa. No, a single-use missile isn't necessarily a saving grace, but it is somewhat hopeful. The ADV is somewhat survivable enough, too, that you can assure a good delivery. A Jonus, Rhymer, Steele, Howlrunner squad may be a decent bet. I am fairly committed to trying to use what we have to make them useful, as opposed to speculating.

A Jonus, Rhymer, Stele, Howlrunner squad is 93 points ... good luck with upgrades.

The Advanced isn't competitive and Stele is even worse. Better if he had no ability and would be 1 point less then it is right now. Even Vader is seldom used in tourneys and Maarek would be more kind of a joke.

Saying that would Maarek be rubbish if the Advanced was 2pts less with a System Upgrade slot.. or with FCS... I don't think his ability is awful.. But on a ship at his points it's never going to be worth it.

The more and more thought I put into this, the more I think adding FCS on all Advanced and an EPT on the Storm Squadron is the perfect fix balance and is in keeping with the canon and the game mechanics.

The more and more thought I put into this, the more I think adding FCS on all Advanced and an EPT on the Storm Squadron is the perfect fix balance and is in keeping with the canon and the game mechanics.

Thats what I think.

So, what do you think about Maarek?

I think ' you may chance [hits] to [crits] ' or ' Your [crits] ignore shields ' as a replacement of his current ability would be best.

If I were to change Maarek, I would change 'hits to crits' as an addition to his ability.

If I were to change Maarek, I would change 'hits to crits' as an addition to his ability.

That seems particularly overpowered.

Not really, he shoots with 2 dice (3 at R1) and would still need to beat evade dice and then shields.

Having a built-in FCS also incidentally helps Cluster Missiles, at least for that 2nd volley. Against lower agility rebel ships it could potentially see use.

Average damage vs 2 agility ship capped at 5 damage (X-wing), with no defensive focus:

Basic Cluster Missile attack: 1.79

Cluster Missile attack with focus: 2.68

Cluster Missile attack with FCS: 2.42

Cluster Missile attack with Focus and FCS: 3.25

For reference (also vs 2 agility defense w/o focus):

2 dice + TL + Focus: 1.14

3 dice + TL + Focus: 2.06

Concussion Missile with Focus: 2.93

So, if you already have a TL at range 2, and have a built in FCS, then focus + Cluster Missiles would be slightly more effective than using a Concussion Missile. Round 1 take pot shots with focus and get auto TLs, round 2 fire Cluster Missiles. It's still very situational, and I would probably still rather go with Concussion Missiles for a better alpha strike, but it would buff the Clusters to the point of being useful, especially against agility 1 ships (B-wings) where they would do even better than the above numbers.

Edit same as above but vs 1 defense dice without focus:

Cluster Missile attack with Focus and FCS: 4.00

Concussion Missile with Focus: 3.31

If I were to change Maarek, I would change 'hits to crits' as an addition to his ability.

That seems particularly overpowered.

Changing all of his crits to hits would be overpowered. Changing just one hit to a crit most likely would not, and it would still make his ability useful.

Yep ... changing all hits to crits + his select 1 of 3 damage cards would be a bit too much of it.

I would rather replace his ability with [all hits to crits] or [crits ignore shields]

But what about only changing one hit to crit and keeping his current ability? That doesn't seem too unbalanced to me.

What about just changing it to may change one focus to a crit.

But what about only changing one hit to crit and keeping his current ability? That doesn't seem too unbalanced to me.

I don't like others touching my damage cards

...

I think we all know that Maarek needs an improvement - but maybe we have reached a point where brainstorming don't take us further, but testing (and math). I like this for the fact that Maarek would be able to produce the crits he needs for his ability. But I like the other options better. Especially the crits ignoring shields is my favourite.

What about just changing it to may change one focus to a crit.

As a replacement or in addition to his current ability?

I would say as an addition to. That does overlap badly with Marksmanship though.

You could take PTL then, instead of Markmanship ... or save the points, do a barrel as action ... or boost if you got the upgrade and still you got a focus light for attack. Clusters would profit as well.