Just had a thought, way too late but, anyway here goes.

All the ships of the same type (ie X-Wings) have the same stats: its just some are different because of the special ability of the named pilots and level of pilot skill or EPT (Elite pilot talent) option.

Why couldn't you have pilot cards independent of ship cards? That way you could use Wedge in an A-Wing, Y-Wing or B-Wing. Either have no limit on what ship they can fly or perhaps limit them to fighters only or large ships or support ships or just list which ships they can fly.

Have a point cost for the ship type and then a point cost for the pilot. That way you could do missions like Wedge stealing an Interceptor and having his ability on it.

Too late to implement now unless they bring out other ship types with the same pilot on it. Resource wise it would of been better to have pilot and ship cards rather than a single ship card with that pilot on it times how many ship they can fly.

So if a pilot has a special ability that is better than another it reflects in the point cost and his pilot skill reflects the cost too. But say an X-Wing with no pilot is a 18 point ship and pilots are added to it much like upgrade cards.

Thoughts?

It is something that is done in Attack Wing - the Star Trek equivalent of X-Wing.

Personally, I'm really not a fan - I'd be hesitant to add it to x-wing for two reasons:

1. Certain pilots are very much associated with certain fighters, and it feels wierd with them being in others. Purely a background comment rather than gaming, but this is a setting with a lot of story to it.
2. Allowing you to transfer the pilot abilities from fighter to fighter (other than the - relatively few - elite pilot talents) massively, massively increases the combinations of potential squads beyond FFG's realistic ability to playtest. If you want to create a post-defection soontir fel, fine, make a card for fel in an X-wing, which may or may not have the same ability. But there are too many abilities which are fine on the ship they're on but would quickly become broken on other ships. Take Tycho, for example. Yes, he can perform actions with stress tokens, but - let's be honest - he's in an A-wing. About three-quarters of that thing's manouvres are bloody green anyway. Other ships which are more action-driven (support ships like the Lambda) and also have much worse manouvre dials would benefit disproportionately more.

Ultimately, what bugs me about it is more point 1. If I see one more Attack wing organised play where more than half of the people present field a D'Deridex Warbird commanded by Captain Picard, I think my inner story nerd is going to smash something.

I think the major problem with that, because of card synergy, some pilot abilities are simply worth more points on some ships than on others.

A very simple example: Han can re-roll all his dice. Obviously that's of greater worth on a ship that rolls more dice than on a ship which rolls less dice.

I think the major problem with that, because of card synergy, some pilot abilities are simply worth more points on some ships than on others.

A very simple example: Han can re-roll all his dice. Obviously that's of greater worth on a ship that rolls more dice than on a ship which rolls less dice.

I understand what your saying.

But would the ship that has more dice for attack be worth more thus compensating.

Wedge in an A-Wing would be less points than Wedge in an X-Wing cause they only have 2 attack not 3 respectively.

Backstabber in an Interceptor is worth 6 points more than in a TIE.

It is something that is done in Attack Wing - the Star Trek equivalent of X-Wing.

Personally, I'm really not a fan - I'd be hesitant to add it to x-wing for two reasons:

1. Allowing you to transfer the pilot abilities from fighter to fighter (other than the - relatively few - elite pilot talents) massively, massively increases the combinations of potential squads beyond FFG's realistic ability to playtest. If you want to create a post-defection soontir fel, fine, make a card for fel in an X-wing, which may or may not have the same ability. But there are too many abilities which are fine on the ship they're on but would quickly become broken on other ships. Take Tycho, for example. Yes, he can perform actions with stress tokens, but - let's be honest - he's in an A-wing. About three-quarters of that thing's manouvres are bloody green anyway. Other ships which are more action-driven (support ships like the Lambda) and also have much worse manouvre dials would benefit disproportionately more.

Ultimately, what bugs me about it is more point 1. If I see one more Attack wing organised play where more than half of the people present field a D'Deridex Warbird commanded by Captain Picard, I think my inner story nerd is going to smash something.

I get what your saying too. You could limit what ships the named pilots could fly like I mentioned. It wouldn't have to be a free for all fly whatever ship you want.

Say for example Wedge (again!) can fly X-Wings, Y-Wings, TIE, Advanced and Interceptor thats it.

It could make for more interesting missions. Fly his X-Wing to the otherside of the play area and then fly a prototype TIE Advanced back to his side.

I might have a look at Attack Wing and see if its good. This idea I like of pilots in other ships (within reason.)

The problem is it turns all the ships into a blurry mess, Why does a HWK feel different from the Y-Wing, a large amount of that is down to the pilots, the fact that the HWK's ability are great support and work at range 3. If you could move them into a YT-1300 or a X-Wing. Why would you ever use them in the HWK.

And this is what you see in Attack Wing, the best pilots in every ship including ships of other factions. and all the rest consigned to dustbin of pointless.

Lando in an A wing

Luke in an A wing

Ten in an A wing

Ibby in an A wing

All of these combos would make the overall unit cheaper than its current config. And yet, their special ability would be greatly amplified. And while it wouldn't be "cheaper" it would definately be more broken to have howlrunner in a shuttle or firespray. One of the downsides to her currently is that regardless of what you do to her as far as defense, she can still be one shot. Or Biggs in the MF with Chewy crew and shield/hull upgrade.

Allowing pilots to be completely independent of ships will break the game. With that said, I'm sure at some point, (probably either after the rebel aces or after wave 4 would be my guess) we might start seeing duplicate pilots in other craft. And maybe further down the road, we'll run into a shuttle tyberium title, and maybe Tycho or Han can pilot it.

But on the other hand, would I rather see Tycho in an X wing, or would I rather see Corran Horn in an X wing? Salm (or Wedge for that matter since he did fly it at least once!) in a B wing, or Merrick Simms (Blue leader). At least for some ships, there's still so many additional pilots yet to be flushed out that I'd rather see some of those brought into the game before we see old pilots in new ships.

I think the major problem with that, because of card synergy, some pilot abilities are simply worth more points on some ships than on others.

A very simple example: Han can re-roll all his dice. Obviously that's of greater worth on a ship that rolls more dice than on a ship which rolls less dice.

I understand what your saying.

But would the ship that has more dice for attack be worth more thus compensating.

Wedge in an A-Wing would be less points than Wedge in an X-Wing cause they only have 2 attack not 3 respectively.

Backstabber in an Interceptor is worth 6 points more than in a TIE.

No. With respect, you've missed the point a little.

An X-Wing is *already* worth more than a Tie because it has better stats. In this example, the important part is that it rolls more dice (and has better defence so Han will be more survivable).

But Han would cost the same extra points, in either ship. However, clearly you've got much better value by paying his (let's just say) 7 points by putting him in an X-Wing than you would had you put him in a Tie.

The value of the special rule increases exponentially, but the cost remains the same.

That's a very simple example. It gets much more complicated when you start talking about clever synergies that you'd potentially be able to benefit from, as some of the posters above have outlined.

I think the biggest reason now is, because FFG play tested and balanced the game where the pilots can't be used interchangeably. Sure, there is the fluff argument, but that wouldn't affect play, other than upsetting the sensabilities of the more serious fans (They already complain about multiple YT's being on the board). But if the pilots were designed to be interchangable, I bet they would have ended up with slightly different rule sets. And some aboties might not have been available at all.

In my opinion, I feel the fact that everything can't be done by every ship adds to the flavor of the game. Even the differences between factions adds to the fun, and makes me want to try squads from both sides instead of settling in on a favorite. I like that turrets are only available to the rebels and bombs only to the Imperials. I also don't feel a need for there to be the same number of large ships on each side. I think the game has a lot of balance without being symetrical. And that has kept it exciting.

You could have interchangeable pilots, but if you did the pilots would have to be very bland if you wanted balance too.

Yeah, not a fan of how Attack Wing does it. And it does not work with how this game works. Vader in a TIE Advanced, good. Vader in a Firespray, Interceptor, or Bomber much, much better. Hell, Carnor Jax will break the game in anything less fragile than a 3 Hull TIE.

I do hope certain pilots will get new versions in new ships, with new abilities.

So its balance issues that would break a game stopping pilots from flying other ships.

Just trying to think of a way it could be done.

What if on the named pilot card after FFG have tested it that they Can have Han, for example, with set pilot cost for him varying it with more cost if his skill was in another ship that benefitted from it more.

Han Lets say is worth 7 points.

In a YT1300 it says add + 0 points

In a X-Wing add +2 points

in a Y-Wing add +1 points

TIE Fighter add +1 points

Interceptor add +2 points.

Not sure what the correct point cost would be but as most, if not all, of you are saying making it cost more on more effective ships for the named pilot card would then compensate. It would, also on the card, list the only ships that person can fly.