Kath+ shuttle+ ties interceptor of choice + BH + ties they were all good. Good times. So long ago.

Those are the kind of lists that the Firespray was good at a LONG time ago...Scarlet Cowgirl: Turr's Hunting Party(and Fel's too, then even Carnor's); Heck even Triple FS and FS + Howl runner used to be good all comers lists. The game went beyond them and they have received no real help since.

Your brief history fails to mention that no Interceptor has ever won worlds. I don't think there was one ever even at the final table. Early in the game there was a lot of noise about Fel and how powerful he is... he has what might be THE BEST pilot ability in the game and that's what keeps him around, not his ship. Turr was a great wingmate and many of us even preferred him at the time but he quickly fell out of favor. Jax was a later addition and just as annoying but not as powerful. Alphas were hot for about a month. Because you can actually name a few very annoying and powerful pilots does not mean that the INTERCEPTOR not the PILOT is "good enough". It has about 3 times as many pilots as the EWING but no one says "the EWING is good" just because Corran wins worlds. Fel is good. Jax is good. The interceptor itself is not. Even those two pilots can no longer compete on that frame. Those pilots can't compete in the META. The frame almost never could.

While I don't want the return of he phantom menance I would love some support and new options for them... just like the Firespray, interceptor, tie adv, shuttle and many other former Imperial staples. The game has moved beyond them.

I think the burn out are a lot of oldsters or super competitive players. Retention isn't high for folks that have been playing since wave 1 when wave 1 and 2 ships are mostly done or folks who have to keep managing mega buffs and nerfs. Expanding the game while improving the game is a tough balancing act and I know they can do it. I am not discouraged...yet. But I'm pretty casual these days

I accidentally put my Firespray buff in the squad building thread.

I like your idea but would take it a step farther to make it really shine and help the generics out: Title: The Empire's Finest, 2pt.- you may not be assigned damage outside of the combat phase. You must equip an EPT even if you do not have the {elite} icon and that upgrade costs -2 squad points. You may equip a second title. Makes you immune to damage from running over bombs, but not effects, and obstacles (in a ship that maneuverable, it's feasible). Gives Aces a discount (insert 1pt PTL here) and gives generics a prayer (free intensity, crackshot, VI etc, discounted PTL). I don't think it's too much. The game has moved so far past the interceptor, Firespray, tie, and tie Bomber that it's bordering on ridiculous.

I'm pretty sure BR Hipposhuttlebuses would not break the game anymore. Pretty sure all my imperial lists would just be built with 79pts if they could.

Run it a few times with Kit and Lorrir. If they still aren't interesting enough, it's not good enough. If you would still prefer Canor or Fel, it's not specific enough. If it makes Turr feel as good or better than Fel then it's perfect.

The rotating arc is kinda like the aux arc flavorwise but not in game. If you ever had to fly the FS against Turr/Fel or other arc dodgers back in the old days you felt the pain of not being able to shoot into those side arcs. The shadow caster never has that issue. Double illicit is also somthing special. And since I'm more of an imperial player it's doubly special.

To the place where they are 100% unfun vs. newbies and still die instantaneously against a hard sneeze and meta lists vs. decent pilots? The interceptor is dead Long live the interceptor

Thus the need for it to be reduced in cost.

That's why I was building a 3*/2/10 at 31pts. It's a happy medium with 2 crew and a system to fill the role or go big with HLC out of both arcs for a gun ship.

Reserved

Yes they just made a good run. Yes they can be successful. No they are not "only imperial because Scum didn't exist yet". But are they something the Imperials can build around? In it's current iteration, I do not think so. So what other large base ships exist that are competitive and buildable? -Scum: Jumpmasters. 25pts Hear me out! This ship shares much with the FS-31- Same agility, expanded arc, and shields; similar Hp and action bar and even slots; the moves on the dials are even similar! It is noted that the Jumpmaster is probably too good for its cost. -Scum: Iggys. 36pts. Still deadly. Might be a good place to start. Superior in most ways and "same cost" is you take away PS, elite, abilities. Better dial. 1 more Agility. Similar upgrades and HP. Better action bar. Illicit. -Scum: Firespray. Sees more play but still meh. Better pilot abilities, all have EPT, illicit. -Rebels: YT-2400. 30pts. Not exactly tearing things up. Again, shares Agility, expanded arc, and HP; similar action bar and upgrades, dial. both other factions: Scurrg. Similar enough but whether or not it's good is still up for debate. Imperias: Defender. 30pts. Small base but similar stats. Due to large base "cost reduction" it probably should cost less Add in a superior dial and pilot abilities and it's hard to imagine taking the FS ever. So the two options, as I see it, are improve by options and cost reduction, or keep it similar and add value. Very seldom has "keep cost and add value" been successful- see Advanced, Scyk, xwing vs. Defenders, Awings. Also, remember the "Rebranding" in the title. So let us explore improve options and cost reduction. 3 Red, 2 Agility, ~10 HP; TL, Focus, other; expanded arc; missile, crew, other slot; decent dial- all on a large base ship- appears to be worth between 26-31pts. A long while ago I really thought the FS-31 should cost 31pts. The game has grown past this. The FS has a worse dial, no re-positional action and no slot to help action economy even if it did, worse slots, and less slots often. But it does have that 3rd red and 10th hp. Doesn't even come close to making up for it. We can't fix the dial. We can change slots, cost, and make that arc better. Let's do that, not with a title, but with the mod slot! -Prison Transport Retrofit, mod, Imperial Firespray only, -5pts. Reduce your attack to 2; you may att with a cannon using your Aux arc. Remove your missile slot. Add 1 crew slot and Systems slot. So, 28pts gets you a 2/2/6/4 with an expanded and special arc, 2xcrew, bomb, systems. TL, Focus, Evade. Below average dial. I don't know that'll do it but I suspect it's close(r). 31pts for mangler that can go out of both arcs. Double crew and systems still open but mod is taken. What say you all?

Anyone else think this wouldn't be broken at 1pt and then Vader/Turr/Valwn might see more play?

Vader, Soontir, Jax, Turr, OL in just about any other ships are scary. Some of the best pilot abilities in the game on some of the worst ships.

I'm assuming cloak was going to be a bigger thing before it was "the thing" for the empire. Now it's almost nothing. I bet slam was there too. Until kwings ruined it for us all.

If it was blank and EVADE it really really really would get crazy. I'm going to try to fly the Heck out of it but I don't think it's going to be great. Theoretically good pilot abilities. Dial really will make or break it. Intensity shaves a point and can probably stand in for PTL in a lot places. Requires some jank but an extra evade, focus, or just an unused one is not unheard of.

Weirdness. A built in gunner pilot and a reverse canceling ability.

My favorite minis game but just can't keep up. And yes...those were the good ole days. Can you imagine a meta where some semblance of that list is good again?

I have all the imperial ships including the raider; most of them I have multiples of. I have most of the small based rebel terrorists so I can fly against their wily ways and scum cross over. (tertiary) My buddy collects Rebels so its a $ thing. I have 1 or more of most of the scum ships small and large but still prefer the Empire. (secondary)

My bombers need bombs. I'll never put away the ties. I'll never abandon my post. There are no heroes in the resistance. Only rebel scum.

Are they the best ordnance ever? Not even close. Are they best ordnance you can put on the ships that can actually equip it? I still don't think so. A worse than 3 dice attack at a cost of 2 more on ships that are already 2+ points overcosted isn't good. It's better but better isn't really saying much when your floor is what is widely considered the worst Imperial ship in the game and one that's probably tied for 2nd or third worst. Will it work? I really really hope I'm wrong when I say no. I don't think I'm wrong... ...still going to fly Deathrain, Deathfire, and Tomax with them just because I can.

Imperial Supply Lines, missile slot, imperial only, 2pts. You may equip up to 2 missiles or torpedoes or bombs costing up to 6pts. You may make this choice after your opponent reveals thier squad 4 point discount. Allows for more options. Allows for just MORE BOOM for cheaper. Let's bombers be scary to whatever you face. Would mean you could take unguided rockets and still fill your other slots with meta hunting BOOM. Redline- no longer has to choose. Deathrain gets to use his pilot ability more than 2-3 times. Deathfire too.