Imperial Pilot Ability

[ID X T 820]

I would just have it as a simple trigger, probably on an Interceptor.  

 

"You may change an evade to a blank, gain an evade token". 

 

• Works while stressed,
• Taking an evade helps it a bit,
• Can be used repeatedly so useful against focused fire,
• Doesn't last till next turn because thats a pretty powerful effect,
• Penalises opponents for taking potshots,
• Combos synergistically with stealth device (which is all but extinct these days),
• Isn't fixed to having to roll more evades than hits makes it simpler,
• Possibly too abusable as an EPT. 

It's an interesting idea, but as an ability it is a bit luck dependant too, since it is almost always better to prevent damage now that wait till later (gunner is one exception).  

[Rakky Wistol 2,903]

That is a great compromise. I like it!

[ID X T 820]

Oops, I just realised it probably needs the can't be changed/rerolled text just in case, future proofing for the win.

Edited August 11, 2014 by ID X T

[Magnus Grendel 10,575]

Now there's a thought - potentially making it even better with the same mechanic - focus, after all, has a more direct use.

 

"When defending, you may change all focus results to blanks. If you change one or more focus results in this way, gain a focus token."

 

Nice on a mid PS character (PS5 or so) in an evasive fighter since shooting at him is likely to hand him a free focus token for when he shoots back or make the next poor sod's shot that much harder.

[Sparklelord 731]

Now there's a thought - potentially making it even better with the same mechanic - focus, after all, has a more direct use.

 

"When defending, you may change all focus results to blanks. If you change one or more focus results in this way, gain a focus token."

 

Nice on a mid PS character (PS5 or so) in an evasive fighter since shooting at him is likely to hand him a free focus token for when he shoots back or make the next poor sod's shot that much harder.

This would have been a better ability for Nera Dantels, if you add in "If you have a stress token, when attacking or defending, ...".

Would make a lot of sense in context with Ibtisam and Keyan.

Also I'm a huge fan of the idea of choosing a number of evade results and changing them to blanks to get an equal number of evade tokens.

Rather than a pilot ability, I think it should be an EPT with a dot (e.g. unique) so that Rebels and Imperials can have a crack at it, but still just one per squad.

For Interceptors, this comes at the cost of some arc dodging- would the extra defense be enough to make it worthwhile? Maybe!

It's ideal for those times when against one hit you roll three natural evades, but the very last shot at R3 you're facing a hit and a critical, whiff it over four dice and get one-shotted with the direct hit or explosion.

[Magnus Grendel 10,575]

Precisely. I posted something similar in the 'invent a pilot' thread a while back. As noted, the fact that it gives some reward for a perfect evade roll - which is normally a waste of time - makes it very appealing to me.

[Rakky Wistol 2,903]

These are all shaping up quite nicely.  I still like it for a single pilot more than an EPT.  On the Imperial side for the ships it would be most useful on EPTs are pretty well spoken for and on the rebel side we don't need tougher/fatter falcons/turkeys and the rebel action share would mean you get your free tokens from friends and free tokens from youself and free tokens from that EPT.