Calculation EPT

[Sithborg 11,513]

I like it but it still takes me back to power creep. Lists that auto crit will have an advantage and 4 attack dice is the new norm.

 

Yeah, because you know, Marksmanship and Mercenary Co-pilot have really been used a lot. 

 

Not bad. I'm not exactly sure what you want for only 1 pt. 

[Vorpal Sword 14,685]

I like it but it still takes me back to power creep. Lists that auto crit will have an advantage and 4 attack dice is the new norm.

Power creep with respect to what? Who's taking this and becoming much more powerful as a result? Imperial Kath likes it, and so do Ten and possibly Maarek. Are those ships that are at risk for taking over the metagame?

@Buhallin: in addition to having the wrong numbers, you have the wrong frame. The chance of having 0 or 1 focus results with 3 dice is 84%. So 84% of the time, Calculation has the same offensive value as Marksmanship. Meanwhile, given the 42% chance of rolling 0 focus results, Calculation is better because you still have a focus token. And, as noted by several people upthread, you get that utility for just one point.

Crit-fishing isn't a major strategy in X-wing, and Calculation isn't going to push it any further. But it has nice interactions with pilots like Ten and Kath, and lowers the squad point cost to get their abilities into play more often. It also pushes back subtly against Large ships, who are disproportionately more likely to pick up damage cards due to their larger Hull values. It's a nice bit of design, in my opinion.

[Sithborg 11,513]

Yeah, the big thing is, unlike Marksmanship, you get choose to use this after you roll the dice. 

[Krynn007 2,445]

I can't see the wording well on my cell and unable to scroll for whatever reason

Some repeat what the text says

Nm got it to work

Edited February 3, 2015 by Krynn007

[atr127 868]

as usual we are all forgetting Maarek Stele with ATC, he will often be getting two crits and will be able to decide what they are.

 

this also might work on an A-Wing swarm 

Edited February 3, 2015 by atr127

[Verlaine 1,647]

I like it on a Blaster Turret + Rec Spec and/or Moldy Crow build. You already have a ton of focuses lying around and I don't see where it says the card is limited to being used once per attack.

 

Especially on Palob (who's the cheapest EPT HWK option anyway).

As per the FAQ, a game effect can only resolve once per opportunity, so a Moldy Crow with a pile of tokens cannot create multiple crits with this. Still I like this card on the Moldy Crow with Blaster Turret; those autothrusters had better work or else!

[nikk whyte 3,868]

k

 

 

This has a home on Keyan if you can find another way to accurately stress yourself.

Oh man, here goes

Keyan Farlander 29
Calculating 1
Experimental interface 3
Lando crew/e2 4

That's a 37 point Farlander that can be target locked, focused, evaded, and stressed every turn.

E2 and EI are both mods so this can't work.

 

But I commend you on your efforts to try and make Keyan more viable. I for one wish he was.

 

keyan isnt viable? i just finished top 4 at a store championship with him and some rookie x wings, no less. 

[Dagonet 7,246]

 

Hello Maarek with your ATC dealing two crits.

Assuming you did not need the TL to hit and only rolled one eyeball. I think I'd still prefer lone wolf or predator on him.

 

 

It's a one point bonus. You'll hit for at least one crit thanks to the ATC and possibly, reliably two thanks to the focus result functioning as a crit as well.

It's not something to use on every turn, but it's cheap and flexible. Lone Wolf is unique, Predator is three points. 

[Krynn007 2,445]

What about putting it on marek Steele

Imperial crit team

Rex

Predator

Hlc

Shield upgrade

Marek

Calculation

Title

Advanced targeting computer

Shield upgrade

Winged gundark

Or could swap rex fir Vessery and put mangler cannon on him with calculator or whatever it's called

Edited February 3, 2015 by Krynn007

[Sekac 3,311]

I like it but it still takes me back to power creep. Lists that auto crit will have an advantage and 4 attack dice is the new norm.

@Buhallin: in addition to having the wrong numbers, you have the wrong frame. The chance of having 0 or 1 focus results with 3 dice is 84%. So 84% of the time, Calculation has the same offensive value as Marksmanship. Meanwhile, given the 42% chance of rolling 0 focus results, Calculation is better because you still have a focus token. And, as noted by several people upthread, you get that utility for just one point.

And just to expand on this point, Marksmanship costs an action, and this doesn't. It requires a focus token, which is often obtained with an action, but not necessarily. The distinction is subtle, but important.

[Khyros 4,218]

Well, let's compare it against Marksmanship.

 

Marks Pro:

You can use it on multiple attacks such as: Cluster Missiles, Corran, Gunner

 

Calc Pro:

You don't have to go choose between offensive or defensive until your shot

Only costs 1 point

 

But let's take a look at the math behind the two.

 

With three dice, there is a 42% of rolling 1 and only 1 <Eyes>.  In this scenario, Marks = Calc.  Likewise, there is a 42% of rolling 0 <Eyes>, which the two are the same again.  Rolling 2 <Eyes> is 14%, and rolling 3 <Eyes> is 2%.

 

In the case of rolling 3 <Eyes> one has to figure that Calculation won't be used at all, and more than likely when rolling 2 <Eyes>, it won't be used either, but that can be a toss up.

 

 

 

But, in a straight analysis, Calc provides THE SAME results as Marks 84% of the time when attacking with 3 dice, for a third of the price.
 

 

 

For two dice, there's a 56% of no <Eyes>, and a 38% of 1 <Eye>, Calc is the same as Marks 94% of the time for two dice.

 

And for four dice, there's a 32% of no <Eyes> and a 42% of 1 <Eye>, so Calc = Marks 74% of the time.  

 

 

 

It seems to me that Calculation is going to be superior more often than not than Marks.  The question becomes though - is it worth an EPT slot?  My feeling is that unless you're Ten or Kath, it's probably not worth the slot.

[stmack 467]

Edge cases a bit but Marksmanship is likely better when facing Palob, Carnor Jax, Dark Curse, or Sensor Jammers. (probably some other cases as well).

Edited February 3, 2015 by stmack

[TasteTheRainbow 8,636]

People didn't use Marksmenship in the past and that is superior to this in that it changes all eye balls over to hits with one becoming a crit and works on multiple attacks such as gunner and Corran.

 

As for Maarek or Ten Numb, both of which would benefit more from Marksmenship, which again, can work with Experimental interface should you need to.

 

Granted that this one is only a single point, but so is veteran Instincts which people seem to love these days due to the high PS bid.

 

The only benefit I can see here is that you have to have a focus token to use it and on the off chance that you don't use it on your attack, you can at least use it on defence if you haven't already.

 

I doubt we will see this card used out side of casual "I wonder if this works. . . " lists.

Marksmanship takes away the versatility of a focus action. That's why people don't take it as much.

[Krynn007 2,445]

I like it on a Blaster Turret + Rec Spec and/or Moldy Crow build. You already have a ton of focuses lying around and I don't see where it says the card is limited to being used once per attack.

 

Especially on Palob (who's the cheapest EPT HWK option anyway).

As per the FAQ, a game effect can only resolve once per opportunity, so a Moldy Crow with a pile of tokens cannot create multiple crits with this. Still I like this card on the Moldy Crow with Blaster Turret; those autothrusters had better work or else!

You can use one focus to change to crit from calculation

Then use another to change the rest to hits, if you rolled more than one eye

[Stone37 3,353]

This is going to be a great EPT for Luke.  He doesn't need the Focus for defense and it's cheaper than Marksmanship AND it's not an action!

[Jo Jo 4,662]

This is going to be a great EPT for Luke.  He doesn't need the Focus for defense and it's cheaper than Marksmanship AND it's not an action!

 

It is!

 

I like it on Vessery too. Makes he's already very accurate attacks a little more deadly. Pair him with a Mangler cannon and you can more reliably throw crits on your opponent than Brath for 40 points.

 

 

Does this stack with Luke crew? Can I switch two focus results to crits?

Edited February 3, 2015 by Jo Jo

[Dagonet 7,246]

Single use per trigger, so no, I don't think you can change two focus into two crits this way.

[stmack 467]

As long as you have the focus, sure. Similar to RAC (who doesn't want this though since he shouldn't be focusing to begin with)

Edited February 3, 2015 by stmack

[That One Guy 2,242]

i think this will be pretty **** good on black squadron ties.  with only two dice they are far more likely to end up with only one focus.

I was thinking the same thing.

[VanorDM 11,599]

For a point, it's not horrible. The math makes it about as good as Marksmanship.

Myself I see this as a filler EPT. When you have 1 or 2 points left but no other EPT's that would prove useful.

For example I have a 4 X list, that if I were to use Garvin, I'd have 2 points left over. R2-D6 with Calc wouldn't be a bad option. Better than just about any other 1 point EPT I could put on him, other than perhaps Determination. But then it becomes a question if I want a offensive or defensive EPT.

So while generally not that great, and by no means an example of power creep. It's a decent filler EPT, for when you have a point or 2 left and a EPT slot free.

[Kilkakon 76]

Yeah, it's good for stopping the "Well I guess I take Veteran Instincts as I have a point spare" situation. While that's probably still the main call it's good that there's choice in my opinion.

[gamblertuba 5,288]

Kaa'to Leachboy could be fun with Calculation.  Only 16 points...

[shakedown47 86]

My girlfriend is always trying to put Rec Spec on her Decimator because she likes the economy of double Focus, but she doesn't use Gunner and when I pointed out that the Decimator hardly needed a Focus token for defensive use she was a bit nonplussed lol. Calculation makes her build just slightly more viable now, I suppose. 

[JRMan 36]

Calculation plus ATC on Maarek looks like a good way to reliably put 2 crits of your choice on the Decimator.  Should be useful against the double decimators some of the local players are running.

[superdave 446]

I'm waiting for someone to name a list featuring this card "Texas Instruments." Ok, I'll do it.

 

Texas Instruments
Maarek Stele (27)
Calculation (1)
Advanced Targeting Computer (1)
TIE/x1 (0)

Royal Guard Pilot (22)
Calculation (1)
Autothrusters (2)
Targeting Computer (2)
Royal Guard TIE (0)

Kath Scarlet (38)
Calculation (1)
"Mangler" Cannon (4)

Total: 99

View in Yet Another Squad Builder (remember to swap Calculation in for Determination)