Price Check: Aggressor Pilots

[DagobahDave 1,621]

Continuing our series where we re-evaluate the points costs of cards in the current meta, one card category at a time. Just copy the list and insert your own point values.

 

If you find a card on the list that you have never been interested in taking in competition because it seems too inefficient or too situational, consider the point value that would convince you to try it in a competitive squad and write in that value.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

 

AGGRESSOR PILOTS

IG-88A 36

IG-88B 36

IG-88C 36

IG-88D 36

[Jo Jo 4,663]

I'd actually drop them all by two points but I'd make the IG-2000 title 1 2 points. That way if you are running two, the points don't change at all. I think Brobots is fine. However, it does open up more possibilities in just throwing 1 into your list.

 

Edit - Math derp.

Edited March 3, 2016 by Jo Jo

[CBMarkham 2,441]

I'd actually drop them all by two points but I'd make the IG-2000 title 1 point. That way if you are running two, the points don't change at all. I think Brobots is fine. However, it does open up more possibilities in just throwing 1 into your list.

 

You'd drop them all by 2, but if they each take a 1pt title, the cost doesn't change at all? I think that math might need to be rechecked.

[nikk whyte 3,868]

Eh, aggressors are on the downswing as far as power builds go, but it's not because of points. You could introduce a points reduction in the lesser used variants, but that's at best obvious, and at worse wouldn't change things at all.

[testobviouslyfalse 577]

 

I'd actually drop them all by two points but I'd make the IG-2000 title 1 point. That way if you are running two, the points don't change at all. I think Brobots is fine. However, it does open up more possibilities in just throwing 1 into your list.

 

You'd drop them all by 2, but if they each take a 1pt title, the cost doesn't change at all? I think that math might need to be rechecked.

 

checking... 36- 2 = 34 + 1 = 35 points... and 35 is not equal to 36 + 0. 

[CBMarkham 2,441]

IG88-B is really the only thing that's outta whack here. A pilot skill that essentially gives you a free 5pt Gunner when you pick up an HLC is REALLY good, as we all know. Whenever an Aggressor is in a list, this is the most likely culprit.

 

Rather than tossing out the symmetry of all IG88s, this guy's ability probably should have let you roll another primary attack when you missed with a cannon, specifically. Shooting at R3 with your Cannon, then getting to retry at R3 with your primary probably would have been much more reasonable for the cost.

 

Otherwise, IG88-B should have been priced at 38pts, ...possibly 39, but I'm leaning 38.

[ficklegreendice 34,359]

IGs are a fine competitive staple, apart from A's stupidly situational ability

[John Rainbow 355]

IGs are a fine competitive staple, apart from A's stupidly situational ability

Agreed. They are decent enough as is. Keep the points costs where they are and move on. Next!

[Celes 619]

IGs are a fine competitive staple, apart from A's stupidly situational ability

I agree. They will already take a hit in wave8 because they really dont like getting hit by chimped ordnance, but other than that they're still great.

[CBMarkham 2,441]

IGs are a fine competitive staple, apart from A's stupidly situational ability

 

IGs are in a good place, not OP and not too weak either, but it's certainly not correct for IG-88B to cost what the other IG88s cost. There's a reason he's #1.

 

If nothing else, I'd say that IG88s should be 35pts each and he should be 37pts, so that BroBots costs the same as a whole, but if anyone wants to experiment with a single IG that's not IG-88B, they get a discount.

 

Better yet, IG88B costs 36pts, all others cost 34pts, then, as previously suggested, the title costs 1pt (the net cost of IG-88B plus one Bro, both with titles, remains unchanged). I see nothing wrong with a single IG-88C costing 34pts when run independently of other bros.

 

 

AGGRESSOR PILOTS

IG-88A 34

IG-88B 36

IG-88C 34

IG-88D 34

 

Title: 1pt

 

^Final Answer^

[Comradebot 1,255]

IGs are a fine competitive staple, apart from A's stupidly situational ability

 

Thankfully, IG-88A has seen a welcome change to the meta with how much rarer two ship builds have become.  I think he's finally worth consideration vs. D n' C, especially if you're really worried about swarms of any kind.

 

 

The real "issue" with the pricing of the IG's is B.  You always take IG-88B, his ability is simply too good, and if you take only one IG-88 it'll be B, and if you take a pair then one of them will be B.  A, C, and D, only exist on the board if you already have B on as well.

 

 

Which makes me want to make a Bro-Bots list with, like... A and D.  

[Jo Jo 4,663]

Yeah. If you have A against a swarm, good luck to the swarm player. In a SC Sunday someone had A+B against a FA Z swarm. He repaired 6 shields.

 

I kind of agree, that maybe B should be a point or two more while dropping the others by a point. Gives you a bit more incentive to try other bot combos.

Edited March 3, 2016 by Jo Jo

[markcsoul 2,122]

Either the aggressor is too cheap or the firespray is too expensive.

Compare the 35pt mando merc to a 36 point aggressor and the aggressor is better in nearly every way for only a point more.

[drjkel 1,365]

The trolling answer is 33 points, so I can run 3 of them with 3 points to spare

 

I flew them at my first tournament and really enjoyed myself. I don't think they're overpowered, but they may be more powerful for the points than some other ships. It's still near 50 points loaded up.

[CBMarkham 2,441]

Either the aggressor is too cheap or the firespray is too expensive.

Compare the 35pt mando merc to a 36 point aggressor and the aggressor is better in nearly every way for only a point more.

 

It's possible that the Mando Merc is 1pt over costed, but these days I'm less confident that the disparity is as large as I'd originally perceived it to be.

 

Like you, I thought that losing a crew slot, 2 hull, and a rear arc, was WELL worth picking up the native boost (for autothruster reasons as well as free access to boost), the third defense die, the PS1 bump, the built in pilot skill, the systems upgrade slot, etc. The IG-88 seems miles ahead here.

 

Don't get me wrong, I still think the IG-88 for 36pts is better than the Mando Merc for 35pts, but not by as much as I'd initially imagined. Now I think the current Mando Merc is fair at 34pts. The rear arc really shines in conjunction with the crew slot when you drop Tactician in there. It may not be as universally good as the package that the IG-88s have, but it's really good, and a trick that those IG-88s just can't duplicate.

 

It's hard to see the power of this, because it's a tactic that shines much brighter when you pair together multiple auxiliary arc ships with tacticians (either a 2nd Firespray, or a YV-666). The Tacticians and auxiliary arcs will sometimes be worse than FCS and Autothrusters, but standard Crackbots are terrified of this setup because of how it punishes Glitterstim and makes it harder to get arcs on the following turns.

 

I'm starting to get a bit grouchy that there's not a second source for Tactician yet.

[Daniel Beaver 165]

 

IG-88A 34

IG-88B 36

IG-88C 34

IG-88D 34

 

Title: 1pt

^Final Answer^

 

I agree with this.

[PhantomFO 8,979]

I'm fine with IG-88B being the one you see most often, as that was the one who actually worked as a Bounty Hunter and was seen with the others in Empire according to EU sources. The ship is a very unique threat, and the Voltron-like functionality as you add more of them is more of a perk than a requirement.

 

It makes thematic sense that 88B is the only one you really see paired with other Bounty Hunters, and it makes sense that the other versions of IG-88 only really work with B.

Edited March 4, 2016 by PhantomFO

[Rakky Wistol 2,903]

 

IGs are a fine competitive staple, apart from A's stupidly situational ability

Agreed. They are decent enough as is. Keep the points costs where they are and move on. Next!

 

They are perfectly fine the way they are.  Add a second title that decreases points if you only have one Iggy and you're in business just for fun.

[CBMarkham 2,441]

I'm fine with IG-88B being the one you see most often, as that was the one who actually worked as a Bounty Hunter and was seen with the others in Empire according to EU sources. The ship is a very unique threat, and the Voltron-like functionality as you add more of them is more of a perk than a requirement.

 

It makes thematic sense that 88B is the only one you really see paired with other Bounty Hunters, and it makes sense that the other versions of IG-88 only really work with B.

 

No major disagreements, but if we're talking about an optimal universe were the point cost is equal to the value, SOMETHING is wrong if IG-88A costs the same as IG-88B. Those two are equal in point cost, but not in strength.

 

Obviously, Brobots are not suffering any tragic fate because of this minor cost imperfection.

[treybert 893]

I'm curious, has anyone flown 4 iggys in a 200pt game? How did iggyA fair there?

[StevenO 2,996]

I'm curious, has anyone flown 4 iggys in a 200pt game? How did iggyA fair there?

 

I suspect that's your leader of the pack.  Fly four ships with the same load out and who do you play most aggressively with?  The one whose loss affects everyone else the least.