The Shocking Truth About A-wings

[AwesomeJedi 616]

I was on Wookieepedia when I found this under the R-Z1 A-wing Interceptor article (CANON): 

Thanks to this track record, the Alliance obtained a number of A-wings and modified them, removing their heavy weapons and shields, in order to make them fast enough to combat the newer generations of Imperial TIE fighters.

I know that they stripped some of the armor off of it because I have watched Rebels and read on everyone's A-wing fix articles. But NO ONE has tried to remove the shields in a fix. If the shields were removed, how many points would the A-wing be worth to you?

[nikk whyte 3,868]

This would seem to imply that shields need to be added, a dial worse, and attack value increased. 

[Velvetelvis 3,735]

If you took the shields and gave it another red dice I'd think you could add a point or two to 'em.

[Punning Pundit 4,746]

2 hull, 2 attack, 3 agility, zero shields? 8 points. Maybe. 

[Cerve 661]

2 minutes ago, Punning Pundit said:

2 hull, 2 attack, 3 agility, zero shields? 8 points. Maybe. 

Rebels removed the shields, not added! 

So before, A-Wing was 3+ shields

[AwesomeJedi 616]

I think they removed ALL the shields.

[Jeff Wilder 5,212]

Modification - R-Z1 Interceptor Retrofit, A-wing only, 1 point (?) - -2 shield value, +1 hull, +1 Attack.  Immediately after rolling defense dice (i.e., before any other modifications) you may reroll all of your defense dice. You may perform Boost actions using 1- or 2-speed templates.

Edited March 1, 2017 by Jeff Wilder
Incorporated a good idea from later in the thread.

[SabineKey 6,238]

2 minutes ago, AwesomeJedi said:

I think they removed ALL the shields.

That's what the language suggested, but the A-Wings we have  are based on their ROTJ appearance, which is the stripped down version. 

[Ironlord 933]

Or rather, they're based on the EU's interpretation of ROTJ A-Wings - fairly respectably shielded.

 

The newcanon's version of the ROTJ A-Wing was only conceived fairly recently.

[Phoenix5454 334]

I was actually surprised when I got into X-Wing Miniatures that rebel A-Wings had shields at all in the game... I assumed they would be more like TIE interceptors with less attack power... so basically what it is now but with 3 hull and no shields.

Regardless, the ship we have is 2 hull and 2 shields so maybe down the line there could be something like a "heavy A Wing" title or MOD, + 2 hull + 1 attack -2 shields with an appropriate points cost. (2-4?)

I know this doesn't really fit into canon but it's hard to think up something for a non stripped down A wing when the rebel A wing shouldn't have shields to begin with...

Edited March 1, 2017 by Phoenix5454

[AwesomeJedi 616]

I guess if you remove the shield generators it would make you faster...

[mithril2098 673]

While the mini is the RotJ version, the stats are basically the rebels version.

A title pulling the missiles and shields in favor of fewer reds on the dial and maybe a +1 evade would reflect the rebellion refit well I think.

[Ironlord 933]

If it's supposed to be significantly faster - maybe a title allowing it the option to boost twice instead of once when it uses the Boost action?

[Phoenix5454 334]

3 minutes ago, mithril2098 said:

While the mini is the RotJ version, the stats are basically the rebels version.

A title pulling the missiles and shields in favor of fewer reds on the dial and maybe a +1 evade would reflect the rebellion refit well I think.

Oh so the version we have is the heavy non stripped down one. In that case then something similar to what you said would seem more appropriate for a Rebel Alliance Refit A-Wing.

[Phoenix5454 334]

18 minutes ago, Ironlord said:

If it's supposed to be significantly faster - maybe a title allowing it the option to boost twice instead of once when it uses the Boost action?

Or the option to use either the 1 or 2  templates when boosting, that might be over the top but you're right, it's supposed to be significantly faster...

Edited March 1, 2017 by Phoenix5454

[Jyico 896]

Or remove the boost action and add "Must perform a free boost action after any maneuver".  That would be crazy awesome!  It would shut off when you bumped or had stress which seems appropriate.

Edited March 1, 2017 by jonnyd

[Phoenix5454 334]

4 minutes ago, jonnyd said:

Or remove the boost action and add "Must perform a free boost action after any maneuver".  That would be crazy awesome!  It would shut off when you bumped or had stress which seems appropriate.

A- Wing TIE Striker (sort of) ... I like it

[AwesomeJedi 616]

55 minutes ago, mithril2098 said:

While the mini is the RotJ version, the stats are basically the rebels version.

A title pulling the missiles and shields in favor of fewer reds on the dial and maybe a +1 evade would reflect the rebellion refit well I think.

Here is what starwars.com had to say:

As the Empire ramped up production of both standard TIE fighters and experimental models, the Alliance responded by seeking a starfighter that could outfly them all. Alliance techs turned to the A-wing, which had proved capable in early battles against Imperial forces. Refinements made by rebel techs stripped away the A-wing's shields, armor and heavy weapons in favor of raw speed, resulting in a fighter that was tough to maintain and fly, but could outrun even a TIE interceptor. These reworked A-wings played a large role in the Battle of Endor, the rebels' greatest victory over the Empire.As the Empire ramped up production of both standard TIE fighters and experimental models, the Alliance responded by seeking a starfighter that could outfly them all. Alliance techs turned to the A-wing, which had proved capable in early battles against Imperial forces. Refinements made by rebel techs stripped away the A-wing's shields, armor and heavy weapons in favor of raw speed, resulting in a fighter that was tough to maintain and fly, but could outrun even a TIE interceptor. These reworked A-wings played a large role in the Battle of Endor, the rebels' greatest victory over the Empire.

I think you're right, but you don't need the title to pull of missiles, that is what Chardaan Refit is for.

[AwesomeJedi 616]

But maybe not 4 agility, that would be too powerful.

[PhantomFO 8,979]

2 hours ago, nikk whyte said:

This would seem to imply that shields need to be added, a dial worse, and attack value increased. 

So, a 3/3/2/3 statline, with a slower dial? Maybe have Corran Horn as a pilot?

[ScummyRebel 4,592]

I would say the standard, non Chardaan Awing, is what the stripped down version looks like. This concept would need to be a title with increased values and a lot more points.

Don't mess with it.

[thepicto 46]

The current awing is already fast, maneuverable and can boost; exactly which imperial ships is it having trouble keeping up with? Seems like they should go the other way and have a title/modification that adds shields and attack in exchange for losing boost and some of the green on the dial.

[rilesman 249]

So if it is already stripped down, then would the original have a statline 3/3/3/3 and no boost?  Maybe no 4,5 greens neither.  Maybe it gets back the 1's.  Guess we will find out from Episode 8.

[Wiredin 3,448]

22 minutes ago, thepicto said:

The current awing is already fast, maneuverable and can boost; exactly which imperial ships is it having trouble keeping up with? Seems like they should go the other way and have a title/modification that adds shields and attack in exchange for losing boost and some of the green on the dial.

Lambda shuttle with engine upgrade can outrun an A-Wing  in this game. 

[mithril2098 673]

31 minutes ago, thepicto said:

The current awing is already fast, maneuverable and can boost; exactly which imperial ships is it having trouble keeping up with? Seems like they should go the other way and have a title/modification that adds shields and attack in exchange for losing boost and some of the green on the dial.

So your saying FFG needs to issue eratta removing all the shields and the missiles from the base stat cards? Because that is the offset of the speed in the rebellions refit. They removed the shields and the missiles.

Since the default x-wing version has shields and missiles, that means it HAS to be the pre-refit statblock.

A title to reflect the refit would naturally then remove the missiles and shields for some fashion of speed or agility increase.

My inclination would be to allow an awing so equipped to choose to use a straight 2 on a boost (but only a straight. If it wants to bank, it uses the 1 as usual)

Edited March 1, 2017 by mithril2098