TIE Aggressor Sadness

[Chibi-Nya 191]

I just looked carefully at this ship's chassis and compared it to the closest stuff I could find and noticed some depressing stuff that will probably surprise nobody.

The ship is pretty much a TIE bomber with a bit different upgrade slots. It trades torpedoes, bomb and possibility of crew for a turret slot. It has pretty much the same dial and survirvability, bit with way worse pilot abilities, no EPT Generic, less versatility (No Extra Muns) and costing slightly more (about 1 point roughly). Essentially, this ship is practically worthless if it doesn't have a turret equipped. In this era of super aggressively costed new ships, it could have even afforded to be 15 or 16 points (Around Rebel Operative/Bomber cost) for the PS2, or it should have been PS1.

If you put the TIE bomber together with a TIE Aggressor you pretty much get a Scurrg Bomber, which has the same and better upgrade slots, better dial, more power, tons of shields and cool pilots.

I was kinda hyped for this ship since it looked pretty unique, but now just realizing how lame it is, not a happy day for a loyal Imperial Player.

Sorry if just crying with info everyone already knows, I just wanted to vent a bit.

[Azrapse 3,101]

It's an imperial-style Y-wing.

Were you expecting it to be a bomber like the K-wing or Scurrg?

[Rakky Wistol 2,903]

It's a HWK if you go turret or an advanced with rockets.  Don't get too exited. 

[Chibi-Nya 191]

4 minutes ago, Azrapse said:

It's an imperial-style Y-wing.

Were you expecting it to be a bomber like the K-wing or Scurrg?

I think the Astromech slot goes a long way to make Y-wings cool and interesting. This one is more bland than a Y-Wing.

[Azrapse 3,101]

13 minutes ago, Chibi-Nya said:

I think the Astromech slot goes a long way to make Y-wings cool and interesting. This one is more bland than a Y-Wing.

The astromech most of the time turns the hideous Y-wing dial into something bearable, with R2 Astromech. The Aggressor's dial is not that bad to start with.
Other than that, only R3-A2 is used to turn the ship into a stress dealer. That you can't do with the TIE Aggressor, of course.

But these pilots look more interesting that the Y-wing's (at least the rebel ones). One , Double Edge, lets you fire again after you miss with your turret or unguided rockets, so it's like flying with a free Gunner. The other, Kestal, should be really effective against those tokened-up aces backed by Palpatine (that we no longer find anywhere :D, but that is not his fault).

Not to mention that both have EPT slot, while the rebel Y-wing pilots need to use an Astromech that costs 1 point to be able to equip one!

Edited July 20, 2017 by Azrapse

[Sasajak 1,344]

27 minutes ago, Chibi-Nya said:

TIE bomber together with a TIE Aggressor you pretty much get a Scurrg Bomber

More like a TIE Punisher and TIE Aggressor.  TIE Bomber does not have a double bomb slot like the Scurrg.

Let's not be too down, the TIE Aggressor has some advantages:

• Double Missile slot (Unguided Rockets)
• EPT on uniques
• Lightweight Frame
• Good dial (more greens than a TIE Advanced)

 

[Shadow345 638]

It's Empire's option for TLT spam.

The design team admitted as much.

[MortalPlague 513]

I've put the Aggressor on the table twice, trying a Kestal missile alpha strike.  So far, I've been underwhelmed.  Doesn't have the staying power to carry its points.

I'll keep trying it, but my initial impression left me unimpressed.

[Warlon 1,226]

I somehow find myself with a spare 23-25 points lying around in my lists, and a TLT aggressor with or without LWF fits the bill perfectly.

I think the aggressor has a place, especially with Kestal obliterating Fenn Rau and other aces unless they roll natural evades, or Double Edge intentionally missing with a turret/missile shot to follow up with the second punch. Heck, like I stated above, sometimes you have the spare points lying around and a TLT aggressor can skirt the edges of the battle and be extremely annoying or take fire for other ships while they make your opponent pay dearly for going after the little guy.

Plus, I just want the Rebels to TRULY ****ING UNDERSTAND HOW ANNOYING TLT IS, HOW AGGRAVATING IT IS WHEN THE MOST COMMON UPGRADE YOU SEE IN COMPETITIVE LISTS IS THAT STUPID TURRET, ON THAT STUPIDLY HARD TO CATCH-Im cutting myself off, that got a bit too heated.

Yeah it's fragile, but it'll find a way to fit into the mold of the Imperial army.

[Admiral Deathrain 5,231]

Missiles are much better than Torpedoes. The Agressors unique capability is being able to combine alpha strike and TLT lategame. Wether that is good or not remains to be seen. The prevalence of higher PS alpha striking makes me rather doubtful, but combined with other ships there might be something. The meta isn't anywhere near settled, so why not try it out?

[Magnus Grendel 10,575]

Quote

The other, Kestal, should be really effective against those tokened-up aces backed by Palpatine (that we no longer find anywhere :D, but that is not his fault).

It's also pretty good against focus token/autothruster toting Protectorate Fighters, which you most definitely do see. After all, Interceptors and Defenders still have their evade token up their sleeves; protectorates don't.

A turret carrier with barrel roll is a very nasty thing to have (see Dash Rendar), because it makes it a right bugger to get into the range 3 or range 1 blind spot (depending on turret type).

[Chibi-Nya 191]

If it really is an Imperial Y-Wing, we need a card like this:

TIE/AG Automated Protocols

Title - 1 point

After you perform a primary weapon attack, you may immediately perform an attack with a Turret secondary weapon against a target OUTSIDE your firing arc.

 

Maybe not very creative, but the Aggressor's turret is supposed to be rear-pointing weapon unmanned by the pilot, who instead focused on flying and shooting in front. I mean, just look at Double-Edge's artwork where he's destroying 2 ships simultaneously!

Edited July 20, 2017 by Chibi-Nya

[Blail Blerg 7,335]

In the meantime.  You can get a TURRET and 3 more shields and amazing upgrade slots all for 8pts! We'll throw in free access to mindlink for free. AND A MUCH BETTER DIAL.  

[Chibi-Nya 191]

2 minutes ago, Blail Blerg said:

In the meantime.  You can get a TURRET and 3 more shields and amazing upgrade slots all for 8pts! We'll throw in free access to mindlink for free. AND A MUCH BETTER DIAL.  

... 4 More shields T_T And crew/system/astro slots.

[Blail Blerg 7,335]

20 minutes ago, Chibi-Nya said:

... 4 More shields T_T And crew/system/astro slots.

Oh you're right.... FOUR. AND A TURRET!

[william1134 444]

Bloody hell.. that really puts it in perspective.... **** jumpmasters, I wish they just re-released the cards with a higher point cost and less upgrades, especially on the **** generic.

[bahourmat 74]

Not sure what to make of it, tbh. I've had only limited play time with both the named pilots. 

I really like Double Edge's double-tap (have him w/ synched turret + unguided). Yesterday, had him face up against a Dengar/IG list but he happily melted before getting a shot (a bit of poor movement on my part and cold dice, plus Dengar being his usual consistent self).

 

[SOTL 3,224]

It's bad.  If anybody hyped you up to expect otherwise then both you and they should feel bad.

[Reiver 2,238]

3 hours ago, Chibi-Nya said:

If it really is an Imperial Y-Wing, we need a card like this:

TIE/AG Automated Protocols

Title - 1 point

After you perform a primary weapon attack, you may immediately perform an attack with a Turret secondary weapon against a target OUTSIDE your firing arc.

 

Maybe not very creative, but the Aggressor's turret is supposed to be rear-pointing weapon unmanned by the pilot, who instead focused on flying and shooting in front. I mean, just look at Double-Edge's artwork where he's destroying 2 ships simultaneously!

To be fair, that's literally what their pilot ability is about... ?

[Engine25 2,910]

Lt. Kestal's ability is nuts. As good as or better than any TIE Bomber ability. 

 

The ship is quite simple, and that's fair. Boring even. It has one job, and it's pretty okay at it. Not great, but not bad. That's just all that it does. 

Edited July 20, 2017 by Engine25

[SOTL 3,224]

2 minutes ago, Engine25 said:

Lt. Kestal's ability is nuts. Better than any TIE Bomber ability. 

Hahahahaha.

No.

Edit: actually, you know what, Kestal's ability IS really good.  Just not on a TIE Aggressor.  Put that ability on a bunch of other ships and it would be really good, but the Aggressor seems custom-built to avoid taking full advantage.

Edited July 20, 2017 by SOTL

[Polaritie 209]

Just now, SOTL said:

Hahahahaha.

No.

Yeah. Tomax Bren's ability is stupid strong, and would broken as hell on most other ships. Imagine a Tomax /x7.

[Arschbombe 997]

I'm not writing the aggressor off just yet.  I've barely had any time to work with it.

So far I  think Kestal has potential to be effective with an ion turret. Haven't used double edge yet, but I'm interested in using him in a list with one or more ops specs.

[smccaughan 354]

Double Edge can work, he is tricky but he can work. Kestal is a lot of points for her ability to go off.

 

[ficklegreendice 34,359]

Honestly, i feel all the TIE/ag is missing is a title that is literally just deadeye

It's supposed to be an advanced combined arms sorta ship flown by skilled pilots but sadly the design does not reflect that

A Deadeye title would imo go a long way to giving the gressor a unique identity and way to leverage the potent combo of turret + cruise missiles as well as ketsal's ability