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Preview the Upcoming X-Wing (TM) Expansion Pack

“All Wings report in.”
 –Red Leader, Star Wars: A New Hope

Star Wars: X-Wing™ is coming to Gen Con Indy 2012! As we count down the weeks to the release of this action-packed miniatures game of tabletop dogfights, we get ready to take another, closer look at the game’s dynamic starfighters.

In recent previews, we’ve reviewed the basics of the game’s dramatic and intuitive rules for combat, we explored how Fantasy Flight Games’ fastidious attention to detail is bringing the TIE fighter miniature to you at the correct scale for the first time in the industry, and we discussed how ship and upgrade cards add layers of customization and permit players to experiment with all kinds of different strategies.

Now, we’ll begin a series of previews that look at the upcoming expansion packs, their ship and upgrade cards, and the options they give players interested in customizing their squads. Today, we’ll start with a look at the starfighter that provides the backbone of the Rebel fleet, the X-wing.

The X-Wing™ Expansion Pack

Designed by Incom Corporation, the T-65 X-wing quickly proved to be one of the most effective military vehicles in the galaxy and a boon to the Rebellion. Their primary starfighter, the X-wing is a well-rounded machine that features powerful deflector shields and potent laser cannons, and can be armed with deadly proton torpedoes.

The X-Wing Expansion Pack contains one striking X-wing miniature, plus a maneuver dial and all requisite action tokens. It also comes with five upgrades and four ship cards, including two new unique pilots, one of whom earned a reputation as one of the Rebellion’s most distinguished and capable aces, Wedge Antilles.

A tremendously skillful pilot, Wedge’s pilot skill of “9” ensures that he’ll be able to take the first shot in nearly any situation, and his unique pilot ability helps him make every shot count. When Wedge is attacking, he reduces the defender’s agility value by one, to a minimum of “0,” thus denying his adversary one of his valuable defense dice.

Because Wedge’s ship card also features the elite talent upgrade icon (), he can use his action to concentrate on his Marksmanship. Or he can coax his X-wing into a barrel roll with some Expert Handling, an upgrade card unique to the X-Wing Expansion Pack. Few pilots can elicit such performance from an X-wing, and the trick gives Wedge tremendous versatility in the heat of battle, potentially allowing him to slip out of an enemy’s line of fire or to drop in behind an Imperial TIE fighter at close range.

One of the game’s deadliest aces, Wedge Antilles adds a tremendous punch to any Rebel squad, and you’ll likely want him to spend every instant in battle focused on destroying TIEs rather than going on the defensive. Fortunately, the X-Wing Expansion Pack provides a new astromech to reduce the impact of any damage Wedge may suffer.

It also introduces the versatile veteran, Garven Dreis, who can give Wedge his focus token () instead of spending it, so long as he keeps Wedge within range. If your deflector shields have been breached, an extra focus token may make the difference between life and death. With his ability to grant his squad mate a focus token, Garven Dreis is another reason the X-Wing Expansion Pack adds an exciting measure of flexibility and customization to X-Wing.

Keep your eyes open for future X-Wing previews. As we draw nearer the inaugural space battles at Gen Con Indy, we’ll look at the other single fighter expansions, we'll explore some of the options available with squad building, and we'll get you ready for the action with the game's core rules and tournament rules.

Next up? The talented pilots and tactical possibilities coming in the TIE Fighter™ Expansion Pack!

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Source: Stay on Target (http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=3451)