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Flying with the Aces

A Preview of the TIE Interceptors and Pilots from Imperial Aces

In September, we announced the upcoming release of the Imperial Aces expansion for X-Wing™. Its two TIE interceptors feature variant paint schemes that represent the fighters of the 181st Imperial Fighter Wing and the Emperor’s Royal Guard.

One TIE interceptor is painted with the Saber Squadron’s distinctive red bloodstripe.

The other TIE interceptor is painted red to distinguish it as part of the Royal Guard.

But, apart from two new, eye-catching TIE interceptors, what does the expansion add to your space battles?

The short answer is that Imperial Aces provides players a host of new tactical and strategic considerations with eight pilot cards and twelve upgrades. For a longer answer, including an exploration of the rationale behind the expansion’s design, we turn you over to lead developer James Kniffen and a closer look at the four unique aces of Imperial Aces.

James Kniffen on Developing Imperial Aces

When we began development on Imperial Aces, we took a close look at the qualities that distinguish the TIE interceptor in the Star Wars universe and the game. Its agility and maneuverability were obvious stand-outs, so we highlighted these aspects in the design of our 181st Imperial Fighter Wing pilots. The TIE interceptor also rewards a high-risk play style, so we decided to design the unique pilots of the Royal Guard around risky abilities that elite players could utilize. As a result, each TIE interceptor in the expansion has an identity to match its paint scheme.

The legendary members of the 181st Imperial Fighter Wing, also known as the Saber Squadron, are masterful pilots, always able to position themselves perfectly for the kill. Soontir Fel and Turr Phennir epitomize this concept with offensive and defensive maneuvering that can unravel an opponent’s strategy in the blink of an eye. We wanted to elaborate on this theme with Imperial Aces Lieutenant Lorrir and Tetran Cowall.

Lieutenant Lorrir triples the options of a barrel roll by using either bank template instead of a straight template. As a result, he’s able to change facing on a whim, combining the best aspects of the barrel roll and boost actions. Establishing a Range 1 shot on this slippery pilot is a unique challenge that often results in him shooting you instead.

   
       
           
       
   

Lieutenant Lorrir performs a barrel roll to get out of the X-wing’s firing arc. Though the standard barrel roll would prevent Lorrir from taking a shot at the X-wing, Lorrir can barrel roll along the 1-speed bank template and catch the X-wing in his firing arc.

While Lorrir makes barrel rolling look easy, Tetran Cowall is an expert at performing the Koiogran maneuver. He is able to change the speed of his Koiogran maneuver when he reveals it, so he always gets to choose the best speed after seeing where less skilled enemy ships have moved. As if that wasn’t enough, he’s also the only pilot in the game capable of performing the lethal 1-speed Koiogran maneuver!

   
       
           
       
   

Tetran Cowall can choose the speed of his Koiogran maneuver when he reveals it. Here, a 1-speed Koiogran maneuver would give Cowall a Range 1 shot at the bottom X-wing, but it would leave him in the firing arcs of all three of his opponents. A 3-speed Koiogran wouldn’t give him any additional shots, but would leave him more vulnerable to two of his opponent’s fighters. Thus, Cowall elects to perform a 5-speed Koiogran maneuver, which allows him to escape all three X-wings’ firing arcs and gives him Range 1 shots at two of his foes.

While the Saber Squadron operates as a finely-honed team, the Royal Guard has no need for such camaraderie. They are ruthless killers, trained to neutralize any threat, and we designed their abilities to reflect this single-minded goal.

Kir Kanos focuses on pure, unbridled offensive power. His ability is better than adding an attack die; it’s incredibly potent and he can use it selectively after seeing his dice results. Since he needs to spend evade tokens to fuel his ability, he isn’t as free to use barrel roll and boost actions to optimize his positioning, so his handler needs to really focus on predicting his opponent’s moves.

Meanwhile, Carnor Jax is the ultimate predator. He utterly denies focus and evade actions, leaving his opponents defenseless. Even better, he prevents focus and evade tokens from being spent, so he can shut down the focus and evade actions of ships with lower pilot skill by pursuing them at close range; those ships, then, effectively lose their actions! Even more than Kir Kanos, though, Carnor Jax demands that his handler have the precognition of a Sith lord to avoid being destroyed while maximizing his ability.

   
       
           
       
   

When the left-most A-wings fly into close range of Carnor Jax, his ability prevents them from taking focus or evade actions. Then, when Carnor Jax flies forward into close range of two other A-wings whose pilots had elected to take focus and evade actions, his ability prevents his opponent from spending those tokens.

Players of all skill levels will enjoy what the Imperial Aces expansion adds to X-Wing. The Saber Squadron’s pilots continue to reward clever flying, allowing players to use motion to their advantage, and the Royal Guard pilots perfectly evoke the expansion’s title; these are ace pilots designed to employ new, high-risk tactics.

Thanks, James!

The variant TIE interceptors, new upgrades, and skillful pilots of Imperial Aces promise to enrich your X-Wing battles with a wealth of daring new tricks and maneuvers when they arrive at retailers. Be sure to acquire a target lock on this exciting expansion today; pre-order your copy at your local retailer!

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Source: Flying with the Aces (http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=4572)

Rather looking forward to this one & the likely rebel equivalent not to mention getting to play more X-wing this year than last. I have enough in the Cellar at Spirit for a major battle so if any one wants to give it a try I will gladly help.

 >:DGinger