Yes, heaven forbid we give a Unique character a unique ability. That would be outrageous! That would be...would be...interesting!

Seriously, I respect your opinion on this matter, I just don't understand it at all. Why handicap the creativity in the game by installing such limitations? Capping the number of new abilities per set I can understand. However, if existing abilities don't easily fit a unique and defining characteristic of a proposed new piece, why not have the freedom to create something that fits? That is what helps keep the game fresh and exciting.

Blaster Intercept (Force 1: When this character, or an ally with 6 squares, is hit by a nonmelee attack, the character takes no damage, save 11)

Let's consider the ability above that I put together. First, it is accurate to the character of Laranth Tarak. Second, its based off of existing game mechanics so it doesn't turn the game on its ear. Third, it opens up new possibilities for the Rebel faction. Fourth, it adds a new dynamic to piece positioning.

Opening new possibilities for the Rebels is something most would say is needed. Rieekan has been an auto-include for many years. Now he is nerfed by Vong and Bastila squads. You have to run him to help keep the fragile rebels alive, but he may end up being a liability. With one new ability, Laranth could have given Rebel players a new option. Its reliance on Force points keeps it in check, as does her cost which would necessarily be higher that 25 points versus Rieekan's 14. It is also vulnerable to Force Defense and Force Absorb, making positioning that much more strategic. Perhaps most importantly, it depicts a major aspect of the character.

Let the games begin again.



Yes, lets see there are only what, 400 unique miniatures? Lets give them all a new, unique ability!!! And while we are at it, lets give every new one a new unique ability too! BRILLIANT! I always wanted to play a game I needed a 4 volume encyclopedia to play.

New abilities add flavor, great. Woo. You can make a unit flavorful without making a new errata page for every new mini. I made a case in point earlier with hat trick. Damage reduction 10 gave him flavor for the hat, twin gave him flavor for the hat, acrobatic gave him flavor for the character, yet you still needed a new ability to add flavor? I don't follow.



Sooooo, let me see if I understand this. There is a unit that grants most every unit a 50/50 damage mitigation. That unit has a counter in another unit the game produced. Now we need to make another unit that adds another layer of damage mitigation to balance out the previous one because without that, the one counter can be destroyed and the ludicrous amounts of damage units can do now can not be prevented. So, lets see, two 50/50 damage mitigations means 25% chance to hit on a successful attack. Next set will have to have a new counter to that I guess, or more of a power creep because now I have to hit 4 times to do damage instead of once...err...twice. Better raise that average attack to 15 now so I can hit both of my twins and have mobile attack so I can't be hit in return. That is just what the game needs!

Specifics of that ability aside, less expensive tech vs more expensive and more finicky/limited use tech. If you are going to pick one or the other you are going to pick the one that is cheaper and more reliable. Also, right now the game is in a veritable rock, paper, scissors mode. Reiken is an auto include to prevent damage from the high damage shooters who can clip most of the rebels in one shot. Bastila and disruptive/distraction units exist to counter the CE that helps prevent damage. Melee is a natural counter to it. Pony up for a bodyguard, build in some stealth/SS, or figure out how to not leave commanders in a bad spot. Don't create another unique ability because there is a unique character...

This is excellent. I vote that saber1 gets a spot on the next Vset design team. That's not based just on this one ability - you have excellent custom stats in the custom area. Not always perfectly costed, but creative and fitting. Your fellow designers and playtesters would help with the finer points, I'm sure.

(I know I don't get a vote, but I really would vote for saber1 based on his customs... at least the early ones. I haven't taken a look it quite a while, to be honest.)

see for me, unless of course they make a new jax, i do not see her getting much play. I know that not every piece can be a 10 or even be meant to be competitive, but i think the design team missed the mark a bit on this one.

She is a decent piece with jax, and i get the synergy they were going for, i just think she could have been done better:

hp 70: fine
Def 16: a little low i think even for a rebel.
Atk 9: fits fro the faction maybe a little low for the character but still understandable.
Dam 20: perfectly spot on. up to par with Han like it should be

agile: cool and great for the character. Fits well
Camaraderie: Again Cool and right for the character and fits very well.
Twin attack: Once again makes perfect sense and works well
Evade: not exactly what she did, but i understand why they have that as opposed to a new force power.

And now Force Powers:
Force 2: a little low but even worse when not given renewal, granted she has access to spirits and batteries
Focused attack: Probably a better option than accurate shot because she can then target cloaked characters.


Now some things i believe her to be missing are:
Stealth: in the books she would sneak around alot and she was competent at it.
a Damage Booster: Something like cunning/Opportunist 10 or even just advantageous attack/ Deceptive
Blaster barrage: i know people dont like that she would have twin and barrage, but with focused attack instead of accurate she wouldn't be able to target everyone, and it would be a good trade off for focused attack.
Force renewal/ more force: i know she has access to ghosts and batteries, but she needs a build in way to be able to use focused attack more than once. If she had 4 force on the card she could at least do it 2x without a problem.

I am not complaining to the design team, and i support them in most instances, i just think the mark was missed on this piece. She could have been so much better than she is. Also earlier in this thread the comment was made that they didn't want her cost to be in the range of some of the competitive Han's, but i have to ask why? i would love to see rebel squads with pieces other than the big Han cannons. It would be a refreshing change of pace to see her and Jax in a squad instead of Han and Luke. She doesn't have alot of tech with her so it would be a good trade. Han for her.

Heck, we still see the occasional Strafe/Accelerate question, which is literally the oldest one in the book.

@markedman247 & FlyingArrow:

Thanks for the vote of confidence. It is nice to know that one's views are shared by others.

This is getting very uncanny. We're not only on the same page, we're in the same paragraph! Point-Defense System is a perfect way to describe what she should be.

Can any1 make out the third Republic piece beside jedi battlemaster and senator padme amidala?

Sweet!
-Sith Bastilla
-A cheap Sith recruit force user with internal strife?
-Lomi Plo, Nightsister, double, twin, Lightsaber duelist, ninman style, quick reactions, Vongsense
-New Jabba, emplacement, fringe reinforcements, rapport?, trap seat?
-New Boba with synergy for dad
-Senator Padme
-Covert Ops Clone Trooper

Lol, that was quick. I'll work on the subtlety thing.