Pat, you're the best. I live for your videos. I am a stay at home Dad so I never have anytime to play, but one day I will. And when that day comes, I will be ready. I cannot wait to share your knowledge of X-Wing Miniatures with my kids.
Hi, I just wanted to say that I have now watched most of your Star Wars X-Wing miniatures video reviews and I think they are the best I have come across on the net. I really like how you have a calm beginning that foregoes the use of potentially distracting background music and that allows the watcher/listener to better concentrate on the content of your analysis. I also really like that you have thought of and are sharing some card synergies and strategies on the card break-downs. I look forward to seeing more X-Wing videos with new Force Awakened packages!
FFG should be sending review copies to you. It would totally be worth the value if you ask me from a PR and advertisement direction. No one to my knowledge goes through the expansions in as great detail as you do.
+Michael StewartART It could be worse looking at 40k. I like that its mostly easy to get a smaller tournament force. I also like they are reprinting all the waves to make everything available. But your right if you want a decent collection it does add up quick.
@TCD; Kind words my butt - all too true! I just picked up nearly every imperial ship in 2's or 3's and both core sets and started playing X-Wing with friends (asking me for YEARS to play) - on the strength of your videos. FFG should send you a royalty check... :)
Excellent work Pat. Ordered mine at my FLGS. Splitting mine with my nephew since he only play Scum. He's getting the dice, templates, etc. and taking the ships and cards and also purchasing another TFA core set. I can't wait to get it. The developers are doing a awesome job with this game and our X-wing community is really growing. With wave7 and this new core set this should shake up the meta. I hope to see less of the standard 2 ship builds we usually see in tournaments. Keep up the great work. Keep calm and fly casual.
14:00 I'm tempted to try BB8 on Corran Horn with Push the Limit. The E-Wing has a LOT of useful green maneuvers, and getting a free Barrel Roll BEFORE moving is epic - combined with a Boost, it can give him ultimate arc-dodging abilities to get out of tight spaces, and removes the need for Advanced Sensors, freeing up the slot for an ability like Fire Control System. it also brings down his cost compared to adding R2-D2 and Advanced Sensors. :)
+Kepora1 - Yes! BB-8 on an E-Wing has a lot of potential, although on Corran Horn in particular I'm not sure he'll ever beat out R2-D2 for competitive play. Wait, what am I saying? R2-D2 is the best - the designers made a wise choice making BB-8 really good - but not good enough to make R2 obsolete :)
The New First Order Tie is certainly a new mold. The engine details and wing supports are MUCH more defined. The new Tie Mold is much much better. The model even feels weightier. Love it.
Great work. Pre-ordered this last night, so your review just reinforces my "good decision." I say that in quotes because collecting X-Wing Miniatures is insanely addictive. I'm almost afraid to see what's in store now.
A F/O swarm will be lethal (smaller) as was a Tie swarm. A T-70 squadron will be lethalish but a T-65 squadron will still scream out and be suddenly extinguished. I like how difficult a win with T-65s is to achieve but turrets!
Thank you so much for these videos, they keep me well informed for all of the expansion sets I plan to get for this addicting game. I don't know if this has been brought up but I wonder if they will update the FO Fighters with a rear primary arc, since the movie showcased them with an additional pilot who can control the support turret.
With the T-70 being released, I am wondering what will happen with the E-Wing. 29 point E-Wing gets you a 3 pilot skill trading off 1 pilot skill, 1 hull for an additional evade die and a loss of boost with the gain of barrel roll and evade (comparing Blackmoon squadron to Red Squad Veteran at 26 points) [Not mentioning loss of maneuver flexibility]. I've not picked up an E-Wing yet (though I have 2 T/D's) and have struggled finding a niche for that kind of ship in 300 point epic play. I've hesitated getting the E-Wing b/c I've not been happy with how the T/D's fare - always wishing they had boost. (Vessery paired with ST-321 [with Weapons Engineer] is a favorite of mine.) Would love to see a review of the Imperial Raider - thinking the upgraded T/A [Vader] with T/F-FOs seems more fitting since T/Is are not a good choice with lack of boost on the T/A and T/Ds don't quite fit well into 100pt. Back on the T-70, can't wait to fly that in a squad with A/Ws because of the shared boost. The A/Ws performing a K-turn while the T-70s execute a T-roll should provide some shock value to any fighters in pursuit. I also appreciate your commentary on what makes good combinations. R2-D6 should work well on Blue Ace with veteran instincts. R2-D6 is a favorite of mine with Tarn Mison.
The T-70 is 24pts, which means you can only field 4 with 4 pts of upgrade total. It still feels over-costed by at least a point. I would still prefer 4 Bs with fire-control over 4 X+s with whatever upgrade you can sneak in
+Jean-François Soucy - It's true, but I think that the added maneuverability provided by the T-70, and the ability to take Autothrusters, will help it stand apart from the B-Wings. I could be wrong, and we haven't seen the full range of pilots for this ship yet (the standalone expansion is still coming) or the impact that the Tech slot will have on the game moving forward.
I love everything about these ships... a little too much. This xwing not only fixes the old xwing, but it antiquates it. Same with the ties in my opinion. I just hope the old ships receive some help soon so that they dont become forgotten. Of course Im very excited about everything in this new core set, but concerned about the T65 becoming a ghost.
+faxanadu13 - I think that the original TIE is still okay mainly for Howlrunner and the 12-point Academy Pilots. The X-Wing still has pilots who will see play; Biggs is still highly useful in mixed squadrons; it might be interesting to see him paired with a couple of T-70s.
awesome, just tried a week ago for the first time and getting into this with one of my friends :D Thanks for all reviews, very helpful! However, I have a question I can't really find a good answer for (Or haven't looked hard enough): Is the new TIE Fighter maneuver dial (With segnor loop) "legal" to use with old TIE fighter ships? So if I would buy a TIE Fighter expansion, could I use the new dial for it also? Thanks :)
+McFunk McFunksson - No, the TIE/fo (from The Force Awakens Core Set) is a completely different ship from the original TIE Fighter. There are differences between them apart from the maneuver dials - they have different (albeit very similar) stat lines, and the TIE/fo has a tech upgrade slot standard where the TIE Fighter has no upgrade slots (save for Elite on certain pilots).
+The Cardboard Dungeon Eh, whichever way you count it, it doesn't matter. Hey, now that you're listening though, I want you to know I love your videos and mainly follow this Star Wars miniatures playlist!
I am new into SW Miniature... Which set should I pick up? The Force Awakens X-Wing Miniatures Game Core Set or Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures Game Core Set? I watched your video (thanks for making it) but sorta want the original trilogy vehicles but if I pick that set, I would miss out on all the updates on the Force Awaken Core set? what sure I do? Which set is good for beginner?
+Peter Cheng - Man, this is really a tough one. For beginners, the original core set is the way to go, since it has fewer advanced maneuvers to remember (the Force Awakens introduces the Tallon Roll and the TIE/fo has a Segnor's Loop). You also get some really good pilots like Biggs Darklighter and Night Beast. However, the ships in the Force Awakens are objectively better than the original versions (they each have an extra shield, and extra maneuvers, and the TIEs have an upgrade slot). Ideally, I'd suggest that if you have the budget for it, get one of each. But, if that's not an option, and you're an original trilogy fan, you can't go wrong with the original core.
+The Cardboard Dungeon - Sorry, I should have been more clear: Biggs and Night Beast, along with Luke Skywalker, are all from the original core set. The only named pilot in the Force Awakened core is Poe Dameron.
Hey, so I've been wanted to buy this game for a while but unsure of which one to pick up. The original version of this game or the new force awakens one. Which one in your opinion would be the best for someone freshly wanted to start to play? Thanks.
+Kitihahaproduction - Both core sets are good. I guess it really depends if you are more of an original trilogy fan or looking for a slightly more complex introduction to the game. The Force Awakens set has a couple of advanced maneuvers that aren't included in the base core. But the base core gets you Luke and Biggs, who are both excellent. Force Awakens gets Poe Dameron, who was included in both the winning and runner-up squadrons at the 2015 World Championship tournament. Good stuff all sound, really.
You mentioned the TIE Interceptor got an upgrade. Is it in the Star Wars X-Wing: Imperial Aces Expansion Pack? (I'm just getting into this game). Thanx ;
It's the Royal Guard TIE title that lets them use both Autothrusters and Stealth Device (or any pair of modifications) that got Interceptors back into the game. It comes in the Imperial Aces expansion along with two Interceptors.
As a graphic designer I think they dropped the ball not saying "Core set" on the box prominently. it says it very small above the UPC code. it's referred as a core set on their web site. seems to me a major selling point especially since its more than jus ta core set. I noticed the maneuver templates also are different form 2012 in that 2015 has the talon roll and segnor's loop. I like the way the learn to play guide as it were in 2012 was written more clearly and descriptively for the components the card anatomy and the attack example isn't too simple as it shows a focus token andt arget lock being used and critical hit damage.
+Derek Barnett - Are you sure it isn't the TIE Advanced I mentioned? It got some nice upgrades in the Imperial Raider expansion. The Interceptor was kind of upgraded via the Autothrusters modification that came out in wave 6, though. The standard Soontir Fel build now includes Push the Limit, Royal Guad TIE, Stealth Device and Autothrusters.
+Derek Barnett - It's possible that I did mention Interceptors. The Imperial Axes pack is sort of their "upgrade" although I'm not sure they really needed it (Soontir Fel was already awesome before that, for example). It gave them the Royal Guard TIE title, which allows them to take a second modification, allowing for Soontor to become even harder to hit via the Stealth Device/Autothruaters combo, or letting you bring their total health up to 5 by pairing Hull Upgrade and Shield Upgrade.
Planning on getting into this game soon. I'm glad I watched this video, now I know to get this one over the older version. Question though, would it be beneficial to eventually own both? Or should I just buy original x wing and tie fighters separate?
+Blindfates - That really depends on you and what you wNt out of the game. There's are certainly some compelling reasons to want one of each, but nothing in either one is absolutely essential to the game, at either a casual or competitive level.
+Traumglanz - Yes. I would say that power creep in X-Wing is different from power creep in other games that I've played. Specifically using some of the old WizKids Clix games that I spent way too much money and time on in years past (Mage Knight, Mechwarrior, etc.) - those games had very traditional power creep: something new would come out that was simply a better and more powerful version of something old, and you'd never use the old thing again. In X-Wing, the designers seem very much determined to avoid that, or at least mitigate it. So the T-70 came out and it's very much a better X-Wing. But then they give us Integrated Astromech that brings the old X-Wing back into play somewhat. Other examples include the changes to the A-Wing and TIE Advanced, both of which saw those ships make huge comebacks into to the tournament scene. I'd much rather have power creep that tries to constantly rebalance older ships than simply render them obsolete.
+twitchster77 - Easy, get one of each. Gives you a greater set of build options right out of the game, plus you can learn using the easier original core set ships and then add in the Force Awakens ships once you've got the basics down.
+twitchster77 - You are welcome! I also highly recommend both the X-Wing and TIE Fighter expansions. The X-Wing gets you Wedge Antilles, who is one of the best pilots for that ship, and the TIE Fighter has Howlrunner, an essential part of any TIE-heavy build. With both Core sets and the TIE Fighter expansion, whichever one of you is playing the Imperials can build a pretty nice little five-TIE squadron with 2x TIE/ln, 2x TIE/fo and Howrunner as the centerpiece.
Thanks again! Just placed my first order for this game...lol I'm a bit in disbelief...but my mom seems more excited than I am! xP 2x Core Sets (1 of each) Rebel (me!): -Millennium Falcon -K-Wing -Rebel Aces -E-Wing -Y-Wing Imperial (BOOO!/mom!): -VT-49 Decimator -TIE Punisher -TIE Advanced (my mom LOVES all things Vader) -TIE Interceptor -TIE Phantom --- I very much plan on picking up the x-wing and tie fighter expansions at some point after you suggested them to me here...but for now I thought it'd be funner just to have a wide variety of ships to play around with. Me and my mom will be playing nothing but casual with this game. I think our next purchases will be on a couple of huge ships! :D lol Sorry for the big post. Just wanted to thank you one last time and to brag a bit about my order I just made today! :p
Nice update makes s few meaningful changes and the new ship variants look good. Weird that new card only gets one copy though. Core sets should allow 2 players to use mods not just power up the one.
+IMMentat - Well, technically both players CAN use upgrades but they'll have to draft the single Elite and Tech upgrade or flip a coin or something. The player with the X-Wing fares better since only the T-70 can use the Astromech and Torpedoes.
true but as you said in the vid, odd for only one copy when 2 would have solved a lot of potential problems, at this point I could probably cover a table in photon torpedoes so unlikely a money decision.
+IMMentat - I have to imagine that we'll see repeats of Weapons Guidance and Wired in the first set of expansions they release for Force Awakens. And make room on your table for more Proton Torpedoes, because the inevitable T-70 X-Wing expansion will probably have another copy...
+Jean-François Soucy - They can't make names up, and FFG probably weren't given names other than Poe Dameron. A lot of details about Episode VII are still tightly guarded secrets.
+Jean-François Soucy The sequel era is locked down (as Pat said) and doesn't have the massive EU that the Original Trilogy can draw from (look at the current set of pilots, the majority of the unique ones are from EU sources).
I just wished they made up names, even if they're not in a video game, movie or novel. It would just add a bit of personality to the card. And it would make people come up with all sorts of theories about them, that's always fun to watch.
+Jean-François Soucy - I'm pretty sure that FFG isn't allowed to create Star Wars characters out of thin air, although I wouldn't be at all surprised if we saw this happen in the future (working closely with Disney/LucasFilm of course). I mean, they've so far been able to create an entire corvette-class ship that didn't exist before (the Imperial Raider) and they've gotten Force Awakened product out. Well before the movie is released. Both of those things are pretty big deals and speak to the amount of clout that FFG must have with Disney (i.e. The amount of money that X-Wing brings in for Disney, that is).
I know you're right, but were all named pilots part of something else before? Like Roark Garnett, the third pilot for the HWK. The ship is from a game and i don't recall that character.
I wish they sold the ships separately without all the game fluff, nothing against the game I would just like a few of these to decorate my desk and it's just a bit of a shame to get extra game bits that I'm not going to use. They're lovely little ships :\
+Martin Willis - Yes, everything is 100% compatible. Resistance faction and Rebel Alliance ships can fly together in the same squadrons, and likewise for First Order and Galactic Empire.
I liked this only because your reviews are awesome. But I hate the Disney fan fiction that's being pushed. Why is the Empire still using the old TIEs? The Interceptor was to replace the older flat eyeballs. :l
+tetsuoswrath - This isn't the Empire anymore, it's the First Order, and until Episode VII comes out we don't really have a lot of info about them. But maybe they're using whatever they have access to - the Empire did suffer a major setback at Endor, after all.
The Cardboard Dungeon But still, the TIE advanced/Interceptors were massed produced. They'd also still have to have access to Sienar Fleet Systems to have any newer TIEs(paint jobs really) and also the new shuttle(also Sienar). I get that most fans want to wait and see it, but literally every scene from the 3 trailers so far have huge flaws. For one thing, any of the flat winged TIEs would be useless in atmosphere in a dogfight. The wings would get ripped off from the drag. I can list all the problems I've found with the film so far if you're interested. I have over 30 points that point out how flawed the film is from the start. I hate to ruin it for you, but the film is going to fail because of how much is wrong with it. They should have kept Lucas to sort it all out for them. :l
+tetsuoswrath - I guess you do need to suspend some disbelief with this stuff... but on the other hand, those aerial dogfights are taking place on alien worlds with ships made from completely fictional materials. It's hard to apply earth physics to something like this, when we really don't know if the planet has the same gravitational pull, or what the relative weight of things like "transparensteel" and "plasteel" are, or how twin ion engines function, etc. Heck, to be a Star Wars fan at all, we've always had to turn a blind eye to myriad inconsistencies - sound in the vacuum of space, for example - in order to enjoy them. If you start picking apart the existing movies you'll find all kinds of things not to like if you so choose.
You get more than 1 extra shield for the point increase. You also get Boost and a better maneuver dial which includes the first-ever Talon Roll option. Seems like a good deal to me. There's a reason that the top two finishers in the most recent World Championship had this ship in their builds.
+The Cardboard Dungeon yup, its an ability increase, but it seems like a fix to an old problem and the new stats are really about right for the old point cost for me. i've not played for long thoigh.
I'd argue that it was costed well last Fall when T-70s made their highly competitive showing at Worlds, although stacked against the current meta out of wave 8, with triple scouts and Palpatine Aces becoming dominant I might agree that the T-70 now seems a bit pricey
+The Cardboard Dungeon This is the issue I have. Points systems should make forces equal, so the skill of the player is what wins. Examples include Dropzone Commender and Kings of War. Though you ate right to use it, 'Meta' is usually a sign of an unhealthy system. I'm sticking at it though as I think the game mechanics are good. Thanks for your time by the way. Its great that people help us nubes through discussion.
+Brian Honsinger - I think that the claim of power creep might be somewhat premature. The new ships seem to be costed okay, and they have some drawbacks to make up for their added power, such as relatively low pilot skills. "Blue Ace," for example, has an amazing ability (using the speed 1 turn templates for his boosts) but it's tempered by his inability to take an Elite upgrade and low pilot skill of 5. He's a big threat against pilots with skills lower than 5, but against high skill pilots he's not much of a threat.
Shields on a TIE fighter... ::sigh:: The fact that both of these ships got a shield buff is telling to me. Also, the SLAM on the K-wing and especially the boost on the TIE Punisher is another indicator. Boost doesn't even make sense for a ship of that type and size, but they're having to pack abilities and skills on to these ships to keep them viable. Has the game totally tipped? Not yet. But power creep is something that certainly exists. It's existed since wave 2. It's a personal choice and a matter of opinion when enough is enough. I should also say that I originally got into this game because it was excellent for new comers. There was a low barrier to entry. They'd watch the 10 min tutorial video online and, bam! they were ready to go. The game was dynamic and fun, but not overly burdened with rules.
+Brian Honsinger - Fair enough. I definitely agree that there have always been more powerful ships and abilities added to the game, but the fact that they've managed to keep most of the wave 1 ships relevant and powerful as well is a lot better than many other company's whose miniatures game I've played managed to do (*cough* WizKids *cough*). But you're right - the barrier to entry, at a competitive level, is certainly a lot higher than it was when the game debuted. Still, I didn't get into X-Wing until a little over a year ago, just before wave 4 hit stores, and I managed to place 3rd in my first tournament ever running a trio of X-Wings. In a field with triple Firesprays, Fat Hans, Doom Shuttles and pre-Autothruster Soontir Fels.
You're absolutely right, they've done a really good job at keeping balance in the game. Hats off to them on that. I'm more lamenting the inevitability of all games to fall out of balance, and am nostalgic for a wave 4 or so sweet spot IMO. It's just these last two releases gave me my first twinge that things may have peaked and could be due to decline. Here's to hoping I'm wrong. Amazing video series btw! Thanks for all you do.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #1 НАЧАЛО ПУТЕШЕСТВИЯ [Новый сезон] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/380Q7gLWGvk/mqdefault.jpg)
Pat, you're the best. I live for your videos. I am a stay at home Dad so I never have anytime to play, but one day I will. And when that day comes, I will be ready. I cannot wait to share your knowledge of X-Wing Miniatures with my kids.
Thanks for watching!
Hi, I just wanted to say that I have now watched most of your Star Wars X-Wing miniatures video reviews and I think they are the best I have come across on the net. I really like how you have a calm beginning that foregoes the use of potentially distracting background music and that allows the watcher/listener to better concentrate on the content of your analysis. I also really like that you have thought of and are sharing some card synergies and strategies on the card break-downs. I look forward to seeing more X-Wing videos with new Force Awakened packages!
+gurtana - Hey, thanks! I'm always happy to hear that the videos are being enjoyed!
I came to the comments to say the exact same thing. Nice work!
FFG should be sending review copies to you. It would totally be worth the value if you ask me from a PR and advertisement direction. No one to my knowledge goes through the expansions in as great detail as you do.
+Michael StewartART It could be worse looking at 40k. I like that its mostly easy to get a smaller tournament force. I also like they are reprinting all the waves to make everything available. But your right if you want a decent collection it does add up quick.
+Michael StewartART Eh. Intel sends thousands of dollars of equipment to youtubers, some boxes for X-Wing are nothing.
Exactly! Considering how much sales these video's have drummed up I would think it's quite reasonable.
+Dusty Erker - Thanks for the kind words.
@TCD; Kind words my butt - all too true! I just picked up nearly every imperial ship in 2's or 3's and both core sets and started playing X-Wing with friends (asking me for YEARS to play) - on the strength of your videos. FFG should send you a royalty check... :)
Excellent work Pat. Ordered mine at my FLGS. Splitting mine with my nephew since he only play Scum. He's getting the dice, templates, etc. and taking the ships and cards and also purchasing another TFA core set. I can't wait to get it. The developers are doing a awesome job with this game and our X-wing community is really growing. With wave7 and this new core set this should shake up the meta. I hope to see less of the standard 2 ship builds we usually see in tournaments. Keep up the great work. Keep calm and fly casual.
this is the best intro video for this game's contents on the internet. thank you.
Thanks for watching :)
14:00 I'm tempted to try BB8 on Corran Horn with Push the Limit. The E-Wing has a LOT of useful green maneuvers, and getting a free Barrel Roll BEFORE moving is epic - combined with a Boost, it can give him ultimate arc-dodging abilities to get out of tight spaces, and removes the need for Advanced Sensors, freeing up the slot for an ability like Fire Control System. it also brings down his cost compared to adding R2-D2 and Advanced Sensors. :)
+Kepora1 - Yes! BB-8 on an E-Wing has a lot of potential, although on Corran Horn in particular I'm not sure he'll ever beat out R2-D2 for competitive play. Wait, what am I saying? R2-D2 is the best - the designers made a wise choice making BB-8 really good - but not good enough to make R2 obsolete :)
Fantastic video review. Now more than ever I want to go get the new core set.
+loganis32 - It's worth every penny!
The New First Order Tie is certainly a new mold. The engine details and wing supports are MUCH more defined. The new Tie Mold is much much better. The model even feels weightier. Love it.
You are on every X-wing mini video I've watched. I feel like we have to play a round one day, haha.
+Michael Phillips Whenever you are in Louisiana let me know LOL.
Great work. Pre-ordered this last night, so your review just reinforces my "good decision." I say that in quotes because collecting X-Wing Miniatures is insanely addictive. I'm almost afraid to see what's in store now.
The new damage deck becomes tournament standard in January 2016, as per the FFG Organized Play rep at the NOVA Open over the weekend.
+Thomas Haller I enjoyed the video coverage of that event. it was fun!
+Thomas Haller - Thanks, I figured it would be something along those lines.
This was an excellent breakdown. Great work dude, really enjoyed it.
+Off-The-Cuff Gaming - Thank you!
Great job. Love your videos. Please do one on CR-90 and Imperial Raider
+Tab Oberheu - Thank you! And those videos are coming...
After I bought the TIE Bomber for the model, I got interested in the actual game, culminating in me buying this set. And I'm glad I did :D
The Galactic empire and Rebel Alliance are themselves sub factions too. The primary factions are Rebel and Imperial.
A F/O swarm will be lethal (smaller) as was a Tie swarm. A T-70 squadron will be lethalish but a T-65 squadron will still scream out and be suddenly extinguished. I like how difficult a win with T-65s is to achieve but turrets!
Thank you so much for these videos, they keep me well informed for all of the expansion sets I plan to get for this addicting game. I don't know if this has been brought up but I wonder if they will update the FO Fighters with a rear primary arc, since the movie showcased them with an additional pilot who can control the support turret.
+rclru - That wasn't a TIE/fo, it was a Special Forces TIE which we haven't seen yet in X-Wing, but which I have no doubt is coming in the future.
I'm hoping for a 'chardaan refit' or 'barrelroll action' for the T-65 X-wing.
well done Pat! thanks for this in depth review
With the T-70 being released, I am wondering what will happen with the E-Wing. 29 point E-Wing gets you a 3 pilot skill trading off 1 pilot skill, 1 hull for an additional evade die and a loss of boost with the gain of barrel roll and evade (comparing Blackmoon squadron to Red Squad Veteran at 26 points) [Not mentioning loss of maneuver flexibility]. I've not picked up an E-Wing yet (though I have 2 T/D's) and have struggled finding a niche for that kind of ship in 300 point epic play. I've hesitated getting the E-Wing b/c I've not been happy with how the T/D's fare - always wishing they had boost. (Vessery paired with ST-321 [with Weapons Engineer] is a favorite of mine.) Would love to see a review of the Imperial Raider - thinking the upgraded T/A [Vader] with T/F-FOs seems more fitting since T/Is are not a good choice with lack of boost on the T/A and T/Ds don't quite fit well into 100pt. Back on the T-70, can't wait to fly that in a squad with A/Ws because of the shared boost. The A/Ws performing a K-turn while the T-70s execute a T-roll should provide some shock value to any fighters in pursuit. I also appreciate your commentary on what makes good combinations. R2-D6 should work well on Blue Ace with veteran instincts. R2-D6 is a favorite of mine with Tarn Mison.
Nice vid, keep the good reviews :)
The T-70 is 24pts, which means you can only field 4 with 4 pts of upgrade total. It still feels over-costed by at least a point. I would still prefer 4 Bs with fire-control over 4 X+s with whatever upgrade you can sneak in
+Jean-François Soucy - It's true, but I think that the added maneuverability provided by the T-70, and the ability to take Autothrusters, will help it stand apart from the B-Wings. I could be wrong, and we haven't seen the full range of pilots for this ship yet (the standalone expansion is still coming) or the impact that the Tech slot will have on the game moving forward.
I love everything about these ships... a little too much. This xwing not only fixes the old xwing, but it antiquates it. Same with the ties in my opinion. I just hope the old ships receive some help soon so that they dont become forgotten. Of course Im very excited about everything in this new core set, but concerned about the T65 becoming a ghost.
+faxanadu13 - I think that the original TIE is still okay mainly for Howlrunner and the 12-point Academy Pilots. The X-Wing still has pilots who will see play; Biggs is still highly useful in mixed squadrons; it might be interesting to see him paired with a couple of T-70s.
They should have included a new range ruler with yellow and blue for the Scum faction.
+LuddyVonBeat - That's a great idea. Hopefully one of the third-party accessories producers will deliver on it.
awesome, just tried a week ago for the first time and getting into this with one of my friends :D Thanks for all reviews, very helpful!
However, I have a question I can't really find a good answer for (Or haven't looked hard enough): Is the new TIE Fighter maneuver dial (With segnor loop) "legal" to use with old TIE fighter ships? So if I would buy a TIE Fighter expansion, could I use the new dial for it also?
Thanks :)
+McFunk McFunksson - No, the TIE/fo (from The Force Awakens Core Set) is a completely different ship from the original TIE Fighter. There are differences between them apart from the maneuver dials - they have different (albeit very similar) stat lines, and the TIE/fo has a tech upgrade slot standard where the TIE Fighter has no upgrade slots (save for Elite on certain pilots).
Will you be doing a rundown of the Imperial Raider?
+Cyberjesus - Yes! Eventually..
Well, not all of the special maneuver are shown. There's still technically the "0" maneuver
+Hostile Wolf I guess that's true. I don't really count that one, but I guess it is a special maneuver type.
+The Cardboard Dungeon Eh, whichever way you count it, it doesn't matter. Hey, now that you're listening though, I want you to know I love your videos and mainly follow this Star Wars miniatures playlist!
+Hostile Wolf - Thanks!
I am new into SW Miniature... Which set should I pick up?
The Force Awakens X-Wing Miniatures Game Core Set or Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures Game Core Set? I watched your video (thanks for making it) but sorta want the original trilogy vehicles but if I pick that set, I would miss out on all the updates on the Force Awaken Core set? what sure I do? Which set is good for beginner?
+Peter Cheng - Man, this is really a tough one. For beginners, the original core set is the way to go, since it has fewer advanced maneuvers to remember (the Force Awakens introduces the Tallon Roll and the TIE/fo has a Segnor's Loop). You also get some really good pilots like Biggs Darklighter and Night Beast. However, the ships in the Force Awakens are objectively better than the original versions (they each have an extra shield, and extra maneuvers, and the TIEs have an upgrade slot). Ideally, I'd suggest that if you have the budget for it, get one of each. But, if that's not an option, and you're an original trilogy fan, you can't go wrong with the original core.
+The Cardboard Dungeon - Sorry, I should have been more clear: Biggs and Night Beast, along with Luke Skywalker, are all from the original core set. The only named pilot in the Force Awakened core is Poe Dameron.
Hey, so I've been wanted to buy this game for a while but unsure of which one to pick up. The original version of this game or the new force awakens one. Which one in your opinion would be the best for someone freshly wanted to start to play? Thanks.
+Kitihahaproduction - Both core sets are good. I guess it really depends if you are more of an original trilogy fan or looking for a slightly more complex introduction to the game. The Force Awakens set has a couple of advanced maneuvers that aren't included in the base core. But the base core gets you Luke and Biggs, who are both excellent. Force Awakens gets Poe Dameron, who was included in both the winning and runner-up squadrons at the 2015 World Championship tournament. Good stuff all sound, really.
You mentioned the TIE Interceptor got an upgrade. Is it in the Star Wars X-Wing: Imperial Aces Expansion Pack? (I'm just getting into this game). Thanx ;
It's the Royal Guard TIE title that lets them use both Autothrusters and Stealth Device (or any pair of modifications) that got Interceptors back into the game. It comes in the Imperial Aces expansion along with two Interceptors.
Thanx for the clarification!
As a graphic designer I think they dropped the ball not saying "Core set" on the box prominently. it says it very small above the UPC code. it's referred as a core set on their web site. seems to me a major selling point especially since its more than jus ta core set. I noticed the maneuver templates also are different form 2012 in that 2015 has the talon roll and segnor's loop. I like the way the learn to play guide as it were in 2012 was written more clearly and descriptively for the components the card anatomy and the attack example isn't too simple as it shows a focus token andt arget lock being used and critical hit damage.
You mentioned the Tie Interceptor getting an upgrade recently. Which expansion are you referring to?
+Derek Barnett - Are you sure it isn't the TIE Advanced I mentioned? It got some nice upgrades in the Imperial Raider expansion. The Interceptor was kind of upgraded via the Autothrusters modification that came out in wave 6, though. The standard Soontir Fel build now includes Push the Limit, Royal Guad TIE, Stealth Device and Autothrusters.
The Cardboard Dungeon huh, maybe I misheard. In either case I'm off to a decent start on my interceptor/phantom squadron.
+Derek Barnett - It's possible that I did mention Interceptors. The Imperial Axes pack is sort of their "upgrade" although I'm not sure they really needed it (Soontir Fel was already awesome before that, for example). It gave them the Royal Guard TIE title, which allows them to take a second modification, allowing for Soontor to become even harder to hit via the Stealth Device/Autothruaters combo, or letting you bring their total health up to 5 by pairing Hull Upgrade and Shield Upgrade.
+The Cardboard Dungeon - Ha ha, "Imperial Aces," not "Imperial Axes."
+The Cardboard Dungeon Imperial axes sounds pretty beast, honestly. lol
Planning on getting into this game soon. I'm glad I watched this video, now I know to get this one over the older version. Question though, would it be beneficial to eventually own both? Or should I just buy original x wing and tie fighters separate?
+Blindfates - That really depends on you and what you wNt out of the game. There's are certainly some compelling reasons to want one of each, but nothing in either one is absolutely essential to the game, at either a casual or competitive level.
sadly, i have 4 x-wings but i can't find a good build for them
+Matthew Hicks - 4 X-Wings IS a good build. It almost doesn't matter which pilots you run.
When are you doing your other Hugh ship videos???
+Doug Popson - one of these days...
Is it legal to combine 'Resistance' with the 'Rebels' and the 'Empire' with the 'new order' faction?
yes he states in the video that they are just sub factions of the rebels and empire and can fly together
Yes, also it is the first order not the new order
Powercreep seems real.
+Traumglanz - Yes. I would say that power creep in X-Wing is different from power creep in other games that I've played. Specifically using some of the old WizKids Clix games that I spent way too much money and time on in years past (Mage Knight, Mechwarrior, etc.) - those games had very traditional power creep: something new would come out that was simply a better and more powerful version of something old, and you'd never use the old thing again. In X-Wing, the designers seem very much determined to avoid that, or at least mitigate it. So the T-70 came out and it's very much a better X-Wing. But then they give us Integrated Astromech that brings the old X-Wing back into play somewhat. Other examples include the changes to the A-Wing and TIE Advanced, both of which saw those ships make huge comebacks into to the tournament scene. I'd much rather have power creep that tries to constantly rebalance older ships than simply render them obsolete.
Getting into this game with my mom. We both want a core set.
2x of these, or 1 of each?
+twitchster77 - Easy, get one of each. Gives you a greater set of build options right out of the game, plus you can learn using the easier original core set ships and then add in the Force Awakens ships once you've got the basics down.
The Cardboard Dungeon
Thank you! :D
+twitchster77 - You are welcome! I also highly recommend both the X-Wing and TIE Fighter expansions. The X-Wing gets you Wedge Antilles, who is one of the best pilots for that ship, and the TIE Fighter has Howlrunner, an essential part of any TIE-heavy build. With both Core sets and the TIE Fighter expansion, whichever one of you is playing the Imperials can build a pretty nice little five-TIE squadron with 2x TIE/ln, 2x TIE/fo and Howrunner as the centerpiece.
Thanks again!
Just placed my first order for this game...lol I'm a bit in disbelief...but my mom seems more excited than I am! xP
2x Core Sets (1 of each)
Rebel (me!):
-Millennium Falcon
-K-Wing
-Rebel Aces
-E-Wing
-Y-Wing
Imperial (BOOO!/mom!):
-VT-49 Decimator
-TIE Punisher
-TIE Advanced (my mom LOVES all things Vader)
-TIE Interceptor
-TIE Phantom
---
I very much plan on picking up the x-wing and tie fighter expansions at some point after you suggested them to me here...but for now I thought it'd be funner just to have a wide variety of ships to play around with. Me and my mom will be playing nothing but casual with this game.
I think our next purchases will be on a couple of huge ships! :D lol
Sorry for the big post. Just wanted to thank you one last time and to brag a bit about my order I just made today! :p
Is this a good thing to buy to start off and play with a friend?
Yes!
Awesome :)
Nice update makes s few meaningful changes and the new ship variants look good. Weird that new card only gets one copy though. Core sets should allow 2 players to use mods not just power up the one.
+IMMentat - Well, technically both players CAN use upgrades but they'll have to draft the single Elite and Tech upgrade or flip a coin or something. The player with the X-Wing fares better since only the T-70 can use the Astromech and Torpedoes.
true but as you said in the vid, odd for only one copy when 2 would have solved a lot of potential problems, at this point I could probably cover a table in photon torpedoes so unlikely a money decision.
+IMMentat - I have to imagine that we'll see repeats of Weapons Guidance and Wired in the first set of expansions they release for Force Awakens. And make room on your table for more Proton Torpedoes, because the inevitable T-70 X-Wing expansion will probably have another copy...
lovely as the new models are I'm not sure how many upgraded ship versions My wallet can afford >
OH MY GOD, blue Ace, Zeta Ace, Omega Ace, Epsilon Ace? They couldn't make up names.
+Jean-François Soucy - They can't make names up, and FFG probably weren't given names other than Poe Dameron. A lot of details about Episode VII are still tightly guarded secrets.
+Jean-François Soucy The sequel era is locked down (as Pat said) and doesn't have the massive EU that the Original Trilogy can draw from (look at the current set of pilots, the majority of the unique ones are from EU sources).
I just wished they made up names, even if they're not in a video game, movie or novel. It would just add a bit of personality to the card. And it would make people come up with all sorts of theories about them, that's always fun to watch.
+Jean-François Soucy - I'm pretty sure that FFG isn't allowed to create Star Wars characters out of thin air, although I wouldn't be at all surprised if we saw this happen in the future (working closely with Disney/LucasFilm of course). I mean, they've so far been able to create an entire corvette-class ship that didn't exist before (the Imperial Raider) and they've gotten Force Awakened product out. Well before the movie is released. Both of those things are pretty big deals and speak to the amount of clout that FFG must have with Disney (i.e. The amount of money that X-Wing brings in for Disney, that is).
I know you're right, but were all named pilots part of something else before? Like Roark Garnett, the third pilot for the HWK. The ship is from a game and i don't recall that character.
tie like tie fighter or tie like draw?
What's the context? If you're referring to a particular sentence or usage that I made in this video. Probably TIE as in TIE Fighter, though.
I wish they sold the ships separately without all the game fluff, nothing against the game I would just like a few of these to decorate my desk and it's just a bit of a shame to get extra game bits that I'm not going to use.
They're lovely little ships :\
+Snotnarok You could probably buy just the ships on ebay. Alternatively, you could buy the ships and sell the cards and stuff on ebay.
PyrusCreed
Yeah I'm probably going to sell the cards, just hope someone gets use out of them.
Snotnarok Shouldn't be a problem, ebay has listings of cards to buy often with many out of stock.
PyrusCreed
Oh that's good to hear! Thanks for the heads up, will likely put them up soon then. Blizzard outside has me waiting to do much haha :)
Snotnarok Your welcome.
can you still use ships from the old game?
+Martin Willis - Yes, everything is 100% compatible. Resistance faction and Rebel Alliance ships can fly together in the same squadrons, and likewise for First Order and Galactic Empire.
thank you for the reply :) going to buy the game :)
Good luck job
I liked this only because your reviews are awesome. But I hate the Disney fan fiction that's being pushed. Why is the Empire still using the old TIEs? The Interceptor was to replace the older flat eyeballs. :l
+tetsuoswrath - This isn't the Empire anymore, it's the First Order, and until Episode VII comes out we don't really have a lot of info about them. But maybe they're using whatever they have access to - the Empire did suffer a major setback at Endor, after all.
The Cardboard Dungeon
But still, the TIE advanced/Interceptors were massed produced. They'd also still have to have access to Sienar Fleet Systems to have any newer TIEs(paint jobs really) and also the new shuttle(also Sienar).
I get that most fans want to wait and see it, but literally every scene from the 3 trailers so far have huge flaws. For one thing, any of the flat winged TIEs would be useless in atmosphere in a dogfight. The wings would get ripped off from the drag.
I can list all the problems I've found with the film so far if you're interested. I have over 30 points that point out how flawed the film is from the start.
I hate to ruin it for you, but the film is going to fail because of how much is wrong with it. They should have kept Lucas to sort it all out for them. :l
+tetsuoswrath - I guess you do need to suspend some disbelief with this stuff... but on the other hand, those aerial dogfights are taking place on alien worlds with ships made from completely fictional materials. It's hard to apply earth physics to something like this, when we really don't know if the planet has the same gravitational pull, or what the relative weight of things like "transparensteel" and "plasteel" are, or how twin ion engines function, etc. Heck, to be a Star Wars fan at all, we've always had to turn a blind eye to myriad inconsistencies - sound in the vacuum of space, for example - in order to enjoy them. If you start picking apart the existing movies you'll find all kinds of things not to like if you so choose.
The Cardboard Dungeon
Nah, that sounds too much like a Disney apologist to me. Real fans of Star Wars won't like the film. The EU IS Star Wars. :)
Oh, no! My poor wallet! What have you done!
sloop ties!!!!
+GiftofChaosStudio - "sloopties"
1 shield, 4 points. Nope. Yup can get cards that spam shields all game for 4 points e.g. R2D2. X wings still cost a lot.
You get more than 1 extra shield for the point increase. You also get Boost and a better maneuver dial which includes the first-ever Talon Roll option. Seems like a good deal to me. There's a reason that the top two finishers in the most recent World Championship had this ship in their builds.
+The Cardboard Dungeon yup, its an ability increase, but it seems like a fix to an old problem and the new stats are really about right for the old point cost for me. i've not played for long thoigh.
I'd argue that it was costed well last Fall when T-70s made their highly competitive showing at Worlds, although stacked against the current meta out of wave 8, with triple scouts and Palpatine Aces becoming dominant I might agree that the T-70 now seems a bit pricey
+The Cardboard Dungeon This is the issue I have. Points systems should make forces equal, so the skill of the player is what wins. Examples include Dropzone Commender and Kings of War. Though you ate right to use it, 'Meta' is usually a sign of an unhealthy system. I'm sticking at it though as I think the game mechanics are good. Thanks for your time by the way. Its great that people help us nubes through discussion.
Not a fan of that new 180 turn. This game is beginning to loose me with all the power creep.
+Brian Honsinger - I think that the claim of power creep might be somewhat premature. The new ships seem to be costed okay, and they have some drawbacks to make up for their added power, such as relatively low pilot skills. "Blue Ace," for example, has an amazing ability (using the speed 1 turn templates for his boosts) but it's tempered by his inability to take an Elite upgrade and low pilot skill of 5. He's a big threat against pilots with skills lower than 5, but against high skill pilots he's not much of a threat.
Shields on a TIE fighter... ::sigh:: The fact that both of these ships got a shield buff is telling to me.
Also, the SLAM on the K-wing and especially the boost on the TIE Punisher is another indicator. Boost doesn't even make sense for a ship of that type and size, but they're having to pack abilities and skills on to these ships to keep them viable.
Has the game totally tipped? Not yet. But power creep is something that certainly exists. It's existed since wave 2. It's a personal choice and a matter of opinion when enough is enough.
I should also say that I originally got into this game because it was excellent for new comers. There was a low barrier to entry. They'd watch the 10 min tutorial video online and, bam! they were ready to go. The game was dynamic and fun, but not overly burdened with rules.
+Brian Honsinger - Fair enough. I definitely agree that there have always been more powerful ships and abilities added to the game, but the fact that they've managed to keep most of the wave 1 ships relevant and powerful as well is a lot better than many other company's whose miniatures game I've played managed to do (*cough* WizKids *cough*).
But you're right - the barrier to entry, at a competitive level, is certainly a lot higher than it was when the game debuted. Still, I didn't get into X-Wing until a little over a year ago, just before wave 4 hit stores, and I managed to place 3rd in my first tournament ever running a trio of X-Wings. In a field with triple Firesprays, Fat Hans, Doom Shuttles and pre-Autothruster Soontir Fels.
You're absolutely right, they've done a really good job at keeping balance in the game. Hats off to them on that. I'm more lamenting the inevitability of all games to fall out of balance, and am nostalgic for a wave 4 or so sweet spot IMO.
It's just these last two releases gave me my first twinge that things may have peaked and could be due to decline. Here's to hoping I'm wrong.
Amazing video series btw! Thanks for all you do.
Fantastic video review. Now more than ever I want to go get the new core set.
+loganis32 thank you!
Fantastic video review. Now more than ever I want to go get the new core set.