So how do the Star Wars fans feel about the 'Expanded Universe' being the source for most of the new ships in the X-Wing game?
I suppose without it your choices are far more limited...of course I'm no expert on Star Wars...where's Citizen_W of a Murder of Ravens when you need him...I do quite like those Tie-Fighter variants though...Well that's enough waffle from me, here's the new stuff courtesy of
“The time for our attack has come.”
–Mon Mothma, Return of the Jedi
Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce four upcoming X-Wing™ starships!
In the game’s fourth wave of starship expansions, you’ll find exciting technological advances and a host of upgrades for your fleets. You’ll also gain the opportunity to fly four of the most recognizable starships from the expanded Star Wars universe: the Z-95 Headhunter, TIE defender, E-wing, and TIE phantom!
X-Wing is firmly rooted in its core principles of dramatic space dogfights. Now, after the last two waves of starship expansions have added light freighters, transport vessels, and bombers to the game’s high-energy battles, this fourth wave of starship expansions once again features four dedicated dogfighters.
From left to right: E-wing, Z-95 Headhunter, TIE defender, and TIE phantom.
Each of the wave’s four starfighters arrives ready to maneuver, battle, and fulfill a specific role within your fleet:
- The Z-95 Headhunter enters the Rebel fleet as an extremely efficient missile platform, better enabling the Alliance to match Imperial forces ship-for-ship.
- The TIE defender is a straight-forward fighter with strong shields, weapons, agility, and a maneuver never before seen on a dial.
- The E-wing pairs the X-wing’s firepower and resilience with the A-wing’s speed and agility.
- TIE phantom pilots rely upon the ship’s unique cloaking device to evade enemy fire and pounce upon their foes with their deadly laser cannons.
When these starships enter the game, they’re going to make an immediate impact!
Z-95 Headhunter
In many ways, the Z-95 Headhunter was the precursor to the X-wing. Though the Z-95 was later outclassed by the X-wing in most respects, it could perform a tighter turn and was cheap, durable, and reliable enough that the Rebel Alliance continued to make use of it throughout the Galactic Civil War, most commonly in close air support roles.
The Z-95 Headhunter enters X-Wing as the Rebel starfighter with the lowest squad point cost. None of the four ship cards in the Z-95 Headhunter Expansion Pack weigh in at more than nineteen squad points, and at just twelve points, the Bandit Squadron Pilot ties the Imperial’s Academy Pilot as the starfighter with the game’s lowest point cost value. However, the Z-95 Headhunter isn’t designed to fly like a TIE fighter; it comes, instead, with the focus and target lock actions, as well as the ability to load and fire a missile.
Altogether, the Z-95 Headhunter Expansion Pack includes one Z-95 miniature, four ship cards, five upgrade cards, one maneuver dial, and all the tokens necessary to bring your Z-95 Headhunter to battle!
TIE Defender
When it was first released shortly before the Battle of Endor, the TIE defender was perhaps the most technologically advanced starfighter in the galaxy. It improved upon the design of the TIE fighter by adding shields, a hyperdrive, and more powerful weaponry.
In X-Wing, the TIE defender is a lethal starfighter that features three attack, three agility, three hull, and three shields. Imperial players can further load it up with both cannon and missile upgrades, and because only the Empire’s most elite pilots were allowed to fly the TIE defender during the Galatic Civil War, both of the unique pilots among the expansion’s four ship cards come with the elite talent upgrade.
The TIE Defender Expansion Pack introduces one TIE defender miniature, four ship cards, one maneuver dial, all the tokens you need, and five upgrade cards, which include a pair of elite talents certain to make your elite TIE defender pilot a truly fearsome predator throughout the game’s fast-paced dogfights.
E-Wing
When it was designed, the E-wing was intended to match or exceed the performance of the X-wing in every respect, and the E-Wing Expansion Pack for X-Wing introduces a starfighter that combines the best of the X-wing’s firepower and durability with the A-wing’s speed and maneuverability.
Furthermore, the E-wing’s advanced technology is reflected in the fact that it can equip both system and astromech upgrades alongside a complement of torpedoes. The partnership of these upgrades permit some interesting, new combinations, and the E-wing may open some wildly creative squad builds.
For example, by partnering R7-T1 with Advanced Sensors on a ship piloted by someone like Etahn A’baht, who is capable of using Push the Limit*, you could perform three actions before you reveal your maneuver. And if that maneuver is green, Etahn A’baht would even end his Activation phase without a stress token!
With its E-wing miniature, four ship cards, five upgrade cards, maneuver dial, and tokens, the E-Wing Expansion Pack comes with everything you need to pursue entirely new tactics in your X-Wing battles!
TIE Phantom
By adding a stygium crystal cloaking device to a modified V38 assault fighter that came equipped with both deflector shields and a hyperdrive, the developers of the TIE phantom created one of the most menacing starfighters in the galaxy!
The TIE Phantom Expansion Pack brings this fearsome fighter to life with new rules for cloaking that allow it to slip off opponents’ sensors in the middle of battle. Imperial players will be able to further customize their phantoms with system and crew upgrades, so the Rebellion will never know what to expect.
The TIE Phantom Expansion Pack includes one TIE phantom miniature, four ship cards, five upgrades, one maneuver dial, reference cards for its new rules, and all the tokens you need to bring your TIE phantom to battle!
Upgrade Your Fleet
With their superior weaponry, high-speed maneuverability, skillful pilots, and technologically advanced upgrades, these four new starfighters are destined to blast their way through enemy starships! You can look for them to arrive in the second quarter of 2014. Until then, keep your eyes peeled for more announcements, previews, and other X-Wing news!
