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http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=5107

Enjoy.

Looks like some fun to be had there... Pity I have to wait.

I'm not a fan of the new faction specific upgrades. One of the reasons I like Xwing is that it is an elegant system but it does feel IMO it is starting to get a bit bloated in order to sell models that you likely already have. Whereas I'm ok with the occasional scum only card (like one every COUPLE of ships), the scum only astromech upgrade is what I really don't like. It is a different symbol so can't be used by other factions and presumably you can't use the normal astromechs with them either. It just seems like a redundant way to introduce faction "flavor". Either an astromech works or it doesn't. You don't think the rebels have a few messed up droids pressed into service? Or that rich pirate princes can't afford a top of the line working model? I'm definitely not a fan and I have to say that this is probably the first time I haven't liked where FFG has taken the xwing game.

 warboss wrote:
I'm not a fan of the new faction specific upgrades.

May want to read closer:

Combined with the fact that it is currently unique to the Scum

Since this upgrade exists currently only among the Scum’s Y-wings

Emphasis mine. That word implies that at some point down the line, someone else will get access to it. They very nicely future proofed their own release statement.

 warboss wrote:
I'm not a fan of the new faction specific upgrades. One of the reasons I like Xwing is that it is an elegant system but it does feel IMO it is starting to get a bit bloated in order to sell models that you likely already have. Whereas I'm ok with the occasional scum only card (like one every COUPLE of ships), the scum only astromech upgrade is what I really don't like. It is a different symbol so can't be used by other factions and presumably you can't use the normal astromechs with them either. It just seems like a redundant way to introduce faction "flavor". Either an astromech works or it doesn't. You don't think the rebels have a few messed up droids pressed into service? Or that rich pirate princes can't afford a top of the line working model? I'm definitely not a fan and I have to say that this is probably the first time I haven't liked where FFG has taken the xwing game.

I think in part it may be because previously Astromechs were Rebel-only, so units like R2-D2 don't have restrictions on what faction they can work for.

In addition, I'd much prefer Faction restrictions rather than STAW's "everyone can take whatever" approach.

 Platuan4th wrote:
In addition, I'd much prefer Faction restrictions rather than STAW's "everyone can take whatever" approach.

I'd say that there is a huge middle ground between the two though. I, too, don't like the STAW system with crews crossing factions willy nilly but I'd be perfectly fine with the unique droids like R2D2 staying rebel only but S&V ships with the droid upgrade getting the R2 generic one (plus maybe a single unique one of their own)... instead of a whole new slew of droids that only they can use. It just feels a bit bloated to me and this is the first time I've felt that way about x-wing. Obviously, as with all matters of opinion, YMMV.

 warboss wrote:

 Platuan4th wrote:
In addition, I'd much prefer Faction restrictions rather than STAW's "everyone can take whatever" approach.

I'd say that there is a huge middle ground between the two though. I, too, don't like the STAW system with crews crossing factions willy nilly but I'd be perfectly fine with the unique droids like R2D2 staying rebel only but S&V ships with the droid upgrade getting the R2 generic one (plus maybe a single unique one of their own)... instead of a whole new slew of droids that only they can use. It just feels a bit bloated to me and this is the first time I've felt that way about x-wing. Obviously, as with all matters of opinion, YMMV.

I hear ya. Kinda wish that they'd just Errata'd "Rebel Only" onto the character Droids, and simply gone and added more astromech options to the game.

I actually prefer how they implemented the "salvaged astromechs". Rebel-only rules for the rebel ships/lists, and scum-only rules for the scum ships/lists. It also ensures the scum y-wing is not just a carbon copy of the rebel version in how it functions on the table.

The cynic in me thinks they've done it this way to make you buy into a whole new faction to use any of the new upgrade cards, which have a lot of crazy cool abilities. Wouldn't want people to just stick these on their Rebel ships and call it a day.

That isn't cynicism but realism. It is what they do with the "aces" packs as well and there isn't anything wrong with that to be honest. I just am starting to think the sheer number of upgrades (now adding so many faction exclusive ones with S&V) is possibly too much and is cramping the elegance of the system. YMMV.