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Hey all,

Given the current popularity of Vessery and ships designed to counter him (many of which involve ordinance ) got me taking another look at the expert handling EPT as an imperial player's way to replicate some of the Rebel & scum tricks that I found rather irritating; countermeasures for one and the black one title for the other.

So, in the context of a deci-defender list, I got to thinking that Rexler Brath with EH had some interesting advantages. At PS8 (and possibly an initiative bid) Rexler can act after omega leader or any of Vessery's likely wingmates to ditch the TL vessery was likely planning to use, and also be a defender that miranda doni can't likely target with a homing missile. Dengar (several world's top 16 lists included ordinance ) does shoot first, but he tends to rely on manaroo to pass the TL (f@#$@#'#@-ing zuckuss), so Rex could still ditch that lock too. I've also had problems with a ghost -TLT (docked phantom ) build because of FCS. .. this wouldn't totally fix that problem, but at least the primary /first attack wouldn't have the TL.

Granted, the EH comes with the opportunity cost of not being able to take juke or another EPT (a fairly large cost potentially in a hotshot copilot decimator list)... what do you think?

The opportunity cost is too high. Rexler is overpriced as it is, and really the only reason to consider him is the ability to get PS 10 with VI. And in general the opportunity cost is too high. It's a very situational benefit for 2 points and an upgrade slot, and the best you can do is break even on action economy. They spend an action to get a TL, you spend an action to deny it. Or, more likely, your ship without expert handling takes the ordnance shot instead. The only case where you're coming out significantly ahead is Omega Leader, and is that a common enough threat in the current meta to justify dedicating your EPT to a counter?

I don't really think it's worth it, most of the ships likely to carry missiles / torps and/or play TL tricks are on an equal or higher pilot skill to Rexlar so it's a bit shaky even with an initiative bid, as a tool against Vessery it's kind of handy but if you end up with more than 1 lock on you its fairly redundant

I'm also thinking if the other target in the list is a 0 agility tank then people will just sink ordinance into that rather than a token stacked 3 agility ship

So, instead of making a new thread about one pilot using this EPT, I'll post here.

Rey
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Inspiring Recruit, Expert Handling, Experimental Interface, Smuggling Compartment, Action Illicit (BMST, Rigged Cargo, etc), Kanan Jarrus or Finn/OffensiveCrew, Segnor Title

Rey can now do two actions per turn at a cost of a stress, one of which is a stressing barrel roll, and clear the stress next turn with Inspiring Recruit and maybe Kanan.

Hefty cost, but when paired with Poe Dameron you are not buying a lot of ships anyways. Both pilots could now dodge Target Locks which would be folk like Omega Leader, Vader, etc.

It is not super great or point/crew efficient compared to PTL, but is it at least worth a little look since Smuggling Rey cannot take Engine Upgrade?

 Da Kommizzar wrote:
but is it at least worth a little look since Smuggling Rey cannot take Engine Upgrade?

No. The problem is that you have to give up a crew slot for stress removal, meaning you have to give up either dial flexibility and the white s-loop (Kanan) or any offensive buff (Finn/gunner). Giving up VI might hurt a bit less depending on your meta, but if you can get away with PS 8 there are a lot of other powerful EPTs. So now you have a really expensive ship that isn't all that impressive anymore. Not a good way to win games, IMO.

Hm, okay. I am assuming VI is taken so that your SLoops are on-point against other aces. That is a good enough reason for me.

Thank you, once again, Peregrine.