A Peek at the TIE Fighter Expansion Pack for Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures Game

Elliott MillerAug 5, 2012

Gen Con is only two weeks away now, and we’ll get to see the new Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures Game from Fantasy Flight Games. Here is a peek at the Tie Fighter expansion pack for the upcoming game.

The TIE Fighter Expansion Pack

The Empire is the dominant power in the galaxy, and when they have the opportunity to press their advantages in combat, Imperial forces can overwhelm Rebel opposition with superior numbers. Accordingly, the Empire favors the fast, agile, and relatively inexpensive design of the TIE/In, developed by Sienar Fleet Systems. These nimble TIE fighters have the lowest squad point cost of all the starships in X-Wing and serve as the primary starfighters in the Imperial fleet.

The TIE Fighter Expansion Pack for the X-Wing Miniatures Game includes one pre-painted miniature, plus its maneuver dial and all necessary tokens. Players gain two upgrade cards and the ability to draw upon the services of six pilots, including the crafty “Backstabber,” one of Darth Vader’s wingmen in the Battle of Yavin.

Relying on speed and strength in numbers to overcome their enemies, TIE fighters have only a pair of laser cannons and lack shields of any kind, yet their dexterity makes them dangerous opponents. They offer terrific maneuverability, even at high speeds, and all TIE pilots are trained to focus, perform barrel rolls, and take evasive maneuvers.

Players fielding TIE fighters will want to take advantage of their full range of actions to outmaneuver, outflank, and overwhelm their Rebel counterparts. “Backstabber” provides Imperial players with extra incentive to draw upon the TIE’s maneuverability for all it’s worth; when he can slip behind an opponent, or line up a shot from anywhere outside his foe’s targeting arc, “Backstabber” rolls an extra attack die.

Another pilot in the TIE Fighter Expansion Pack, “Howlrunner,” can help “Backstabber,” and all your Imperial pilots, capitalize on such key moments. When “Backstabber” is within Range “1” of “Howlrunner” and attacks, it can reroll one of its attack dice. This is an excellent example of how Imperial pilots are trained to take advantage of their numbers, and it accentuates the strength the Imperial fleet can gain from Swarm Tactics.

Meanwhile, if you’re holding formations or maneuvering to keep your foes and allies all within close range, a third unique pilot from the TIE Fighter Expansion Pack, “Winged Gundark,” can change the course of battle by disrupting his foes as he damages them.

As we addressed in an earlier look at the game’s combat rules, each time a starfighter is hit, it gains a facedown damage card. However, if a starfighter suffers a critical hit, that damage card is placed next to the starfighter faceup, and the card does more than count toward hull damage; it adds a random detrimental effect. With his ability to convert a hit into a critical hit, “Winged Gundark” is bad luck for the Rebellion, but a valuable tool for the Empire.