“There is a reason that Palpatine’s guard were called ‘the best of the best.’”
    –Kir Kanos

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce the Imperial Aces Expansion Pack for X-Wing !

Imperial Aces features two TIE interceptor miniatures with alternate paint schemes, several highly skilled new pilots, a dozen upgrade cards, and all the tokens and maneuver dials you need to field these ships. It also includes a new mission that allows the Empire to utilize new, experimental technology in a high-intensity clash with Rebel pilots.

The 181st Imperial Fighter Wing and the Emperor’s Royal Guard

Fly your TIE with pride! The alternate paint schemes on the TIE interceptor miniatures from the Imperial Aces Expansion Pack allow you to wage your X-Wing dogfights while representing either or both of two of the Empire’s most recognizable TIE units: the 181st Imperial Fighter Wing and the Emperor’s Royal Guard.

Also known as the Saber Squadron, the 181st Imperial Fighter Wing was an elite TIE unit and one of the Empire’s premier fighter groups. Led by Soontir Fel, the group’s aces marked the wings of their TIE interceptors with distinctive bloodstripes as soon as they recorded ten combat kills. Because of the group’s elite composition, nearly all of its TIE interceptors proudly displayed these red, horizontal stripes, and they feature prominently on one of the TIE interceptor miniatures from the Imperial Aces Expansion Pack.


A 360-degree view of the Saber Squadron TIE interceptor

The elite members of the Emperor’s Royal Guard were handpicked by the Emperor to serve as his bodyguards, and did so with absolute loyalty. They were carefully scrutinized for strength, skill, intelligence, loyalty, and any latent Force sensitivity. They received intensive training and became extremely lethal in multiple forms of combat. And when the Emperor traveled in his personal shuttle, they would escort him in their specialized crimson TIE interceptors, and their paint scheme is brought to life in Imperial Aces .


A 360-degree view of the Royal Guard TIE interceptor

Both of these TIE interceptors share the same 1/270 scale sculpt as the miniature from the TIE Interceptor Expansion Pack.

New Pilots and Upgrades

The expansion’s variant TIE interceptors are just the beginning of what it offers players.

For example, players are certain to appreciate the eight ship cards in Imperial Aces , which introduce the unique talents of some of the Empire’s greatest warriors. You’ll find four unique pilots, like Kir Kanos and Carnor Jax , whose special abilities open a wide variety of new strategies and greatly expand your squad-building options. You’ll also benefit from the efficient lethality of the Royal Guard Pilot , the highest skilled of all non-unique X-Wing pilots to this point.

Imperial Aces adds further flexibility to your squad design with twelve upgrade cards (two copies each of six different upgrades). You’ll find a mix of elite pilot talents like Opportunist and new modifications like Targeting Computer and Hull Upgrade . Also, because you can’t normally upgrade a TIE interceptor with more than one elite pilot talent and a single Modification upgrade, you’ll likely find plenty of good reasons to use the expansion’s new Title upgrade, Royal Guard TIE , which permits your most skillful TIE pilots to take the helm of fighters with multiple Modifications.

Cutting the Cord

Imperial Aces also features a deeply strategic and engaging new mission, Cutting the Cord , which drops players into the middle of the Rebellion’s desperate bid to keep the Empire from developing a powerful prototype starfighter. If it gets its new flight system and long-range functionality online, this Imperial prototype would forever negate the individual superiority of Rebellion starfighters.

Throughout the mission, one non-unique Imperial ship serves as the prototype, which the Rebels must destroy, but as the Rebel forces focus on destroying the prototype, the Imperial player can activate any of six different prototype technologies provided by six research facilities. Together, these technologies transform the prototype into a truly lethal weapon – one which may finally help the Empire crush the Rebellion!

Man Your Ships

Get ready to field the variant TIE interceptor miniatures and skillful pilots from Imperial Aces in your dogfights and missions when the expansion arrives at retailers in the fourth quarter of 2013. Until then, keep checking back for more X-Wing news and updates!

X-Wing is a tactical ship-to-ship combat game in whi ch players take control of powerful rebel X-wings and nimble Imperial TIE Fighters, facing them against each other in fast-paced space combat. Featuring stunningly detailed and painted miniatures, X-Wing recreates Star Wars’ exciting space battles. Select your crew, plan your maneuvers, and complete your mission!

© & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.

 

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