The idea behind Bare Bones X Wing 1e, is to wind the clock back to a game more like the original concept, which is in line with most other “Guess and Move” dogfight games.
Later 1e X Wing suffered from a (very natural) growth of options, leading to over complication, rewards for min/maxing and much assistance fully committed players while ham-stringing less knowledgable players. This was mainly due to increased action economy dynamics, already the most powerful aspect of the game, making squad building more of an efficiency audit than a themed ship love-in.
Bare Bones, by removing Elite Pilot Talents, Modifications and Titles, in one sweep reduced overall action economy, returning some balance and removed the bandaid fixes used to attempt the same.
Action economy is still important of course, but not dominant. This means good flying is paramount on a core level, as there are not seemingly infinite ways of changing what has been committed to, after the fact.
Lets look at what is still around in the Bare Bones universe*.
Pilots with two unconditional actions;
Darth Vader (elegantly handles Vader being the strongest Force user around)
Pilots with two conditional actions;
Night Beast (Focus), Chaser (Focus), Commander Alozen (Target Lock), Soontir Fel (Focus), Turr Phennir (Boost or Roll), Colonel Vassery (TL), Redline (TL).
Tarn Mison (TL), Thane Kyrell (Action), Jake Farrell (Boost/Roll).
Kad Solus (Focus), Drea Renthal (TL), Guri (Focus), Genesis Red (Action), Laetin A’Shera (Evade), IG-88C (Evade).
Pilots able to steal Actions;
Palob Godalhi (Focus/Evade), Kaat’o Leeachos (Focus/Evade).
Pilots able to share with others;
Garvin Dreis (Focus), Dutch Vander (TL), Kyle Katarn (Focus), Lando (Action), Shara Bey (TL), Airen Cracken (Action).
Col. Jendon (TL)
Manaroo (Actions/Tokens),
Pilots able to ignore Action reducing stress;
Tycho Celchu, Braylen Stramm, Keyan Farlander, Hobbie Klivian.
Captain Yorr (friends)
4-Lom (share stress)
Pilots able to swap out Actions;
Nora Wexley (TL>Focus), Luke Skywalker (Focus>Evade).
Action economy can be vital.
*
Pilots are not the only source of action economy.
Droids that effect Action economy;
R3 (Focus>Evade), R7-T1 (TL + Boost), R5-K6 (TL)
R4 Agromech (Focus>TL), Overclocked R4 (Focus), Genius (Free Bomb Drop Action).
Crew who can share or add Actions:
Latts Razzi (Evade), K4 Security Droid (TL), Outlaw Tech (Focus), Bossk (Focus + Lock), 4-Lom (Focus/Evade).
Weapons Engineer (2x TL), Recon Spec (2x Focus), Ops Specialist (Focus), Inspiring Recruit (Stress)
Jan Ors (Friends Focus>Evade), Leebo (Boost), Kyle Katarn (Focus).
Ysanne Isard (Evade), Fleet Officer (Focus), System Officer (TL).
Systems and Illicit upgrades that effect Action Economy;
Advanced Sensors (change Action/Move order), Fire Control System (TL).
Burnout SLAM (SLAM), Contraband Cybernetics (Action), Glitterstim (Focus)
I am sure I have missed someone or some thing.
I have not included Action reducing or stress inflicting effects here, nor the effects that are more aligned to manoeuvre or combat, only direct Action economy elements, but as you can see there are plenty available (proportionate to other elements of the game), without stacking too many layers.
A crew or droid fitted ship may have a second Action stacked onto their own, if any and that added to a friend’s shared effect where possible, but that is it. Three AE effects are the maximum and one likely the norm. This is in balance with the Manoeuvre and Combat elements of the game.
Action economy should be the rare and powerful exception. The exception that, like a combat or manoeuvre mod, defines the ship and it’s tactics, but not one that has become an over powering element of the game.
*Bare Bones has been further trimmed at this point to help introduce new players to the game, removing the “Rebels” storyline, some Imperials and Scum, primarily those with actions that go outside of the main four or any from the newer movies. These ships are included in the slightly more complex “Classic” along with Named Titles.