Action availability in SC is a slim resource and I feel, rightfully so.
A game originally based on the duel mechanics of (1) outguessing your opponent’s move selection then applying an action after and (2) leveraging the fundamental differences between the ships and pilots in squad synergies, became a game of multiple Action stacking and sharing.
Good old fashioned dog fighting. Minimal counters on the mat and easy to pick up even for a beginner.
It follows that in comparison to other forms of X Wing Actions are rare and therefore more powerful on balance. This makes the Pilots shine here especially. Almost all EPT abilities are represented by even this small roster of Pilot abilities, but rather than being available to many, they are bespoke, iconic even and thanks to FFG’s attention to story fidelity, often defining. Wedge is your Predator type, N’dru your Lone Wolf etc.
First, the other elements that effect all or most actions generally;
Vader gets 2 actions with no strings!
Tycho gets actions even when stressed.
Lando gives a free action out after a green move.
Wes can strip tokens from his targets.
Advanced Sensors System upgrade changes the action/move order.
Dark Curse strips all attackers of mods.
Emperor Palpatine allows any one dice to be modified per turn.
Contraband Cybernetics allow s you to take a stress for an action after a red move.
Manaroo allows token sharing with a friend.
Auto-blaster Cannons and Turrets ignore defence effects.
Focus
Every ship in SC (and the X Wing game generally) has access to Focus. Not the most reliable of actions, but more flexible than any other. Taking Focus and then Focus stacking can be a powerful weapon when used well, but in the later 1e game, Focus stacking tended to be squad defining, even game breaking. It is still possible to stack some in this game, but the main culprits are nerfed.
The Rebels
The Rebel emphasis is on sharing and assisting, occasionally buffing defences, or attacking.
R5-P9 can trade an unused focus for a shield regen.
R3 series can trade a focus for a straight Evade.
Luke can swap one out for an Evade (using the Force we assume).
Garvin gets to share spent ones with a friend.
Keyan can convert them to hits.
Jake gets a free Boost or Roll when a focus is spent (making him the only Rebel daredevil with both).
Kyle can share then with an ally.
Luke (crew) can convert a focus to a hit.
Jan (crew) can upgrade a friend’s focus to an Evade.
Kyle (crew) gains a focus automatically if stressed (the perfect synergy of Jan/Kyle or Kyle/Jan and Moldy Crow Title is lost, but they still punch hard).
The Empire
Imperial Pilots and crew tend to switch from supporting to a more aggressive use of Focus.
Pilots;
Nightbeast gains a focus after a green move.
Chaser can mimic a spent Focus off a friend.
Carnor Jax strips then from his targets.
Soontir Fell gains a focus when stressed.
Lt Kestal cancels them.
Rr Admimal Chiraneau can convert them to a critical.
Fleet Officer can give 1 to 2 friends.
Agent Kallus can give some pain to a pre-chosen enemy by spending one.
Scum and Villainy
Like the Imperials, Scum tend to use focus aggressively, even selfishly.
Glitterstim gives you one round of dual application (att+def) focus for a stress
Overclocked R4 lets you trade a stress for a focus
R4 Agromech allows you to upgrade a focus to a Target Lock
Palob Godalhi may steal Focus tokens from an ally.
Kaat’o Leeachos may do the same.
Guri gets a free Focus when at range 1 of an enemy.
Outlaw Tech grants a free Focus after a red move.
Bossk (crew) gains a Focus if he misses an attack (much like Raging).
Generic
Advanced Photon Torps change 3 blanks to Focus results (so Focus when you fire them).
Proton Torps turn one Focus to a critical hit.
Recon Specialist gives you a 2 for 1 deal.
Hot-shot Co-pilot strips one from a target.
Ops Specialist awards one to a friend who misses their attack.
Flight Instructor allows Focus re-rolls (without using a Focus token).
Next up we will look at Target Locks.