Databank Download: Logray, Bright Tree Shaman & Ewok Trappers Preview

The time has come to preview some of the shortest but greatest heroes of the Battle of Endor, taking a closer look at Logray, the Bright Tree Shaman, and the cunningly fierce Ewok Trappers of his tribe.

Galactic history sometimes hinges on the most unlikely of events, among them the lead-up to the Battle of Endor, where desperate Rebel forces were sent to neutralize a shield facility protecting the nearly restored Death Star. Initial plans for this attack did not include the diminutive Ewoks native to this forest moon, disregarded by both sides of the conflict due to their primitive technology and tribal society. Though initial contact with Logray and his tribe was nearly disastrous, with several of the Rebels consigned to the stew pot, things turned around when the shaman became convinced of the divinity of the golden droid C-3PO. Eventually persuaded to join the fight, Logray and the warriors of his village proved to be formidable forest combatants, making use of clever traps and knowledge of the lay of the land to neutralize more technologically advanced Imperial soldiers and their battle vehicles. It would be a mistake to underestimate these fighters, particularly when defending their home. Logray is a highly capable support leader, well equipped to magnify the effectiveness of his Ewok warriors. His mere proximity serves as an Inspiring Presence, protecting warriors like Wicket with hunker tokens and providing some relief from minor damage or detrimental conditions, as well as hastening Scouts like the Trappers to Dash forward. Logray knows every hidden path and bolt-hole in his surroundings, being quite capable of conducting a Stealthy Approach on his foe, an Active ability that provides a Dash and then gaining a hunker token or making a focus action to better strike the enemy. As another Active ability, Logray can deliver an Elder’s Command to a nearby Trapper to provide a Dash followed by the choice of hunkering down, removing a bad condition, or performing a free 5-die attack.

In addition to his inspiring Tactics ability, being near to Logray makes all Ewoks more durable thanks to the Protective Wards provided by his religious standing. This makes any Ewoks serving as his bodyguards surprisingly durable. And Logray is alert to fresh meat to add to the tribe’s larder, which may include any enemies that his people can take down. Secret Ingredients provides some benefits from wounding an enemy, refreshing Focus tokens, or allowing the Ewoks to Dash to safety if luck is not on their side.

Logray has access to a pair of formidable stances that afford him considerable battle flexibility and represent his blend of Ewok woods lore, shamanistic healing, and courageous ferocity. While it is slightly reductive to classify them this way, the Wisdom of the Woods Stance is strongest when engaging the foe at a distance with his sling, and Omen of Strength best turned to when Logray has closed with his enemy and is relying on his staff to melee. A clever strategist will find other occasions when each stance might be preferable.

Wisdom of the Woods has quite strong Ranged Attack and Ranged Defense Stats, and a Ranged Attack Expertise Chart that provides early critical strikes. This stance’s Combat Tree gives quick access to two Shoves and the option to inflict Strained, and then the choice of either focusing on damage, gaining a vital chance to Reposition, or do some Healing. It’s easy to imagine Logray in this stance darting from one tree to the next, taking a moment to gain some respite before sending damaging sling shots at his chosen target.

Calling on the Omen of Strength, Logray has instead given up caution to engage more directly assault, bumping up his Melee Attack and Defense Stats and switching to a stronger Melee Attack Expertise Chart, as well as a slightly stronger defense Expertise Chart. This Combat Tree has similar upper damage potential and terminates in the same opportunity to activate an Active Ability such as Elder’s Command, but offers some different conditions he can inflict while attacking with his staff, such as Pinning, Exposing, or Disarming the foe.

Of course, an elder like Logray does not engage in battle alone, and his tribe will usually be with him. The Ewok Trappers are just as versed in hit and run tactics and complement their shaman quite well. They also prefer to engage by making use of a Stealthy Approach, relying on the cover of trees, hoping to deliver damage to their adversaries before they even know an ambush is sprung.

Between Stealthy Approach and Camouflage, the Ewok Trappers will often have the benefit of hunkering down, making them difficult to kill with ranged attacks. The traps they have carefully set in the path of their foes are represented by Battle Tactics: Primitive Artifice, which can disrupt the carefully laid plans of their adversaries. Given their small size, Trappers prefer to use Strength of Numbers to pile onto a single adversary, harrying the prey and possibly inflicting greater harm.

Ewok Trappers rely on their Running Traps Stance, allowing both decent Ranged and Melee attacks. Trappers have a slight offensive edge in melee, due to a higher Melee Attack Stat and a stronger Melee Expertise Chart, though this opens them up to potentially dangerous retaliation as their Melee Defense stats and Expertise Chart are fairly average. It is for this reason that they prefer to attack to finish an already damaged foe swiftly, taking advantage of Strength of Numbers whenever possible. The stance’s Combat Tree has modest damage but some solid tactical options, offering an early Shove, access to a second Shove or Pinning the foe, and potentially a vital Reposition. Ewok Trappers are accustomed to staying on the move, forcing the enemy to chase after them.

Together with the support of his tribe, Logray the Bright Tree Shaman is a far more formidable battle leader than his cuddly appearance suggests. More than one condescending stormtrooper has wound up in the village cooking pot at the end of the evening after being overwhelmed in battle by these ferocious balls of fur.

Make sure to check back for our next Shatterpoint Unit preview, where we give you a first look at how your favorite characters from the Star Wars™ galaxy translate into the gameplay of Shatterpoint. Pre-order your own copy of Star Wars: Shatterpoint at your local game store or through our webstore today.

Until next time, Atomic Mass Transmissions, signing off!