Kath Scarlet + Expert Handling (40)

Omicron Group Pilot + Fire Control System + Gunner + Engine Upgrade (32)

Omicron Group Pilot + Darth Vader + Engine Upgrade (28)

Total = 100pts

• This squad fields 30pts of durability and has two fast shuttles with heavy hitting abilities supported by a barrel rolling firespray.
• Engine Upgrade on Vaders Shuttle keeps it useful later game as well as giving it the ability to boost away from potential flankers. The plan is to shoot last in the turn and target a ship that has zero shields allowing Darth Vader to dish out early crits.
• I considered downgrading Kath to a Bounty Hunter and going with double buzzsaw loadouts (FCS/Gunner/Engine Upgrade) on my shuttles but the high PS offered by Kath and her ability to barrel roll imo is superior.
• In theory - If any one of these ships gets close to destruction it can escape to the far reaches of the board while the other two engage the enemy. My plan is to use hit and run style tactics and keep my most damaged ship furthest from the action.

Thoughts?

Ive played Scarlet Cowgirl a lot and this is a variant of that squad.

The only difference is ive subbed out the two Academy Pilots for a vader shuttle with boost and dropped the Rebel captive from Kath. I'm not suggesting this squad is better (i havent tested it yet).

Although i love the two Academy Pilots and the options they offer, i have found them a little fragile at times and losing one early in the game hurts, a lot. I am going to give it a test this week and post up my findings.

I'd drop the Engine Upgrade on the Vader Shuttle (free points for the enemy when the Shuttle goes POP) and replace it with perhaps a Rebel Captive (or something else if you have another preference) on Kath.

My suggestion leaves you one point for initiative (which can be nice when Vader crits another PS2 ship as any crit suffered will still affect the ship when it returns fire).

I actually used a double shuttle 100 point build today and won!

The exact setup was

Me:

Omicron Group + Anti Pursuit Lasers

Omicron Group + Anti Pursuit Lasers

Alpha Squadron

Alpha Squadron

Alpha Squadron

My friend:

Wedge + R2-D2 + Swarm Tactics

Rookie + R2

Rookie + R2

Rookie

The idea was to make a wall with the shuttles so flew them as slow as possible (not that hard anyway). I even used one of my interceptors to block them from moving far later in the game. The X-wings did not make it within R1 from the interceptors till it was too late. That broke the X-wing formation and I end up loosing only one shuttle and have all 3 interceptors surviving (although barely 2 of them).

I have to say, I kind of like the shuttle lately.

Bomber, I like it so far. I don't particularly have a problem with the engine + vader shuttle,. For the points it can work similarly to the Buzzsaw in terms of damage, and obviously the same in mobility, you just see it hurt itself! My small playtesting with it has shown me nothing I didn't like, and a few things I DID like, outside of the negatives that I have towards a normal doom shuttle.

Err short way of saying it, 4 pts won't make a difference in this list for your enemy, as they still have to kill at least 2 ships for a full win.

I just can't get my head around Vader. Can you guys give m a reason to blow up a 28 pt ship myself when crits really aren't that great most of the time. It's probably just my head....

The thing about Vader on a shuttle is that he can make very important pieces go pop. If you have some ships in your squad that can strip shields down first, then have the shuttle finish the job, that's powerful. Imagine Howlrunner, Biggs, or Wedge with one health left after you finish your attack with the shuttle - is it worth taking two damage to kill that piece off?

Having said that, I find the hard part with the Shuttle + Vader combo is I often want two whacks at the same target to make it really count and that's a hard task with the shuttle (things can easily fly out of its arc). So my favorite builds tack on either a Gunner, an Engine Upgrade, or an Ion Cannon to mitigate that issue.

Yeh, I can see that being useful I guess, if your Vader Shuttle can draw a shot to the target and doesn't finish it off, that auto crit might just do it. I guess another advantage is that ship will draw a great deal of hate and maybe free of your other ships to roam at will.

Or if you land a munitions failure on a bomber. Or ignore pilot+EPT on Fel/Wedge/Howlrunner. Or damaged engine on pretty much anything. Or take a stress on anyone already stressed (PTL anyone?) or ionized. Or blinded pilot on anyone.

Most crits devastate named pilots, not all of them apply as well to generics. But hell, I'd consider blowing up 6 points of damage on my shuttle just for the opportunity to get Fel off the board. Go go Vader+Gunner.

Yeh, I can see that being useful I guess, if your Vader Shuttle can draw a shot to the target and doesn't finish it off, that auto crit might just do it. I guess another advantage is that ship will draw a great deal of hate and maybe free of your other ships to roam at will.

This is definitely what ive seen the most. Buzzsaw gets left alone. But put Vader on a shuttle and your opponent is hellbent to take it out.

I see your 2 shuttles and raise you 1:

http://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Galactic%20Empire&d=v2!55:36,22,-1,21:-1:-1:;54:-1,-1,29,21:4:-1:;56:-1,-1,48,38:-1:4:

The idea/plan of this:

Have the Omicron fly interference/obstruction, hopefully causing a couple of damages here and there by clever use of Navigator. The Recon is there for better protection with 2 Focus's. It can easily make a 2 Turn maneuver and have Yorr pick it up, then Yorr does a green, sheds the stress and also takes a Double Focus thx to the Recon Specialist. Finally Jendon can also do his thing, also taking a 2 Turn at times if needed and simply handing it of to Yorr nearby. Then Jendon can take 2 TL and pass one of to either Yorr (with dual Focus already) or the Omicron.

Both Yorr and Jendon have Gunners on board for increased probability of hitting your target ;-)

It'll be challenging to fly for sure

Without boost on the doom shuttle it becomes an easy ship to flank. If they leave it for last you are going to be in serious trouble as they will be able to easily get in behind u and finish it off. The speed of a shuttle with boost is surprising the first time you play against it and even if u have its hard to keep up with it unless u are flying a ship with engine upgrade urself!

i am not concerned about it getting targeted early - if it does i will use vader more often than not - even if it is to strip an extra shield off an enemy ship, although dishing crits is always going to be better but using vader on a shielded ship is exactly what ill do if they get in lots of damage early. if there is an opportunity to boost away and keep the shuttle alive for a bit longer, i will take that option all day because if they are trying to chase my Doom Shuttle my other two heavy hitting ships will be able to operate more freely against the enemy.

i know 28pts seems like a lot to invest in a suicide mission but im betting i can deal at least 28pts of damage with this squad b4 the Doom Shuttle dies.

Gunner is an option however it locks my shuttle's movement down too much. I'd rather have extra speed to turn more quickly or zoom away from danger.

What clever use of navigator are you referring to? You have no way to see where people are going, and you're moving at a low PS... so against swarms, APL won't kick in, and against anyone else, you move first anyways, so why do you need to change the dial you just set without getting any additional information?

What clever use of navigator are you referring to? You have no way to see where people are going, and you're moving at a low PS... so against swarms, APL won't kick in, and against anyone else, you move first anyways, so why do you need to change the dial you just set without getting any additional information?

Meant to have Int. Agent on the Omicron instead of Rec. Specialist. This frees up 2 points that can be used for Fire Control System on Jendon, thus freeing his action phase up to taking a Focus after the first attack have been rolled

Plus with 3 large base ships, even a PS1 Swarm could potentially "bump backwards" into the Omicron if the Lambdas are lined up correctly. but hey: I'm not married to the idea/list so not too worried. I am not saying it will be that competetive at all

To your original idea I submit this:

I am kind of digging this list. It has some control aspects built into it to help keep the Big White Space Cow in the fight.

I've recently been toying around with the idea of a Dogfighting Critboat shuttle...
The Dogfighting Shuttle has Engine Upgrades and Advanced Sensors

The Critboat Shuttle has an HLC and 2x Merc Co-Pilots.

However, a ship with HLC, 2x Merc Co-Pilots, Engine Upgrades, and Advanced Sensors, seems like it would HURT.

For 39 points at lvl 2, it had better...

Kath Scarlet + Expert Handling (40)

Omicron Group Pilot + Fire Control System + Gunner + Engine Upgrade (32)

Omicron Group Pilot + Darth Vader + Engine Upgrade (28)

i think vader shuttle has been exclusively used as a suicide ship but i think thats underselling his ability. i thinking holding off until shields r down on the defender is key as is the target. Vader crew can devastate high PS name pilots with a crippling crit - the challenge is to get them into ur firing arc in the first place - boost on the shuttle should facilitate this nicely imo.

Yeh, I can see that being useful I guess, if your Vader Shuttle can draw a shot to the target and doesn't finish it off, that auto crit might just do it. I guess another advantage is that ship will draw a great deal of hate and maybe free of your other ships to roam at will.

This is definitely what ive seen the most. Buzzsaw gets left alone. But put Vader on a shuttle and your opponent is hellbent to take it out.

even more reason to have engine upgrade on it so it can flee to the far side of the board and swing back for a choice shot on a prime pilot - the higher the PS the better.

I have a Store Championship this weekend and I am 99% certain that I am going with a Firespray and 2 White Space Bison :-)