FFG Forum Archive

Posted at 2014-03-04 17:17:29+00:00

Hi all,

I have been playing Rebels solidly since the game came out. My personal experience and playstyle are all about hitpoints: more ships= more health and more shots. Because I want as much health as possible, I have run 5 Y-wing lists, 4 B-wing lists, or some combination of Ys and Bs in tournaments with great success.

I want to try the same tactic using Empire. Other than using the larger ships (I only have 1 of each), that leaves the TIE Bomber. I haven't been able to decide which is the best route to take: 4 bombers loaded with secondary weapons? Or 5 or 6 bombers using bombs only? Do I go for low pilot skill or higher? For example, which is better:

Scimitar Pilot + Proton Bomb

Scimitar Pilot + Seismic Charges

TOTAL : 99 points

OR

Gamma Pilot + Seismic Charges

TOTAL: 100 points

OR

Gamma Pilot + Proton Bombs

Gamma Pilot + Proton Bombs + Engine Upgrade

TOTAL: 100 points

OR

Captain Jonus + Cluster Missiles + Seismic Charges

Gamma Pilot + Cluster Missiles + Seismic Charges

TOTAL: 100 points

OR

Scimitar Pilot + Seismic Charges

Scimitar Pilot

TOTAL: 100 points

In the tournament setting, I expect a large number of squads with lots of PS 1 and 2. It seems to me that Gamma's would be better than Scimitars because the enemy will move first, making it easier to drop bombs accurately. I like Jonus and missile spam, be he is always targeted first and may not live long enough to make missiles effective. What does everyone think? What is the strongest bomber spam list?

Edited March 4, 2014 by rmb43

Posted at 2014-03-04 17:25:10+00:00

i played against the Capt J and 3 bombers last night. I took them all down without losing a ship. was down to one hull on the Fspray after he took alot of attention off the start. the bomber problem is its all hull, so if a crit gets through, your not in a good place. plus if your missles dont land solid, you down to 2 attack dice. I kinda flew a shuttle as targeting help with weapons enginer, title, and the pilot that can pass off a target lock. That was nice to get my locks out before anyone is in range.

Posted at 2014-03-04 17:30:17+00:00

Id do 5x Scimitar with Protons/Concussions!

Posted at 2014-03-04 17:53:35+00:00

Where is Captain Jonus???????????

I love the bomber spam, but Captain Jonus is what the whole list is built around.

Posted at 2014-03-04 18:00:51+00:00

How about this:

Howlrunner + Stealth Device (21)

Scimitar Squadron Pilot + Seismic Charges (18)

Scimitar Squadron Pilot + Proton Bombs (21)

Adding howlrunner gives the bombers the ability to have a strong primary attack - plus it may draw some fire, so that your bombers survive longer - if the enemy goes for howlrunner first, then you are free to bomb as you see fit. If he ignores howlrunner, then focus more on doing the mini-swarm attack... and bomb when you can.

Posted at 2014-03-04 18:07:20+00:00

Has someone been reading my thread? It does look a lot of fun, let me know which list you fly and how it performs.

Posted at 2014-03-04 18:09:41+00:00

Where is Captain Jonus???????????

I love the bomber spam, but Captain Jonus is what the whole list is built around.

I would not say I have a ton of experience flying bombers, but Jonus w/squad leader really makes other bombers sing. I'm not sure about bidding up to gamma's over scimitars. I've seen a lot of people run daggers these days, and if you lose initiative, you'll have just as much trouble TL with 2 wasted points. Throw a seismic on him and he's still got options for reliably doing damage on his own. I've liked Jonus with two double ordnance Scimitars and a PTL Sabre on the flank, but you could easily do another bomber in there. You can keep Jonus back a ways from the rest of your bombers so that he either can't be shot at or is significantly worse than loaded up TIE-Bs carrying missiles.

I suppose you could say that's not really a swarm of bombers though. I know from a pure time/aggravation standpoint I wouldn't want to face x6 bombers.

Posted at 2014-03-05 01:42:13+00:00

Where is Captain Jonus???????????

I love the bomber spam, but Captain Jonus is what the whole list is built around.

Jonus IS great, but only if you are running secondary weapons that need a dice roll. Most of the lists I posted are bombs only. I have run Jonus and 3 bombers with missiles multiple times, and what usually seems to happen is Jonus dies early and the other bombers struggle to do a lot of damage with the missiles.

For a bomber spam list, it just seems to me that bomb spam is a better choice. Guaranteed damage as long as you place them correctly. No relying on dice rolls that can crap out on you when you need them most! I'm thinking that this list may be the best of the bunch:

Scimitar Pilot + Proton Bomb

Scimitar Pilot + Seismic Charges

TOTAL : 99 points

Lots of damage potential with the bombs, 30 hit points in the squad, 10 attack dice and 10 defense dice. Pretty solid, methinks! I appreciate everyone's advice so far!

Posted at 2014-03-05 02:54:33+00:00

3GS+

Gammax3

Scimitar

Academy tie

5 ship squad with room for 3 missiles and 3 bombs.

Posted at 2014-03-05 10:48:09+00:00

Scimitar + Proxy Mines

Scimitar + Seismic Charge

Turr Phennir + VI

If there is no Jonus - stick to bombs and mines. Leave the expensive proton bombs to higher skilled pilots.

Posted at 2014-03-09 08:05:14+00:00

Scimitar x4

Bounty Hunter + Recon Specialist

Or

Gamma + Proton Torpedo x2

Gamma + Seismic Charge

Bounty Hunter + Recon Specialist

I've had a lot of success with these two lists against my friend's 4x B-wing+AVS, BBYY ion squad, and a couple other 4-5 rebel lists I don't remember. I'm at least 9-0 with between the two variants combined, but I think the Scimitar list is probably better. It takes a long time to win with these squads, so I'm not sure they would do as well in a 75 minute tournament setting.

Posted at 2014-03-09 08:59:21+00:00

http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/100390-i-usually-do-not-do-this/#entry1000458
(3 bombers + crassis with bombs)

Posted at 2014-03-09 18:43:03+00:00

This is one list I've been thinking about buying the pieces for. What do you guys think?

Carnor Jax + PTL

Captain Jonus + Squad Leader

Scimitar + Cluster + Proton Bomb

Scimitar + Cluster + Seismic Charge

Huge potential for alpha damage if Jax can get close by flanking the side while the trio of bombers heads straight on.

Not perfect, but I'm liking the idea of a x2 Jonus cluster missles while the enemy cant evade or focus. Certainly an "feast or famine" type list. But I can see it being a fun list when it goes right.

Too new to the game to know for sure. Haven't flown any bombers or intercepters yet.

Posted at 2014-03-09 21:27:28+00:00

Scimitars can have trouble getting a target lock since they often move before their opponent, which gives him an opportunity to focus fire and kill one before it get to fire it's ordenance on the next round of combat. I prefefer Gammas with Concussion Missles or Proton Torpedoes for the first round, preferably at range 3, three of these with Jonus' rerolls are pretty much guarantied to kill a B-wing or Y-Wing in the first exchange. Use Clusters for the second, closer exchange, or save some points and use Seismic Charges.

Maybe:

Carnor Jax + Opportunist (or PTL)

Jonus + SL + Seismic Charges

Gamma + Concussion Missiles

Gamma + Proton Torpedoes

Bomber spam for Store Championship