Last week, earlier in the day before the shuttle article hit the front page of FFG ironically, I finally achieved something I have been meaning to do since last Fall - I tested four Lambda Shuttles running Engine Upgrades. The squad I faced was Captain Jonus w/Squad Leader and Seismic Charges with three Gamma Squadron Pilots (each also had Seismics and one missile of various types (an Assault Missile, a Concussion Missile, and a Homing Missile)). The missiles all hit, doing a ton of damage thanks to Jonus (the Assault hit three Shuttles which had happened to gather close together at that particular stage). My opponent flew well, did what he could to stay out of arcs while taking shots, and at least two of his bombs went off successfully in my face.

And I still won. At the end it was a three hull Captain Jonus being chased from behind by a fully healed Lambda and we called it.

Now, there's a lot of testing left to be done before I would call this squad competitive. I need to put it up against TIE swarms, XXBB, etc. to test its mettle. But fast shuttles are a thing of beauty and very fun to play. My favorite move actually didn't produce a shot, it just got me out of firing arcs - a one-speed bank to the left in between two asteroids followed by a 1-speed bank boost to the right in between two other asteroids. It was gorgeous.

Some variants I am contemplating now that I've experienced that rush (besides the common and seemingly awesome triple Buzzsaws I definitely need to try):

• Omicron w/Advanced Sensors + Engine Upgrade x3 and a named TIE Pilot (Night Beast, Dark Curse, or Backstabber) or a BSP w/Squad Leader (I also want to try replacing Adv Sensors w/other three point options like the ST-321 card, Ion Cannon, Vader, and Rebel Captive)
• Omicron w/Engine Upgrade x3 and Academy Pilot x2
• Omicron w/Engine Upgrade x2 and Academy Pilot x4 (you see where this trend is going, right?)
• Omicron w/Engine Upgrade and Advanced Sensors and Academy Pilot x 6

The TIE Swarm pilot in me wants to favor that last option, but there's a part of me that keeps thinking about 20 shields and 20 hull in a squad of four maneuverable ships in a 60-75 minute skirmish format and wondering if that might just be enough on its own. Maybe drop an Engine Upgrade and pop Vader in for a ride on one? I'll keep testing and update this threat, especially with the four shuttle variants (which are just so fun it's obscene). I haven't been this excited about a squad since a friend handed me eight TIE Fighters and said "Just... try it."

(shudder)

On the one hand, four Omicrons is one possible answer to Rebel lists with 2-3 B-wings--or worse, the dreaded Rebel Convoy. On the other hand, while I'm pretty sure your 4x Lambda list is badly matched against a swarm, I'm equally sure that I have no interest at all in being the one to try it.

I've been a bit worried about this for a while, actually--what would happen when people started running multiple shuttle lists. If I start with 7 TIEs and never miss a shot or a token with any of them, it would still take something like 4-5 turns to roll enough dice to kill off your list. That sounds like... Not fun. And it's worse for Rebel lists.

Two things:

First, your title makes me want potatoes. So there's that.

Second, try SableGryphon's Cosmic Alabaster Narhwal fleet at some point.

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C aptain Y orr

+ Intelligence Agent

+ Gunner

+ Fire-Control Systems

+ Engine Upgrade

-{ 36 }-

O micron G roup P ilot

+ Gunner

+ Fire-Control Systems

+ Engine Upgrade

-{ 32 }-

O micron G roup P ilot

+ Gunner

+ Fire-Control Systems

+ Engine Upgrade

-{ 32 }-

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It is always about how well you can handle the shuttles when you play the games with them. 3 shuttles can be very potent. 4 while trimmed down with some extras I am sure can be equally impressive. I had an idea for a 4 shuttle list. However it wasn't all with engines, it was a pair with OGP and Yorr with a couple upgrades to pull the pill box hold in position bunker stance. While vader rides in one and one has engine upgrade and something else, I forget how I had it set up. Though there can be something to the 4 shuttle list. It is just a lot of damage out put and a lot hull/shield to chew through for the enemy.

ok, so im thinking of trying this squad on the weekend...

100pts

Omicron + HLC + Adv. Sensors + Engine Upgrade + Merc Copilot + Merc Copilot (39)

Kath Scarlet + Expert Handling + Gunner (45)

Backstabber (16)

should be fun.

The OGP with HLC and dual Greedos can be pretty potent, you just need to strip the shields before the shuttle fires and of course, skill/luck into at least one good range 3 shot to try and sneak in those crits. If you can get a couple range 3 volleys through the course of the game the Greedos will play for themselves.

The OGP with HLC and dual Greedos can be pretty potent, you just need to strip the shields before the shuttle fires and of course, skill/luck into at least one good range 3 shot to try and sneak in those crits. If you can get a couple range 3 volleys through the course of the game the Greedos will play for themselves.

Greedo = Mercenary Copilot?

The OGP with HLC and dual Greedos can be pretty potent, you just need to strip the shields before the shuttle fires and of course, skill/luck into at least one good range 3 shot to try and sneak in those crits. If you can get a couple range 3 volleys through the course of the game the Greedos will play for themselves.

Greedo = Mercenary Copilot?

Yes.

The OGP with HLC and dual Greedos can be pretty potent, you just need to strip the shields before the shuttle fires and of course, skill/luck into at least one good range 3 shot to try and sneak in those crits. If you can get a couple range 3 volleys through the course of the game the Greedos will play for themselves.

For more curse-words, add Advanced Sensors and an Engine Upgrade. Yes, it's a 41 point bird at this point, but you are super maneuverable, action efficient, and throw 4 dice with 2 crits at range 3. Worth.

The OGP with HLC and dual Greedos can be pretty potent, you just need to strip the shields before the shuttle fires and of course, skill/luck into at least one good range 3 shot to try and sneak in those crits. If you can get a couple range 3 volleys through the course of the game the Greedos will play for themselves.

For more curse-words, add Advanced Sensors and an Engine Upgrade. Yes, it's a 41 point bird at this point, but you are super maneuverable, action efficient, and throw 4 dice with 2 crits at range 3. Worth.

Omicron Group Pilot (21)

Advanced Sensors (3)

Heavy Laser Cannon (7)

Mercenary Copilot (2)

Mercenary Copilot (2)

Engine Upgrade (4)

Omicron Group Pilot (21)

Advanced Sensors (3)

Heavy Laser Cannon (7)

Mercenary Copilot (2)

Mercenary Copilot (2)

Engine Upgrade (4)

Captain Jonus (22)

That's 100 points. Intriguing =P

Why Fantasy Flight? Why? Why did you make shuttles combat vessels? I have no doubt 4 shuttles is a good competitive list. I just cringe at the thought of having to face 4 shuttle lists over and over and over again in tournaments. I'm sorry but It's thematically lame. And then your going to get 4 Shuttles vs 4 Shuttles. I'm sorry but that just seems kind of lame to me. If the winner of nationals this year has a 4 shuttle squad I'm sorry but that just feels like the end of competitive play for me. I mean seriously what would it say about a space dog fighting game if 4 shuttles is the top squad. I guess I'll just pretend that they are not actually shuttles and that they are some sort of gunboat instead. Don't get me wrong, I don't blame you for running them. Play to win. I just hate that they gave the shuttles 3 attack dice. I mean really, the shuttles have as much firepower as an xwing? a bwing? The imperials should have just made the shuttle their primary combat ship lol. Sorry for the rant.

If the winner of nationals this year has a 4 shuttle squad I'm sorry but that just feels like the end of competitive play for me.

If there's a huge earthquake that destroys downtown Indianapolis during Nationals, it'll be the end of competitive play for me--and that's at least as likely as four shuttles taking the tourney.

Basically, I'm of the mind that adding one shuttle does good things for your squad, but using three or four is setting yourself up for a bad tournament. Shuttles are going to live or die by their matchups, and while there are certainly good ones out there (anything that depends on bulk to stay in the game), there's also a whole universe of really bad ones (anything that counts on outflying or controlling low-Agility opponents instead of trying to brawl).

As I said earlier: I don't want to fly against four shuttles, because I think it's going to be a boring slog even for lists that can win the matchup consistently. But that doesn't mean I think it's a great list.

If there's a huge earthquake that destroys downtown Indianapolis during Nationals, it'll be the end of competitive play for me--and that's at least as likely as four shuttles taking the tourney.

I hope your right because if that happened I think it would damage the game.

I do not think 4 shuttles would do well, but 3 certainly can.....

Ok, so I've run my Tri-Lambda list a number of times. I have more wins than losses. There are certain tournament worthy lists that will consistently maul it, most notably a 4 B-Wing list. 4 Lambdas will likely to better than 3 there of course.

There are those that say that multiple shuttle lists are the end times and that they ruin the game, especially thematically. I should point a few things out.

First, in universe the Lambda was specifically designed to be a heavily armed weapons platform in order to defend itself against rebel starfighter raiding. The craft was built in order to be able to take a starship or two. This allowed the Lambda to operate independently instead of relying on a fighter escort. As a larger craft, it was able to mount significant firepower. If anything, the attack dice in the game are too low thematically.

Second, from a gameplay standpoint, they seem to be balanced for their point cost. They certainly suffer from maneuverability issues against fast, light craft. They quickly wither under concentrated fire (firing on it with your entire list should take one down in 2 turns). Indeed, they aren't much different to kill than B-Wings when you come right down to it. Hardly something to ruin the game.

Simply put, as much as I hate to admit it, the 3-4 Lambda lists just aren't competitive. They are potent and can wreck your day, but they can't reliably defeat every list out there.

I think ion torpedoes will go a long way toward messing up a list like this. With asteroids and all the large base ships to avoid, an ion in there could really mess up your day. Especially with a large base.

UPDATE: I tested two shuttle squads today. First, I took three Omicrons with Engine Upgrades and Advanced Sensors plus Night Beast against a TIE swarm with Howlrunner (stealth+PtL), four Omicrons, and two Academies. I flew forward quicker than the swarm thought, which caught him off guard enough to get some shots of opportunity without much return fire. The first two rounds gave me several solid shots, before I ultimately traded Night Beast and the shields from a shuttle for Howlrunner and both Academies. I lost a second shuttle but killed an Obsidian and dropped two more down to one hull by the time 75 minutes are up. So, modified win.

That seems to be the way with this squad. I have faced three swarms, a bomber squad, and an XXBB build with four shuttles or three and a TIE fighter, and won every time, but never a full win. So four shuttles seems good but not incredible yet, and likely would disappoint in the store championship this weekend. Leaning toward 1-2 of them with a mini-swarm right now. I'll keep testing after the championship though - because frankly it's crazy fun to fly! Zoom zoom moo!