When I got my first bomber, I thought Major Rhymer's ability was awesome. After trying to build squads around him for half dozen games or so I decided he's not worth the points. I've never had any success that warranted his high cost. But now that Predator has been spoiled I have hope:

Major Rhymer (26) + Predator (3) + Cluster missiles x2 (8)

For 37 (33 if you drop the 2nd missile) points, you can chuck a cluster missile at range 3 and modify both attacks. Against the most popular rebel pilots, rookies and blues, it's like having Jonus next to you for a mere 3 points. With Jonus based 3 bomber squads, I've killed quite a few xwings with one ships in one round, so I'm looking forward to trying this out when.

Sure, Predator helps him. But he was already viable: Homing Missiles, Push the Limit, Jonus, etc. all made ordnance he fired work just fine.

Sure, Predator helps him. But he was already viable: Homing Missiles, Push the Limit, Jonus, etc. all made ordnance he fired work just fine.

I've never understood putting a homing missile on him. You're paying 5 points for an ability to use a thing you spent another 5 points to get an extra die vs not using it once.

Rhymer was always viable because of Cluster Missiles. The RB3 alpha strike of those with Jonus flying in formation is extremely harsh. Can take out key parts of your opponent's lists. Kills the Wedges, Howlrunners, Jonus's.

Matter of fact I am flying that tonight.

I find it hard to fit Rhymer and Jonus in a squad I like for a 100 points. Does your squad use 4 bombers?

Rhymer's thing isn't cluster missiles, it's APTs

I love Maj. Rhymer as is. Adv Proton Torpedoes with PTL. Get the TL and the Focus. BAM!. I have utterly anhilated a great many rebel pilots with him....

Why would you go with Predator over PtL? Predator gives you one reroll, PtL gives you a focus that's the rough equivalent of a full reroll, is more generally useful, and does it for the same cost.

I think the value in Predator is that Jonus can take it, giving him decent ordinance attacks to contribute to the alpha strike. While still expensive point wise, you can set him up to be a big ship killer.

100pts

Captain Jonus w/ predator, ion pulse missile, advanced torpedo & failsafe

2x Gamma Squadron BMB w/ flechette torpedo, cluster missile & failsafe

Black Squadron TIE w/ draw their fire

100pts

Captain Jonus w/ predator, ion pulse missile, advanced torpedo & failsafe

2x Gamma Squadron BMB w/ flechette torpedo & assault missile

Black Squadron TIE w/ draw their fire

Jonus launches IPM, holds TL using Predator to reroll to secure hit, 2nd round move to range 1, focus and APT. There is room for some list juggling, possibly having each escort bomber run a different ordinance loadout for a more mixed bag going into a tourney. Probably want at least 1 bomber to keep a flechette to combo w/ IPM so Jojo can nuke a small base high priority target.

Why would you go with Predator over PtL? Predator gives you one reroll, PtL gives you a focus that's the rough equivalent of a full reroll, is more generally useful, and does it for the same cost.

Because predator works on both attacks of a cluster missile, ptl only helps one of them. Also predator does gimp the dial next turn.

I love Maj. Rhymer as is. Adv Proton Torpedoes with PTL. Get the TL and the Focus. BAM!. I have utterly anhilated a great many rebel pilots with him....

I find ptl + APT to be underwhelming for its point cost. Also if you end up in range 3 for the first round of combat, Rhymer ofter doesn't get a chance to fire it all.

I find ptl + APT to be underwhelming for its point cost. Also if you end up in range 3 for the first round of combat, Rhymer ofter doesn't get a chance to fire it all.

With a Rhymer alpha strike come in slow turn 1 then fast turn 2 so you are in range for your shot. Also helps to have Howlrunner with Squad Leader to give him his target lock if you are facing Biggs so you don't get stuck targetting the wrong guy. I've found Rhymer with 2 APTs pretty devastating and have 90% of the time gotten off both shots too.

I find ptl + APT to be underwhelming for its point cost. Also if you end up in range 3 for the first round of combat, Rhymer ofter doesn't get a chance to fire it all.

With a Rhymer alpha strike come in slow turn 1 then fast turn 2 so you are in range for your shot. Also helps to have Howlrunner with Squad Leader to give him his target lock if you are facing Biggs so you don't get stuck targetting the wrong guy. I've found Rhymer with 2 APTs pretty devastating and have 90% of the time gotten off both shots too.

I've never gotten a second shot with Rhymer when he has two APTs. He draws WAY too much fire. And at a whopping 41 points if one dies in the tube, I'm pretty screwed.

I find ptl + APT to be underwhelming for its point cost. Also if you end up in range 3 for the first round of combat, Rhymer ofter doesn't get a chance to fire it all.

With a Rhymer alpha strike come in slow turn 1 then fast turn 2 so you are in range for your shot. Also helps to have Howlrunner with Squad Leader to give him his target lock if you are facing Biggs so you don't get stuck targetting the wrong guy. I've found Rhymer with 2 APTs pretty devastating and have 90% of the time gotten off both shots too.

I've never gotten a second shot with Rhymer when he has two APTs. He draws WAY too much fire. And at a whopping 41 points if one dies in the tube, I'm pretty screwed.

Have you flown him with a pilot that has Draw Their Fire to keep crits off of him? I have a Rhymer list where he comes in at 40 points and he has a Black Tie wingman (not the card) who's there to eat crits.

I find ptl + APT to be underwhelming for its point cost. Also if you end up in range 3 for the first round of combat, Rhymer ofter doesn't get a chance to fire it all.

With a Rhymer alpha strike come in slow turn 1 then fast turn 2 so you are in range for your shot. Also helps to have Howlrunner with Squad Leader to give him his target lock if you are facing Biggs so you don't get stuck targetting the wrong guy. I've found Rhymer with 2 APTs pretty devastating and have 90% of the time gotten off both shots too.

I've never gotten a second shot with Rhymer when he has two APTs. He draws WAY too much fire. And at a whopping 41 points if one dies in the tube, I'm pretty screwed.

Have you flown him with a pilot that has Draw Their Fire to keep crits off of him? I have a Rhymer list where he comes in at 40 points and he has a Black Tie wingman (not the card) who's there to eat crits.

I have not. Might give it a shot, but I'm skeptical that dumping more points into getting him to work will pay out.

I have played 5 games with a list that included rhymer, and I am pretty sure he got both his assault missile and apt off in all games. Actually, I think he survived 3 of the games as well. Everyone was much more concerned with killing Jonus rather than rhymer.

I think the value in Predator is that Jonus can take it, giving him decent ordinance attacks to contribute to the alpha strike. While still expensive point wise, you can set him up to be a big ship killer.

100pts

Captain Jonus w/ predator, ion pulse missile, advanced torpedo & failsafe

2x Gamma Squadron BMB w/ flechette torpedo, cluster missile & failsafe

Black Squadron TIE w/ draw their fire

100pts

Captain Jonus w/ predator, ion pulse missile, advanced torpedo & failsafe

2x Gamma Squadron BMB w/ flechette torpedo & assault missile

Black Squadron TIE w/ draw their fire

Jonus launches IPM, holds TL using Predator to reroll to secure hit, 2nd round move to range 1, focus and APT. There is room for some list juggling, possibly having each escort bomber run a different ordinance loadout for a more mixed bag going into a tourney. Probably want at least 1 bomber to keep a flechette to combo w/ IPM so Jojo can nuke a small base high priority target.

I'm with Ansible on this one, I think the REAL value here is for Jonus.

It gives you a reason to invest in some ordinance for him... though it is going to use up that valuable EPT slot which should usually be going into Squad Leader.

At the same time Rhymer will also benefit from this and I think that Rhymer+Predator+loadout will be a viable option in a 3-ship Imperial build.

I find ptl + APT to be underwhelming for its point cost. Also if you end up in range 3 for the first round of combat, Rhymer ofter doesn't get a chance to fire it all.

With a Rhymer alpha strike come in slow turn 1 then fast turn 2 so you are in range for your shot. Also helps to have Howlrunner with Squad Leader to give him his target lock if you are facing Biggs so you don't get stuck targetting the wrong guy. I've found Rhymer with 2 APTs pretty devastating and have 90% of the time gotten off both shots too.

I've never gotten a second shot with Rhymer when he has two APTs. He draws WAY too much fire. And at a whopping 41 points if one dies in the tube, I'm pretty screwed.

Have you flown him with a pilot that has Draw Their Fire to keep crits off of him? I have a Rhymer list where he comes in at 40 points and he has a Black Tie wingman (not the card) who's there to eat crits.

I have not. Might give it a shot, but I'm skeptical that dumping more points into getting him to work will pay out.

i've never found Rhymer to be viable, he costs 9 points more than a Scimitar yet only has a +5 PS, he has the most expensive ability in the game and it's not even that good imo.

ive found with rhymer, you can fire homing missiles, then keep the lock and follow up with focus and TL and have room for something other than PTL for your APT shot...

ive found with rhymer, you can fire homing missiles, then keep the lock and follow up with focus and TL and have room for something other than PTL for your APT shot...

Should be a decent target then if you are going to use both a Homing and an APT on a single ship.

an maybe you should consider to ionize it ^^ -> Ion Pulse Missiles

So:

Rhymer + Predator + Ion Pulse Missiles + Cluster Missiles + APT = 39 points

+ 5 Academies? = 99 points

So:

Rhymer + Predator + Ion Pulse Missiles + Cluster Missiles + APT = 39 points

+ 5 Academies? = 99 points

The Rhymer build is 42 points though

And I'm not a fan of running more that 3 TIEs without Howl.

oh yay ... forgot the ion missile ^^

58 points left is enough for Howl + Stealth and 3 Academies.