I like many of you grew up watching the movies. I am a casual player and I like building fun thematic lists.

For my next game night I am going with a Vader theme. I will be running two lists

1) a doom shuttle with a royal guard escort (this has already been discussed a fair bit)

2) Vader in his tie advanced with an interceptor escort.

I need help with is the second list.

Idea #1 Vader Escort Elite

Vader Escort

Darth Vader / TIE Advanced

Squad Leader

Cluster Missiles

Hull Upgrade

Royal Guard Pilot / TIE Interceptor X 2

Push the Limit

Hull Upgrade

Stealth Device

Royal Guard TIE

Idea #2 Vader

Darth Vader / TIE Advanced

Squad Leader

Homing Missiles

Shield Upgrade

Saber Squadron Pilot / TIE Interceptor

Push the Limit

Saber Squadron Pilot / TIE Interceptor

Push the Limit

Academy Pilot / TIE Fighter

Thoughts?

Oh and yes both of the interceptors will be red

Do you mean swarm tactics instead of squad leader?

I feel like swarm tactics or squad leader might be wasted. Since your Ints have PTL, they can't use vaders free action without breaking formation.

If you want to stay in formation, I would give Vader Engine Upgrade. Though I feel Interceptors do better on their own.

I agree that Swarm Tactics and Squad Leader are somewhat pointless when he's paired with Interceptors, since the x1 doesn't fly very well with them. Also, Cluster Missiles aren't very good unless you have something special backing it up, like Krassis Trelex or Captain Jonus' ability.

i like this

Vader + Engine

Soontir Fel+ PTL+Shield

Carnor Jax + PTL + Shield

The homing missile would be good on Vader. Since he can x2 action, he can TL+focus, fire the missile, then spend both on the attack.

It could be a good list and while its awesome to see ships flying in formation, I would focus on individual effectiveness rather than synergy.

Some fragile lists. Sounds like you want the scene from A New Hope, but instead of Obsidian named pilots, you want interceptors backing up Big Daddy Vader.

I agree with the posters, that you would be better off with Engine Upgrade on Vader. It will let him keep up and maneuver just like a PTL Interceptor. Perhaps give him a missile like Assault Missile or Concussion Missile, so he has a really hard long range attack? He can pretty easily Focus + target lock in one round, letting loose. Once Rebel Aces comes out, I'd grab a Homing Missile. It is great for one shotting A Wings, and putting hurt on Millennium Falcons dropping Evade actions. I've just found Cluster Missiles to be meh without an ability to back them up (hence my TIE Defender Excitement).

On list two, I'd almost strip Vader of all that, give him the engine upgrade, and take out the TIE Academy and put in an OGP. I love OGP's for filler, as they have a ton of HP, hit like a truck, and are fine if you put them on a flank and fly them through your opponent's stuff. I feel like if those Saber's and Interceptors, you're going to want something to grab their attention.

I prefer OGP shuttle with Anti-pursuit Lasers to go along with Interceptors and Interception Vader (Engine Upgrade). That big White Buffalo flying through an opponent's force at PS2 is going to cause a ruckus.

The new (and improved) Three Amigos!

Vader+Daredevil+Engine

Soontir Fel+PtL+TC

Carnor Jax+PtL+Hull

Thanks guys for the input. My thought on the squad leader was

A) ensure an action for the squint per turn after PTL stress. Ie they wouldn't have to do a green manoeuvre every time

B) range 1-2 requires formation flying but not as tight as swarm tactics

That said I am sold on the engine upgrade. I also appreciate the feedback regarding missiles. I haven't played them much

Stone I love the three amigos list. Daredevil plus engines will provide all kinds of dance moves for vader. Pick two boost, barrel roll or turn wow! It will be tricky but fun list to fly.

Kaimmund- great response! Thanks. The OGP is a great idea. Thematically I might put in the rebel captive instead of the APL. It's almost a perfect scenario. Vader is tasked with escorting a high value prisoner for interrogation when they are ambushed by rebel scum.... I love it...will post a new list soon.

The new (and improved) Three Amigos!

Vader+Daredevil+Engine

Soontir Fel+PtL+TC

Carnor Jax+PtL+Hull

Vader with daredevil and engine up is BOSS, and PTL and TC on Sooty makes me smile.

I don't think you can get an action from squad leader if you are stressed can you?

If stressed, can't do actions, even free actions.

Squad Leader from Vader isn't going to do a thing for an Interceptor stressed after using PtL. Now the Interceptor could act normally on its turn and then get a free action from Squad Leader and trigger PtL off of that. You're still stressing the Interceptor and giving up Vader's "stress free PtL" but it can get an Interceptor three actions.

If you're going to run Vader with Interceptor I also feel the Engine Upgrade is almost a must. The Advanced is already one of the most survivable ships in the game, especially with two actions, which makes the survivability upgrades less needed.

Oooooooh, that new three amigos squad looks pretty sweet. How do you think that'd fare against a swarm?

AH, see I was thinking Squad leader was a waste because you could never use it, but I didn't think about PTL going off the free action letting you adjust at a PS 9. That's actually not too bad, although I still don't think I would take it in that last.

Oooooooh, that new three amigos squad looks pretty sweet. How do you think that'd fare against a swarm?

I have run it against a mini swarm and a BH. I only lost Jax near the end. I think this is a great swarm list, especially because of the new rules for full win. The Three Amigos are VERY hard to kill. They are maneuverable, throw a lot of dice, move late in the order, and can Focus AND Evade in a single turn if needed. I run this list with a defense first mentality. Rounds may go by before I get a shot, but I make them count. (Soontir with a TL is NASTY!)

How about this?

Vader w/ Daredevil, Engine Boost

Soontir Fel w/ PTL, Shield Upgrade

Turr w/ VI, Shield Upgrade

Comes to 100 points on the nose, and gives you three very mobile pilots shooting at PS9. Downsides are only only eight attack dice for the entire team, and 3/4ths of those are coming from a pair of glass cannons.

How about this?

Vader w/ Daredevil, Engine Boost

Soontir Fel w/ PTL, Shield Upgrade

Turr w/ VI, Shield Upgrade

Comes to 100 points on the nose, and gives you three very mobile pilots shooting at PS9. Downsides are only only eight attack dice for the entire team, and 3/4ths of those are coming from a pair of glass cannons.

I like this one:

Vader w/ Marksmanship and Engine Upgrade and Assault Missiles

Fel w/ PtL

Jax with Marksmanship

It should scratch up B-wing boxes pretty well, I think.

Maybe swap the Assault Missile for Cluster so you can get the Marksmanship effect on both rolls? Kind of like Kath Scarlet Cowgirl builds with Marksmanship and Gunner.