The new escalation rules really put a twist on squadron building, especially with the thirty point intervals (and the fact that there are no longer ANY 100-point setups). So I'm wondering: what are your observations/predictions so far on how this'll change the meta? I've noticed, for example, that squadrons are tending to move towards ships averaging 30 points (at least with Rebels). The first round might see three 20-point(ish) ships, but after that, you have to either add one thirty-pointer per round or two fifteen-pointers, and with the latter you run into the six(? Maybe eight?)-small-ship limit pretty quickly. This means a lot more named pilots, and it also means that the Defender and E-Wing, with their costs right around thirty points, seem to be more useful in filling out squadrons.

Thoughts?

Frankly, I haven't seen enough discussion on the subject to see any tendancies. I've made two cracks at it thus far myself, and may take on a third, but it's interesting to see how many points you allow yourself to float to one round without crippling a previous one.

One thing that is really interesting is if you want a Firespray or unique YT-1300 at ANY stage of the tournament, it has to be in your 60 point list. You can't have two of either ship, and you'll have very little support in that first game. So despite the higher points limit overall, there's actually less access to medium-base ships.

One thing that is really interesting is if you want a Firespray or unique YT-1300 at ANY stage of the tournament, it has to be in your 60 point list.

This is only true if you always reach the point limit. If you take 55 points in your 60 point list then you can add a 33 point Firespray in your 90 point list.

I'm finding that it's very difficult to break out of the 5-6 ship range.
It's definitely easier to build ships that cost appx 30 points than to build ones that cost appx 15, or even worse, ones that float a significant number of points between rounds.

Just go 5 outer rim smugglers.

You can still do some amazing swarm lists, even with being capped at "only" 8 TIEs.

150 points

Howlrunner + Swarm Tactics + Stealth Device (23)

Mauler Mithel + Swarm Tactics (19)

Backstabber (16)

Dark Curse (16)

Academy x4 (48)

Royal Guard Pilot + Push the Limit + Stealth Device (28)

With Swarm tactics, it fires at: 8/8/7/7/6/6/6/1/1

It's very easy to get that list optimized at each point bracket. Rebels won't have these kinds of options until the refit A-wing and Z-95 come out.

Edit: Another funny option is to just get nothing but Delta Squadron Pilots.... boring as heck and probably not super competitive, but at least you spend exactly the maximum number of points each jump, no strings attached!

You can still do some amazing swarm lists, even with being capped at "only" 8 TIEs.

150 points

Howlrunner + Swarm Tactics + Stealth Device (23)

Mauler Mithel + Swarm Tactics (19)

Backstabber (16)

Dark Curse (16)

Academy x4 (48)

Royal Guard Pilot + Push the Limit + Stealth Device (28)

With Swarm tactics, it fires at: 8/8/7/7/6/6/6/1/1

It's very easy to get that list optimized at each point bracket. Rebels won't have these kinds of options until the refit A-wing and Z-95 come out.

Edit: Another funny option is to just get nothing but Delta Squadron Pilots.... boring as heck and probably not super competitive, but at least you spend exactly the maximum number of points each jump, no strings attached!

My first Escalation list has been 7 Academies, 3 Scimitar Bombers, and 1 Howlrunner. 11 ships for a Howlrunner swarm? Please and thank you!

We had some folks discussing this last night at our league night. It appears that the initial cap of 60 is "broken" because all the Imperial player needs to do is create a swarm list (I've seen both w/ & w/o Howlrunner discussed) and the Rebel player is hard-pressed to create lists at/near 60 points that can compete. And then there is the new restriction that you carry not only the ships but their upgrades forward.

Granted, we haven't tested it very far. Maybe we just haven't gotten far enough in our play-testing. But first impressions aren't not encouraging.

It definitely seems tougher on the rebel builds (with their higher points cost) to squeeze in extra ships without leaving unspent points in prior rounds.

We had some folks discussing this last night at our league night. It appears that the initial cap of 60 is "broken" because all the Imperial player needs to do is create a swarm list (I've seen both w/ & w/o Howlrunner discussed) and the Rebel player is hard-pressed to create lists at/near 60 points that can compete. And then there is the new restriction that you carry not only the ships but their upgrades forward.

Granted, we haven't tested it very far. Maybe we just haven't gotten far enough in our play-testing. But first impressions aren't not encouraging.

Once you encounter a 5 ship meta at 60 points, figure out a list that can beat that.

Perhaps 3 Gammas with Seismic Charges would be up to the task?

Royal Guard (22) PTL, Shield, Hull (10). Total 32

Royal Guard (22) PTL, Shield, Hull (10). Total 32

Royal Guard (22) PTL, Shield, Hull (10). Total 32

Royal Guard (22) PTL, Shield, Hull (10). Total 32

Royal Guard (22) PTL, Shield, Hull (10). Total 32

Royal Guard (22) PTL, Shield, Hull (10). Total 32

Repeat until desired effect.

Royal Guard (22) PTL, Shield, Hull (10). Total 32

Royal Guard (22) PTL, Shield, Hull (10). Total 32

Royal Guard (22) PTL, Shield, Hull (10). Total 32

Royal Guard (22) PTL, Shield, Hull (10). Total 32

Royal Guard (22) PTL, Shield, Hull (10). Total 32

Royal Guard (22) PTL, Shield, Hull (10). Total 32

Repeat until desired effect.

You can only add 30 points at a time, and your maximum is 150 points (i.e. 4 of these 32 pointers, with 22 points remaining).

Also, you can only have 8 of a given species of small-ship (or 4 of a given species of large-ship)

Ok another thought

Deployment,

Shuttle with ion total (24)

Shuttle with ion total (24)

Black Squad with vet ins total (15)

Black Squad with vet ins total (15)

Black Squad with vet ins total (15)

First wave

Black Squad with vet ins total (15)

Black Squad with vet ins total (15)

Second wave

Shuttle with ion total (24)

So basically your squad had PS 6 across the board and you use the shuttles to stun it works very effectively.

One thing that is really interesting is if you want a Firespray or unique YT-1300 at ANY stage of the tournament, it has to be in your 60 point list.

This is only true if you always reach the point limit. If you take 55 points in your 60 point list then you can add a 33 point Firespray in your 90 point list.

Good point! I was thinking in terms of (your old list) + 30, not (your old list) + (up to the new limit). So the Imperials could slip in a generic Bounty Hunter without too much fuss, but I doubt a Rebel player would be eager to hold back the points needed to add another named YT-1300.