Hey all, your regular bomber captain here.

So I've been flying a squad with Vader + Assault Missiles + Swarm, Jonus + Swarm, Scim x2 + 1Proton Torp on each.

I'm finding that I have an awful time when people set up across the board from me and either make me tool around on my side, or wade through asteroids. The bombers have a red 2 turn and a white 3. They move diagonally well, but that's tricky.

I usually set them up like this

S S

J V

I'm thinking that I might want to go a straighter 2x2 grid?

Also, smart people are jamming me. They wait outside and then smash forward into my range one. For that reason I'm thinking of replacing one of the proton torps with a cluster missile (Jonus is always alive for the opening salvo, especially with the swarm link). Maybe I replace BOTH of them with swarm?

Thoughts on..

1: Approaching the enemy or waiting for them

2: Missile loadout

Advanced torps should keep them from rushing into range 1, especially if you get TL one turn a and a focus the next

I can't afford APT on this, plus, they're crazy difficult to ensure that you get your value for them. they can only be fired at range 1, and that's a lot of points for a deterrent.

I'd recommend taking out Vader. Just far too expensive. Take something with a little more punch to it, or, to continue the bomber theme, Major Rhymer with Adv Torps. That way he can extend the range of it to be more effective.

That or put some bombs on your bombers. People will think twice about running head on into R1 if the next turn they're basically garunteed to be exploded by a seismic charge. If we say for a moment that they are at the outermost range of R1, that puts them at 2.5 movement from your front edge, or 4.5 from where the bomb would be placed. With the exception of a 1 turn, they will move a minimum of 2 closer to you, and therefore the bomb, putting them at 2.5 from the bomb, or in R1 of the bomb.

If they try to K turn behind you, with a fast speed 5K, then they would literally land on top of the bomb. If they tried to turn away from you, a 1 turn could possibly work if they were at the edge... a 2 turn would almost always put them within R1 of the bomb, and a 3 turn could work... But now you're dictating their movements, and you can now give chase.

Or... you could replace ST on Vader with SL and take a TL on one of the farther back targets that's at R2.

Having only recently acquired the bomber i haven't tried too many tactics with it yet, however the combination of a bomber (pretty much any pilot, though Rhymer is amazing for his range manipulation!) + Jendon in a Lambda is amazing. If you go for Rhymer and Jendon that's 52 points gone straight away, so chances are you'll want to take either a Scimitar Squadron Pilot (16 points), leaving you 32 points for equipping the shuttle and 2 bombers, or take a couple of TIE fighters as escorts.

Jonus' ability will encourage you to clump your bombers together, which just makes them easy targets for your enemy, whereas Rhymer can operate as well on his own as in a group of bombers. He also has the benefit of being able to use those Protons and various missiles defensively.

I played your build last night on vassal! I think it can be a strong build, you just got unfortunate to not get off either of your proton torpedoes on your bombers before they were destroyed. If even 1 got off it might have been a different result.

I know you don't want to do turns because they are red, so maybe plan them in advance so you can do them before you are in range of the enemy, so you aren't worried about not being able to target lock.

I played your build last night on vassal! I think it can be a strong build, you just got unfortunate to not get off either of your proton torpedoes on your bombers before they were destroyed. If even 1 got off it might have been a different result.

I know you don't want to do turns because they are red, so maybe plan them in advance so you can do them before you are in range of the enemy, so you aren't worried about not being able to target lock.

I think that (other than making some serious flying errors) I want to split my bombers loadout to put a cluster missile in there for range 1-2.

Jendon and Rhymer are CRAZY expensive. You're pretty much limiting yourself to a 3 ship build if you do that because Jendon is far too expensive to not put an engine upgrade on him and have him fight a little bit. And rhymer costs a full 10 points more than a scimitar. It's nuts. I'm not big fans of them. I like having a 4 ship crew.

I added Vader because he can actually fly at the endgame AND take part in the initial salvo. He's almost always the first to shoot because he's last to move (TL) and can pick his target at the right range and then fire the assault with the splash. Once he's done, he's upgrading PS through swarm tactics all game and he is a hard target with evade and focus. Honestly, Rhymer is 3 points less, and is basically a one trick pony with the APT.

I do wish I had a few points left for bombs.

Fly slower. I screw up people when my TIEs come across the whole map at 2 speed moves all the time,

Consider swapping Swarm Tactics for Squad Tactics on Jonus. I play against a guy who runs that squad, and Squad Tactics allows one Scimitar to Focus, then take a PS6 action to Target Lock.

Interesting. So I might pass the target lock at a better time with Jonus moving later. Plus, I still keep swarm on Vader where it belongs to get the 9 PS. I like it.

Cluster Missiles are great when Jonus is near by. In my bomber list each scimitar Pilot has a proton torp and cluster missiles. That way they can shoot no matter where they are. I also give Jonus Squad Leader to help at least one of them get that tricky range 3 TL.

You know, the idea of putting squad leader on Jonus is really quite spectacular. Swarm wasn't helping him that much, but squad leader would be great. I put a cluster on one (maybe both) instead of the proton torp and I'm pretty much set for anything that comes my way.

You def want Squad Leader in there somewhere. Helps get TL + F ordnance off, which maximizes their effectiveness...especially if you are considering trying to squeeze in an APT.

I have used the following list in my last 3 games and went 2-1 with my loss being literally down to one ship each with 1 hp each. I have found it to be fun and I usually have something to shoot at all ranges and a pretty good alpha strike.

Jonus with Squad Leader(to give TL and Focus option to another bomber) Assault Missiles and Cluster Missiles

Scimitar with Assault Missiles and Cluster Missiles x 2

Academy Tie

Or something very close to that as I can't remember exactly. The key is the Assault missiles for long range(also good for splash damage) and the Cluster Missiles for short range. Works pretty good.

I have used the following list in my last 3 games and went 2-1 with my loss being literally down to one ship each with 1 hp each. I have found it to be fun and I usually have something to shoot at all ranges and a pretty good alpha strike.

Jonus with Squad Leader(to give TL and Focus option to another bomber) Assault Missiles and Cluster Missiles

Scimitar with Assault Missiles and Cluster Missiles x 2

Academy Tie

Or something very close to that as I can't remember exactly. The key is the Assault missiles for long range(also good for splash damage) and the Cluster Missiles for short range. Works pretty good.

Interesting. You haven't found only running 3 ships to be prohibitive? I'd be worried about getting focused down by the enemy and taking a boatloat of damage to a guy with unfired ordinance

Last month in a tournament I ran a 3 ship bomber build; Jonus, Rhymer and a suicide shuttle. both bombers had PTL, Assault Missiles and APT. It actually did really well against everything I faced except a duel bounty hunter list that swept the tourney.

The range 3 assault missiles softened up the whole fleet, with the shuttle maybe taking a ship out first combat round. Then the APT took out a ship each the 2nd round of combat. By that point, even if I lost a ship, the other side was so messed up I didn't have a hard time finishing things.

On the other hand, I wasn't playing against high end lists really, and I didn't get to face a TIE swarm at all.