Hello all!

Now, I've been looking through the Escalation Compendium thread quite extensively (having pulled older threads into that thread), and I noticed something odd.

I've only seen one viable fleet that uses multiple Large Ships.

Now, FFG didn't go through the trouble of capping the Large Ship species at 4 a piece for no reason, so I've got to wonder what's got us shying away.

So, for this fleetbuilding challenge, we have the following rules:

1. Escalation fleets come in 4 waves. Wave 1 is 60 points, Wave 2 is 90, Wave 3 is 120, and Wave 4 is 150.
2. Each wave must completely contain its predecessor. You cannot drop upgrades or swap pilots, though you may add new upgrades to unfilled slots.
3. You cannot have more than 8 of a single species of small ship, nor can you have more than 4 of a single species of large ship
4. As this is a fleetbuilding challenge, you must include 2-4 of a single species of large-base ships.

Feel free to check out the Escalation Compendium to feel out the meta to which you'll be subjecting your builds.

I look forward to what your fertile minds will create. Let the games begin!

Bounty Hunter + Recon Spec and OGP + Vader is an even 60 points. I don't think I'd bother to add more shuttles after that, but it may be possible to squeeze in another BH if you conserve a few points between waves.

Alright. Let's do this.

Round 1:

Omicron Group Pilot (21)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
Mercenary Copilot (2)
Engine Upgrade (4)

Academy Pilot (12)

Academy Pilot (12)

Total: 58

Here I have two Academy Pilots as blockers while I have a HLC Lambda move behind them. If overrun, flee and regroup.

Round 2:

Omicron Group Pilot (21)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
Mercenary Copilot (2)
Engine Upgrade (4)

Academy Pilot (12)

Academy Pilot (12)

Omicron Group Pilot (21)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
Engine Upgrade (4)

Total: 90

A second Lambda joins the fray. This one also have HLC but lacks a Mercenary Copilot. This starts to be some serious firepower behind the lines. TIEs still act as blockers.

Round 3:

Omicron Group Pilot (21)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
Mercenary Copilot (2)
Mercenary Copilot (2)
Engine Upgrade (4)

Academy Pilot (12)

Academy Pilot (12)

Omicron Group Pilot (21)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
Mercenary Copilot (2)
Mercenary Copilot (2)
Engine Upgrade (4)

Captain Jonus (22)

Total: 118

Now things get far more deadly. Jonus joins the fray and brings 3 of his best Mercenary Copilot buddies to the party. Now the TIEs blocking present a truly serious threat to be face, as running into them can put you at range three of two HLC totting albino void caribou with Jonus rerolls.

Round 4:

Omicron Group Pilot (21)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
Mercenary Copilot (2)
Mercenary Copilot (2)
Engine Upgrade (4)

Academy Pilot (12)

Academy Pilot (12)

Omicron Group Pilot (21)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
Mercenary Copilot (2)
Mercenary Copilot (2)
Engine Upgrade (4)

Captain Jonus (22)

Omicron Group Pilot (21)
Ion Cannon (3)
Tactician (2)
Tactician (2)
Engine Upgrade (4)

Total: 150

A new threat appears. At first it seems less potent. Lacking an HLC or the range 3 crits, it seems less potent. Until you realize that, at range 2, it will still benefit from Jonus rerolls on the Ion Cannon and will also add two stress to its target. Anything fired upon will be in serious trouble, especially with the HLC pain added in.

Thoughts?

P.S.

Woo! I have over a 1000 likes before I hit 1000 posts. </bragging>