So I'm currently preping for my last (and sadly only) pre-Imdaar Alpha training day... Normally I'd be running a 4 T/I-list since I'm most comfortable with the Interceptor and it's pilots (which also has placed me as 3rd best Imperial Player in my local meta) but since I'm gunning for the Defender as a price, place is not acceptable outcome next week (and since our best Imperial player has openly stated to take the Phantom when he wins - guy hasn't lost a game in the past year - I just have to conquer one place and hope none of the Rebel players have a taste for the T/D)

Long story short; here is the list with which I'll be going into the training:

Kath Scarlet

+ Marks(wo)manship, Ion Cannon, Flight Instructor, Shield Upgrade

Saber Squadron

+ Daredevil

Saber Squadron

+ Daredevil

Total: even 100

General Tactic will work in two steps: 1) to try and maximise the ammount of rounds I can stay at Range 3 with the Sabers, utilizing Daredevil to make small space 180° turns that should allow me to both maintain distance and field of fire. 2) to use Kath to maximize action denial on the enemy side by combo'ing Ion Cannon, Marksmanship and her special...

Staying at range usually off-sets my low ship and HP count, but draws out the matches

My Firespray has so far only been a show-case model since I really like my 181st - so I'm not quite sure if the combo with the Ion Cannon actually can work (not to mention that the pay-off might just not what I like it to be)

Alternatively, I'd drop the SU and the Ions on Kath to push for higher PS Interceptors (with or without Daredevil/PTL)

Any thoughts/comments?

Otherview what the top local list are like (we'd an unoffical tourney in March):

Top 3 Imperial lists:

Top 3 Rebel lists:

Kath Scarlet + Marks(wo)manship, Ion Cannon, Flight Instructor, Shield Upgrade

I'm not sure I like this Firespray setup...

Marksmanship really becomes valuable when you're firing more than once per round (e.g. with Gunner or Corran Horn). Also, it is utterly useless if you're firing with an Ion Canon... If you're firing with Ion Canon, you're better off with Focus so you can keep for defense if need be. And if you're keeping for defense, then Flight Instructor is useless against anything PS3 or higher...

I'd also really try and fit RGPs instead of Sabers. I really like RGP + Soontir, both with PtL.

I'm not sure Daredevil is useful on Interceptors... I'd only ever use it if it meant getting a shot and not being shot at - no way I'm getting shot at in an Interceptor without 1 or 2 tokens for defense. And if a 1-turn let's me get out of arc, a 1-bank probably does as well. So.... I'd much rather get PtL to be able to either stack Focus+Evade, or Boost+BR to get out of arcs.

Here's my "Scarlet Squints" list:

Kath Scarlet (38) , Expert Handling (2) , Gunner (5)

Royal Guard Pilot (22) , Push the Limit (3)

Soontir Fel (27) , Push the Limit (3)

Total: 100

I'm assuming you don't own any A-wings, and have a limited ships pool? Because Push the limit is amazing. Much better than Daredevil. As is your list is in real trouble, for many of the reasons above.

Flight Instructor is sub-par when you have Rebel Captive on the table

Shield Upgrade is sub-par when you have an Engine Upgrade on a Large Ship available.

Marksmanship is sub-par, even if it's on Kath.

Ion Cannon is....not the greatest.

Hell, you've got 16 points worth of "Meh" piled up on Kath. I might let her go naked, and run a 4th ship.

Alternatively, consider Expert Handling on her. Large Ship + Barrel Roll = Shenanigans.

I think marksmanship + flight instructor can be a potent, but expensive combo. You get the offensive boost, but also have it available to use defensively. You lose the one time, all dice guarantee, but you can also use it on every time you get attacked.

I would also consider reworking the rest of your list, though

I'm just going to echo what everybody has already said about Kath. Here are some viable alternatives for your Firespray: Kath + Marksmanship + Gunner; Kath + Expert Handling + Gunner; Kath + Rebel Captive. If you want to keep the Ion Cannon, downgrade to Krassis and take Recon Spec. Even regular Bounty Hunters are amazing with Recon Spec.

I've been flying this variation and enjoy it so far:

I call it "The Queen of Hearts" because of the whole red color theme, plus the "Royal" Guards

My changes to this build would make it look like:

Kath, Ion, E.H., Rebel Captive

Saber, Daredevil, Hull Upgrade

Saber, Daredevil, Hull Upgrade

Kath would ion/stress lock one target, sabers pounce it.

Kath endgame - normal gunning can doulbe stress target that shoots at her and E.H. will allow out of arc sidestepping.

Saber endgame - 180 turns with a stress is nothing on an interceptor and the extra hull make it so that they don't get one shotted and stick around to the endgame.

Ion Cannon on Kath > Hull Upgrade on Kath.

I mean, you're already in the most survivable ship in the game. 1 Hull ain't gonna improve your list by 3 points.

I'm gonna say it: I like this build for Kath. It's intersting. It's different.

Marksmanship on Kath seems like a really good idea, but I've never had much success with it. Flight Instructor is good on a Firespray, and may serve to keep Kath alive long when she's using Marksmanship. Ion + Marksmanship on Kath seems nice, but you have to roll at least a [crit] and a [focus] result to have a chance at ionizing and stressing the target at the same time. Shield Upgrade sometimes helps, but I can't help but feel that those 4 points would be better somewhere else. Engine Upgrade is good, but then you can't use Marksmanship, and you'd rather have Gunner to make up for lack of Focus or Target Lock. It becomes a completely different build.

Saber + Daredevil isn't a bad idea, but not the way you'd be using it. At range 3 you do get the bonus agility die, but you'd have no Focus for defense, which would cost you. Instead, be really aggressive to fly past your opponent, and use Daredevil to catch their flank and avoid their arc. Problem is that it gets shut down by a turret ship. You probably don't need two Daredevil interceptors.

So if you have 24 points from the Saber + Daredevil, and 4 points from the Shield Upgrade, that's 28 points. Soontir Fel? Drop the Ion Cannon from Kath and now you have:

Kath Scarlet (Marksmanship, Flight Instructor) [45]

Saber Squadron Pilot (Daredevil) [24]

Soontir Fel (Push the Limit) [30]

99 points

Hm...it looks like this is pretty much the kind of thing you suggested yourself at the bottom of your post. I think it looks stronger than two Daredevil Sabers.

And now that I look at it, I could easily go for Ion Cannon on Kath instead of Marksmanship, to get some control of enemy ships and allow the Saber better positioning. However, that's a 3-point upgrade she can only use out of front arc, and Marksmanship works with both arcs...

I tried something similar

Kath + PTL + Recon Specialist + Seismic + Engine Upgrade

RGP + PTL x2

The idea is that Kath tanks at Range 3 and bums out of there with the Engine Upgrade and stays out of arc. As the pursuit happens, Seismic. RGP flanks for success.

It's great when the evade dice work. The moment that runs out, get prepared to lose 50 points in a round. I've lost both (!) RGPs in a single round of shooting before. Always remember that these ships are no tougher than Academy TIEs.

Also the list doesn't work well against high ordnance/alpha strike lists. Not too worried about that since bombers aren't the meta.