Okay, this is going to be a bit stream-of-concousness because I can't concentrate with the 2-dozen old ladies playing bingo right next to me. What I get for typing this from a Desktop in a McDonalds, I guess. Ahh, homelessness....

Anywho, Colonel Vessery. He likes Target Locks, like, a lot.

The most Target Locks you can get for 65 points of non-Vessery is 5: Two Shuttles with a Weapons Engineer each, with a Bomber as well. However, this list is terrible, as you've got no upgrades to go 'round.

Scratching that in favor of Academy Pilots with Targeting Computers gets you 4 non-Vessery TLs. This is the same number you'd get with Scimitar Squadron Pilots, which I think punches harder.

However, I'd like to scrap one of those ships for more upgrade potential. What fun is a Bomber without a Bomb, after all?

I realized that it's fairly easy to get Vessery to 40 points (I chose Adrenaline Rush and an Engine Upgrade as my 5 points of choice, because reasons), at which point he's simply 2 bombers out of SableGryphons 5(Gamma + Seismic) list.

I like Adrenaline Rush on Vessery and Brath because if you whitewash the Defender's dial, it simply has more maneuver options than any other ship in the game. It's the only one with all 12 Turn/Bank bearings, meaning that it has 1 more than the current record holders. (It will actually be tied with the E-Wing, which trades the 1 Turns for a 2nd Koiogran and an extra Forward).

Moreover, having Boost takes the sting out of the redness of those turns by upgrading your Boosts, while also giving you hilarious shenanigans with the White Koigran. It's like having the opposite of all of the Hypermobile B-Wing's Koiogran shenanigans, except stress-free!

Seriously. Go fly around with that build, and then come and tell me with a straight face that the Defender's dial is pants. I'll wait.

Now remember that you're Colonel Vessery flying with 3 Bombers, and that you're likely to have 3 different targets against whom you get free Target Locks (before you declare the type of attack you're firing!), and be happy that going ham-sandwich with your mobility doesn't make your offense suffer like it does for everyone else.

On a tangential note, Colonel Vessery isn't the only PS6 Colonel in the Empire who likes Target Locks. What hath the Vessery taken that the Jendon gaveth not?

Flying them both naked gives you room for 3 Academians, with 3 left over: Enough for Vessery to take a Weapons' Engineer!

...or not. Let's sac an under-grad for some upgrades, to make Jendon actually viable. FCS + Gunner + Engine to him, and why not an Adrenaline Rush and Ion Cannon for Vessery?

He's got his ion you!

... i'm not sorry for that pun.

Anyway, you could trade FCS + Engine for ST-321 and a Weapon's Engineer. You could then buy a FCS and a Wingman for the 4 points we initially left for Vessery insteady!

Man, all of this talk about Colonels makes me wonder if I should've holed up in a KFC instead.

The TL/:/DR ship-build variations are as follows:

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Colonel Vessery

+ Engine Upgrade

+ Adrenaline Rush

-={ 40 }=-

3x Gamma Squadron Pilot

+ Seismic Charge

-={ 20 Each }=-

.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.

.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.

I like the list with the 3 Bombers. Vessery should be plenty mobile, the Siesmics should be able to keep the enemy off your tail and 3 bombers should be able to spread enought TLs to go around.

I still think a shuttle with ST-321 and Wpn Engi. are still Vessery's best friend. He can act independently of any formations and the shuttle will be able to supply him with plenty of TLs.

You don't have to get carried away TLing either. He can only shoot at one ship a turn. Just make sure that ship has a TL on it and you are golden.

I keep seeing people saying that Vessery isn't very good, or that his ability is situational, and I just have to shake my head. It's a free Target Lock, every round, and all you have to do to get it is take another Defender, a shuttle, a TIE Bomber, a Firespray, or a Fighter/Interceptor with a measly 2-point Targeting Computer. Oh, and your escort fighter should be PS1-5.

That's a really, really broad set of options for basically giving someone a stress-free PTL. He's not quite as good as Vader, because Vader can take any action rather than a Target Lock plus any other action--but he's pretty **** good.

I suppose I'm one of those people. His ability is simply underwhelming. Yay a free TL on a ship that may not even be infront of me next turn. I've seen plenty of rebel ships throw on an early TL and it follows my ships for 4-5 turns before another opportunity to use it happens again.

I understand that the TIE/D probably is a ship you build your squad around, rather than add it into existing builds, but you are simply sinking too many points into a free TL for my tastes.

The Col is 35 points for 6 HP, 3 attack, 3 evade. If you want this so bad, grab 2 alpha squadron pilots and hand them targeting computers. For 1 point more you have 6 HP, 6 attack, 3 evade and TWO target locks per turn.

I suppose I'm one of those people. His ability is simply underwhelming. Yay a free TL on a ship that may not even be infront of me next turn. I've seen plenty of rebel ships throw on an early TL and it follows my ships for 4-5 turns before another opportunity to use it happens again.

I understand that the TIE/D probably is a ship you build your squad around, rather than add it into existing builds, but you are simply sinking too many points into a free TL for my tastes.

The Col is 35 points for 6 HP, 3 attack, 3 evade. If you want this so bad, grab 2 alpha squadron pilots and hand them targeting computers. For 1 point more you have 6 HP, 6 attack, 3 evade and TWO target locks per turn.

May not be in front of you next turn? You mean because you didn't use it on your shot this turn???

For 35 pts, he's 5 pts more than a basic Defender (getting +5 PS AND the free target lock). 2 Alphas w/ target comps is 40 pts and if they spend their action on TL, they haven't got any other action left. Vessery can take any action he wants and still get a TL on top of it (TL + F being great, I'm sure you realize).

I'd rather have col vessery vs the 2 alphas. They can't get TLs well. Can't do focus and TL shenanigans easily. Are likely to get shot down pretty fast. And the defender has lots of good movement options.

I'm kind of in favor of just getting the engine upgrade. Though I wish there was a way to also get focus for a TL and F attack.

Also OP best thread 2014

I'm shocked not to see Marksman with Vessery. He can become a better crit machine than his counterpart. Put him with a phantom with FCS or have 2 ties both with TC.

He is expecially good with Cluster missiles.

Spend Lock-Shoot first round, free TL, Reroll

Shoot second round, Free TL if spent.

Combine that with marksman and you have 6 hits my friend and probably 2 criticals

I'm shocked not to see Marksman with Vessery. He can become a better crit machine than his counterpart. Put him with a phantom with FCS or have 2 ties both with TC.

He is expecially good with Cluster missiles.

Spend Lock-Shoot first round, free TL, Reroll

Shoot second round, Free TL if spent.

Combine that with marksman and you have 6 hits my friend and probably 2 criticals

You know it would be funny to do things backwards. Give Vessery Deadeye. Have him focus. Use the focus to fire missiles at a foe someone has already TL'd. Then acquire target lock. It's almost worth it just to watch the whole process work in reverse. Plus if you use Homing Missiles or Ion Pulse Missiles, then you don't even need to spend the focus, and can choose between the focus and target lock which works more in your favor for modification (or both).

wow…. actually that seems really effective.

Yeah, except Homing missiles are 5 pts. And feel a little overcosted. And vesssery is expensive already.

I heard of this as a good Imdaar build. I kind of like it. In other matches I'd be afraid of the fact that I have so few ships.

I would take whisper over echo any day. The PS is the big threat there, also assault missiles with a reroll is better than homing. Since you will be burning your focus anyway using deadeye you don't get the added benefit of having both.

EDIT: There is also a ton of formation flying going around and with the number of swarms getting that splash damage is can be a great tide turner first round.