I know we haven't seen all the cards yet nor all the pilots, but the VT-49 may be the ultimate support ship.

With an EPT slot taking Expert Handling, then Mara Jade, Gunner and Weapons Engineer you can pair it with Vessery with upgrades to suit (Ion Cannon perhaps) and have a potent pair of ships or you could use Echo instead of Vessery and replace the Weapons Eng.

I know they are both 2 ship lists, but the VT can roll in for stressing the opponent and is less reliant on a focus token because of Gunner.

Just some early Wave 5 thinking.

When it is half your squad, it isn't a support ship anymore.

With three crew slots it has the capacity to provide a lot for a squadron, but it also has to pull its own weight in damage output when it takes up that many points.

If one of the other pilots has something we don't know about yet it might be a possibility, but I kind of doubt it. The points are so high that it would have to do something incredible to qualify for it. Something like ties at range 1 roll an extra attack die. Barring something like that I just don't see it.

My impression is that this thing will be more of a "Red Crown" than an AWACS. Red Crown (or PIRAZ) was the name given to Navy cruisers that patrolled close off the coast of Vietnam to provide forward radar coverage, vectoring Navy fighters to intercept MIG's.

Unlike an AWACS it never went bingo fuel, it had a long reach of surface-to-air missiles (Talos variety), fantastic radar coverage for the day, and positioned near enough to provide direct support for strike packages and search-air-rescue missions. Red Crown cruisers also provided a wide area that Migs would not dare approach or risk being downed by SAM's.

Anyway, that's how I intend to play this dude.

When it is half your squad, it isn't a support ship anymore.

I'd think of it as dual role: It's both an attack ship and provides a support role at the same time.

It wouldnt surprise me that one of the pilot abilities is supportive in nature, or synergizes with fleet officer.

But, then i think about how Lando doesnt see a ton of play, and cant see the Decimator being much different.

Even if we saw a pilot who clears stress making it a good fit for Fleet Officer, the empire lacks a good recipient for such a set up since it lacks good mid-range (cost 21-25) ships. (The assault gunboat will be really nice here if we get it).

With that much hull I'm thinking determination might be the only way to evade damage...

What about putting Vader/Gunner on there?

What about putting Vader/Gunner on there?

I'm all about the idea of DeciVader but a lot have people have shown doubt on the forums. You wouldn't use it every attack, but if you get an Interceptor in your sights, or there is an enemy with 1-2 hull left, its worth taking a couple damage to take it off the table.

Not a support ship, that is the Lambda. No, it is a command ship.

What about putting Vader/Gunner on there?

I'm all about the idea of DeciVader but a lot have people have shown doubt on the forums. You wouldn't use it every attack, but if you get an Interceptor in your sights, or there is an enemy with 1-2 hull left, its worth taking a couple damage to take it off the table.

That said, it's not going to be good, but I ran some Math and technically the points lost are barely more than the Shuttle. I still feel like its a bad option, but its the easiest cheapest way to Amp the Firepower and can do a lot to help kill Phantoms, Squints, and some other nasty ships. But we'll have to see.

Mainly I just want Doominator to stick. It has so many layers as a name.

What about putting Vader/Gunner on there?

I'm all about the idea of DeciVader but a lot have people have shown doubt on the forums. You wouldn't use it every attack, but if you get an Interceptor in your sights, or there is an enemy with 1-2 hull left, its worth taking a couple damage to take it off the table.

Doominator. Vader on the Decimator is called Doominator.

That said, it's not going to be good, but I ran some Math and technically the points lost are barely more than the Shuttle. I still feel like its a bad option, but its the easiest cheapest way to Amp the Firepower and can do a lot to help kill Phantoms, Squints, and some other nasty ships. But we'll have to see.

Mainly I just want Doominator to stick. It has so many layers as a name.

Nahh dude, DeciVader.

I'm with engine on this one, DeciVader works better. While I appreciate the...artistry of doominator, I don't think it sufficiently conveys the nature of the como the way DeciVader does.

DeciVader.

I don't think it will be a support ship, it will be the core ship, and all the rest will be a suport, this ship is a hiitter with the turret it don't need to get a good position, and with three crews, it get more versability, greettings.

Vadermator.

What about putting Vader/Gunner on there?

I'm all about the idea of DeciVader but a lot have people have shown doubt on the forums. You wouldn't use it every attack, but if you get an Interceptor in your sights, or there is an enemy with 1-2 hull left, its worth taking a couple damage to take it off the table.

Doominator. Vader on the Decimator is called Doominator.

That said, it's not going to be good, but I ran some Math and technically the points lost are barely more than the Shuttle. I still feel like its a bad option, but its the easiest cheapest way to Amp the Firepower and can do a lot to help kill Phantoms, Squints, and some other nasty ships. But we'll have to see.

Mainly I just want Doominator to stick. It has so many layers as a name.

Nahh dude, DeciVader.

nahh dude, Deadwithvader

Given its main pilot's ability, it doesn't look like a support ship to me. Compare with the Lambda, who's pilots runs all support abilities all the time, and it looks more like the Decimator is designed to be a hard-hitting and tough weapons platform.

It will be a great weapons platform, but its crew slots help with supporting the rest of your squad quite handily. Perhaps, as stated earlier, command ship is a better description?

It wouldnt surprise me that one of the pilot abilities is supportive in nature, or synergizes with fleet officer.

But, then i think about how Lando doesnt see a ton of play, and cant see the Decimator being much different.

Even if we saw a pilot who clears stress making it a good fit for Fleet Officer, the empire lacks a good recipient for such a set up since it lacks good mid-range (cost 21-25) ships. (The assault gunboat will be really nice here if we get it).

Well Lando does not see much play because his skill is very demanding in Formation flight and timing of movement. He is too complicated to use, while Chewie and Han are not. That's why nobody plays him. Fleet officer is more forgivibg in that regard, and if there is a Decimator with suplort ability we can't know if it is as restrictive as Lando.

Just putting Mara Jade on it and stressing everything in R1 will be very supportive of your squad as it will make your opponent more predictable.

I see lots of great "command" options depending on what you fly with it.

If you're going Mara Jade, I almost think you want to put an EU on it so you can close the gap to a greater chunk of enemy vessels. Also makes me think you'd want to find a way to mix in ion damage somewhere.

Not a bad idea, especially for Vessery. It will sort of feel like playing a duo firespray list mixed with HSF.

Id give it a try.

Vader (crew) belongs on a cheap Shuttle imho, instead, the Decimator should do as its name implies, DECIMATE.

I guess the question is, would a Falcon player deliberately suffer damage - in order to deal crits - if he could?

I wouldn't.