In Mara Jade, I think we have a strong alternative to the cheap, suicidal “Doom Shuttle”. For the same price (just 24 points), you get a large and, most importantly, expendable stress “bomb” that can charge into the middle of the enemy squadron and cause as much chaos as possible before going down.

First, the card itself:

Pros:

- It’s “always on”. No actions or attacks required, all it needs to trigger is an enemy ship at range one.

- It can’t miss. No dice rolling required.

Cons:

- Short range. Range one is only two and a half ship lengths, so it needs to be right in the thick of it.

- It happens at the end of the combat phase and only applies stress to ships with no stress tokens, which means you are unable to use it to stack stress tokens on top of Flechette Torps, etc.

(Both of those cons are actually good thing because they stop her from being stupidly powerful).

Here’s my current Doom Shuttle squadron with Mara Jade swapped in:

Red Bull (27): Omicron Group Pilot(21) + Mara Jade(3) + Advanced Sensors(3)

Howlrunner (18)

Backstabber (16)

Obsidian Squadron Pilot x3 (39)

The Red Bull leaves 73 points for the rest of the squadron. Howl plus four Obsidians is 70, so I upgraded one to Backstabber. Now, a Red Bull doesn’t necessarily need Advanced Sensors, so what else can we do with it?

Bucking Red Bull (26): OGP (21) + Mara Jade (3) + Anti-Pursuit Lasers (2)

Mara Jade is perfect for a blocking ship and so are APLs.

Rampaging Red Bull (28): OGP (21) + Mara Jade (3) + Engine Upgrade (4)

Not sure about this one, but a Red Bull needs a “charging” option, and the EU is going to make it easier to chase enemy ships.

Commander Red Bull (27): OGP (21) + Mara Jade (3) + Fleet Officer (3)

The other newly-spoiled Imperial crew member. I’m torn on this one. Another area of effect ability sounds like a good idea, but it takes an action and the stress limits your maneuvers (unless you equip Advanced Sensors as well).

Dread Bull (27): OGP (21) + Mara Jade (3) + Darth vader (3)

Vader shortens the lifespan of the ship considerably, but if you wanted to make a Doom Shuttle more threatening…

Spider-cow and MJ (27): OGP(21) + Mara Jade (3) + Ion Cannon (3)

Joke option (or is it?).

APLs are clearly the best choice, and adding Enhanced Scopes will let it block Academy Pilots. This is the build I’m looking to run at my FLGS’s next X-Wing night:

Enhanced Bucking Red Bull (27):

OGP (21) + Mara Jade (3) + Anti-Pursuit Lasers (2) + Enhanced Scopes (1)

Howlrunner (18)

Backstabber (16)

Obsidian Squadron Pilot x3 (39)

100 points (Losing initiative is less of a problem with Obsidians and Enhanced Scopes).

seems that u love bulls ;O well all of these lists are kinda cool just play test em and find out wich bull-style fits u best lol that sounded wrong ;O

The Jade Shuttle wants to be in the midst of combat.
Anti-Pursuit Lasers plays well with the stress.
Ion Cannon plays well with the stress

The Stop-Maneuver plays well with Anti-Pursuit Lasers

Advanced Sensors plays well with the Stop Maneuver

Rebel Captive plays well with being in the midst of combat

OGP
+ MJ

+ RC

+ Ion Cannon

+ APL

+ Adv Sens
35 total

The Jade Shuttle wants to be in the midst of combat.

Anti-Pursuit Lasers plays well with the stress.

Ion Cannon plays well with the stress

The Stop-Maneuver plays well with Anti-Pursuit Lasers

Advanced Sensors plays well with the Stop Maneuver

Rebel Captive plays well with being in the midst of combat

OGP

+ MJ

+ RC

+ Ion Cannon

+ APL

+ Adv Sens

35 total

99pts

Howlrunner

2x Obsidian Squadron TIE

2x Academy TIE

Omicron Lambda w/ Mara Jade, advanced sensors & engine upgrade

100pts

Howlrunner w/ hull upgrade

4x Academy TIE

Omicron Lambda w/ Mara Jade, advanced sensors & engine upgrade

100pts

Omicron w/ Mara Jade, Gunner, FCS & engine upgrade

5x Obsidian Squadron TIE

(I think the buzzsaw shuttle w/ MJ should be called Raging Bull)

100pts

Howlrunner

3x Scimitar Squadron Bomber, 2x w/ seismic charge

Omicron Lambda w/ Mara Jade, fleet officer & advanced sensors

100pts

Howlrunner

3x Scimitar Squadron Bomber w/ seismic charge

Omicron Lambda w/ Mara Jade & engine upgrade

100pts

Howlrunner

Backstabber

2x Alpha Squadron Interceptor

Omicron Lambda w/ Mara Jade, fleet officer & advanced sensors

3 buzzsaws, one with Mara Jade looks really good!

99 points

Omicron Group Pilot + Fire Control System + Gunner + Engine Upgrade + Mara Jade

2x Omicron Group Pilot + Fire Control System + Gunner + Engine Upgrade

Well, thanks Major Juggler, now I need to buy another shuttle.

3 buzzsaws, one with Mara Jade looks really good!

99 points

Omicron Group Pilot + Fire Control System + Gunner + Engine Upgrade + Mara Jade

2x Omicron Group Pilot + Fire Control System + Gunner + Engine Upgrade

Hmmmm I have 3 of the transluscent, albino space manatees...

Well, thanks Major Juggler, now I need to buy another shuttle.

And I only just bought a second.

Completely forgot about the Rebel Captive, that's a great choice for the other crew slot.

Mara Jade will surely be good on the Cow! Maybe something simple like:

Yorr + Mara Jade - 27pts

He'd be an overall stress control boat, letting your ships K Turn WITH actions, and preventing the opponent's k turn. If that round is pulled off successfully, it could be game changing. Possible pairings would be 5 howl supported ties, or anything that can take advantage of a joust.

In general, I like this card for the Shuttle. I can think of quite a few games where having this card could have netted me an easier win. Though, my opponent would have flown differently, of course.

Green Bull?

Red would imply Kath Scarlet or a RGP Interceptor.

Green Bull?

Red would imply Kath Scarlet or a RGP Interceptor.

Rebel Captive is not good on this shuttle. It still has an effect, but only on ships not at range 1, if they fire before any friends who are at range 1. Otherwise it is redundant with Jade, as she won't double stress the enemy who was stressed by the captive.

Rebel Captive is not good on this shuttle. It still has an effect, but only on ships not at range 1, if they fire before any friends who are at range 1. Otherwise it is redundant with Jade, as she won't double stress the enemy who was stressed by the captive.

Which can be very good. Especially in the, don't get me shot by Phantoms field.

I actually like the Spider Cow--if you land a hit with the Ion, you know where they're going to be next round, so you can plan to be in range 1 fore sure.

Rebel Captive is not good on this shuttle. It still has an effect, but only on ships not at range 1, if they fire before any friends who are at range 1. Otherwise it is redundant with Jade, as she won't double stress the enemy who was stressed by the captive.

I haven't used the Rebel Captive myself, but I can see the appeal of potentially causing more stress if your opponent decides to try and kill the shuttle before it enters range one.

Omicron w/ Mara, Enhanced Scopes and Anti-Pursuit Lasers for a measly 27 points gets my vote. Just send the Red Bull down the middle to bonk, block and generally disrupt the enemy while 73 points of awesome dances around them.