I have to say I a super excited for the Decimator. I am primarily a Imperial player, and the Decimator gives the Empire a Falcon-like ship. There are plenty of differences between the two ships, agility scores, crew upgrade slots, and potential for defensive upgrades. These differenced have been discussed a lot, but there is one huge difference that hasn't yet been discussed. The other ships in their fleet.

By this time we should all be familiar with HSF - Han Shoots First List. It really isn't that original of an idea is pretty much what you automatically get if just take Han Solo (or really any other named YT-1300) with some modest upgrades. All you really have room for after that is a couple more ships. Maybe 2 x-wings, an x-wing and a B-wing, I have even seen A-wings, but pretty much no matter what until the Z-95 comes out if you want even a gunner on Han you only have 2 more ships. Thus HSF is born, 1 named and upgraded YT-1300 with 2 more ships.

But the the empire has a lot more choices for ships in terms of cost options. Instead of a Decimator and 2 rebel fighters, you can get as many a 4 more ships if you want them to be TIE Fighters. do you want 3 Interceptors, maybe 2 interceptors with PtL.

In other words after you spend 50% of your points getting your awesome Decimator, there is just so much more you can do with the other 50% of you points.

I think it will particularly fun with Interceptors. Put your self in the mind of your opponent. If you are facing Han Solo and a couple of X-wings or even B-wings, you have to decide what to kill first. If you have fought HSF you know that you need to focus fire on the YT-1300 in order to kill it. The same will be even more true for the Decimator. It shouldn't be hard to kill as long as you are committed to killing it. Does that mean you ignore the Interceptors? Ignored interceptors are happy interceptors.

I thought you were going to ask a question pertaining to the Decimator vs HSF.

Without knowing what the Decimator pilots do, what their dial is, and what the upgrades are that they come with, it'll be tough to make any solid predictions at this point in time. My first impression is that it's designed to be an oversized support ship with offensive potential. Or, at least, more offensive potential than the shuttle usually provides, considering how difficult it can be to fly. Turret + Vader is going to be a very interesting option for a lot of lists, especially against other Imperial ships. TIEs will have even more reason to be scurred than they already do.

I have to say I a super excited for the Decimator......Does that mean you ignore the Interceptors?

Never ignore Interceptors.

I figure we'll see Decimators run with HSF style builds. It and 2 engine upgrade shuttles sounds fun and extra beefy. Like Bluebacca on Vicodin.

Decimator + Phantom

A viable 2 ship Imperial build?

Decimator + Phantom

A viable 2 ship Imperial build?

I like the Decimator as a gun ship with support options for escorts. I can see 1 or even 2 Black Squadron Ties with Draw their Fire on them. If I run an EPT slot, I'd run Determination on the Decimator.

Add crew as you see fit and another ship and pile on. If you shoot the ties to disable draw their fire, good, my Decimator is chewing on you. If you shoot my Decimator, I am scrificing my Black Squads to take the crits and my Deci is chewing on you. The third ship I would want as a flanker to add further confusion.

This is an example squad with the cards we know, I'd almost certainly not take the Admiral in the hopes of a better third crew option like gunner.

The Rear Admiral, an OGP and a Bounty Hunter together total exactly 100 points. Sounds like fun.

I'm hoping the lower level Decimator is 40 points. I want to run it with 2 Defenders as wingmen. Naked and deadly.

The offensive potential of the Decimator combined with its bountiful crew space makes me very interested to try and kit it out for pure offence. Chiraneau with a Mercenary Copilot and Vader is going to be dealing crits from every range with a decent reliability. Add in a gunner and that reliability goes up even more.

Very costly setup though. Which I believe is going to be the biggest problem with the Decimator. Lots of upgrades, but also lots of points needed to fill those upgrades.

The Decimator (without additional details) seems less likely to be successful in a 2-ship build that the Falcon, but it's way too early to judge.

I am very eager to try this thing out, but something tells me that 3 ship builds will be ideal.

Will wait to see the point costings but I'm interested in a Decimator with Fleet Officer accompanied by 2 Phantoms.

Phantoms take evade and use Fleet Officer to gain Focus.

Add some upgrades here and there pending points and you have an Imperial Version of a Falcon with 2 Potent X-Wings.

Might be rubbish but will be giving it a run.

Hmm, given that the Decimator will be sacrificing its action and acquiring stress in order to hand out tokens, I believe Fleet Officer might find a better home on a shuttle.

Also interesting to note is that Chiraneau is as expensive as Han. If the price of the other two named pilots (comparisons with outer rim smuggler fall flat for a number of reasons) falls in a similar range, we're looking at around 42 to 46 points. I don't suspect we'll see two of these fielded a lot.

VT plus a Defender, Bruticus build.

So, a Mercenary Co-Pilot, a Tactician, and a Gunner walk into a bar...

So, a Mercenary Co-Pilot, a Tactician, and a Gunner walk into a bar...

Ouch?

Double Tactician + Gunner is going to be a nightmare.

"Here, take four stress tokens. You're welcome."

Ouch double stress will hurt. How about double Mer CoPilot and Gunner, plus Marcsman just to make sure, throw down triple crits. But I think your 4 stress is worse somehow.

Ouch double stress will hurt. How about double Mer CoPilot and Gunner, plus Marcsman just to make sure, throw down triple crits. But I think your 4 stress is worse somehow.

It's a guaranteed way to make sure the Phantom never decloaks.

I like to run HSF but I think the OP is right on. The imperials have the right ships to support this beast. I plan on running one with at least one shuttle for some major HP and then fill in with Tie's or Bombers.

Stress doesn't cause a phantom not to uncloak, says it right on the rules card. Unless you mean just tossing out 3 crits will cause it to be dead before it decloaks...

Stress doesn't cause a phantom not to uncloak, says it right on the rules card. Unless you mean just tossing out 3 crits will cause it to be dead before it decloaks...

*sigh*

I understand how cloaking works. I should have said that it will never be able to re-cloak, which it certainly won't be able to while stressed. That much is common knowledge, or should be at this point. The expensive Phantoms that rely on ACD will be severely put out with four stress tokens.

Stress doesn't cause a phantom not to uncloak, says it right on the rules card. Unless you mean just tossing out 3 crits will cause it to be dead before it decloaks...

Edit: ninja'd!

Fair enough, but you should word it like that and not expect every tom **** and harry to know you meant it exactly like that. I apologize for the misunderstanding on my part.