I'm going to be testing this thing out tonight, and I wanted to get some feed back. I have a couple of permutations for it.

Idea 1:

Echo + VI + FCS + ACD

Howlrunner

Backstabber

Dark Curse

Obsidian Squadron Pilot

Idea 2:

Echo + VI + FCS + ACD

Howlrunner

Black Squadron + Draw their Fire

Black Squadron + Draw their Fire

Black Squadron + Draw their Fire

Idea 3

Echo + VI + FCS + ACD

Howlrunner

Black Squadron + VI

Black Squadron + VI

Black Squadron + VI

Idea 4:

Echo + VI + FCS + ACD + Rebel Captive

Academy Pilot

Academy Pilot

Academy Pilot

Academy Pilot

Academy Pilot

The idea is to have the mini-swarm deploy on one flank and Echo deploy on the other, then see which way my opponent wants to go and oblige him, but then come from behind with my other force.

I have been practicing manuevering Echo around with the Xwing Manuever's Workbench and he really is one squirly mofo. Its the mini swarm I am not sure about. I like the idea of 5 ties, but academies without Howl just dont really cut it. When I add howl, she has a horriblely big target on her, and not enough TIE to screen her.

Any ideas?

I'm going to be testing this thing out tonight, and I wanted to get some feed back. I have a couple of permutations for it.

Idea 1:

Echo + VI + FCS + ACD

Howlrunner

Backstabber

Dark Curse

Obsidian Squadron Pilot

Idea 2:

Echo + VI + FCS + ACD

Howlrunner

Black Squadron + Draw their Fire

Black Squadron + Draw their Fire

Black Squadron + Draw their Fire

Idea 3

Echo + VI + FCS + ACD

Howlrunner

Black Squadron + VI

Black Squadron + VI

Black Squadron + VI

Idea 4:

Echo + VI + FCS + ACD + Rebel Captive

Academy Pilot

Academy Pilot

Academy Pilot

Academy Pilot

Academy Pilot

The idea is to have the mini-swarm deploy on one flank and Echo deploy on the other, then see which way my opponent wants to go and oblige him, but then come from behind with my other force.

I have been practicing manuevering Echo around with the Xwing Manuever's Workbench and he really is one squirly mofo. Its the mini swarm I am not sure about. I like the idea of 5 ties, but academies without Howl just dont really cut it. When I add howl, she has a horriblely big target on her, and not enough TIE to screen her.

Any ideas?

If academies without Howly aren't working for you you're probably using them wrong.

With Howl you form a big block and focus fire away. Without Howl you split up and act as action denial and focus fire as best you can. However 5 is too many for that. 3 is perfect. So Cut two of them and add a single 24 point ship. Your best options are a doom shuttle or a single PTL Alpha Squadron. You have good firepower, a lot of ships, and between an Interceptor and 3 ties and a Doom Shuttle and 3 ties you've succesfully dragged attention away from Echo.

I like list 4

There is lots of different options.

One I've been running is kath, 2 academy and echo.

You could do what Aminar suggested and put a shuttle in there instead of the two ties.

I think the 5 academy could still work without Howl.

They act as more of a diversion. Even if you lose one you still have four more. Plus if your opponent is ignoring echo all the better, and if they go for echo, then he has ties to deal with

Echo+FCS+ACD+VI

Howlrunner

Backstabber

BSP+DTF

BSP

My thoughts. A pick your poison decision

In addition you could pull a couple upgrades from Echo and try for Turr. He's fragile, but he's close to as good as a Phantom late game, especially with Vet Instincts or Push the Limit. IT gives them more hard choices. I'd probably go with the Doom Shuttle though. Or Yank both the rebel captive and FCS and run a Zoom Shuttle.

I like idea 3 probably the best. Maybe even drop VI on all the BSP and throw a HU or SD on Howl. Whichever you prefer. Echo is going to be hard to ignore but you can't let 4 ties shooting at 8,6,6,6 with Howl buffing hit you in the flank. I could ignore 5 academies a little easier. I guess you want them to go after the Ties and leave Echo to destroy them from behind.

I have been theory crafting with similar builds. I like to pair Backstabber with Howl to encourage opponents to confront the swarm and turn their attention away from Echo.

Echo

-VI

-Rec Spec

-FCS

-ACD

OGP

-Gunner

-EU

-FCS

Obsidian

Obsidian

Comes in at 98 for initiative, could drop the Ties for a PTL Squint as well

Although I've been proxying the Mara card in friendlies - so people can get an understanding on how to use her and against at out club - I've been using

Echo

MaraJade or Navigator (or even VI + Saboteur)

Advanced cloak

Howlrunner

Swarm Tactics

Mauler

Swarm tactics

Academy Pilot x 2

I wish I could use the Shuttle, but I am horrible at flying it. Everytime I bring it out, someone always manages to park an xwing or bwing behind it and the space cow sadly dies over a couple of turns.

The other idea I had while I was in a meeting today was to drop the TIEs for Boba Fett. Something like:

Echo + VI + ACD

Boba + PTL + EU + Nav

Backstabber

The idea is that Echo and Boba are both ridiculously manueverable and Backstabber will be outside of something's arc.

I wish I could use the Shuttle, but I am horrible at flying it. Everytime I bring it out, someone always manages to park an xwing or bwing behind it and the space cow sadly dies over a couple of turns.

The other idea I had while I was in a meeting today was to drop the TIEs for Boba Fett. Something like:

Echo + VI + ACD

Boba + PTL + EU + Nav

Backstabber

The idea is that Echo and Boba are both ridiculously manueverable and Backstabber will be outside of something's arc.

I've used this list, and it worked great:

30 Echo
4 Advanced Cloaking Device
1 Intelligence Agent
1 Veteran Instincts

18 Howlrunner
2 Swarm Tactics

14 Black Squadron Pilot
2 Swarm Tactics

14 Black Squadron Pilot
2 Swarm Tactics

12 Academy Pilot

Everything shoots at PS8. I realized afterward that I can shave a point from the mini-swarm by swapping out the two BSPs for Mauler Mithel + Swarm Tactics and another Academy Pilot. A few ships shoot slightly later, and the list loses the charm of everyone shooting at the same time, but MM is a strong addition to the list. I'm tempted to take that extra point and remove Intelligence Agent for a two point upgrade on Echo. FCS or Tactician, I haven't really decided yet.