Keen to get some thoughts on this:

25 Biggs

21 Cracken, Squad Leader

27 Dagger, Adv Sen

27 Dagger, Adv Sen

So we swap the Rookie for Cracken and he adds Tgt Locks to the Daggers Focus. Better than a Rookie?

Keen to get some thoughts on this:

25 Biggs

21 Cracken, Squad Leader

27 Dagger, Adv Sen

27 Dagger, Adv Sen

So we swap the Rookie for Cracken and he adds Tgt Locks to the Daggers Focus. Better than a Rookie?

So, basically, are 3FTL x2 + 2N > 3F x3... Herm... Let's see... I'm going to consider the opponent to have 2 agi, and no defensive focus.

3FTL vs. 2N = 2.06 damage

2N vs. 2N = .51 damage

4.63 total damage w/ Cracken

3F vs. 2N = 1.53 damage

4.59 total damage w/ Rookie

So the total damage it similar. But that's not the best advantage to Cracken... You can now BR at PS8 and during the combat phase to adjust your location based on where other people ended up. That will probably make it better than the rookie, even though Cracken will die slightly easier.

Today I just tried a similar list:

Biggs, R2F2, hull upgrade

Cracken, draw their fire

Blue AdvS

Blue FCS

against:

2 Bounty Hunters, recon

RGP, PTL, stealth.

I went for a dense asteroid field so we spent a lot of time maneuvering and the game went to time:1 BH (full) vs 2Blues (2 shields lost). My idea was to give 2 actions to biggs to stack R2F2 and a focus, but due to the asteroid field I had to split them and give actions to the Bs.

It works.

However, what I found out is that cracken is really squishy. You may not want to use his action for squad leader.

I'd go for something like:

biggs

Cracken, cluster missiles, munition failsafe, determination

blue, advS

blue, advS

This way you still get 2 actions for Cracken wingmen on the critical first short range engagement and a decent shot for Cracken.

So, basically, are 3FTL x2 + 2N > 3F x3... Herm... Let's see... I'm going to consider the opponent to have 2 agi, and no defensive focus.

3FTL vs. 2N = 2.06 damage

2N vs. 2N = .51 damage

4.63 total damage w/ Cracken

3F vs. 2N = 1.53 damage

4.59 total damage w/ Rookie

So the total damage it similar. But that's not the best advantage to Cracken... You can now BR at PS8 and during the combat phase to adjust your location based on where other people ended up. That will probably make it better than the rookie, even though Cracken will die slightly easier.

Thanks for the maths, much appreciated!

Seems a worthwhile option then.

So, basically, are 3FTL x2 + 2N > 3F x3... Herm... Let's see... I'm going to consider the opponent to have 2 agi, and no defensive focus.

3FTL vs. 2N = 2.06 damage

2N vs. 2N = .51 damage

4.63 total damage w/ Cracken

3F vs. 2N = 1.53 damage

4.59 total damage w/ Rookie

So the total damage it similar. But that's not the best advantage to Cracken... You can now BR at PS8 and during the combat phase to adjust your location based on where other people ended up. That will probably make it better than the rookie, even though Cracken will die slightly easier.

Good call on the Barrel Roll, I never considered that. That makes me think even more that maybe the B's should have FCS.

IMO Cracken should be filling every list where there was a Rookie. It's probably just me, but Cracken is that good, and I believe his one less attack dice is offset by him being able to give a heavy hitter TL+F repeatedly. He's also amazing with Biggs+R2F2.

Today I just tried a similar list:

Biggs, R2F2, hull upgrade

Cracken, draw their fire

Blue AdvS

Blue FCS

against:

2 Bounty Hunters, recon

RGP, PTL, stealth.

I went for a dense asteroid field so we spent a lot of time maneuvering and the game went to time:1 BH (full) vs 2Blues (2 shields lost). My idea was to give 2 actions to biggs to stack R2F2 and a focus, but due to the asteroid field I had to split them and give actions to the Bs.

It works.

However, what I found out is that cracken is really squishy. You may not want to use his action for squad leader.

I'd go for something like:

biggs

Cracken, cluster missiles, munition failsafe, determination

blue, advS

blue, advS

This way you still get 2 actions for Cracken wingmen on the critical first short range engagement and a decent shot for Cracken.

Clever idea on the Cluster Missiles, I hadn't thought of that.

So, basically, are 3FTL x2 + 2N > 3F x3... Herm... Let's see... I'm going to consider the opponent to have 2 agi, and no defensive focus.

3FTL vs. 2N = 2.06 damage

2N vs. 2N = .51 damage

4.63 total damage w/ Cracken

3F vs. 2N = 1.53 damage

4.59 total damage w/ Rookie

So the total damage it similar. But that's not the best advantage to Cracken... You can now BR at PS8 and during the combat phase to adjust your location based on where other people ended up. That will probably make it better than the rookie, even though Cracken will die slightly easier.

Good call on the Barrel Roll, I never considered that. That makes me think even more that maybe the B's should have FCS.

IMO Cracken should be filling every list where there was a Rookie. It's probably just me, but Cracken is that good, and I believe his one less attack dice is offset by him being able to give a heavy hitter TL+F repeatedly. He's also amazing with Biggs+R2F2.

Perhaps R7 on Biggs instead? Might be crucial in getting that first ship down before it can fire back or forcing a re-roll on those 3 hits..

27 Biggs, R7

19 Cracken

27 Dagger, Adv Sen

27 Dagger, Adv Sen

I still think adv sen have their place. Focusing before a bump then br out of arc could be strong.