Sometimes the biggest problem with Howlrunner is deciding whether to spend your focus on the PS 8 attack, or saving it for the obviously needed defense. Sometimes, this means you basically have to assume Howlrunner won't provide a reliable 2 Dice attack. Of course, the aura is the most valuable use for her, I just know some games I wish I knew whether to spend that focus or not. This is particularly the case when running a 4 tie mini swarm. 5 + Ties seems to be okay.

This is where Decoy comes in. Letting Howlrunner swap PS with an Academy Tie means gives you more knowledge of how you spend that focus. If your opponent just happens to shoot at another ship, perhaps the more diserable Phantom/Defender, Howlrunner now becomes a reliable gun AS well as a super support ship. Not always as useful as Swarm Tactic which gives you 2 PS 8 ships, but food for thought and better for some situations.

Just a muse as a potential use for Decoy. Coincides with feelings of pain that 4 Tie mini swarms occasionally give me. It is tough to get away from 5 ties, which is necessary for some lists. An example list:

Howl + Decoy

Academy Pilot x 3

Some 44 pt Defender/Phantom/Firespray

What if you put swarm on Howlrunner and decoy on a Black Squardon? Both decoy and swarm resolve at the beginning of combat, so you get to choose the order. So, swarm howls PS8 to an academy, then use decoy on the black squadron to swap with Howlrunner. Then, you still get your two PS8 shots and save Howlrunner to PS4 to better know how to spend her token.

Im thinking about running :

Howl +decoy (20)

Black + predator (17) x3

The 25 point phantom with the 4 point cloak (forget the names :-P)

Could be interesting, will need to practice the phantom so I can have howl within range one-two

That's some thinking! I like it. Downside is, if running 4 Ties and that combo, puts you at minimum 60 pts, so could just run 5 APs.

However, it is along the same line of thought. Decoy will at least make your opponent have to consider target priority. Does he shoot the AP that spent the focus on attack, or the Howlrunner with her focus. Though, maybe it is an easy choice since Howl hasn't shot yet

Im thinking about running :

Howl +decoy (20)

Black + predator (17) x3

The 25 point phantom with the 4 point cloak (forget the names :-P)

Could be interesting, will need to practice the phantom so I can have howl within range one-two

Ohhh, interesting concept, good idea stegocent. That's a cheap method for making ACD work!

To take it 1 step further:

Howlrunner + Decoy

4 x AP

Sigma + ACD + Intel Agent

I think this is 98 pts for an initiative bid. Could also replace Intel with Recon Specialist to give your cloaking that added umph.

Or just evade with Howlrunner. It's defensively statisitcally better and might push your opponent to try to strip tokens off other ships, as the damage reduction is greater.

Or just evade with Howlrunner. It's defensively statisitcally better and might push your opponent to try to strip tokens off other ships, as the damage reduction is greater.

Sometimes just need that damage from Howlrunner to put enough hits on a ship, especially in smaller swarmlets, a dilemma i face when running named Firesprays or Defenders with a 4 Tie swarm.

There are certianly benefits to both Focus and Evade on Howlrunner. Just sometimes, you WANT your opponent to shoot at her, like when she is Range 2 and your Academy Tie is Range 1. Much harder to be 1 shot at Range 2 etc, etc. If that AP is in a great position to say, block a large ship or a k turn on the next round, I want him to live! Especially if Howlrunner isnt as likely to perish. The Decoy bait might work for that on some game changing occasions.

If you have Howlrunner + miniswarm and Decoy and say a Phantom, then don't decoy into an Academy, Decoy into the Phantom and save you the point for VI and have room for another EPT on the Phantom itself.

Phildo, my main issue with that would be that I'd much rather shoot with HR at PS8 and spend/not spend the focus... than have her be at PS1, and then get killed before 1) she can shoot, 2) before she can grant her aura to the rest of the PS1 academies... Often times I'm torn between killing an Academy before it can shoot, or doing damage to HR, knowing that I'm unlikely to kill her, and she already shot, so I'm going to be taking the same damage. But if she hasn't shot yet, I'll gladly go for her.

Phildo, my main issue with that would be that I'd much rather shoot with HR at PS8 and spend/not spend the focus... than have her be at PS1, and then get killed before 1) she can shoot, 2) before she can grant her aura to the rest of the PS1 academies... Often times I'm torn between killing an Academy before it can shoot, or doing damage to HR, knowing that I'm unlikely to kill her, and she already shot, so I'm going to be taking the same damage. But if she hasn't shot yet, I'll gladly go for her.

I had that same thought while typing this up I've concluded I'd prefer this card if I WANT my opponent to shoot her. Maybe if I had SD or Hull on her and she is the most defensive target. Maybe more for outlying cases, but heck, ill give it a try!

I DO like the idea of boosting a low PS ACD phantom up to PS 8 for the cloak, which is easier to do with the range 1-2 of Decoy. Will it always happen? No. Will it be cool looking when it plays out well? Yes.

If she's the most defensive, she should have an evade token, negating this entire idea =P

The problem I foresee with that is that she is still the primary target. But now she's basically 24 points since the ACD will be next to useless shooting at PS1 once HR dies. Yes, it does cloak you so you can decloak and move around, but that's it.

If she's the most defensive, she should have an evade token, negating this entire idea =P

I DO like the idea of boosting a low PS ACD phantom up to PS 8 for the cloak, which is easier to do with the range 1-2 of Decoy. Will it always happen? No. Will it be cool looking when it plays out well? Yes.

The problem I foresee with that is that she is still the primary target. But now she's basically 24 points since the ACD will be next to useless shooting at PS1 once HR dies. Yes, it does cloak you so you can decloak and move around, but that's it.

I foresee my first play-test loss easily putting this to rest But if I win...it'll just be inconclusive, haha.

Who takes evade on Howlrunner these days? Focus is just too fun, leave it up to the dice gods, I always say. Except on Firesprays. Screw those dice gods.

From personal experience, though, I lose more games when the APs are killed off first in fewer shots, since they'll likely be 1 Range band closer. Ignoring those few games where Howlrunner is 1 shot by an HLC, of course. I think