So I am building a list with 3 pts left. Which of the following is the best choice?

1) Named Phantom with Recon. Spec. (already nearly 40 pts?)

2) Shuttle with Vader (how useful is Vader really?)

3) Shuttle with Ion Cannon (will it get many shots?)

4) Shuttle with Rebel Captive (will opponents just ignore the prisoner transport to attack the guards?)

When you make your choice, please let me know why, and which one will move it up the target priority list.

Thanks in advanced!

Or would Predator be a viable Shuttle EPT?

Nobody have any opinions to help me decide?

I like Vader on the shuttle, he always triggers even if you miss, and most of the time people will focus on the shuttle because of the damage vader's ability causes it. I have always held a throwaway attitude towards the doomshuttle, It can put out some good damage and kill more points of ships than its worth. I used to run it with two firesprays with gunners, if they weren't shooting my firesprays then I was a happy merchant.

Rebel Captive is a good choice on a ship your opponent is likely to shoot at, but shuttles are typically pretty far down most players' priority list, which makes the Captive a bad choice there.

Any of your other ideas could work, depending on the context of the rest of your list. But it's very difficult to make a specific recommendation without knowing what else will be hitting the table along with your Phantom and Lambda.

Also the shuttle has no elite pilot skill.

Edit: Least thats what I think EPT stands for (elite pilot talent??).

Which named Phantom are you talking about? It makes a difference. I like Recon on Echo, and Rebel Captive on Whisper. Vadar on a Shuttle is a real threat, that you can't ignore. Ion on a shuttle isn't bad, but then I usually want to add some other upgrades to go along with it like say Tactician. The Doom shuttle is solid, and might draw some fire away from your Phantom. Without knowing your squad it's hard to really say.

Whisper w/ VI & ACD

Echo w/ VI, ACD, & ???

Yorr w/ ???

So, the ??? represent the spots where any of the aforementioned upgrades would go. And, yes, I could go Vader on vanilla Shuttle AND Focus on Echo, but I want to run Yorr at the moment.

Doom shuttle is a scary ship. But if your set on yorr, I'd go rebel cap on whisper. Protect your best investment.

Whisper w/ VI & ACD

Echo w/ VI, ACD, & ???

Yorr w/ ???

So, the ??? represent the spots where any of the aforementioned upgrades would go. And, yes, I could go Vader on vanilla Shuttle AND Focus on Echo, but I want to run Yorr at the moment.

You have 4 points that you could spend, but in this case I wouldn't. I think you will want to hold some points back for initiative.

These are possible suggestions for you.

For Yorr or Whisper you could run either Fire Control System, or Tactician.

Another option would be to add a intel agent on 2 of your ships

I think a bid of 98 isn't bad for Initiative, but 97 may be worth it.