I'd probably have picked a souped up Soontir Fel myself, as Fel always feels good to play.

However, Darth Vader and the Tie Advanced has many perks.

For example:

1. Not stressing for Double Actions

2. The 1 Bank

3. Built in TL + F (Fel becomes less defensive than Vader if he takes Target Comp)

4. Outmanuever lets you tell C3P0 and his buddies in the Falcon where to put it (can't use C3PO if you roll 0 dice)

5. Vader is the same or better defense for 1 less pt (Fel + PTL + Shield + Hull = 37, Vader + Engine + Outmanuver = 36)

Of course, Fel has plenty of perks as well, that I don't need to tell you.

Overall, I'd say this build might be slightly better vs B Wing and Falcon squads. However, Fel will do more damage to 3+ Agility ships like Phantoms, Ties, Interceptors. I suppose THAT is where HLC Brath comes into play, after all.

Exactly. Because really, 4 attack v. 4 evade is actually statistically still slightly in the attacker's favor. And the Phantom that I did face got positively lit up by it. True, the lucky kill did go to the TIE, but Brath's 4 hits and the Phantom's 2 evade results were actually pretty close to the regular model of what you can expect to happen (4 attack dice w/ 1 reroll and focus). And I've also come to find that repeated k-turns are actually a really good answer to the Phantom's maneuverability. In an open field the Phantom can choose to decloak and move anywhere to try to skirt close and outside your arc, but in practice this has rarely been possible in a real game with other ships and asteroids so long as the Defender player is smart enough to lay their asteroids correctly, and to pull the engagement into the rocks.

Today I ran an excellent match against a phantom squad, 150 points. Rexler and an Onyx squadron were part of it, with an Ion Cannon and Jonus flying together. The Jonus Rerolls allowed the Ion Cannon to tag a cloaked Phantom. He lived for three more rounds but was never able to decloak or fire again thanks to strategic positioning of my ships. Rexler finished it off handily, landing 3 hits when it only needed one. Kapoom.

And Phil, I know you haven't gotten to play me much but I've played Soontir into the ground. I know very well he's a great ship and arguably better than Vader (or rather, just as good but in slightly different areas), but I've just wanted to move on from him to other things. He was starting to feel like a crutch.

I like giving Vessery a missile sometimes, to capitalize off his free lock. Eventually you end up getting the free lock but not needing it, and then hey look, you've got missiles for next round. Usually something cheap like Ion Pulse.

As for maneuvering Defenders and k-turns, I've found that sometimes you get into a good dogfight and even if it's predictable, the second time in a row you k-tirn your adversaries just plain old aren't in a position where they can do anything about it, even if they do see it coming. They either have no angle on where you'll end up or they can get one but at the expense of k-turning themselves and losing actions.

Vessery + Proton Rocket + outmanuver + vi

Gamma + 4pts ord (flechette + seismic usually)

Scimitar +4pts ord (same)

NightBeast +TC

He will get his rocket off and it will hurt. TC isn't really needed on NB but at range 1 he provides some punch with focus and TL. Can drop TC and/or VI for more/different bomber toys.

is that supposed to be outmaneuver or veteran instincts? because you can't have both.

How do we feel optimal asteroid placement looks, when flying this bad boy?

Three rocks up either side, leaving "lanes" across the board?

is that supposed to be outmaneuver or veteran instincts? because you can't have both.

Not unless you're an A-wing...

Or an X wing or an interceptor

is that supposed to be outmaneuver or veteran instincts? because you can't have both.

Not unless you're an A-wing...

Or an X wing or an interceptor

is that supposed to be outmaneuver or veteran instincts? because you can't have both.

Not unless you're an A-wing...

? Only an A-wing will be able to use two EPT when rebel aces comes out, unless you know something about future releases....

Or an X wing or an interceptor

is that supposed to be outmaneuver or veteran instincts? because you can't have both.

Not unless you're an A-wing...

? Only an A-wing will be able to use two EPT when rebel aces comes out, unless you know something about future releases....

? that's what he said?

Or an X wing or an interceptor

is that supposed to be outmaneuver or veteran instincts? because you can't have both.

Not unless you're an A-wing...

? Only an A-wing will be able to use two EPT when rebel aces comes out, unless you know something about future releases....

? that's what he said?

Look over the quote from Lagomorphia, Dagger Squadron suggested that X-Wing or Interceptor could take a second EPT too.

Or an X wing or an interceptor

is that supposed to be outmaneuver or veteran instincts? because you can't have both.

Not unless you're an A-wing...

? Only an A-wing will be able to use two EPT when rebel aces comes out, unless you know something about future releases....

? that's what he said?

Look over the quote from Lagomorphia, Dagger Squadron suggested that X-Wing or Interceptor could take a second EPT too.

Yep. His response was in a weird place but that's what I was referring to.

Oops misread the title card for the interceptor. And I stand corrected on R2-D6. It's only for none elite pilot talents....

FALSE ALARM! Proceed casually...

New guys I tell ya...

After picking up a couple defenders I honestly wonder why people ever thought they were that bad. So far I sit undefeated after playing a 100pt 1v1 which had XXAY and a 150pt 2v1 with me and another guy fielding 75pts each against AYXXX decked out with torps and missles.

First match ran:

Brath - predator

Delta Squadron

Academy Pilot

Academy Pilot

Lost an AP and Shields off the Delta.

Second match just lost an AP for me and my partner lost marek steele and mauler mithel

I tried a game for the first time on Monday with a non-named Defender, Onyx Squadron. It did very well, even tagged a Phantom with its ion cannon, a key shot that would end up costing my opponent the Phantom a bit later on. It wasn't as flashy to fly as a named pilot but it got the job done. Well, I also had Rexler in there (it was a 150 point match) so that was also fun.

I tried a game for the first time on Monday with a non-named Defender, Onyx Squadron. It did very well, even tagged a Phantom with its ion cannon, a key shot that would end up costing my opponent the Phantom a bit later on. It wasn't as flashy to fly as a named pilot but it got the job done. Well, I also had Rexler in there (it was a 150 point match) so that was also fun.

I've been running Brath w/HCL and Out, Delta with HCL, and Backstabber and it hits like a truck and is surprisingly slippery.

I tried a game for the first time on Monday with a non-named Defender, Onyx Squadron. It did very well, even tagged a Phantom with its ion cannon, a key shot that would end up costing my opponent the Phantom a bit later on. It wasn't as flashy to fly as a named pilot but it got the job done. Well, I also had Rexler in there (it was a 150 point match) so that was also fun.

I've been running Brath w/HCL and Out, Delta with HCL, and Backstabber and it hits like a truck and is surprisingly slippery.

I wonder how an ion cannon on Brath would perform. At range 2 to 3 he gets three shots plus a re roll from predator. Keep that focus to turn to hit into a critical and have a ionized target with whichever critical damage card then hit it next round for the kill?

I tried a game for the first time on Monday with a non-named Defender, Onyx Squadron. It did very well, even tagged a Phantom with its ion cannon, a key shot that would end up costing my opponent the Phantom a bit later on. It wasn't as flashy to fly as a named pilot but it got the job done. Well, I also had Rexler in there (it was a 150 point match) so that was also fun.

I'm surprised to know that with all those game you say having played with the Defender, it was the first time with a non-named one. Better late than never.

You gotta try 2 Delta with HLC and Jonus with Predator. It is killer.

This may not be the place for this but does the HLC only come from the Lambda Kit?

I tried a game for the first time on Monday with a non-named Defender, Onyx Squadron. It did very well, even tagged a Phantom with its ion cannon, a key shot that would end up costing my opponent the Phantom a bit later on. It wasn't as flashy to fly as a named pilot but it got the job done. Well, I also had Rexler in there (it was a 150 point match) so that was also fun.

I've been running Brath w/HCL and Out, Delta with HCL, and Backstabber and it hits like a truck and is surprisingly slippery.

I wonder how an ion cannon on Brath would perform. At range 2 to 3 he gets three shots plus a re roll from predator. Keep that focus to turn to hit into a critical and have a ionized target with whichever critical damage card then hit it next round for the kill?

If I'm putting 40 points in a ship, I need it to have the potential to do more than one damage a turn whenever I shoot with it.

This may not be the place for this but does the HLC only come from the Lambda Kit?

Lamda, Firespray and soon the YT-2400.

Or an X wing or an interceptor

is that supposed to be outmaneuver or veteran instincts? because you can't have both.

Not unless you're an A-wing...

? Only an A-wing will be able to use two EPT when rebel aces comes out, unless you know something about future releases....

? that's what he said?

Look over the quote from Lagomorphia, Dagger Squadron suggested that X-Wing or Interceptor could take a second EPT too.

Yep. His response was in a weird place but that's what I was referring to.

Whoa how did it get up there?

Guys I can't deal.

I tried a game for the first time on Monday with a non-named Defender, Onyx Squadron. It did very well, even tagged a Phantom with its ion cannon, a key shot that would end up costing my opponent the Phantom a bit later on. It wasn't as flashy to fly as a named pilot but it got the job done. Well, I also had Rexler in there (it was a 150 point match) so that was also fun.

I'm surprised to know that with all those game you say having played with the Defender, it was the first time with a non-named one. Better late than never.

You gotta try 2 Delta with HLC and Jonus with Predator. It is killer.

I prefer to hit first with my super expensive ships. Plus I really like their abilities. Paying that much for incredibly low PS pilots with no abilities seemed harder, so I wanted to learn really how to fly them first. Unlike many Imperial players, I've always liked running low list, high PS pilots (which is why I don't care about the expense/new meta, because I've been waiting for the game to get here since Christmas).

I find it hard to spend the kind of points on the defender when firespray options just seem better. Id rather have Krasses one point less then Rex wielding a HLC and getting a free roll. I think they are a very cool ships. I just don't see it being competitive and showing up much in something like a store championship or higher. The elite pilot abilities seem alright but lacking. Yet to come across any builds that make them great. Would have been nice if they came with a boost maybe. Instead they move like a clunky bomber.

I've come up with 2 base defenders with HLC escorted by Jonus for the 2 rerolls. So far it hasn't done so great.

The elite pilot abilities seem alright but lacking. Yet to come across any builds that make them great.

Whisper + VI + Weapons Engineer + Fire-Control System + ACD

Vessery + Outmaneuver + Ion Cannon

Black Squadron Predator + Predator (or really whatever you want for filler)

i may be slightly off by a point or two, I can't remember 100% if this is the squad I had before… should be good though.

I find it hard to spend the kind of points on the defender when firespray options just seem better. Id rather have Krasses one point less then Rex wielding a HLC and getting a free roll. I think they are a very cool ships. I just don't see it being competitive and showing up much in something like a store championship or higher. The elite pilot abilities seem alright but lacking. Yet to come across any builds that make them great. Would have been nice if they came with a boost maybe. Instead they move like a clunky bomber.

I've come up with 2 base defenders with HLC escorted by Jonus for the 2 rerolls. So far it hasn't done so great.

Rex Hlc

Predator

Jonus

Nightbeast

Dark curse.

Worked pretty well for the few games I've played with it. Though I like everyone else ask the question is the defender worth instead of a Firespray.

One thing I found is the smaller base makes it fly differently than a Firespray, obviously, and when you get Rex ability to go off, can really swing the fight.

Just for giggles I just came up with this.

Looks fun, deadly, but also fragile in a sense that is only the ships.

Whisper

Veteran instincts

Advanced cloak

Fire control systems

Vessery

Hlc

Alpha Squadron Pilot

Or

Black Squadron Pilot

PtL or predator

IV like the idea of having the low pilot squints as it makes all three ships nasty targets, but the squint is a likely target since he is low PS.

He should be kept in front of the defender

Whisper shoots, gets tl.

Vessery uses action to focus.

Shoots at same target as whisper, gets tl.

Also considered the tie with push the limit just for the little defense. Evade and focus. Again keep him in front of Vessery and try to draw the enemy fire and hope it's enough to keep him to live another round.

I may try this tonight depending on who at our game night