It seems that each wave FFG makes a new type of attack method. I knew it was only a matter of time when ramming and kamikazee type attacks would happen. I knew eventually there would be a ramming ship.

http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/109877-meta-analysis-from-a-few-maneuvers-what-can-be-done-add-variety-to-winning-lists-outside-article-link/#entry1140458

http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/108872-on-collisions-using-to-your-advantage-and-hopefully-a-ramming-ship/#entry1124476

Now with the more recent release of more VT-49 information it is pretty much the lineman of the empire and with multiple crew allowing to stress, there is more reason for me to get in close and personal.

I started putting some scenario uses with ramming and I figured with certain cards and supporting pilots I can make VT-49 pretty much gator deathroll any swarm or tight knit ships in close range.

With new large ship barrel roll maneuvers, using Expert handling I can pretty much flip onto an unsuspecting group of ships. And if i can keep a couple cheaper ships close that have wingman, I can attempt to have a VT-49 basically flop and breakdance over opposing ships maybe every other turn. All this while shaking a target lock on an already horrible defense capability.

It may not be practical, but it is going to be fun as hell to try.

The ramming doesn't work with barrel rolls, only when you actually execute a maneuver, which rolls and boosts are not.

Daredevil would do the trick

Can lay the hurt on after an intentional collision with the drawback of nearly guaranteed resulting damage

I knew eventually there would be a ramming ship.

A brave prediction, and it came true just 18 months ago!

Your still "most likely" to "hit" (be touching bases with after overlap) only one ship at a time, any other ships would need to overlap you, so still more like a blocker than a bulldozer.

Still, I like what a daredevil + dauntless combo can do. It's reactive, nullifies a ship's attack to you (the one you're ramming into) and lets you "step on its shoulder" in a sort of way in order to get another target. If you can pull it off without needing to use daredevil, that attack gets better and you still get the great 1 damage payoff.

I wonder if this way of playing can revive something like proximity mines. Both those mines and the Decimators are sufficiently big to make it awkward for your enemy.

Still, I like what a daredevil + dauntless combo can do. It's reactive, nullifies a ship's attack to you (the one you're ramming into) and lets you "step on its shoulder" in a sort of way in order to get another target. If you can pull it off without needing to use daredevil, that attack gets better and you still get the great 1 damage payoff.

I wonder if this way of playing can revive something like proximity mines. Both those mines and the Decimators are sufficiently big to make it awkward for your enemy.

A week or so ago I postulated that if Dauntless was a title card (which it apparently is), that a player could ram someone, then use Daredevil to purposefully execute a maneuver that doesn't clear the ship they rammed in order to ram them again.

It works very well no matter who you were aiming for. If you were aiming for a higher PS pilot then that's easy. Just move to where they are. If you were aiming for a lower PS pilot, you aim for where they might be, and if you miss you can at least try to hit them once with Daredevil. And if you want to avoid the possible damage from Daredevil you just take an Engine Upgrade.

Though something that might really be funny is aiming for a ship that generally doesn't move much (like a b-wing or y-wing) and take Anti-Pursuit lasers. Ram them once or twice, then watch them collide with you for possibly more damage. (Because the only thing funnier than causing a ship damage before the combat round is causing a ship THREE damage before the combat round.)

Though something that might really be funny is aiming for a ship that generally doesn't move much (like a b-wing or y-wing) and take Anti-Pursuit lasers. Ram them once or twice, then watch them collide with you for possibly more damage. (Because the only thing funnier than causing a ship damage before the combat round is causing a ship THREE damage before the combat round.)

That's where I think Prox mines can come in. Those ships can still do Bank 3 or forward 4 in an emergency situation, but that's where you lay your mine.

Though something that might really be funny is aiming for a ship that generally doesn't move much (like a b-wing or y-wing) and take Anti-Pursuit lasers. Ram them once or twice, then watch them collide with you for possibly more damage. (Because the only thing funnier than causing a ship damage before the combat round is causing a ship THREE damage before the combat round.)

That's where I think Prox mines can come in. Those ships can still do Bank 3 or forward 4 in an emergency situation, but that's where you lay your mine.

How do you know what maneuvers it can do? I haven't seen a dial spoiler, only fan guesses.

Those ships....

The b and y wings. The decimator drops a mine and if those ships move fast enough to clear the dauntless with its APL they hit the mine.

Add Mara jade to stress them then as well.

Thing about this build, it looks great on paper, but it will just encourage everyone to stay at range 3.

I love it. Going to be amazing for 150-200pt games. Might be a touch too expensive to really see play. The potential for 2-3 autodamage followed up with an autocrit Vader salvo is pretty tasty. What cost are looking at for:

Big O+ daredevil+dauntless+Vader?

I'm thinking you probably won't be able to hit the same ship twice.. even with daredevil, but the possibility of hitting another ship nearby becomes an option.. so might force people to not fly close formations.. not saying this kills swarms, but might be problematic for them when facing this combo...

and I wouldn't put Vader on it.. you'll just lose it faster.. and it's gonna be expensive.. you don't want to give the opponent those points..

I'm thinking you probably won't be able to hit the same ship twice.. even with daredevil, but the possibility of hitting another ship nearby becomes an option.. so might force people to not fly close formations.. not saying this kills swarms, but might be problematic for them when facing this combo...

and I wouldn't put Vader on it.. you'll just lose it faster.. and it's gonna be expensive.. you don't want to give the opponent those points..

Why wouldn't you be able to hit the same ship twice? Once during movement maneuver + once during action Daredevil (maneuver)... and, if they are in your firing arc, you are guaranteed 2 damage + 1 crit and have pretty good odds of laying 4 damage... Guaranteed 3-4 damage is no joke (add in Kir and bombs for some more auto damage... going to have to revisit my Imperial Autos build).

Vader is just going to be icing on the cake here...certainly worth it 1-2 times but not like the shuttle where you will keep using it over and over.

Daredevil + Engine is 5 points, stay on target + Navigator is 5 points... Choices choices...

Daredevil + engine is 7...