So I played in a 12 person tourney this weekend, lots of fun. I came in third and played against the winner in the last round (**** margin of victory and TIE swarms)
I flew a list I call Fel's Brath
Soontir PTL, SU, TC and RGT
Brath Predator
Academy TIE X2
First Round:
This was actually what I consider the funnest game of the tourney. The list did lack firepower and it was the players 1st tourney game, but it was a very close game with things uncertain until the end. He did use his TLs aggressively which is something I see a lot of rebels not doing enough.
Roark, BCT, Moldy Crow, Tactician (i know freaky but it did make a difference/priorty)
Gold X2 Ion Cannon Turret generic R2s.
Bandit Pilots X2
So he set up his fleet in a wide formation across the middle. I set up the Academies and Brath on one side and Fell on the other.
I spent an awful lot of time trying to avoid being in range 2 of the front of the HWK-290. The whole game was me on eggshells worried about Ionization/Stress.
This game ended up going to time, I won by 16 points with two Y-WIngs on the board. I had Fell and an Academy left. If we had more time, I wasn't sure who would have won. Ion turrets vs 3 green dice is a die flip when you are pushing the limit.
Second Round:
The next game was against a Decimator and Vessery (with an HLC).
He set up in one corner, I set up in the other
The Decimator was scary, causing stress, crashing and causing damage, attacking with 5 dice at range 1. I focused it down with 2 turns of focused fire plus Fell dropping it on the 3rd turn.
He took out my Acadamies and Fell & Brath flanked Vessery and took him down.
He did do a cool maneuver in which he intentionally landed his Decimator on an asteroid (while all ships were out of range) to ensure he could be in range 1 of my ships next turn for the 1st turn of exchange.
Final Round:
The final was the most interesting for me (and the one I lost)
Tala X3
Solo, Luke, 3PO, MF title and EU
My opponent did a superb job flying. He held the Falcon back giving me really good targets with the Z-95s. His Falcon would move slow and the boost out of most of arcs.
Eventually, it was down to Fel, an Academy and a Falcon with no shields.
He continued flying really well, not letting Fel get an Arc on him, staying at range 1 while the academy was negated by 3PO. Most impressive, it was difficult trying to crash into the Falcon.
He eventually got a few shots through on Fel (interceptors are always living on borrowed time) and then against the Academy Tie, the game was Academic.
Things I did wrong:
1. I decided since the Falcon had a turret it was not worth the risk using Soontir as a flanker and decided to come in as a spread out block, this was a big mistake as with only one flank, my enemy had more maneuver options, I had less arc coverage and I had to disengage Soontir because of his stress.
2. To heck with the optimal shots, Shoot down the Falcon!!! Range 3, through an asteroid, only half your ships have arc, it doesn't matter, , get dice on that ship. I knew if I lost Brath before the Falcon went down, I had one turn to finish the Falcon or it was GG, I needed to be more aggressive.
3. I should have used the Academies to block the Falcon.
4. I was worried about engaging his list clear of asteroids. It turns out that asteroids are the zippy Falcon's friend.
5. I flew like I did against the prior Decimator list. A Decimator is NOT a Falcon.
6. I let him have initiative, which seemed to be the right choice (Fel can react to the Falcon's moves). I think I would have been better off taking the initiative, I am fairly certain I could have used Fel as a blocker which would have changed things significantly when it was effectively 1v1. Most importantly, I could have used a block opportunity as an opportunity to get away from the Falcon next turn.
What I learned:
1. People hate Brath, they won't shoot Fel if Brath is available.
2. Z-95s can be surprisingly dodgy.
3. I like Brath. His ability doesn't get a chance to activate very often, but when it does its huge and its fine if it doesn't activate every game. I actually got the Minor Explosion combo on the Decimator. His power is like Determination. Cheap, doesn't trigger very often but when it does it swings the game hard.
4. While the Falcon's turret is nasty, whats really nasty is the Falcons dial with Engine Upgrade.
5. When its Fel v Falcon, you need to take more risks, don't use PTL and just try to get away from the Falcon so you can turn around and do strafing runs. Using PTL is good to keep you alive, but it just delays the inevitable.