I tried this list for some casual games and it did quite well. Don't know how well it would play competitively, but its fun if you like Rebs.

Airen Cracken + Squad Leader

Lieutenant Blount + Assault Missiles

Garven Dreis

Biggs Darklighter + R2-F2 + Stealth Device

99 Pts.

If you can manage to use Garvins focus in the attack phase, and use Airens ability to allow Biggs to take a focus, then with R2-F2 and SD, you can run Biggs as the shield he is with 4 (5 if you can keep him at range 3) defense and 2 focus tokens.

I also like how similar the Z's and X's dial are, making it easy to keep formation. With the higher PS I have found that I am usually shooting first. And Blount with the Ass. Miss. allows for that extra punch if your buddy likes to run swarms. Or you can swap out Blount and/or his missiles for whatever better suits your predictions.

I just realized you could alternately swap out Blount altogether for a Bandit with Ass. Miss. and Munitions Failsafe, and afford R2-D6 and Swarm Tactics for Garvin. This way your Bandit can still run at a PS6 like Blount and your given a little more guaranteed effectiveness with your missiles over Blounts ability. Plus you still come in at 99 points with a small bid for initiative.

Anyone else like to run anything similar to this that could give me further ideas?

Downside for this is firepower. After your initial round and missile expenditure, two Z wings with two attack dice is going to be too few. Especially if Cracken is giving his action to somebody else. Additionally, Biggs will only receive that second focus after Garven shoots, and 6 isn't all that high these days. My suggestion is to boost garven's PS to get Biggs those much needed focus tokens that much earlier.

My tweak:

Craken

Garven R2D6 and Veteran Instincts

Biggs stealth R2F2

Blue Squadron Pilot.

That b wing is tanky and great to get in close. Plus with so many higher priority targets, you can really get him in close without fear of getting taken apart.

And Blount with the Ass. Miss. allows for that extra punch if your buddy likes to run swarms. Or you can swap out Blount and/or his missiles for whatever better suits your predictions.

This squad is a pretty good idea.

Abbreviating assault missiles as Ass. Missiles is not a great idea.

Downside for this is firepower. After your initial round and missile expenditure, two Z wings with two attack dice is going to be too few. Especially if Cracken is giving his action to somebody else. Additionally, Biggs will only receive that second focus after Garven shoots, and 6 isn't all that high these days. My suggestion is to boost garven's PS to get Biggs those much needed focus tokens that much earlier.

My tweak:

Craken

Garven R2D6 and Veteran Instincts

Biggs stealth R2F2

Blue Squadron Pilot.

That b wing is tanky and great to get in close. Plus with so many higher priority targets, you can really get him in close without fear of getting taken apart.

What's a Z-wing? Are you trying to talk about T-65, RZ-1, or something

On to the OP the problem with Gaven's ability is that his pilot skill is rather low so that most of your ships would have attacked already and there is little point to pass focus with the exception of defending from lower skill pilots. You would almost be praying that Gaven gets attacked first but with Biggs that won't be the case. So you would want to use swarm tactics from Craken on him instead of Blount. If you R2-D6 instead of swarm tactics equip Vet Instincts so that you can pass focus earlier in the combat phase. The later in that phase you pass tokens in the combat phase the less effective that ability has become.

Some good suggestions. Think I will try some of them out next match. Thanks!

Ass. Missiles away!

Oh I lied. I was looking at the points total of a list I had written down next to the one above in my notebook. My original list above is 100 pts, not 99.

Why does Airen Cracken have Squad Leader? This is what his ability does already.

Why does Airen Cracken have Squad Leader? This is what his ability does already.

Maybe to dish out 2 Free Actions?

I've faced the named z-95s plenty of time they've left me unimpressed when it comes to dog fighting, the fact you can one shot them does not help.

If your lucky the alpha strike kills a few ships early and wins you the game, if your not your under gunned to handle every turn after.

I've faced the named z-95s plenty of time they've left me unimpressed when it comes to dog fighting, the fact you can one shot them does not help.

If your lucky the alpha strike kills a few ships early and wins you the game, if your not your under gunned to handle every turn after.

For 28 pts you can sub out garven W VI for Kyle blaster turret and moldy crow. This ensures the focus comes at the start of the combat phase.

Why does Airen Cracken have Squad Leader? This is what his ability does already.

In order to give Biggs the ability to take an extra focus and because Airen is the only one in the list who can take an elite talent.

I've faced the named z-95s plenty of time they've left me unimpressed when it comes to dog fighting, the fact you can one shot them does not help.

If your lucky the alpha strike kills a few ships early and wins you the game, if your not your under gunned to handle every turn after.

Well that would depend on your opponents list. In the casual games I play this list, my friend plays lists similar, going more for what he enjoys playing, rather then whats most point optimal.

For 28 pts you can sub out garven W VI for Kyle blaster turret and moldy crow. This ensures the focus comes at the start of the combat phase.

I actually have another list i enjoy, at 99 pts, similar to this. Its the points cost for the list I accidentally looked at that I refered to above.

Why does Airen Cracken have Squad Leader? This is what his ability does already.

In order to give Biggs the ability to take an extra focus and because Airen is the only one in the list who can take an elite talent.

Why does Airen Cracken have Squad Leader? This is what his ability does already.

Maybe to dish out 2 Free Actions?

Except it doesn't. The Squad Leader action isn't free as Airen doesn't get his own.

Why does Airen Cracken have Squad Leader? This is what his ability does already.

Maybe to dish out 2 Free Actions?

Except it doesn't. The Squad Leader action isn't free as Airen doesn't get his own.

The few games I've used this tactic, I've managed to keep Biggs alive for the first 2 volleys of attacks from most of the opponents ships and managed to do enough damage in return so as to have the advantage enough to take the game in the following dogfight mess that follows.

Why does Airen Cracken have Squad Leader? This is what his ability does already.

Maybe to dish out 2 Free Actions?

Except it doesn't. The Squad Leader action isn't free as Airen doesn't get his own.

A simpler way to put it in response to your post, Airen does get to give 2 actions if he attacks. His ability doesn't use his action.

I also forgot to mention that you have the possibility of throwing a 3rd focus on Biggs if Garvin takes a focus and manages to use it during his attack, which is most likely before most opponents ships will be able to shoot if they are running a swarm with lots of Academys. Or if you want to go heavier on the assualt, you can take a target lock with Garvin and then pass one of Ariens actions to Garvin for a focus action. This way your more likely to use the focus, having target lock re-rolls, and then pass on a 2nd focus action to Biggs.

I've messed around with a similar idea that maybe you can find some use in... It's fun to play, fares well against most opponents. Don't time launch right and you lose, so it's gimmicky in a way.

Cracken: cluster missile, predator

Blount: assault missile, predator

Tala: homing missile

Dutch: R7-T1, ICT

IF you can, set it up so Cracken focuses as his action, Dutch hands Cracken a lock. Cracken dumps the cluster (you have a focus and predator to make it hurt). Each of the two cluster attacks will grant a free action per his card text. Blount and Tala should now be focus locked and Blount can't miss anyway.. Put Dutch to the best use you can; a lot of times I try to select a target that'll live through the turn as the ICT target to weaken his next turn options.

Not gonna lie...it's a fun list, but not easy and when it fails, it fails hard.

There's slight variation to it which I find pretty good.

Airen / Swarm Tactics (21p)

Garven (26p)

Biggs / R2-F3 (28p)

Tarn / R7 (25p)

100p

Airen is there to boost hugely other ships around him. Boosting Biggs/Garven to 8 so Garven can give his focus earlier to Biggs or get Biggs to shoot earlier before he goes down. He can also give Biggs free focus with droid.

Comparing Swarm Tactics to Squad Leader I find ST to be way superior to SL, because you don't really need that extra action in this squad.. Every ship is having focus/TL nearly all the time anyway. It also gets your Biggs or Tarn to shoot earlier to possibly kill enemy ship so Biggs lives even longer.

Garven is there for obvious reasons to give focus to Biggs with his droid..

Tarn with R7 is just awesome in lategame.

Biggs is just there to keep others alive while taking damage to itself for couple turns with 3 agility and 1-2 focuses.

It is also very fun to fly while tossing actions to every direction!

I've messed around with a similar idea that maybe you can find some use in... It's fun to play, fares well against most opponents. Don't time launch right and you lose, so it's gimmicky in a way.

Cracken: cluster missile, predator

Blount: assault missile, predator

Tala: homing missile

Dutch: R7-T1, ICT

IF you can, set it up so Cracken focuses as his action, Dutch hands Cracken a lock. Cracken dumps the cluster (you have a focus and predator to make it hurt). Each of the two cluster attacks will grant a free action per his card text. Blount and Tala should now be focus locked and Blount can't miss anyway.. Put Dutch to the best use you can; a lot of times I try to select a target that'll live through the turn as the ICT target to weaken his next turn options.

Not gonna lie...it's a fun list, but not easy and when it fails, it fails hard.

There's slight variation to it which I find pretty good.

Airen / Swarm Tactics (21p)

Garven (26p)

Biggs / R2-F3 (28p)

Tarn / R7 (25p)

100p

Airen is there to boost hugely other ships around him. Boosting Biggs/Garven to 8 so Garven can give his focus earlier to Biggs or get Biggs to shoot earlier before he goes down. He can also give Biggs free focus with droid.

Comparing Swarm Tactics to Squad Leader I find ST to be way superior to SL, because you don't really need that extra action in this squad.. Every ship is having focus/TL nearly all the time anyway. It also gets your Biggs or Tarn to shoot earlier to possibly kill enemy ship so Biggs lives even longer.

Garven is there for obvious reasons to give focus to Biggs with his droid..

Tarn with R7 is just awesome in lategame.

Biggs is just there to keep others alive while taking damage to itself for couple turns with 3 agility and 1-2 focuses.

It is also very fun to fly while tossing actions to every direction!

I like both of these. I really enjoy playing lists that you have to play more tactically as opposed to just a bunch of ships that are self efficient. Thanks for sharing guys.

No problem! Predator on the two Z's in my list are so it's less sucktastic after the missile volley lol.

I fought a 4 royal guard interceptor ptl list with this and won. My opponent was a good player so I know the build works..however, next time we played I asked if I could try it against another he runs a lot which had a phantom and Rexler with an HLC. That time I had Z's one shotted left and right lol...so I also know it's not the be all end all list either! Not that I really expected that anyway lol

Other things I've messed with are PTL on Cracken, drop the homer for a second assault, make Tala a bandit for an initiative bid

I even jacked around with opportunist on Dutch via R2-D6

I enjoy tinkering!

No problem! Predator on the two Z's in my list are so it's less sucktastic after the missile volley lol.

I fought a 4 royal guard interceptor ptl list with this and won. My opponent was a good player so I know the build works..however, next time we played I asked if I could try it against another he runs a lot which had a phantom and Rexler with an HLC. That time I had Z's one shotted left and right lol...so I also know it's not the be all end all list either! Not that I really expected that anyway lol

Other things I've messed with are PTL on Cracken, drop the homer for a second assault, make Tala a bandit for an initiative bid

I even jacked around with opportunist on Dutch via R2-D6

I enjoy tinkering!

I know what ya mean about the tinkering. With this game, I'm like a Jawa in a junk yard. I will drive my gf nuts sitting there for hours by myself planning out lists on a regular basis. Unfortunately, I'm lucky if I get to play the game once every other week. I think one of the things I love most about this game though is that there will probably never be a be all end all list. No matter how good you think your list is, it's only a matter of time until someone will learn how to exploit it, or a new card will come out that will just ruin it.