Got to my FLGS' X-wing game night super early. Another player was already there, and he was itching to playtest a list he prepared for Nationals (I think). He borrowed my Garven Dreis, and since I only own 5 TIEs, he let me borrow 2 Ties so I could Run a Howlrunner Swarm. My first time, and I've been wanting to run one for a while.
My list was
Howl w/ Swarm Tactics and Stealth Device
2x Black Squadron
4x Academy Pilot
His List was
Corran Horn w/ R2D2 and Fire Control System
Kyle w/ Moldy Crow, Blaster Turret
Garven Dreis w/ R5-P9
I might have missed an upgrade somewhere
I had initiative
Asteroid Placement allowed for a big enough space to set up in the middle, and be able to run straight and bank right to engage his force in a turn or two. He set up on my right, all together, and running across the field. When we met up, I was thinking that it really didn't matter who I killed first, as long as someone went down, his list synergy would go out the window. My formation stayed together pretty well, and with Howl's help, attack rolls were great. Kyle went down on the second turn of fire. Garven went down soon after. By the time it was down to Corran, I still had 5 pristine ties, one of the casualties being howlrunner. hurt him pretty bad, and my opponent conceded, since others showed up and were ready to play.
This battle is typical of how Corran has been flown in my local game store, which boggles my mind, because Corran has NO reason to be flown in formation. All it does if give you the double shot every other turn. That kind of ability is most useful when he can have room to run on his turns off, if you catch my drift. Also, wouldn't R5-P9 be a better shield regenerator than R2-D2? having a maneuverable ship and then limiting its movement just doesn't work. What use is regenerating a shield when you're lining yourself to be shot at 5 times?
I asked if I could use the 2 ties for the remainder of the evening, which he agreed, and he held onto garven as well.
2nd game
My new opponent was flying
Soontir Fel w/ Stealth and Push the Limit
'Buzzsaw" Shuttle. Gunner, Fire Control System, engine Upgrade.
Echo, I think, with Advanced Cloaking Device, Veteran Instincts
I had intiative
I wanted to try to concentrate the asteroids on the right side of the board, to have a 'no-man's land' and a clear space, hoping he'd put his shuttle in the open space, and his others in the asteroid field. This would let me zoom ahead and take out the shuttle quickly, and then be able to deal with the others. He went along with it, so we ended up with massive asteroid field on right, open on left. What DID surprise me was he had the lambda AND Echo in the clear space, with Fel skirting the first line of asteroids.
I started off 2 straight to see where he'd go. he advanced modestly. next turn I shot forward 5, hoping to trap the shuttle and have the Phantom overshoot me. He put a full stop on the shuttle, which was at range 3 of my leftmost ties, and echo I guess couldn't decloak, and ended up sitting in front of my front line still cloaked! (read: can't shoot) Not to mention, fel lands on an asteroid, taking damage! (he'll have to go over again in the next turn to get off, and rolls a second damage.) Cloaking devices are not much protection against a howlrunner TIE swarm, focused and at range 1. Goodbye, Echo. Some damage to the shuttle, who puts a little damage on a tie. next round I tried running traffic, which succeeds, too well, because he ends up hurting howlrunner. I run his health into the hull. Soontir is still trying to get back into the fight. shuttle zooms ahead to get clear, which also means it'll be a couple turns for him to get back into the fight. The next two turns are spent going after soontir, keeping a wide range of firing arcs to anticipate his placement. He finished off Howl. He slipped a few shots, but went down in the second turn of this. By this time, the shuttle was on its way back, so I met him and finished him off.
only lost howl.
I think his list was not ideal for going against a swarm.
3rd game.
I dropped my 2 Black squadrons for an academy and dark curse.
His list
Keyan Farlander w/ HLC, Sensor Jammer, and elusiveness
Roark Garnet w/ Ion Cannon Turret
Green Squadron w/ refit
Prototype w/ refit and swarm tactics.
I know i'm forgetting one or two upgrades.
I have initiative
Asteroid placement is ugly for me. Basically, Asteroid all the was across diagonally from left to right. I set up in the left corner, facing right. I wanted to give myself some options. His a wings set up opposite me with keyan and Roark in the middle. I end up turning in earlier than planned, because those A wings would be on me in no time. If I K-turned a turn later, I'd have a swarm staring at a tight corner with a Bwing and roark coming in from the side. So I decided to break formation a little and play with the asteroids. His synergy was set up with roark giving the green PS12, and then he'd pass it to Keyan. This lasted 2 rounds before I killed Roark. Keyan shot twice and then had to work on not getting blocked, so he didn't have any more shots before being killed. I don't remember who, but someone damaged howlrunner with 2 hits. he 5-K'd his green onto an asteroid on one turn. It was a huge TIE furball, but I somehow managed to not have too much bumping. They were weaving in and out of each other, but they were able to keep their arcs on the enemy, and ended up winning without losing a ship!
So, I must say, I LOVE flying the swarm! It really fits my playing style. I've always loved blocking, and I like the flexibility of having 7 firing arcs. I need to get a couple more TIEs. What I'm used to running is a 6 ship list which is some combination of 5 ties, an interceptor and bomber.
I'm considering running
howlrunner
4 academies
Scimitar Naked Bomber
Alpha Squadron Interceptor
