so i came up with this list idea today and i'm looking for thoughts or ways to make the core idea better (rhymer + ruthless + cluster missiles). i'm not locked in stone on the other 2 ships they were just the most synergistic i thought of at the time

Jonus doesn't seem to be doing much other than giving a very expensive couple of rerolls to Rhymer, so I'd probably start by dropping him.

Jonus doesn't seem to be doing much other than giving a very expensive couple of rerolls to Rhymer, so I'd probably start by dropping him.

Edit: misread ruthlessness - dunno if your clusters will do much if your opponent keeps them spread out more. May not do much but make them not group together.

I'd strip down Jendon to the Title and Tactical Jammer; Ruthlessness will have your enemy spread out which can be a problem for the Shuttle if the spread is too high.

Jonus goes well with someone carrying Clusters but having only a single bomber to buff each round limits his utility a lot.

How about this:

Major Rhymer (26)
Ruthlessness (3)
Cluster Missiles (4)
Cluster Missiles (4)

Colonel Jendon (26)
Tactical Jammer (1)
ST-321 (3)

Black Squadron Pilot (14)
Outmaneuver (3)

Black Squadron Pilot (14)
Intimidation (2)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

The Intimidation TIE shouldn't go in while Ryhmer fires his missiles and you should avoid Ryhmer using his primaries on the Intimidation target so you don't break him.

Jonus doesn't seem to be doing much other than giving a very expensive couple of rerolls to Rhymer, so I'd probably start by dropping him.

That and what's the point of taking rhymer if you aren't going to use his ability? Just for the higher PS? Obviously you'll want to have a target at R1 to pummel them with the clusters and hit them with ruthlessness twice, so his ability to fire clusters at range 3 is useless.

Edit: misread ruthlessness - dunno if your clusters will do much if your opponent keeps them spread out more. May not do much but make them not group together.

But that's the thing - even if Ruthlessness never triggers - if it keeps your opponent second guessing whether he wants to perform that maneuver with his Phantom because it'll be right next to his Shuttle, then it's already paid for itself because your opponent is now doing a suboptimal move in order to avoid Ruthlessness.

I have to say - I really like the idea of Ruthlessness + Cluster Missiles. Obviously it would be better with something to modify the CM, either Predator/PTL on an A wing, or perhaps Airen/SL or Dutch/Garven/Kyle... Herm... Choices... Better yet - BLOUNT!

Yes... Now I see it, Blount with CM + Ruthlessness. He always hits, and always does a splash damage, and being that he's a 2 attack ship, if only your people are in R1, then it's not a BIG deal if you choose not to attack with him. Oooh, I will have to think of a way to support that. CM would be optional, but would still be nice in order to get two splash damage in on a ship.

the problem is i do believe ruthless is imp only Khyros

also jonus was there to help the clusters hit and help the heavy cannon on the shuttle

my problem is without jonus i cant see the clusters hitting as often and thus not triggering ruthless if i can

the problem is i do believe ruthless is imp only Khyros

D'oh... I've been using voidstate to look at combos, and it's not listed there as Imp only. But upon looking up the actual card, it is. *sigh. I was going to have fun with that!

also jonus was there to help the clusters hit and help the heavy cannon on the shuttle

"You are technically correct. The best kind of correct."

I fogot about buff working on cannons too ... but my criticism about the Lambda being not the best plattform for a HLC with a Ruthless fighter around still stands.

What I am about to say adds almost nothing to this discussion:

Ruthless Rhymer is totally going to be my rapper name.

Jonus doesn't seem to be doing much other than giving a very expensive couple of rerolls to Rhymer, so I'd probably start by dropping him.

It's a **** shame that you can't use Squad Leader to have Jonus pass a TL to Rhymer. That would get around the issue of needing both Jendon and Jonus to get Rhymer the buffs you want.

Yes... Now I see it, Blount with CM + Ruthlessness. He always hits, and always does a splash damage, and being that he's a 2 attack ship, if only your people are in R1, then it's not a BIG deal if you choose not to attack with him. Oooh, I will have to think of a way to support that. CM would be optional, but would still be nice in order to get two splash damage in on a ship.

Doesn't Blount need an Imperial to be so Ruthless? At this point, his treason is far to apparent for us to be willing to take him back into the fold.

Edit: Ninja'd

Edit²: I do think that Rhymer + 2xCM + Ruthlessness is a badass combination, though. I might try it some time.

How about Rhymer + 2xCM + Ruthlessness combined with Howlrunner + Squad Leader and a miniswarm? Howlrunner's ability won't buff the missiles, but Squad Leader will allow Rhymer to take 2 actions at least, and once the missiles are away Rhymer becomes a slightly more chubby member of the swarm.

also jonus was there to help the clusters hit and help the heavy cannon on the shuttle

"You are technically correct. The best kind of correct."

I fogot about buff working on cannons too ... but my criticism about the Lambda being not the best plattform for a HLC with a Ruthless fighter around still stands.

I agree the Lambda is not but the question becomes is a plain tie defender or bounty hunter a better option then Jendon + title with 5 points of upgrades (as the other upgrades are really just there to provide some use and fill points the points could be spent on the other ships). The answer is Idk and will get tested eventually by me.

The idea of Rhymer with howl runner holds some water ill see what i can throw together (i only own 2 ties but yay for proxys)

How about Rhymer + 2xCM + Ruthlessness combined with Howlrunner + Squad Leader and a miniswarm? Howlrunner's ability won't buff the missiles, but Squad Leader will allow Rhymer to take 2 actions at least, and once the missiles are away Rhymer becomes a slightly more chubby member of the swarm.

Howlrunner also makes it a bit more likely that Rhymer will last long enough to loose both cluster missiles by providing 2 priority targets.

Ruthlessness and Cluster missiles, nice idea!

Getting away from the Ruthlessness idea, I played around a bit and am liking Predator on Rhymer with CMs

Rhymer

Predator

2x CM

Seismic Charge

Howlrunner

Squad Leader

Mauler Mithel

2x Academy TIEs

Doesn't do any splash damage, but Rhymer should be able to launch the CMs on back to back turns with each CM having a TL to fire them, a focus for one of the attacks and a reroll on both attacks. Essentially 12 dice of attacks with focus and rerolls. Falcons ought to notice that, and if you are facing a swarm instead you still have 5 ships.

i have started thinking of other good ruthless and cluster missile combos and vessery stands out with the right support at 42 points you have 58 points of stuff with target lock to help get off 2 attacks with rerolls and a bounce damage and after wards you still have Vessery + Ruthless who is decent on his own (if only vessery had a higher pilot skill then rhymer that would be fun)

edit: it has also occurred to me work is boring today