I tried a Squadron today that was made up of Airen cracken with cluster missiles and Four Prototype A-Wings with Proton Rockets and was quite impressed.

In the first turn of shooting Cracken activated first and fired his Cluster Missiles and then gave my A-Wings a free boost and lock-on, two A-Wings fired their Proton Missiles which resulted in two kills. Second Round of shooting saw a third Tie defeated by Rockets.

Lesson: A-Wings with Proton Rockets for 20 points are very cool.
Cracken with Cluster Missiles is very cool.

Only problem is keeping Cracken alive. Any suggestions?

Basically Biggs

Without him, I found the only reliable to keep the enemy off Cracken is Swarm Tactics and a Rookie/Blue squadron escort. They don't "protect" him, per say, they just gun down threats with him before they get to shoot (so long as they're PS 7 or lower, ofc)

Speaking of, I'd take an EPT on him over Missiles any day

maybe consider upping the Proto Pilots to Green squadron and use their EPT to give them Deadeye - that way you aren't quite as reliant on Cracken to help out with target locks - and the potential TL+Focus combo it can give the GSPs (twice if you give Cracken Squad Leader) makes the GSPs that little bit more threatening in their own right - perhaps enough of a threat to draw some fire away from Cracken.

Without any ordinance that list comes in at 81 points, so you've got plenty of scope to mix and match the ordinance you bring

Edit - thinking about this it doesn't really work points-wise.

with 19 pts left over, that's one hell of a lot to put into ordinance - but it does give you some scope to think about pilots, so how about this:

Basically Biggs

Without him, I found the only reliable to keep the enemy off Cracken is Swarm Tactics and a Rookie/Blue squadron escort. They don't "protect" him, per say, they just gun down threats with him before they get to shoot (so long as they're PS 7 or lower, ofc)

Speaking of, I'd take an EPT on him over Missiles any day

What is an "EPT"? And having ships positioned to kill threats to him isn't a bad idea. Noted.

maybe consider upping the Proto Pilots to Green squadron and use their EPT to give them Deadeye - that way you aren't quite as reliant on Cracken to help out with target locks - and the potential TL+Focus combo it can give the GSPs (twice if you give Cracken Squad Leader) makes the GSPs that little bit more threatening in their own right - perhaps enough of a threat to draw some fire away from Cracken.

Without any ordinance that list comes in at 81 points, so you've got plenty of scope to mix and match the ordinance you bring

Proton Rockets don't require spending a lock-on to use they are "Attack: Focus". I was just interested on rerolling my attack dice. So deadeye isn't needed.

Basically Biggs

Without him, I found the only reliable to keep the enemy off Cracken is Swarm Tactics and a Rookie/Blue squadron escort. They don't "protect" him, per say, they just gun down threats with him before they get to shoot (so long as they're PS 7 or lower, ofc)

Speaking of, I'd take an EPT on him over Missiles any day

What is an "EPT"? And having ships positioned to kill threats to him isn't a bad idea. Noted.

EPT = Elite Pilot Talent (like Swarm Tactics, which is a personal favorite of mine. You get one of the best support ships in the game for the same price as a Rookie Pilot)

You'd basically be trading your unreliable cluster missile salvo to have a proto-type fire off his rocket at PS 8

maybe consider upping the Proto Pilots to Green squadron and use their EPT to give them Deadeye - that way you aren't quite as reliant on Cracken to help out with target locks - and the potential TL+Focus combo it can give the GSPs (twice if you give Cracken Squad Leader) makes the GSPs that little bit more threatening in their own right - perhaps enough of a threat to draw some fire away from Cracken.

Without any ordinance that list comes in at 81 points, so you've got plenty of scope to mix and match the ordinance you bring

I don't really think that would be worth it--that's 3 points per ship, and the rockets already are basically a 5-dice attack with focus. You'd lose a ship to do that. Keeping all the A-wings within range 1 of Cracken will also be problematic after the first pass I'd think (assuming Cracken survives past the first pass).

Also, the OP's list is by my calculations 103 points.

I tried a Squadron today that was made up of Airen cracken with cluster missiles and Four Prototype A-Wings with Proton Rockets and was quite impressed.

In the first turn of shooting Cracken activated first and fired his Cluster Missiles and then gave my A-Wings a free boost and lock-on, two A-Wings fired their Proton Missiles which resulted in two kills.

Can you clarify this sequence? The way it's written implies multiple A-Wings are benefitting when Cracken uses his ability. He only gets to choose 1 friendly ship at range 1, not multiple. Or am I missing something?

I tried a Squadron today that was made up of Airen cracken with cluster missiles and Four Prototype A-Wings with Proton Rockets and was quite impressed.

In the first turn of shooting Cracken activated first and fired his Cluster Missiles and then gave my A-Wings a free boost and lock-on, two A-Wings fired their Proton Missiles which resulted in two kills.

Can you clarify this sequence? The way it's written implies multiple A-Wings are benefitting when Cracken uses his ability. He only gets to choose 1 friendly ship at range 1, not multiple. Or am I missing something?

Cluster missile grants two attacks so Crackens ability goes off for each attack

Personally I want to try this (similar) list:

Sounds like a fun list. Proton Rockets are awesome. I've been trying them out on Darth Vader and Defenders.

Not sure how it works points wise, but maybe Kyle Katarn would be a good alternative to Cracken. or Garven.

Sounds like a fun list. Proton Rockets are awesome. I've been trying them out on Darth Vader and Defenders.

Not sure how it works points wise, but maybe Kyle Katarn would be a good alternative to Cracken. or Garven.

I'd even consider Dutch. Good range of his action, and a pretty stout ship.

3 x Prototype + Proton Rockets

Dutch + ICT

Bandit

Proton Rockets don't require spending a lock-on to use they are "Attack: Focus". I was just interested on rerolling my attack dice. So deadeye isn't needed.

You know one of these days I'm going to read the card first

Proton Rockets don't require spending a lock-on to use they are "Attack: Focus". I was just interested on rerolling my attack dice. So deadeye isn't needed.

You know one of these days I'm going to read the card first

Nah. That's no fun for the rest of us then.

I would give this a try:

Cracken + Cluster Missiles

Biggs + R7

x2 GSP + PTL + Proton Rockets

The Greens can move up and do just one action. Then Cracken gives each one an action where they can PTL. Cracken can give Biggs a TL to help him with R7 or just to use on offense. It's a nice combo.

EPT = Elite Pilot Talent (like Swarm Tactics, which is a personal favorite of mine. You get one of the best support ships in the game for the same price as a Rookie Pilot)

You'd basically be trading your unreliable cluster missile salvo to have a proto-type fire off his rocket at PS 8

The ones with the Medal symbol? Those are called Elite Pilot Talents? I have been calling them "Commendations."

Also, the OP's list is by my calculations 103 points.

100 even. One of the A-Wings had Chardaan Refit and another was a Green Squadron Pilot.

Personally I want to try this (similar) list:

Lieutenant Blount (17)

Ion Pulse Missiles (3)

Prototype Pilot (17)

Proton Rockets (3)

Prototype Pilot (17)

Proton Rockets (3)

Prototype Pilot (17)

Proton Rockets (3)

Prototype Pilot (17)

Proton Rockets (3)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Blount fires the Ion at a target of opportunity, and then the A-wings unleash hell.

Blount with Ion Pulse Missiles...I never thought of that! It can't miss.... Other than hosing Stealth Device i always wondered what the point of his ability was.

Sounds like a fun list. Proton Rockets are awesome. I've been trying them out on Darth Vader and Defenders.

Not sure how it works points wise, but maybe Kyle Katarn would be a good alternative to Cracken. or Garven.

I'm always looking for chances to use those two.

Proton Rockets don't require spending a lock-on to use they are "Attack: Focus". I was just interested on rerolling my attack dice. So deadeye isn't needed.

You know one of these days I'm going to read the card first

Never tell me the odds! Er, never tell me the cards!

Sounds like a fun list. Proton Rockets are awesome. I've been trying them out on Darth Vader and Defenders.

Not sure how it works points wise, but maybe Kyle Katarn would be a good alternative to Cracken. or Garven.

I'd even consider Dutch. Good range of his action, and a pretty stout ship.

3 x Prototype + Proton Rockets

Dutch + ICT

Bandit

Dutch is another favorite of mine. I love the characters who help their allies.

I would give this a try:

Cracken + Cluster Missiles

Biggs + R7

x2 GSP + PTL + Proton Rockets

The Greens can move up and do just one action. Then Cracken gives each one an action where they can PTL. Cracken can give Biggs a TL to help him with R7 or just to use on offense. It's a nice combo.

I don't have R7 yet

Sounds like a fun list. Proton Rockets are awesome. I've been trying them out on Darth Vader and Defenders.

Darth Vader and the Defenders is the name of my next band.

This list probably won't do great but it would most likely keep Cracken alive for your opening salvo:

Cracken with swarm tactics and cluster missiles (25)

green squad pilot with test pilot, DTF, Proton Rockets, and Swarm Tactics X3 (75)

Every ship gets PS 8 and they can all take any crits that might pop cracken though after the opening salvo you're pretty defensless.

Blount with Ion Pulse Missiles...I never thought of that! It can't miss.... Other than hosing Stealth Device i always wondered what the point of his ability was.

There's a reason the Z-95 came with Ion Pulse and Assault missiles