I have an upcoming tournament and I expect to see a lot of super dashes

dashes. So I was thinking of this list as a counter:

Oicunn

Expose

Vader

Rebel Cap

Ysanne Isard

Dauntless

Experimental Interface. 61pts

Echo

VI

Recon Spec

Adv cloak. 38pts

Oicunn hunts dash, bumps when he can and uses expose to fire 4 dice, using vader when opportune. Echo works on the support but can also go at dash. Thoughts?

I run something similar, but just a heads up that Dauntless doesn't work that well with Ysanne or EI. If you're stressed due to Dauntless, you can't use Ysanne because it's a "free action". If you use EI with Dauntless, you'll get double stressed and be hosed the next turn.

I would just drop Dauntless and give Echo FCS (which is the build I run the most often). Otherwise, enjoy the list, it's awesome!

not sure I'd ever put Vader on a 61 point ship?

I have an upcoming tournament and I expect to see a lot of super dashes

dashes. So I was thinking of this list as a counter:

Oicunn

Expose

Vader

Rebel Cap

Ysanne Isard

Dauntless

Experimental Interface. 61pts

Echo

VI

Recon Spec

Adv cloak. 38pts

Oicunn hunts dash, bumps when he can and uses expose to fire 4 dice, using vader when opportune. Echo works on the support but can also go at dash. Thoughts?

The decimator doesn't have a lot of green maneuvers so having to many ways to give stress will limit your moves.

Take off expose, and experimental interface. Switch vader for Mara jade.

Vader is not something you want on a ship that costs 60% of your squad, plus you only have 2 ships so hurting your own is less beneficial. In this case your opponent only has to kill one of your ships and hold his own to win.

Depending on what he is flying if you kills 3 ties, or couple z95 or bwing whatever, he would still be up in pts, plus you be down one ship.

Mara jade works well on oicunn.

I find with oicunn keep his distance and ram late game.

His ability will pay off more hitting late game dmg ships rather than hitting a ship at full health early game and possibly range 1 of other ships

This will do dmg to ships hurting, and prevent them from shooting at the decimator which late game will probably be hurting.

Mara jade prevents your opponent from kturn, and if it's a tight area, maybe not going to far, allowing for another ram, and stress all around

Somewhat disagree on Vader not being good on a 60 pt ship. His purpose there is different than the Doomshuttle, where the goal is to die. On a turret ship, it's a Phantom/Soontir deterrent. It denies a huge swath of space that will make your opponent play differently or risk getting Vadered. It's best used with restraint and at the right timing. For 3 points, I will happily pay to make my opponent choose sub-optimal moves.

I do agree however, it's not always the best on Oicunn and that Mara Jade might be better. I play Oicunn differently, and use his ramming ability also as "area denial". So now more fragile ace ships are even less likely to be in turret range, but also the range where Oicunn could ram him (and then if he moves after Oicunn, shoot him and Vader him.

Expose and EI works amazingly well, to the point where I used to have a PTL/EU or VI/EU build on Chiraneau that I gave up for Expose/EI. For Oicunn, again, I do agree that Predator/Gunner might be better, but Expose/EI is not that weak of a combo based on play experience.

Key thing is, try it out and see what suits your style the best. I think all the recommendations here are solid and just depends on your style.

From my experience last night, the issue with chasing green maneuvers on the Decimator is that the greens are 2s. If you're looking to keep Oicunn bumping into ships, it can be a challenge.

I ran Oicunn twice and Chiraneau once last night.

Hammer and Nail (98/100)
========================
VT-49 Decimator: Captain Oicunn (42 + 12)
+ Determination (1)
+ Mara Jade (3)
+ Intelligence Agent (1)
+ Navigator (3)
+ Dauntless (2)
+ Anti-Pursuit Lasers (2)
TIE Phantom: "Whisper" (32 + 12)
+ Veteran Instincts (1)
+ Gunner (5)
+ Fire Control System (2)
+ Advanced Cloaking Device (4)

Admiral (100/100)
================
VT-49 Decimator: Rear Admiral Chiraneau (46 + 7)
+ Expose (4)
+ Experimental Interface (3)
TIE Fighter: Academy Pilot (12 + 0)

TIE Fighter: Academy Pilot (12 + 0)

Lambda-class Shuttle: Omicron Group Pilot (21 + 2)
+ Anti-Pursuit Lasers (2)

Oicunn, Doom, Academy (100/100)
==============================
VT-49 Decimator: Captain Oicunn (42 + 8)
+ Determination (1)
+ Mara Jade (3)
+ Dauntless (2)
+ Anti-Pursuit Lasers (2)
Lambda-class Shuttle: Omicron Group Pilot (21 + 5)
+ Darth Vader (3)
+ Anti-Pursuit Lasers (2)
TIE Fighter: Academy Pilot (12 + 0)

TIE Fighter: Academy Pilot (12 + 0)

And if your opponent flies by you and you want to turn around faster, not having stress makes it easier

True, good points about limiting stress. I guess I'm looking for a good counter to super dash which I expect to see a lot of in my next tourney

not sure I'd ever put Vader on a 61 point ship?

You don't want to spam it, but used appropriately Vader is lethal on the Decimator. You've got the HP to absorb the damage, and with the turret you can guarantee Vader goes on the right targets. I'd happily take 2 damage if it meant polishing off a Soontir or Whisper that would otherwise live.

It looks good, but don't use Dauntless too much even if you take it, as the stress will stop Isard. Also be careful as Isard only protects you after 5 damage... and if he gets a big 12 damage blast on you the first turn, you are dead.

Echo or Whisper are good helpers.

One problem I have with the 4dice expose list on Oicunn is that you will be shooting 4 naked dice, no gunner. I don't like those odds much.

I prefer to run:

Gunner instead of Vader and Dauntless. If you bump, oh well. Back to 4 dice naked, but at least you have Gunner!

Vader will make you die too fast for my taste.

That's why you need Experimental Interface with Expose, otherwise the damage is too unreliable. which is also better on Chiraneau since he has a mini Focus, which combined with a TL, is pretty brutal at R1-2.

On Oicunn it's fun to do Expose/EI, but I do agree that Gunner+Pred (or one of the two) is much better. I really don't think Dauntless is that good, unless you're giving up on Ysard, which is hard to give up.

Depending on the squad, I've actually found Darth Vader crew to be quite useful on the Decimator.

Consider this.

VT-49 is sitting range 1 to a Z95. You roll 4 hits, he evades 1. Now that Z95 is at 1 hp. If you have no other ships to finish off the Z95, chances are the Z95 will shoot back and roll 2 hits. With 0 agility (and probably not running Ysanne Isaard) that is 2 damage automatically. If you had just used the Darth Vader Crew, you'll take at MOST 2 damage (no chance to for mean crits), AND the Z95 is now dead, meaning you don't have to shoot at it next turn, which is important against the VT-49's biggest threat, Rebel and Imperial swarm lists (especially when no engine upgrade).

It also adds SO many benefits when fighting ships like interceptors, or even R2-D2 Corran Horn. Heck, it's great against Fat Han once Han's shields are down, as you're likely only to do 1 or 2 damage due to C3P0 and Evade action, and those crits can be incredibly crippling.

It has many uses. I wouldn't use it on EVERY Decimator list, but I definitely would not count this card out as a competitive option. The support ship/ships plays a big role in determining the use.

Depending on the squad, I've actually found Darth Vader crew to be quite useful on the Decimator.

Consider this.

VT-49 is sitting range 1 to a Z95. You roll 4 hits, he evades 1. Now that Z95 is at 1 hp. If you have no other ships to finish off the Z95, chances are the Z95 will shoot back and roll 2 hits. With 0 agility (and probably not running Ysanne Isaard) that is 2 damage automatically. If you had just used the Darth Vader Crew, you'll take at MOST 2 damage (no chance to for mean crits), AND the Z95 is now dead, meaning you don't have to shoot at it next turn, which is important against the VT-49's biggest threat, Rebel and Imperial swarm lists (especially when no engine upgrade).

It also adds SO many benefits when fighting ships like interceptors, or even R2-D2 Corran Horn. Heck, it's great against Fat Han once Han's shields are down, as you're likely only to do 1 or 2 damage due to C3P0 and Evade action, and those crits can be incredibly crippling.

It has many uses. I wouldn't use it on EVERY Decimator list, but I definitely would not count this card out as a competitive option. The support ship/ships plays a big role in determining the use.

AMEN! That has happened too many times to me for me not to bring Vader whenever I can. ;-)

havent had the chance to try a decimater with vader yet. though im excited to pair them up with on a shuttle.

Yeah I can see Vader being useful, especially in today's meta where people are bringing fewer and more maneuverable loaded up ships (falcons, phantoms, decimators, outriders). Doubly so if you actually know the people you're going to play against are going to very likely be bringing such lists. Critical hits are much more of a pain for more loaded up ships. And, of course, you don't HAVE to use Vader.

It's pretty strange that the cost of Vader--2 damage to yourself and 3 squad points--is deemed well worth it, while older missiles and torpedoes are viewed as really bad. I know why that is, too: it's the fact that you can use Vader tactically and all you have to do to use him is have a shot at any range of the enemy, while with ordinance the setup is just so difficult that you become predictable.

My Decimators are set to be delivered today! I can't want to try all of the named pilots!

Kenkirk + Determination + Rebel Captive + Isanne Ysard

Lambda Shuttle + FCS

Lambda Shuttle + FCS

=98pts

Hmmm, could even fir Mof Jerjerrod.

The first VT-49 list I got to try was

Rear Admiral Chiraneau, Darth Vader, Fleet Officer

4x Academy Pilots

I found Vader to be very effective against the XXBB list I played against. The Ties and the turret on the VT banged the up, and when the time was right Vader finished them. With 12 Hull, you can use Vader a few times without much risk.