Rebel captive is there specifically for phantom and other high PS ships. Phantom getting a stress from RC means an uncloaked phantom which means a dead phantom. Dash getting stress from the RC helps keep him more manageable too.

I would think people will burn down your Patrol Leader real fast first. He's 45pts and goes down hard under concentrated fire.

I find rebel captive a sound choice for the decimator in most lists.

Rebel captive makes the decimator hard to ignore because it can be a beast on lategame, also pretty good at stopping any stress inducing ability/upgrade to kick in if they focus the decimator, making it a less attractive target to target fire first too. Such a lovely upgrade, specially against low ship count lists. It's the bane of any whisper list actually, if it can't focus fire with something else the decimator or has Yorr,, since he is PS9. Echo has an easier time tho, if paired with Chira.

Mara Jade makes hard to focus fire the decimator with non turret ships.

Having a phantom makes hard to choose to focus the decimator since its a 4 attack dice ship with amazing lategame that is much harder to kill the less ships you have.

Corran is still a beast against decimators of any kind tho, but he is killable if you can deny their PtL.

I just think RC is a must have on any decimator. Too solid to ignore, kind of like a C3PO for Falcons.

Just had my first loss with my Kenkirk, "Night Beast," "Dark Curse," Academy build. It was Vrill with HLC + Jan, and Dash with HLC + Kyle + Outrider + Engine + PtL. It was...humbling.

Have you read a blog on team covenant by Therorist about list building and smart counters. It talks about having smart counters and I think he makes a good point about running tie fighters with a decimator. He thinks it's not a good combo and I think he makes a good point....

I'm no expert but I personally know matt shadowlord, and he don't run no soft list plus has played his list a ton and your list was definitely not a list that would have been seen as a tuff match for him. I hope this helps

I have read that article. Thing is, I wasn't trying to counter Super Dash. I was still trying to counter Fat Han, and this build DESTROYS his escorts, leaving Han for easy pickings. The other thing is, Theorist didn't say TIE fighters are bad. He said 3x Academy Pilots are bad. Vrill is PS 3, so "Dark Curse" and "Night Beast" beat him there. They are also harder to kill than your average TIE fighter. I think this squad has a chance if I play smarter.

I don't want to make excuses for myself, but I have noticed that I have a REALLY hard time switching between VASSAL and table top. Those two parts of my X-wing life don't seem to communicate well with each other, and I now strongly prefer the tabletop, despite being a VASSAL supporter from the start.

EDIT: Ignore the above. I come off sounding like a whiner. I'll keep playing VASSAL because it really is a great tool.

I think if you can come up with a strong list to beat a dash build it will also play well against phat han.

I don't think its an excuse about vessel at all, I have never played a game on there but on a local forum in perth wa where me and mat shadowlord are from there was a discussion about how cut out templates could be used to pick your dials with Liberty as there is no way to know if someone does. Plus to know the difference by your own eyes is something of a skill and it takes time to learn the new distances. I'm not say that's why you lost but it's still a factor.

No wall of text, hope the professor is happy

Just had my first loss with my Kenkirk, "Night Beast," "Dark Curse," Academy build. It was Vrill with HLC + Jan, and Dash with HLC + Kyle + Outrider + Engine + PtL. It was...humbling.

Have you read a blog on team covenant by Therorist about list building and smart counters. It talks about having smart counters and I think he makes a good point about running tie fighters with a decimator. He thinks it's not a good combo and I think he makes a good point....

I'm no expert but I personally know matt shadowlord, and he don't run no soft list plus has played his list a ton and your list was definitely not a list that would have been seen as a tuff match for him. I hope this helps

I have read that article. Thing is, I wasn't trying to counter Super Dash. I was still trying to counter Fat Han, and this build DESTROYS his escorts, leaving Han for easy pickings. The other thing is, Theorist didn't say TIE fighters are bad. He said 3x Academy Pilots are bad. Vrill is PS 3, so "Dark Curse" and "Night Beast" beat him there. They are also harder to kill than your average TIE fighter. I think this squad has a chance if I play smarter.

I don't want to make excuses for myself, but I have noticed that I have a REALLY hard time switching between VASSAL and table top. Those two parts of my X-wing life don't seem to communicate well with each other, and I now strongly prefer the tabletop, despite being a VASSAL supporter from the start.

EDIT: Ignore the above. I come off sounding like a whiner. I'll keep playing VASSAL because it really is a great tool.

I understand what your saying and I think it's more than of an overall idea that theorist is making, can't be 100% sure.

I think if you can come up with a strong list to beat a dash build it will also play well against phat han.

I don't think its an excuse about vessel at all, I have never played a game on there but on a local forum in perth wa where me and mat shadowlord are from there was a discussion about how cut out templates could be used to pick your dials with Liberty as there is no way to know if someone does. Plus to know the difference by your own eyes is something of a skill and it takes time to learn the new distances. I'm not say that's why you lost but it's still a factor.

No wall of text, hope the professor is happy

Yes give a person a keyboard and a monitor and they become a goddamn english and literature professor.....can hear them at home now going "fix me a hot pocket mom! I'm being a bad ass on the forums!.....cant please everyone in the world but we shouldnt care either lol

Im surprised noone has posted a Decimator build using the shuttle in it......hmmm that sounds like a challenge lol

Ive played this twice for 2 wins. But i dont think its competitive so i stopped playing it.

Patrol Leader + Darth + Gunner + Reb Captive + Proxy Mine

2 x Omnicron Shuttle + FCS

Its an expensive doom ship but its nice putting 2 crits on a high agi / low hull ship because it did exactly what its intended to do and evade three attacks. I play shuttles rather well and the action efficiency of FCS makes them a bit of a weapon in the right hands.

Had great success with:

Had great success with:

Patrol Leader (40)

Darth Vader (3)

Omicron Group Pilot (21)

Fire-Control System (2)

Gunner (5)

Omicron Group Pilot (21)

Fire-Control System (2)

Gunner (5)

Total: 99

I've played a similar list (Oicunn - Rebel Captive, Isaard, Gunner, OGP w/ FCS x2), but had trouble with ships getting behind the shuttles and/or the shuttles getting out of position for a few turns.

With Shuttles IMO its important to bump yourself as much as possible! Weird advice i know but FCS gives you a free TL so losing an action for bumping doesnt hurt as much and keeps your Cows in the fight longer. Using stop moves early and often will help.

Setting up right helps as well, ive usually got one at least on a 45 degree angle so it has to travel further across the table, which means getting your rocks right as well...

There are some ships out there though where there is nothing you can do, theyre going to get behind you. Soontir, Dash etc...

I suck with the shuttle most of my loses came from me trying to learn it, firespray I got right away but the cow is my Bain.

Decimator was just so easy to fly I fell in love that first game, much like my beloved defenders I say go big or go home when it comes to decimator upgrades.

ran a test vassal game with the double decimators against Dash & Corran, with the insurgents focusing on the Patrol leader. Yeah, so he can be focused down, but I did learn some good lessons about Imperial targeting priority and think that, while it is a tough match up, I can manage it.

Double Deci sounds fun, it'd be nice to not really worry about arcs and faceroll around the map throwing dice. What about somethin like this

Oicunn (49pts)

Intimidation

Rebel Captive

Dauntless

Patrol Leader (48pts)

Gunner

Darth Vader

Theres 3pts for somethin else, maybe Tactician or a Proxy. For some reason i love trying to kill my Vadermators twice as fast, i have a problem.

im going 3-0 with my latest version of the decimator:

Rear Admiral Chir + predator+Mercenary Copilot +Rebel Captive

OGP+HLC+Tactician

Backstabber

fun lil list to run, dont know if it would work at a Tournament but still