I played against Vader with Proton Rockets and Suad Leader this weekend.

It was so easy to block him so he could not even get his rockets off.

After 3 rounds of blocking his actions I decided to concentrate fire on him and finished him off.

I think Vader did 1 damage in this (tournament) match.

If at least his ability was that he cant lose his actions if he collides!!!

But no .... I am very sad to say this: Vader is a waste of 29 points.

From a friend I borrowed his skirmish-format. 60-points each in a 2x2 feet (or 60x60 centimeters) area. Small asteroids in each corner, the large and one small asteroids in the middle.

Very handy for testing combinations and learning movements during a short brake.

Vader with squad leader and cluster missiles, accompanied by Kir Kanos

vs

Dutch Vander with R2 astromech and Ion Cannon Turret, accompanied by Jan Ors with Nien Nunb and Ion Cannon Turret

Focus down the Y-wing with everything you have. After that it is a done deal.

Vader is very good with missiles and squad leader against any squad with an overkill of Ion-weaponry.

I have to try it in a larger format yet, but it looks promising.

I'm so intrigued by the Advanced. I have been 'toying' with running Vader with two Shuttles (I'm obsessed with the Shuttles!) but I must admit this has got me thinking how I could use Maarek instead... Hmmm.

I did play at a game night event with Maarek Stele, Vader and a Tempest Squadron Pilot - they're not as bad as a lot of people make out.

The key thing is that the TIE Advanced's big thing - in so far as it has one - is durability. The problem is that it's hard to capitalize on it in a normal game because you can't force the opponent to fire at a tough target (Biggs aside) instead of something else. If everyone's in advanceds, then you get some benefit.

Cluster missiles are nice, although I think the new Proton Rockets are scarier (I need to see if I can beg, borrow or steal some on a permenant basis) - 5 focused attack dice are better than 6 unmodified ones, and because you don't need to nominate a target with a target lock, they're available 'on spec' every turn you can pull actions.

The list I plan on having a try with:

Darth Vader - Adrenaline Rush, Engine Upgrade, Proton Rockets - 37 Points

Maarek Stele - Push The Limit, Hull Upgrade, Proton Rockets - 36 Points

Tempest Squadron Pilot - Hull Upgrade, Proton Rockets - 27 Points

Maarek & Wingman advance slowly and evade, then 'sprint' and focus, aiming to get into rocket range. Vader plays flanker, and - when facing a big ship - aims to flatten the shields so Maarek can punch his rockets through to the hull.

Great to see Maarek Steele being played. I always wondered if he would do better with the larger ships around.

I don't think Vader is a waste. I've used him to good effect. I think if you put the Proton Rockets on him, you make him a bit obvious and lilmiting. I found the Proton Rockets hard to use on any Advanced as it's hard to get within range with action.

I think Tie Advanced work better in mini swarms or swarms. They need to blend in a bit or else they get shot up. Also, they don't do a lot of damage when they fire, so you need other things to pile the damage on. Mini Swarms are good for that.

I found Vader with a Concussion Missile is good. You can get into Range 3 and TL + Focus. One of your blanks will be a hit and any eyeballs get turned into hits. That's usually a good number of hits. Homing Missile can also be used, too. It's great for stripping shields off someone in Turn 1. The Swarm can then concentrate on that guy and hopefully finish him off.

Too bad Maarek can't use Proton Torpedoes.

Too bad Maarek can't use Proton Torpedoes.

Too bad Maarek isn't piloting a Tie Bomber

Or get Dodonna to return to the fold, stick him in a Decimator.

No kidding it is the closest thing to an epic ship that Imperials can get.

I think Tie Advanced work better in mini swarms or swarms. They need to blend in a bit or else they get shot up. Also, they don't do a lot of damage when they fire, so you need other things to pile the damage on. Mini Swarms are good for that.

The issue then is what the Advanced is actually doing for you. At twice the price of an equivalent fighter, you're better off adding two TIE/ln fighters to the swarm unless you can somehow capitalize on the abilities of the advanced. Vader works well with either Swarm Tactics or Squad Leader - I'm not sure how well anyone else does.

If there was an Advanced pilot with an area-effect buff, like Howlrunner or Serissu, they'd be a shoe-in, but sadly there isn't (yet).

Too bad Maarek can't use Proton Torpedoes.

Too bad Maarek isn't piloting a Tie Bomber

Too true; Just played the basic campaign on Tie Fighter (GOG) for 15 years or so and I was surprised how many missions there were with flying the Tie Bomber.

As I recall he never flies an advanced he goes straight into a tie avenger, it's kinda bull they hold of on farlander to put him in the right ship but jam our guy in an advanced because they can't find another pilot to put with Vader.

He really needs to happen on a tie defender. And that tie advanced fix needs to happen.

I'm sure the OPs point was for us to forget about all that underpowered jazz but heck I'm now burning with a fire inside to house rule the advanced to capability.

Would you use Maarek in a Tie Bomber for 22 or 23 points?

Sure.

As I recall he never flies an advanced he goes straight into a tie avenger, it's kinda bull they hold of on farlander to put him in the right ship but jam our guy in an advanced because they can't find another pilot to put with Vader.

I think they've essentially just bodged the advanced and the avenger into the same game piece. I wouldn't count out the possibility of a TIE avenger title (and I'd love to see one), given that we've seen things like the recon b-wing and the fixed turret y-wing, but I doubt we'll see it as a seperate ship because there's little design space for it - it really is a slightly more manouvreable advanced with an extra pair of lasers - that somehow isn't a defender or a royal guard modified interceptor.

If they'd just wanted "another named Advanced pilot", they could have had one; Storm Squadron is from Star Wars Galaxies - they're the Tatooine Garrison (that's why your profile pic has tatooine in the background) - and they had about three or four named pilots, who would be good to add if I was wishlisting for the advanced - named pilots with decent pilot talents around the 25-26 point mark gives an advanced squad more flexibility (3 storms and a named pilot, or 3 higher skill pilots).

If I had to pick out the two 'other' Imperial fighters I think we're likely to see, then the Assault Gunboat (based on its repeat appearance in the X-wing games series) and the TIE Hunter (given that it keeps popping up in Age of Rebellion).

I had my first try with proton rocket equipped advanced yesterday, and I must say I'm impressed.

At range 3, they're as hard to hit as any imperial fighter but much more forgiving when the Emerald Octahedrons Of Inevitable Betrayal turn on you, then dash to range 1. Up close, no-one really wants to put shots into a TIE advanced with a focus token, because it's bloody hard to hit, and (for its cost) pretty tough even if you do, but if you don't kill it (or at least persuade it to spend said token), proton rockets hurt like hell. Two TIE advanced casually blowing an intact x-wing to flaming shrapnel in the first exchange of fire of the game got a hell of a lot of attention!

I hope for news from FFG about their CRISP plans to fix the Advanced ... SOON!

Please FFG! In wave 7 would be nice!

the Emerald Octahedrons Of Inevitable Betrayal

I really can´t like this title enough

Don't be silly of course we'll see the avenger sooner or later why would they not make money?

Now sure the design space is limited but they want to keep the game going they need all the ship's they can get.

The advanced *is* the avenger, it just needs to be properly modified (an aces style refit). Also Farlander's proper ship is the Y-wing, not the B-wing. But in regards to the OP, I think it's great people are starting to use Maarek, but I would have used Prockets and Marksmanship over Predator and Clusters.

The advanced *is* the avenger, it just needs to be properly modified (an aces style refit). Also Farlander's proper ship is the Y-wing, not the B-wing. But in regards to the OP, I think it's great people are starting to use Maarek, but I would have used Prockets and Marksmanship over Predator and Clusters.

The bad news for you is: You can't fire your "Prockets" when using Marksmanship.

You can with experimental interface.

Cool. 37 points for a one trick pony. Even worse then Rhymer.

The advanced *is* the avenger, it just needs to be properly modified (an aces style refit). Also Farlander's proper ship is the Y-wing, not the B-wing. But in regards to the OP, I think it's great people are starting to use Maarek, but I would have used Prockets and Marksmanship over Predator and Clusters.

The bad news for you is: You can't fire your "Prockets" when using Marksmanship.

Sorry brain fart, forgot about that.

I took Maarek out for a spin yesterday, and much to my disappoinment never used his ability. Also... he died around turn 4 or 5.. won the game with Vader, and a Storm squad guy..

Yep.. I ran 3 Advanced TIEs. It was fun, first game ran way long, and was a final dual between my Vader and my opponents Vader.. a PtL Vader at that. Lost that one, but recovered in the second one.

Overall it was a fun list, and I enjoyed the games a lot.. even the one I lost.

Oh, I just accept that Maarek Stele is 'just' a Pilot Skill 7 advanced. If his ability triggers, then it's usually awesome, but accept that he's someone who's going to have an epic moment every couple of games rather than use his ability every single turn (or even every game).

(Which is kind of annoying, given that he's 27 points. Compared to a Storm Squadron, that's a 4-point increase...)

tempests are overcosted by about 4.5 points... which puts their actual value at about 16.5 pts. Without much in the way of an aamzing dial or possibly good upgrades, there's little "magic" you can do to overcome that 4.5 cost.

If each PS 1 more point, then Maarek should be 16.5 + 6 = 22 points. So, he then also gets about another point increase for no reason.