I am honestly thinking of replacing Turr with Maarek to see if that works better.

Can't await to learn about the unspoiled Advanced pilots.

But I fear this will take some time ...

I am putting money on an 8 skill pilot. I would love a defensive skill along the lines of Gemmer Sojan. Imagine how hard it would be to kill someone like him along side Vader.

"Echo" (30)

Veteran Instincts (1)

Fire-Control System (2)

Rebel Captive (3)

Advanced Cloaking Device (4)

Turr Phennir (25)

Veteran Instincts (1)

Stealth Device (3)

Autothrusters (2)

Royal Guard TIE (0)

Maarek Stele (27)

Veteran Instincts (1)

Advanced Targeting Computer (1)

TIE/x1 (0)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

I'm pretty sure someone has done this already but...

All the second bests? =)

That list is great, and should be called "Second Bananas" or something. I like how everyone has Vet Instincts, and you really aren't cutting into offense at all.

I'm really excited about VI/ATC Maarek, I think he's going to be a great buy. He's the same cost as vanilla Vader except you've got the extra damage instead of the extra action, and the handful of points you aren't spending on Vader means Maarek can squeeze into more lists.

Can't await to learn about the unspoiled Advanced pilots.

But I fear this will take some time ...

They did preview the X-wing stuff first with the Transport.

Can't await to learn about the unspoiled Advanced pilots.

But I fear this will take some time ...

They did preview the X-wing stuff first with the Transport.

Next will be the IG-2000, but I think by the end of Jan. early Feb. we will get another Epic preview.

Yeah, we will likely get one Raider preview a month. Probably the Advanced stuff, then the ship/hardpoint stuff, then the new crew, then the scenarios.

I am putting money on an 8 skill pilot. I would love a defensive skill along the lines of Gemmer Sojan. Imagine how hard it would be to kill someone like him along side Vader.

Pure pointless fantasizing here, but I wish that when they gad designed the game, they had given vader howlrunner's ability. Thus encouraging a single advanced surrounded by TIE fighters.

Not going to happen now though. We're not going to see another howlrunner like offensive ability in the game.

"I proxied the card and... the card won"

Now i cant get it outta my head!

I played a game on vassal a few nights ago and my opponent used AC on a tempest and ATC on vader. Also had a bounter hunter with recon. I was impressed with their damage output. They seemed a lot deadlier then they probably really are thanks to some really bad dice on my part both offensively and defensively.

I flew this list to an amazing effect against some friends yesterday.

Vader + EU/Title/ATC

Soontir + PtL

Echo + ACD/VI

99 points

Thats two 9s and an 8 (or the cannibal list....get it...9 ate 9). Upgraded Vader's stress free PtL paired incredibly well with Soontir, their damage was completely on par almost the entire game against a Donut Hole Dash. What I was really amazed by was just how well the ATC works. I know a lot of people are all about the accuracy corrector but against the current meta in my area being only one big ship and maybe one or two supporting ships all you really need to do is throw out a target lock early in the game and then exploit the hell out of it.

Edit: ACD to ATC.

The biggest thread to elite imp trio lists is the vader decimator. Between few hit points, and little to no shields on them, can get ugly if they don't kill it fast enough.

I played a game on vassal a few nights ago and my opponent used AC on a tempest and ATC on vader. Also had a bounter hunter with recon. I was impressed with their damage output. They seemed a lot deadlier then they probably really are thanks to some really bad dice on my part both offensively and defensively.

That's the strength of both the AC and the ATC. They help to minimize the fluctuation of performance due to dice results, so you are always able to benefit from your opponents bad luck streaks without being hurt as much by your own.

How about the new PS9 Imperial aces?

Vader w/ Lone Wolf, title, ATC (31)

Soontir w/ PTL (30)

Whisper w/ ACD, VI (37)

TOTAL: 99 points

Seems fun!

Yup! I was talking to the other Nova squadron casters about that one. I'm building a collection of starter lists as a guide, and that one is in there.

Edit: although I had

Vader + ATC (30)

Fel + PtL + Auto (32)

Whisper + VI + ACD (37)

Yeah, I was thinking about variants and that would be one. Also could swap Lone Wolf on Vader for Predator to avoid the spacing that LW requires. I think your list probably is the strongest of the three, though. Fel could use that help staying alive more than Vader.

I agree that I think the Autothrusters on Fel over an EPT on Vader is the way to go

I want to run this in an Escalation Style format, so they can get more toys by the end (Mostly thinking Stealth for Fel, FCS for Whisper, Outmaneuver/Predator and a EU for Vader)

Tonight I flew Stele and 2 Storms with title AC and EU and Cluster missiles and Predator on Stele

Talk about a fin list, I went up against Rexler, Soontir and another ship I forget now.. game went many rounds and ended up wit a Storm with one hull left against a 3 hull Brath.. got Brath down to one hu,, then just couldn't maneuver to get out of range and lost it. I think the AC was fun, as I always had 2 hits, but my dice were on tonight and I usually had 2 hits minimum and sometimes 3 hits in Range one.. my opponent flew well and had some great die rolls as well.

I think my next list is Vader, Stele and Soontir or Turr. Both Advanceds with ATC and PtL on the Squint.. and whatever I can squeeze in to make the rest up.. Clusters are nice..

well see..

I do like the AC for the "auto" hits, but like I said.. I rolled 2 hits on 2 doce more than not today and even got to use Steles ability.. but I think I like the ATC, I can TL and chase.. find a new target rinse and repeat.. we'll see what happens next week..

How about the new PS9 Imperial aces?

Vader w/ Lone Wolf, title, ATC (31)

Soontir w/ PTL (30)

Whisper w/ ACD, VI (37)

TOTAL: 99 points

Seems fun!

Yup! I was talking to the other Nova squadron casters about that one. I'm building a collection of starter lists as a guide, and that one is in there.

Edit: although I had

Vader + ATC (30)

Fel + PtL + Auto (32)

Whisper + VI + ACD (37)

Yeah, I was thinking about variants and that would be one. Also could swap Lone Wolf on Vader for Predator to avoid the spacing that LW requires. I think your list probably is the strongest of the three, though. Fel could use that help staying alive more than Vader.

I agree that I think the Autothrusters on Fel over an EPT on Vader is the way to go

I want to run this in an Escalation Style format, so they can get more toys by the end (Mostly thinking Stealth for Fel, FCS for Whisper, Outmaneuver/Predator and a EU for Vader)

I'd drop whisper in favor of another Squint then give Vader an EPT.. Predator or Lone Wolf if you wanna use him for a flanker.. I'm a fan of upgrades..

or 2 BSPs with intimidate or DtF.. one of each.. [shrug]

I am putting money on an 8 skill pilot. I would love a defensive skill along the lines of Gemmer Sojan. Imagine how hard it would be to kill someone like him along side Vader.

Pure pointless fantasizing here, but I wish that when they gad designed the game, they had given vader howlrunner's ability. Thus encouraging a single advanced surrounded by TIE fighters.

Not going to happen now though. We're not going to see another howlrunner like offensive ability in the game.

Thematically it would have been cool to see that but I still think Vaders ability is pretty much what would make sense for him. I agree that there willbe no other Howlrunner type ability. She dominated the first two years of this game and she is still pretty darn good this far in. Some sort of squad buff would be neat to have and I wish for a defensive one.

I am putting money on an 8 skill pilot. I would love a defensive skill along the lines of Gemmer Sojan. Imagine how hard it would be to kill someone like him along side Vader.

Pure pointless fantasizing here, but I wish that when they gad designed the game, they had given vader howlrunner's ability. Thus encouraging a single advanced surrounded by TIE fighters.

Not going to happen now though. We're not going to see another howlrunner like offensive ability in the game.

Thematically it would have been cool to see that but I still think Vaders ability is pretty much what would make sense for him. I agree that there willbe no other Howlrunner type ability. She dominated the first two years of this game and she is still pretty darn good this far in. Some sort of squad buff would be neat to have and I wish for a defensive one.

The PS8 Scyk has a defensive version(serissu I think is his name)

I guess Vader can now be considered a very defensive ability. If you take AC you will be full D, if you take ATC you will more Offense. I just want a defensive Howlrunner. The rebels have tons of synergistic abilities and the imperials don't so I hope they give us something with the last unique.

Uhh... last... no, there are four new uniques.. Alozen is just one, looks like Juno is another (high PS), just need to see what she does, and then the 2 last ones... should hopefully be some interesting pilots.

Nice! I don't notice that before. So I guess an 8, 6, 5, and 3(Like tarn). My favorite ship is finally going to be what it should have been!

Yeah, Juno looks like the 8 so they just need to show us her ability, and the 6 and 3.. I think that is most likely the PS spread..

can i ask you all something...

What do you think the ATC and AC title stuff does for the advanced other than simply making it cost effective enough to field?

I have tried to make a few interesting squad ideas and simply cannot. It seems like there isn't much extremity or min maxing to do. Its just that they do damage. Trying to do something with crits or tankiness or action denial tends to be too expensive.

It feels like the ship is fixed, has a good point cost, but doesn't do much past that.

One possibility is tanky support fighters: Kenkirk + 2 adv AC.

Another is 3 PS9s, but this has mostly been done before. I find it pretty boring to be honest: Vader, Soontir, Whisper.

Soontir + 3 adv AC.

Commander Alozen and Maarek Stele will be good of course, but here are all the possibilities I see for them.

Alozen: great EPT holder for 4 more points. DTF is my fav atm. Wingman good too. Ruthlessness.

Maarek will be excellent vs Empire. Ties. Crits are good against unshielded ships. The crits probably hurt also for large hull amt ships. So many Adv are good against Decimator and Falcons? And ties. but likely not Bs or Zs (not any better than any other ship).

What does AC adv do? I feel like not much other than being tanky and constant.

What exactly is Vader's role? What does he do? How is he different from Soontir?

For one it gives the empire a viable choice in the 20-30 point range that they never had before. Previously the default choice was usually two academies(boring) or an interceptor (boom or bust). The systems slot is probably the most desirable upgrade and gives the empire a ship that can go up against the usually much tougher Rebel ships in that point range. The tie advanced is one of the tougher ships to kill quickly and the Tie x1 will be a VERY welcome addition to my list building.