Since the announcement of the Raider my head has been spinning with the new possibilities that the Tie x1 will provide. I have been trying to come up with a good list that would have some synergy and be mobile. I also am an unabashed lover of the Defender so I wanted a list that could incorporate my two favorite ships, the Advanced and Defender. I have yet to play test it but Vader with the ATC appears like it should be brutal and that is in for sure. That brings us to 30 points so I have considered putting engine on Vader for some superior mobility bringing us to 34. Last night it occurred to me who the perfect wingman for Vader would be! Col. Vessery would be able to get a free target lock on the same target as Vader since ATC requires a TL! I have been running Vessery naked for quite a while since IMO the Defender has no weak areas and needs no upgrading. In this format I think Vessery could provide a very powerful 1-2 punch in the alpha. This brings us to 69 points. Here is where things get tricky. The imperials have tons of options now in the 20-30 point range with auto-thrusters and the Tie x1 title. Soontir is a good option for a new style "three amigo's" or maybe Turr with a couple upgrades. I also considered Backstabber and Night beast(my two fav tie pilots). I think Vader w/ATC and Vessery are a great starting point and synergize well giving you two targets that can't be ignored leaving you with lots of options on what to run with them.

I like it, i feel like the third (or 4th) ship, needs TL action as well. relying on Vaders TL can limit his choices, as he can't use the TL without neutering Vessery alittle. you know its going to happen that you will roll double blanks, and want to spend that TL to re-roll.

Looks like a fun list, although, I'd think Maarek or Alozen would be better wingmen for Vessery than Vader. Vessery would then be able to shoot first, stripping shields and tokens, making that ATC auto-crit that much more likely to hit where it hurts. This way you'd also be able to squeeze in an HLC. Something like this?

Colonel Vessery (35)

- Heavy Laser Cannon (7)

Commander Alozen (25)

- TIE x1 (-4)

- Advanced Targeting Computer (5)

Soontir Fel (27)

- Push the Limit (3)

- Autothrusters (2)

Vader and Vessery would have some nice synergy for sure. Best part is you're not really out a ton if one of them dies, not if you're going to use Vessery anyway.

I think I'd go with the core you have and try it with both a named interceptor and with the two named ties and see which you like better after say 5 or so games with each.

One thing I know I have an issue with, is I'll play a list once and if it does poorly try something else, rather than really figure out why it failed.

How about Maarek and Vader with Vessery? Add VI to Vessery so he and Vader both shoot before Maarek, then send those crits through.

Maarek could be nice too, his Crit ability could make a nice 1,2,3 punch on a tough target.

I think I'd want Vessery to have an Adrenaline Rush, just so that he can occasionally turn.
Also, Engine Upgrade, 'cause it's insane with the White K.

Question: Is Vessery + HLC better than 2x Tempests + ATC? Doesn't seem like it at first glance...

edit: or second.

Another option that kills the mobility Of the list is a shuttle with an engine. Yorr could help with the defender taking stress. That also gives another good tough ship into the list. Jendon could also help with Target locks synergizing with Vader.

How about Maarek and Vader with Vessery? Add VI to Vessery so he and Vader both shoot before Maarek, then send those crits through.

Decoy on Vessery might be more flexible. You could have him shoot before Vader and Maarek if you wanted to. It would give you the option of Vessery taking the hit from Rebel Captive if you wanted to keep Vader stress free.

Question: Is Vessery + HLC better than 2x Tempests + ATC? Doesn't seem like it at first glance...

edit: or second.

A PS 6 pilot who gets a free TL plus a regular action and a ept versus two low ps pilots that can't modify their dice the first round of shooting.

Colonel Vessery — TIE Defender 35

Veteran Instincts 1

Heavy Laser Cannon 7

Maarek Stele — TIE Advanced 27

Predator 3

Advanced Targeting Computer 1

TIE/x1 0

Storm Squadron Pilot — TIE Advanced 23

Advanced Targeting Computer 1

TIE/x1 0

It's simple vessery wipes out the shields and maarek delivers the killing blow.

Here is my List,

38 points = Vader + VI + Tie/ x1 + ATC + Proton Rockets + EU

32 points = Maarek + VI + Tie/x1 + ATC + Proton Rockets

30 points = ALozen + VI + Tie/x1 + ATC + Proton Rockets

Very Fast, Very Maneuverable, and Very dedicated. the Alpha Strike is powerful, 5 dice plus a Critical. (And I do believe that the Focus isn't used up firing the Proton Rocket, make the odds 75% for a hit for each dice.)

How about this:

Omicron Group Pilot in the ST-321 with a Weapons Engineer for 27 points

It is tough to bring down with 5 Hull and 5 Shield, it can Target Lock any ship anywhere on the board, and it hits pretty hard with 3 attack dice.

That could be better and give Vessery a couple options for his free TL.

What would you guys think of this???

Soontir Fell + PTL + RGT + Targeting Computer + Auto Thrusters (34)

Darth Vader + Tie/x1 + ADV. Targeting computer + predator (33)

Dark Curse (16)

Back Stabber (16)

Total: (99)

Basically discussed this list but just putting it out there

Vader + x1 + ATC (30)

Vessery (35)

Soontir + RGT + PTL + Stealth + Auto Thrusters (35)

=100

Seems like a very good list, could see this popping up everywhere.

Here is what I have been thinking.....

Vader + X1 + ATC + EU (34)

Vessery + Pred (38)

Royal Gaurd + PTL + TC (27) ..... 99pts

I love the Defender, but I can't stop thinking about a 4 Tie Advanced list when it comes out. I just need to pick up one more Advanced....

I need a pick up 'a' Tie Advanced. Can't seem to find them anywhere.

Here is what I have been thinking.....

Vader + X1 + ATC + EU (34)

Vessery + Pred (38)

Royal Gaurd + PTL + TC (27) ..... 99pts

Vessery does not really benefit from predator as you can't re-roll a re-roll, he's getting a free TL from two other ships so predator would be better on Vader.

I like it, i feel like the third (or 4th) ship, needs TL action as well. relying on Vaders TL can limit his choices, as he can't use the TL without neutering Vessery alittle. you know its going to happen that you will roll double blanks, and want to spend that TL to re-roll.

ATC doesn't spend the lock.

Here is my List,

38 points = Vader + VI + Tie/ x1 + ATC + Proton Rockets + EU

32 points = Maarek + VI + Tie/x1 + ATC + Proton Rockets

30 points = ALozen + VI + Tie/x1 + ATC + Proton Rockets

Very Fast, Very Maneuverable, and Very dedicated. the Alpha Strike is powerful, 5 dice plus a Critical. (And I do believe that the Focus isn't used up firing the Proton Rocket, make the odds 75% for a hit for each dice.)

ATC doesn't work on secondary weapons.

Here is what I have been thinking.....

Vader + X1 + ATC + EU (34)

Vessery + Pred (38)

Royal Gaurd + PTL + TC (27) ..... 99pts

Predator on Vessery is less than ideal. You can only reroll dice once, so the only time Predator will come into play is if he's attacking a target that Vader or the Guard don't already have a Target Lock on. It's certainly possible, especially if Vader kills the target before Vessery can attack, but those 3 points will probably be better spent on giving Predator to Vader. That gives the Dark Lord two attack dice with a focus and reroll, plus the crit from ATC.

I like it, i feel like the third (or 4th) ship, needs TL action as well. relying on Vaders TL can limit his choices, as he can't use the TL without neutering Vessery alittle. you know its going to happen that you will roll double blanks, and want to spend that TL to re-roll.

ATC doesn't spend the lock.

lj1983 is talking about situations where Vader has rolled double blanks on the attack roll and would want to use the TL to reroll all dice.

Not sure it's worth it unless you're at range 1. You're trading a guarenteed critical hit and a future action (because you'll need to re-establish that lock later) for a second attack that deal an average of one damage without a focus, or 1.5 damage with one. It works out better at range 1, as you'll average 1.5 damage on a normal hit and 2.25 damage with a focus token. However, when you add in that you'd also be neutering Vessery's damage later in the round, you're probably better off sticking with Vader's original attack roll in every circumstance.

So how about this:

Vessery (35)
VI (1)
Procket (3)

Maarek (27)
title (0)
ATC (1)
Predator (3)

Alozen (25)
title (0)
ATC (1)
Predator (3)

TOTAL: 99 points

I think having two Advanceds with ATC would be nice redundancy to keep Vessery's ability working in case one of them goes down. The VI on Vessery makes him shoot first at PS8, giving Maarek a little better chance of getting a crit through. I threw Proton Rocket onto Vessery just to make him a slightly more appealing target than Maarek and to give him a little alpha strike ... you could take it off in favor of putting Engine Upgrade on an Advanced or something if you're anti-ordnance. Although I think having 99 points is nice for having the choice of initiative (to make sure Dash moves first).