After too long away from the table, I managed to make it to a local tournament. I know the recent meta has moved towards Decimators, Fat Hans and Super Dashes, but I wanted to try something different.
I think it's fun experimenting with a new build at a tournament. It gives you a lot of time to work out the ideas. So, after much debating, I made my final decision the night before
3 x Sigma Squadron Phantoms all with Recon Specialist, Advanced Sensors and Stygium Particle Accelerator http://xwing-builder.co.uk/view/175711/trip-phantoms
I had only tried the Phantoms when they first came out, so I figured if I wanted to learn, I should fly a bunch of 'em.
First match against Andy - he was flying and Etahn A'bhat build with ion torpedoes and an x-wing (or two?). We set up the map with all the asteroids on the left side, so I set up on the right. He sets up in the middle to come up through the asteroids. I slow play the fist turn (and cloak). I decloak the next turn, sending one Phantom left and forward while the other two decloak forward then turn in.
He did not expect this - and ended up with only one x-wing in firing position. It died to concentrated fire from three Phantoms. This also broke up any formation he had and I picked off the last two ships quickly. I didn't even think I recloaked. 100-0 (I only lost one shield).
Second match was against Michael with a Biggs/Luke/Wedge list. Nice to see some of the old classics making an appearance. This time all the asteroids went on the left, so I set up on the right. He sets up opposite me. No jousting here, we're going to come right at each other - he has pilot skill on me, but I have dice....Now, I know a lot of you have heard about the rule of 17. Well, there is an opportunity there.
On the first turn we both move 4 forward and I cloak (I started the at range 1 from the edge).
On turn two, I decloak to move 2 forward and then do a 4 k turn.
Total 18. He moves forward past me and into my gun sites. He has no shots. It ends quickly. He said as soon as he saw my dials on that turn, he knew it was done... 100-0 (I did lose one shield again).
Third match was against Josh flying a Chiraneau-Whisper build. Asteroids on the left, I set up right, he sets up left. Hmm, won't be a head to head this time. I slow play around the edge and turn in, managing to get Chiraneau between me and Whisper. Shot's are exchanged and Chiraneau is hurt badly but I am out of position. I cloak and cross my fingers. Whisper moves almost perfectly to a range one shot on one my Phantoms. But he lands on an asteroid. No shots. He can't even cloak the next turn as he needs to continue to fly through the asteroid. He decides to get Whisper out of Dodge to come back later (probably the right way to fly her). Luckily, Whisper navigates the asteroids without damage, and I don't even chase - but I hunt down Chiraneau. He had taken a crit to reduce his pilot skill to 0 - so it was not a pleasant end for the Rear Admiral. Then I turn on Whisper. She can't hide from three Phantoms and the combination of Stygium Accelerator plus Recon Specialists is a beast. 100-0 (I lost one shield again).
Josh flew quite well, but for the one mistake. I do wonder how it might have gone had it not been for the asteroid as not only did this stop one shot - it also forced Whisper out of the battle for two critical turns. My thoughts is that the end would have been similar. Sure, Whisper would have been rolling five dice with focus - but I was rolling four dice (cloaked) with an evade. Odds were in my favour to survive that round and take out Chiraneau to make it (probably) 2 v 1 in the end. Ah well, the mystery of what might have been.
Last match against my nemesis and all-around-good-guy Chris. He beat me in Regionals last year with his all bomber list (against my Tie Swarm). This time he was flying a Defender + Decimator with Gunner and Vader.
I will admit that this one list worried me the most.
Asteroids are set up left, so we both set up on the right to do a head to head. He slow plays, I come in hard. Second turn, we are at range 1. The Decimator attacks - and blanks. Probably the best roll he cold make as this allowed him to Vader a Phantom, and fire again, getting a hit and Vader again. The Defender rolls one more hit. I lose my first Phantom. This turns out to be the critical set of dice rolls. Change the order of the Decimator rolls, and I'm still alive (as this means he doesn't get the second Vader). Roll one less hit (or one more evade) and I still live. As it is, two Phantoms return fire brought the Decimator to 4 health. One more shot would probably have done him in - or at least prevented any more Vader shenanigans.
As well, I probably should have slow played the first turn here - though I get the bonus dice at range 1, so did he and that made more of a difference to him. I had gotten overconfident with my earlier matches.
The next few turns are a blur, but it is over very quickly- my only crowning achievement was watching him Vader the Decimator's last two health to take down my last Phantom. Not much to brag about there....
Final thoughts. This is an amazing build. But it's not a lot of fun to play. It's a bit of a glass cannon, and I think that it was underestimated in some of the matches. I also think I may have played it too aggressively in the last match - had I stayed out of range one for the first pass the game could have gone differently.
As well, I didn't face any ions or stress-inducting mechanics. That might makes things a little tougher. But, three Phantoms are very scary. Throwing out 15 dice on a range one first pass leaves a dent in anything.
But they were boring to fly.
Most of my matches were over quickly. Even when I lost, I don't think the match lasted longer than 30 minutes.
I do wonder if I had played them more subtly if the results would have been different. My issue is I tend to play quite aggressively, and it was my downfall.
As a consolation prize I walked away with a bunch of acrylic cloaking tokens. An appropriate prize for my experiment.
Now, what should I fly at the next event....