So I'm debating on a few shuttle shuttle decimator lists and I'm left with a big question. Who do I give the teeth to? the decimator or the shuttles?

Option A:

Omicron Group Pilot (21)
Fire-Control System (2)
Gunner (5)

Omicron Group Pilot (21)
Fire-Control System (2)
Gunner (5)

Patrol Leader (40)
Darth Vader (3)

Total: 99

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

with 1 more point to spend on.... something

Option B:

Patrol Leader (40)
Mara Jade (3)
Rebel Captive (3)
Ysanne Isard (4)
Tactical Jammer (1)

Omicron Group Pilot (21)
Fire-Control System (2)
Darth Vader (3)

Omicron Group Pilot (21)
Fire-Control System (2)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

I could drop the FCS on the doomshuttle in B to up the decimator to the Ram.

My general flight plan is to put the shuttles on the sides and the decimator in the middle. Then the shuttles come in from both sides ensuring a good number of firing rounds before they need to turn around. Mara typically works well to let the shuttles have another round or 2 on target before they lose the next 3 turning around.

There's probably another option I haven't quite thought of yet, any suggestions?

Wonder how this would work:

47 Kenkirk w/Vader

25 Omicron w/fire control + tactician

28 Omicron w/ fire control + gunner

Basically dropping the 2nd gunner so you can up patrol leader to kenkirk so your decimator will live longer. The bonus is you get tactician which might net you a stress token occasionally on an enemy ship. If you want move the tactician to the decimator, but this I was thinking this would balance the points better.

I like Option A. Even though I am not a big fan of the shuttles lack of maneuverability, I feel like Option A forces your opponent to target the shuttles earlier rather than later. With Option B, all your eggs are in your "Decimator basket" in that, a wily opponent will take out the Decimator first and easily mop up the slow moving shuttles in the end game. With Option A, you make your shuttles more potent threats that can deal out damage early and force your opponent to deal with them early or suffer the consequences. You might try taking off Gunner and FCS and adding HLC to each shuttle in Option A to see which gives you greater damage output. I've found that throwing 4 attack dice with each shot no matter the range can be very demoralizing to my opponent and they will try to make it go away as quickly as possible. Just my two cents.

I think I like option A a little better, too. Better do some serious damage before having to regroup, though.

It's funny, I was JUST messing around in a squad builder and came up with "Battle Cattle":

Yea you guys are right, option A is turning out to be better.

Option A does look pretty good, nice idea!

I've flown a Deci + 2 SH list a couple times. I think my favorite setup is:

Oicunn + PTL + Ysanne + Rebel Captive + Engine + Moff Jerjerrod

Omicron

Omicron

Different kind of list than yours, though, focusing more on Oicunn as the Centerpiece, and using the Shuttles as baiters and blockers that do nothing more than soak up damage.

I just really like your list A! Haha, I am going to try it.

I think the natural tendency will be to target the decimator first no matter what. I'd build it defensively as possible and arm up the suttles as buzzsaws with EU or the affore mentioned HLC. I keep the points as low as you can on the Decimator. think of it as a giant decoy and let the shuttles do the real killing.

alternatively, you might fly an inverted chevron with the deci in the middle but behind the shuttles. It can keep the gnats off their back, but I think slow playing a shuttle is just about always the way to go, as you will want as many attacks as possible before you have to turn the thing around, so inverted chevron probably not the best plan.

Obviously, rocks are going to be a huge factor for this list.

if you are flexible on the amount of shuttles you have you might consider the below list. I have run lists with two shuttles in them and found that the lack of manuverability to be a detriment in the end game

oicunn+determination

bounty hunter + rebel captive

omicron

on set up i put the shuttle caddie cornerangled towards the center. I put the bounty hunter right next to it and the deci closest to the middle of all three. first movement phase i go one straight with the shuttle which bumps and has him not move. i then bank with the bounty hunter which puts him just in front of the shuttle and in line. then i do a larger bank with the deci. end result is all three in a straight line angled towards the center. what ahs usually happened is that i blitz in with oicunn trying to bump and grind. bounty hunter fires from range. the shuttle keeps bumping along without actions (not needed as he is not th eprimary target of the opponent) and firing from downtown. by the time i have ships in the middle of the board oicunn usually has about 4 hull left the hunter is hunting and the shuttle comes to bear at full strength. its a formidable though bland list=36 hull and 9 red dice

I flew a couple of games with the vadercimator and he indeed is the first targeted. I did manage to pull off a win against Han and dash.

After dash was dead, I ended up sacrificing my decimator to deal a single crit to Han which turned out to be injured pilot. Then it was 2 shuttles against Han. This all came down to dice as if Han was able to destroy one of the shuttles, then the other wouldn't stand a chance.

It will take more experimenting, but I think forcing the opponent to face the shuttles first may be better.