I fly in an area with some very skilled players and a meta that currently shapes around 2 ship turret builds (Deci/Whisper etc) or the BBBBZ answer to them.

Most other squads are being torn up as the people who fly these builds are skilled with whatever they fly, but with Tier 1 list, they really are killers.

I have been giving a great deal of thought to an Imperial list to potentially tackle both these. I started with the traditional Howlrunner with Obsidian Ties list, but discarded it for my personal flight style and the fact these folks will know how to counter it.

So I moved onto 5 x Avenger Interceptors.

That's a large number of red dice per turn. Like most lists, it will lose the PS battle to the 2 ship lists, but has a very good chance of having 5 ships left in the first round of return fire.

Against the BBBBZ list, it will move last (good with Ints) and shoot first, with average rolls, that should see 1 B gone and if lucky the Z.

Now I know that 3 hull and 3 green dice is not as reliable as 5 shields and 3 hull behind 1 green die, but this list can maneuver well and bring a great deal of fire to bear even on the slippery Whisper.

Stress is somewhat mitigated as I'm not relying on PtL and even losing a ship in a ratio of 1-1 against the BBBBZ list will most likely see the Ints come out on top.

I'm really just musing, but flown in loose formation and bringing fire to bear properly, this could be a good Imperial list.

My idea for the imperial analog of BBBBZ:

Tempest with title and accuracy corrector x 4

Backstabber

I was using currently available tech :-)

I was using currently available tech :-)

I see. Have you tried Quad Phantoms? With the higher pilot skill of 3 to the BBBBZ squad's 2 not only will you get a lot out of their decloaks, You'll get a lot of dice and all your ships get to fire before the all of your opponents. Plus it's a fun list to fly and one that might catch your opponent off guard.

My idea for the imperial analog of BBBBZ:

Tempest with title and accuracy corrector x 4

Backstabber

Or with ATC and an Academy. I think it will be a very solid list.

4 Phantoms would destroy a B-wing a round easily and that's even with crappy dice. However, they can do the same to you. I think the key would be cloaking a Phantom that was hurt and flying it away. Then continuing the attack with the 3 unscathed ones. Keep cycling them in and out of combat. It would be a very hard list to fly.

Shhhh! You guys are onto me.

I think both 5xAvenger and 4xSigma are viable and always have. The trick is, they are unforgiving of mistakes. There is no equivalent to the B in the Imperial inventory. Maybe ATC and Accuracy change that slightly, but for now we have what we have.

I am practice flying with both and love it. I have been working on a flight pattern where, unconventionally, they all start spread out and swarm at the target instead of formation flying. More to follow, but so far so good. The other night I killed Han/Leebo and still had 3 of 5 avengers at the end...

My idea for the imperial analog of BBBBZ:

Tempest with title and accuracy corrector x 4

Backstabber

req to buy 4xadvanced, 4xstarvipers, 1x raider = $220

Part of the reason bbbbz works is its large hp coupled with time.

The closest thing I can think of with current tech is omg omg omg omg Backstabber. But, the shuttles are not as maneuverable as the b wings, and have large bases...

Part of the reason bbbbz works is its large hp coupled with time.

The closest thing I can think of with current tech is omg omg omg omg Backstabber. But, the shuttles are not as maneuverable as the b wings, and have large bases...

Six Bombers

Part of the reason bbbbz works is its large hp coupled with time.

The closest thing I can think of with current tech is omg omg omg omg Backstabber. But, the shuttles are not as maneuverable as the b wings, and have large bases...

Six Bombers

Six bombers drops the offense though - you may as run the howl bomber swarm.

My idea for the imperial analog of BBBBZ:

Tempest with title and accuracy corrector x 4

Backstabber

req to buy 4xadvanced, 4xstarvipers, 1x raider = $220

My idea for the imperial analog of BBBBZ:

Tempest with title and accuracy corrector x 4

Backstabber

req to buy 4xadvanced, 4xstarvipers, 1x raider = $220

Actually accuracy corrector also comes with the aggressor. I already plan to buy the raider, 2 Starvipers and 2 aggressors so the only extra thing I'd need to buy would be 2 more tie advanced since I currently only have one.