Vessery+Outmaneuver+HLC and TIE Bomber+Flechette Torps x3

OR

Vessery + Calculation/VI + TIE Bomber x4

Is giving them more teeth worth an extra bomber?

I think the teeth are necessary. A friend of mine ran a souped up bomber the other day and it scared the pants off of his opponents. I think it was extra scary because no one runs any bombers in our meta so his opponent wasn't exactly sure how to deal with it, so it was his primary target.

Vessery with 4 Bomber is very fun to fly, and effective. That's 30 hit point for your opponent to go through.

If you want to fly with 3 Bombers, I'll suggest this list in the current Meta.

Vessery with Vetran Instinct and Heavy Laser Cannon

Scimitar Squadron with Ion Pulse Missiles

Scimitar Squadron with Ion Pulse Missiles

Scimitar Squadron with Ion Pulse Missiles

With all those big base flying around and boosting out of sight, I found that the Ion pulse missiles is very good to keep them in check and allow you to concentrate fire on them for at least three concecutive rounds, usually enough for them to go down.

I think, this list that I saw the other day in the Store Champ thread might fit your fancy, and thanks to having Soontir, might be a bit more competitive. I finally gave it a try last night and I liked it. Vessery actually feels pretty good to play when he just rolls around the map with a group of bombers, and there is a Soontir floating around the map drawing aggro. Also has the benefit of a PS 9 pilot so you actually have some method for taking on Whisper (besides hoping for the best)

Soontir + PTL + Target CPU

Vessery (+VI / Adrenaline Rush / Nothing for a 99 pt Init bid)

Scimitar

Scimitar

100 pts

On the other end, I think Bombers without Ordnance might be the better choice, especially because you get another Bomber. I would also consider actually putting Backstabber in that list.

Vessery + VI

Scimitar

Scimitar

Scimitar

Backstabber

100pts

Or could add Night Beast + Target CPU. That's a combo that isn't half bad for only 17 pts.

Vessery

Scimitar x 3

Night Beast + Target CPU

100pts

As for an Ordnance Bomber + Vessery list, I suppose I'd want a 4 pt missile on my Bombers to make them look threatening. Would mean have to drop HLC on Vessery. I think I'd run 2 x Cluster Missiles and 1 x Concussion/Homing. Could do...2 x Flechettes on each Bomber. I think I like that, so the Bombers get lots of 3 Dice attacks. But overall, 1 Time use Ordnance just feels pretty bleh.

Ohhhh, @Red Castle, I like the Triple IPM too. Looks nice, and id totally fly it.

Triple IPM looks awesome. I like the soontir list as well.

I think, this list that I saw the other day in the Store Champ thread might fit your fancy, and thanks to having Soontir, might be a bit more competitive. I finally gave it a try last night and I liked it. Vessery actually feels pretty good to play when he just rolls around the map with a group of bombers, and there is a Soontir floating around the map drawing aggro. Also has the benefit of a PS 9 pilot so you actually have some method for taking on Whisper (besides hoping for the best)

Soontir + PTL + Target CPU

Vessery (+VI / Adrenaline Rush / Nothing for a 99 pt Init bid)

Scimitar

Scimitar

100 pts

That's my list! And the result of me experimenting with Vessery and Bombers and those two list I posted earlier (plus one with a Firespray). I'm glad to know someone else gave it a go.The only change I'll make is switch TC on Soontir for Autothrusters once it is legal.

Without any other threat, Vessery tended to be focused down pretty early if the dice weren't with you. So like you said, adding Soontir relieved some pressure from him and offered a second premium target, so your opponent now have a choice. I also found that VI on Vessery is very important when going against a mobile Dash, something that one of my friend love to play. People tend to focus on Soontir, so as long as he's there, you have Vessery shooting each round with a F+TL. First round, you go all in with your Bombers and tag two target of your choice, so Vessery can choose every turn and remain less predictable. After that, you play more defensively with the Bombers until you need to tag a new target.

The big weakness of this team for now is the 3 B-Wings with Tactician and Y-Wing with stressbot. Interceptors and Defenders hate having too many stress. But against all the other meta build, it's pretty competitive.

Ohhhh, @Red Castle, I like the Triple IPM too. Looks nice, and id totally fly it.

Added benefit of the IPM, you don't get to spend your TL when firing them. So you can either use it to help you land your hit or keep it so that Vessery can continue to benefit from it next round, because odds are that the ship you just ionized will be your priority target next round.

3x Scimitar w/Prox mines

Vessery w/HLC

[99 points]

-Adrenaline Rush is exactly pretty huge on Vess because **** having to work around an entire squad with limited hard turns (and helloo~ HLC!)

-Adrenaline Rush is exactly pretty huge on Vess because **** having to work around an entire squad with limited hard turns (and helloo~ HLC!)

You get used to it, it really is not that bad, especially since they all have barrel roll too in case you need to realign.

As for Adrenaline Rush, thanks to the Bombers tagging for him, Vessery is not as action dependant as the other Defenders, so you can take a turn or two stressed. Heck, when testing my lists and before Soontir joined the party, I tried him versus a Rebel Captive Decimator, I still won and by the end of the game, I think he had 4-5 stress token so, doing a red maneuver is not that big a deal for him.

Veteran Instinct really help against Dash, Keyan and put you on par with Corran and Echo, plus some other pilots that we don't see as often but are still there. After playing Vessery a lot with and without Veteran Instinct, I'll take Veteran Instinct everytime over any other 1 point EPT.

It was pretty fun on my first go-around. Though I've ran those ships separately in lots of lists.

My journey to fwanting to fly the Soontir, Vess, 2 Bomber list started with...

Soontir + PTL

Bounty Hunter + Tactician

Bounty Hunter + Tactician

100 pts

And was like, wish I had some rerolls! But even though I always do well with that squad, I had a fear that if have to rely so hard on dice with no rerolls. So I made...

Soontir + Target CPU + PTL

Bounty Hunter

Vessery

100pts

I thought it was pretty cool, but no Init bid and no tactician to let my BH play with rear arc stress, so I never got the urge to play it. When you posted the list with 2 x Scimitars, I was like, SO PERFECT! Haha. Slightly beefier, slightly more damage, and easier to fly than Vessery + BH trying to flank. Also 1 pt left for Vessery or Init bid depending on my fears at the time.