So I began a topic last week labeled 'Lambdas." Basically the trial was to see if I can make two lambdas in a list work:

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/138542-lambdas/

After testing it out against myself with other more competitive lists I have come to the same conclusion. Not only did the lambdas need escorts but the escorts needed to be able to survive since they were the first to go.

That is when I saw this video of a dual Lambda and a Decimator:

His list was as followed:

Patrol Leader (Decimator)

-Vader

-Rebel Captive

Omicorn Group Pilot (Lambda)

-Advanced Sensors

-Engine Upgrade

Omicorn Group Pilot (Lambda)

-Fire and Control System

-Mara Jade

I liked the concept but I felt like Mara's Lambda moved too slow and maybe a boost could help out. I also didn't like Vader. The Decimator needed to survive and having vader kill him slowly was a bad time. So, I came up with this.

Patrol Leader (Decimator)

-Rebel Captive

-Intelligence Agent

(Protects rear of Lambdas. Intelligence Agent allows Lambda Boost to be more effective)

Omicron Group Pilote (Lambda)

-Mara Jade

-Engine Upgrade

(As before but with boost to allow Mar Jade to kick in with better positioning and to be more maneuverable)

Omicron Group Pilot (Lambda)

-Advanced Sensors

-Engine upgrade

(To have a maneuverable Lamnda)

So, I test drove it against this (at least as much as I can remember):

Lando Calrissian (YT-2400)

-Milennium Falcon

-Engine Upgrade

-Nien Nunb (maybe...?)

Dash Rendar (YT-1300)

-Expert Handling

-Mangler Cannon

-Leebo

-Outrider

Asteroids were set up mostly on the left side with some in the middle allowing for most of the right side of the board to be clear (from my perspective). I set up with the lambdas on the far right corner (advanced one on the edge) and the decimator in the center of the board. He set up on the opposite of the board facing diagonally towards me though open lanes in the asteroids.

Turn one: I move 1 forward with the lambdas. The decimator turns hard right to position himself behind the Lambdas. His ships zoom forward with no shots turn one.

Turn two to Turn a lot later: As the lambdas turn toward his ships, Dash does Dash like things and avoids arcs 60% of the time to try and have a one on one fight with the Patrol Leader. The Falcon tries to do the same. The Lambdas disengage to turn around and proceed to come back towards my side of the board and reengage. The decimator dies but not before taking out a few shields from each of his ships. This awkward 5 large ship dance lands my lambdas facing me on his side of the board/right corner. Dash and Lando are nearby. I ended up stressing both of his ships due to Mara. With both of his ships in the corner and Mara's lambda using Zero movement he is forced to use white maneuvers to get out and still remain stressed (like hard white 1 turns to not run off because of how deep he got into his corner). As he is taking a beating from Mara's Lambda, the advanced Lambda has to re-approach and end ups up facing Dash, almost wiping him out at range 1. Both Lambdas ended up dying before our 60 minute simulation of a tournament (they literally died at the 53 and 57 minute mark). He has both of his ships but Lando has 4 hull left and Dash has 2 hull.

Conclusions: The Decimator served well as a distraction and Mara was critical in getting more damage off because of stress. However, Mara's effect was effective because I got him in a corner due to piloting error. Mara is more useful with swarm lists. and I am do not see this situation happening again. The Decimator kept his ships at bay until I was able to re-position but still died too quick. I am thinking that Ysanne Isard would be useful to make it survive that much longer. However, the rebel captive is useful with phantoms and named pilots. The intelligence agent I've found to be useful to make corrections to get enemy ships into the lambda's firing arc. For now, I'll keep using the same list to see if better piloting could accommodate for my concerns. I'm also open to suggestions.

Next report I'll make sure to use pictures to show all you fine folks. I just did not have one on me. We do a weekly game. However, since grad school is taking lots of time, I may not regularly be able to update my lambda experiences.

My only real suggestion is to not sacrifice the Decimator early. Without knowing what's going on, I would think you could stuff the Mara Jade Lamda forward to try to stress them out and let the others pound on them.

Good luck!

when running two shuttles i like to go with a ZoomShuttle (Omicron/adv. sensors/boost) and a Doomshuttle (Vader)

thats should leave you enough points for a beefy 3rd ship.

Would it be better to have Mara Jade on the zoom shuttle?

Also, I think Vader crew is very powerful and shouldn't be overlooked. A doom shuttle + zoom shuttle is a pretty effective duo (as brown bomber mentions).

To make the decimator more durable, you could switch the intel agent to Moff Jerjerrod or switch the Rebel Captive to Isanne Isard.

in my experience, shuttles are most effective when there are other targets to draw attention from away from them. the secret is to make something else a more attractive target. their limited manouverability, even with engine upgrade means they have to circle back and reposition frequently. if they r the primary target for your opponent then you are going to be spending even more turns running and repositioning.

Doom Shuttle (24) + Zoom Shuttle (28) = 52pts

The temptation is to add additional upgrades to increase the versatility of your shuttles further but this makes them a bigger target for your opponent so imho dont go over 30pts into a single shuttle, if u r playing two in the same list.

48pts remaining. That is enough to field something really good or perhaps two hard hitting intercepters - autothusters will make these deadly long range snipers.

Dropping to a single shuttle will open up many more options for you, but if u are locked into play two shuttles then tinker with that 48pts.

im running a two ship scum list right now that uses Bobba Fett and an Aggressor (thanks Sable) and i am really happy with the lists versatility. My point is you could team up your shuttles with a single firespray and make this your heavy hitter. Running 3 large ships is harder than u might think, especially when you are negotiating an asteroid field, enemy ships and your own large base ships! Worth considering tho.

Sample List 1:

Omicron Group Pilot + Vader (24)

Omicron Group Pilot + Advanced Sensors + Engine Upgrade (28)

Sabre Squadron Pilot + Autothrusters + Veteran Instincts (24)

Sabre Squadron Pilot + Autothrusters + Veteran Instincts (24)

Total: 100pts

Sample list 2:

Omicron Group Pilot + Vader (24)

Omicron Group Pilot + Advanced Sensors + Engine Upgrade (28)

Bobba Fett + Veteran Instincts + Engine Upgrade (44)

Total: 96pts,

4pts to tinker with. could even downgrade Bobba to Kath Scarlet and squeeze a gunner on board.

rebel captive, predator over VI, tactician on one or even two ships. PS10 Bobba Fett with tactician is solid tech vs action abuse lists (Soontir+PTL) which shed one stress every turn and if u have Phantoms in your area that tactician can really mess with them.

Doom Shuttle is perhaps going to be their primary target, depending how aggressively you play it. Use the Doom Bus to set up shots from your other ships. Autobumping the Doom Bus can help get off more shots in the first pass.

I'll get back to you on the Firespray @The_Brown_Bomber. The decimator was there for the phantoms mostly. But now with the nerf on decloak, I could use the Firespray to a similar effect. I like Boba Fett's Initiative 10 but the possibilities with Kath's pilot ability and Tactician could help limit the movement for my opponents so my Lambdas could get the job done and could still affect the phantoms. I have not used the doom shuttle and I like the Mara combo (especially with swarms) so I'll have to get back to you on that one. I worry that since others know the doom shuttle will due that my other two ships will be targeted. But I'll see what this gives me. I only have 2 engine upgrade cards so it would make the most sense of making the other shuttle the doom shuttle.

Lamdas rock