The Heavy Breathing, Silent Escort ... I've flown this squad once and it seems to have some potential, but is there any room for improvement?

Darth Vader (TIE/adv) - 29

~ TIE/X1 (Title) - 0

~ Advanced Targeting Computer (System) - 1 (5 points with title reducing points by 4)

~ Lone Wolf (Elite) - 2

~ Proton Rockets (Missile) - 3

[35 squad points]

"Whisper" (TIE/p) - 32

~ Veteran Instincts (Elite) - 1

~ Advanced Cloaking Device (Modification) - 4

~ Fire-Control System (System) - 2

[39 squad points]

Omicron Group Pilot (Lambda-class Shuttle) - 21

~ Fleet Officer (Crew) - 3

~ Tactician (Crew) - 2

[26 squad points]

[squad = 100 points]

The Shuttle is a bit of synergistic support, just enough to be a threat. Fleet Officer can hand off Focus to the others. (Vader with Lone Wolf at PS9 can dance between range 2 and 3 from the Shuttle. The Shuttle flies into Range 2 (of Vader) when the Shuttle activates first and gives focus, and then Vader flies out to Range 3 (of the Shuttle) and can then take advantage of Lone Wolf for shooting/defense.) And the Shuttle is beefy enough to stand up to some shooting, hopefully giving enough time for Vader and Whisper to take out the biggest threats.

Pretty standard load out for the Phantom.

(I'm playing with proxying some toys for Vader...)

Vader with 2 actions a turn (at least one of them being Target Lock), can add a Crit to his shooting pool. And he'll be aiming to have been given a free Focus from the Shuttle. On the turn that he can line up a Range 1 Proton Rocket shot, he can be given a Focus, use his actions to Focus and Target Lock, and then shoot (spend one focus) with 1 Crit + 5 attack dice with a Target Lock and a Focus for dice mods.

Threat assessment:

Vader's first target is anything PS9+ that can take out Whisper. Unload the Proton Rockets on that target.

If Whisper has less competition for threat, Whisper or Vader can both be a late game clean-ers. And the Shuttle can support with the Tactician stress shots and free Focus candy.

Overall, a little bit of arc-dodging, and a little bit of a beefy tanking, and a little bit of highly concentrated fire power. Its really going to come down to pilot skill with this squad.

Thoughts, comments, criticisms welcome.

Are there any places where I can trim the fat?

(It does come in at 100 points, so I would like to trim a point for priority bid.)

I'd consider dropping the Prockets for an engine upgrade on Vader, it will help him use lone wolf more often too.

I'm not a fan of the shuttle setup in this list as you aren't lacking for focus on either of the other ships and it is counter productive with lone wolf, a single tactician isn' much control and will be difficult to get on target more than a single turn.

First, I'm assuming this is a casual list since TIE/X1 and ATC aren't released yet.

I would agree with JFunk about the shuttle. You may want to look into Recon Specialist on the shuttle or even Mangler Canon with the addition of Engine Upgrade on Vader. EU on Vader is insanely good. It almost puts him at the evasive level of Fel.

Overall it looks like a very fun list. I have one similar, but I use Echo in place of Whisper because I like the movement options for decloak and the extra 2 points.

Good luck!

I'd consider dropping the Prockets for an engine upgrade on Vader, it will help him use lone wolf more often too.

I'm not a fan of the shuttle setup in this list as you aren't lacking for focus on either of the other ships and it is counter productive with lone wolf, a single tactician isn' much control and will be difficult to get on target more than a single turn.

The Shuttle is what is clunky in this setup. It takes up 26 points, but it is a beefy target. But I do see your point that it really only gets to shoot once or maybe twice if its lucky.

What would be a better use of that design space in this squad?

I see a couple of options in dropping the Shuttle:

1. Take two Academy Pilots, drop Vader's Rockets and adding the Engine Upgrade. (That gets me to 99, leaving a point for priority bid.)

2. Take another TIE Advanced in Commander Alozen plus the title and Accuracy Corrector. (Again to 99 points.)

3. Take a naked Carnor Jax or Turr Phennir.

4. Take a base TIE Advanced or base Interceptor with an upgrade or two.

Do any of those options sound like they jive with Vader and Whisper?

It looks like my most favorable direction would be to adjust as follows:

Darth Vader (TIE/adv) - 29

~ TIE/X1 (Title) - 0

~ Advanced Targeting Computer (System) - 1 (5 points with title reducing points by 4)

~ Lone Wolf (Elite) - 2

~ Engine Upgrade (Modification) - 4

~ Proton Rockets (Missile) - 3

[39 squad points]

"Whisper" (TIE/p) - 32

~ Veteran Instincts (Elite) - 1

~ Advanced Cloaking Device (Modification) - 4

~ Fire-Control System (System) - 2

[39 squad points]

One of the following 21 point configurations:

Alpha Squadron Pilot (TIE/int) - 18

~ Stealth Device (Modification) - 3

[21 squad points]

-or-

Tempest Squadron Pilot (TIE/adv) - 21

~ TIE/X1 (Title) - 0

~ Accuracy Corrector - 0 (2 points with title reducing points up to 4)

[squad = 99 points]

Tempest or Alpha... 5 hp versus 3 hp... 2 auto hit damage versus 3 atk dice... (Alpha Stealth Device gives 4 green dice until hit, but I try not to bet my life on how long green dice will hold out)

That's a tough one.