Have you thought about Flechette Torps on Xizor?

Dammit. That's a fourth thing to consider.

I don't think option 2 is meaningful, IMO.

You might want to try with predator on Kavil first, and then if high PS arc-dodgers become a problem, you can go back to VI and stick with the initiative bid.

I don't think option 2 is meaningful, IMO.

You might want to try with predator on Kavil first, and then if high PS arc-dodgers become a problem, you can go back to VI and stick with the initiative bid.

Even though it was listed second that was kind of my 3rd choice. If figured it might be nice shooting before other generics and not getting hammered by Predator but really like having PS1 blockers.

I think Kavil needs VI. You'll want to move last to see where you need to boost into range 1 to. The 2 point initative bid isn't a bad idea. Fletcette torps could help to, but you make Xizor even more expensive.

Upgrading to BSS isn't a horrible idea. They still block almost all named pilots. You do get to shoot before PS 2 generics (blue squadrons), those 2 BSS might be enough to finish one off before they return fire.

I think Kavil needs VI. You'll want to move last to see where you need to boost into range 1 to. The 2 point initative bid isn't a bad idea. Fletcette torps could help to, but you make Xizor even more expensive.

Upgrading to BSS isn't a horrible idea. They still block almost all named pilots. You do get to shoot before PS 2 generics (blue squadrons), those 2 BSS might be enough to finish one off before they return fire.

It depends on how good you are at guessing opponent moves I guess. Hothie seemed to think that VI was not necessary and even engine upgrade was optional. I don't consider myself good enough to go without engine, but I can see how maybe PS 7 is good enough. Especially if one of your other ships gets a block on a high PS arc-dodger, then they can't escape Kavil's death bubble, and predator will really help increase the chance of a one-shot kill (especially if you got a focus)

I think Kavil needs VI. You'll want to move last to see where you need to boost into range 1 to. The 2 point initative bid isn't a bad idea. Fletcette torps could help to, but you make Xizor even more expensive.

Upgrading to BSS isn't a horrible idea. They still block almost all named pilots. You do get to shoot before PS 2 generics (blue squadrons), those 2 BSS might be enough to finish one off before they return fire.

It depends on how good you are at guessing opponent moves I guess. Hothie seemed to think that VI was not necessary and even engine upgrade was optional. I don't consider myself good enough to go without engine, but I can see how maybe PS 7 is good enough. Especially if one of your other ships gets a block on a high PS arc-dodger, then they can't escape Kavil's death bubble, and predator will really help increase the chance of a one-shot kill (especially if you got a focus)

I really want to put Predator on Kavil but I worry that I won't be able to reliably get into range one of the ships that I most want his Autoblaster for.

The thing I would remove is EU on Kavil, actually. If you're boosting then you're not taking a focus. If you're not taking focus then you're not using Autoblaster turret. If you're not using Autoblaster turret then you're not getting the free target lock from the agromech.

I think you get the drift...

The thing I would remove is EU on Kavil, actually. If you're boosting then you're not taking a focus. If you're not taking focus then you're not using Autoblaster turret. If you're not using Autoblaster turret then you're not getting the free target lock from the agromech.

I think you get the drift...

Umm, I think you are confusing upgrades. Autoblaster is the range 1 'defender can't evade' turret, not the 'need a focus to fire' Blaster turret. And unhinged turns 3 moves green, he doesn't have the agromech (that gives TL after focus spending).

The thing I would remove is EU on Kavil, actually. If you're boosting then you're not taking a focus. If you're not taking focus then you're not using Autoblaster turret. If you're not using Autoblaster turret then you're not getting the free target lock from the agromech.

I think you get the drift...

Umm, I think you are confusing upgrades. Autoblaster is the range 1 'defender can't evade' turret, not the 'need a focus to fire' Blaster turret. And unhinged turns 3 moves green, he doesn't have the agromech (that gives TL after focus spending).

Opps, my bad. Blaster, Autoblaster... tomato, potato

Obviously, I totally made my own list in my head.

I hate to throw another option at you, but have you considered bomb load out and a seismic on Kavil?

You have to get up in the grill of your opponents already, why not leave them a present in your wake?

If nothing else it could discourage K-turns behind you on the initial joust. At best it is more unavoidable damage in a list with several options to do just that.

I hate to throw another option at you, but have you considered bomb load out and a seismic on Kavil?

You have to get up in the grill of your opponents already, why not leave them a present in your wake?

If nothing else it could discourage K-turns behind you on the initial joust. At best it is more unavoidable damage in a list with several options to do just that.

Hmmmm...

PS9 is perfect for those bombs that drop when you reveal your dial.

What is sometimes easy to forget is that autoblasters don't rely on overpowering your opponent's green dice to do damage. If it rolls a hit, it does damage (aside from crits of course). The chances of 1 hit sticking on a normal attack is near zero. The downside though is that they're limited to range 1. I would say VI is vastly more important here than predator because you deal zero hits on shots you never take.

With VI, its more about preventing fel from knowing where you're going to be. Boost and barrel roll can most always get out of range one if needed.

With ABT on Kavil though, you only need 1 good shot to knock out a squint, rather than the multiple attacks and praying for their dice to fail. Thus you can be patient and take a TL when you're not in range 1 and save it for that perfect moment when you didn't need to boost.

I played two games last night with the list I posted against a list that was a B-Wing and 3 As. I figured that it was a great list for Kavil but I was surprised how little damage he ended up doing against the As. I found that I was boosting more than anything else when I was getting shots so he was getting dice modifications less than half the time. On rounds where he wasn't going to get a shot with his turret and couldn't boost out of arcs I was taking a focus action for defense. In retrospect, I might have been better off just taking a target lock for future use. Kavil was putting one damage on A-Wings every round and got two damage through a few times. It seemed like I was rolling a lot of crits last night with him. Even though the damage was lower than I imagined it was probably better than what he would have gotten through with a blaster turret.

The Zs did their job. In the first game, one Z used feedback array to trade himself for an out of arc Jake Farrel and in the second a Z was taken out by an Injured Pilot crit that was meant for Xizor. I got the Zs a little to far from Xizor in the second game after using them as blockers to jam up my opponent coming through asteroids. He returned the favor the next turn by giving me the choice to keep Xizor with the Zs but end up in 3 arcs at range 1 to 2 or to burn Inertial Dampeners and get separated. I would have like to have more Zs so that I'd be able to keep one near Xizor while still being able to send out Zs to block but having only two Zs is the price you pay for having a second substantial ship in the list.

Now that I've played Xizor with both Advanced Sensors and Fire Control System I'm not sure which I like better. There were a few times when stuck in the knife fight or pulling an S-Loop that I really could have used Advanced Sensors but the FCS was really useful, and I think would have been even more useful up against a list where I was keeping the same target for multiple rounds. The action independent dice modification of FCS is probably going to have me keep it when using VI and save Advanced Sensors for when I put Predator on him. I have been really pleasantly surprised with how much I like the Starviper. While it's not great at dealing with stress I think it might have my favorite dial out of all of the small ships. Having access to both one straight and one hard turns is really powerful. Being able to go slow and turn hard opens up a lot of options. The Starviper is joining my list of ships that I find really fun to play.

I need to get in more games with this squad against a greater variety of lists. I think it will be strong against lists that depend on Interceptors or Phantoms and also do well against Falcons and Outriders.I've got some concerns that it will get torn apart by lists like BBBBZ or Panic Attack and have trouble bringing down Decimatiors (particularly the Vader carrying variety). I have no clue how it will fare against the Brobots.

So far, I think that keeping VI on Kavil and Xizor and having an initiative bid is the way to go. They both greatly benefit from being able to react to opponents. There were several turns that Kavil wouldn't have had a shot if he didn't boost or that he was able to boost to keep his shot but be able to avoid return fire. Needing to get your target out of arc and into range one makes being able to react critical. Xizor's slow dial and great action bar make him great at getting onto someone's tail and keeping them from shaking him so moving later allows you to move into the spot that your target just left.

PTL on autobooster Kavil is fun too, if you're still looking for ways to spend points. Get to boost and still take an offensive action while clearing stress by zooming.

Kavil-at Xizor (caveat emptor = buyer beware)