I don't have the time I want to play this awesome game enough to learn how to manipulate it at will - I do come from an extensive X-Wing background though...

I'm trying to make Rebels good. I have one whale (thinking about buying a second) and one rebel squad expansion.

I'm sniffing around running the Mark II B (decked out for squads) with some Y-Wings because they're heavy - possibly getting another whale to run the A with Paragon. My question is how to run the ships.

I'm thinking I gotta setup my Y-Wings around the B, always keep them in range 1 of it, which for me means running at speed 1 or 2 just to assure that I'll have room to keep them within range 1 of me. Because the B is only useful if the squads are at range 1, but it's a defensive ability - Basically just a slow-moving island of anti-ship guns wading through space taking as many shots at capital ships as possible.

Do I have this squad strategy wrong? No idea how to not suck at this game at this point. Other than to run imperial which seems cheap.

First off, I assume you’re using Gallant Haven with your Assault Frigate B (AFB)? If you’re doing something fighter heavy with your AFB, then put Expanded Hanger Bay on it as its Offensive Retrofit (brining your squadron value up to 4).

You’ll probably need some more anti-squadron firepower than just a group of Y-Wings. Use 2 (maybe 3) of those 4 squadrons as Y-Wing but have the rest be X-Wing or A-Wing squadrons (I’d personally suggest X-Wings). Also consider using Flight Controllers to boost the anti-squadron armament of your squadron activated by your squadron commands.

I’ve run something similar in a few games and you can keep your AFB at speed 3 and your fighters (X-Wings & Y-Wings) should keep up with that. Just keep those fighters close and you’ll burn through enemy squadrons like it’s nobody’s business.

I have all of the stuff you mention on my AFB - I'm worried about non-heavy squadrons getting locked in position by other squadrons - should I not be worried about that?

Cause I was also thinking about 2 Y-Wing groups, Dutch and Wedge (for the combo), but Wedge could get locked down, right?

Personal experience from flying haven: you'll be fine just spaming generic xwings

There's one thing to keep in mind about haven and it's the fact that you will win EVERY squadron engagement while benefitting from it. Xwings kill engaging squadrons very quickly and deal decent damage against ships.

I've found wedge to be overkill. He really needs a high priority character to go after.

Dutch is great even just by himself (helps to have initiative though)

I've come to prefer bs over us. The lack of speed is rough but they do nearly double the damage vs ships, still shoot 3 blues, and can engage (HUGE if you come against enemy bombers)

Cool.

So, an AFB loaded for squadrons - 4 squadrons including some B-Wings and X-Wings and another naked Paragon Whale should get me some decent mileage? Just use everything I can for hitting ships and only attack squadrons if they're locking me down?

depends

generally, my imp opponents have been VSD + GSD + howl interceptors + rhymer bombers

in which case, Haven is the rock that breaks the tide as the Interceptors just race to hit the Xwings and eventually get murdered by them with haven canceling some 8-10 damage between attacks and counters. If you win the squadron war and no ships are lost, you still win. If you win the objective war and nothing dies, you still win. As such, I feel comfortable using the squadrons defensively while the whales go around strafing. I generally only get aggressive when the enemy gets close (either bombers or ships) or if the enemy has no squadrons or if the enemy somehow has superior long range firepower.

If you have the choice to be aggressive, I'd generally go for squadrons first. Double fatties should have superior firepower at range against most things that aren't larger numbers of small rebel ships. Then, once the squadrons are gone, X-wings can hit the ships with impunity.

If you can get the X-wings to tangle with enemy squadrons, then the B-wings should go after the ships or be held back a bit to help against racing GSDs (which not even fatties like to encounter)

I think you misunderstood "Heavy". It doesn't mean your Y-wings don't get locked down. It means they don't pin down other fighters.

Oh wow, so it's not both ways. I see now.

I really have no time to spin up on this game... Weeks need to be 10-14 days long instead of 7. Then, I could do it...