It has been a common line of speculation that if (IF) FFG were to ever do the TIE droid or clone wars vulture droids that they would simulate the droid brain by not giving them focus.
Probably never happen though.
Action Economy, is it better to focus or evade with an imperial swarm?
Focus is generally better in an unknown situation because it's flexible. If you have 4 evade dice, it's equal to an evade token in potential but slightly less reliable (because 2/8 faces being focus and rolling 4 dice means you should get one focus result).
Evade is more reliable if you've basically written off said unit's attacks. It also has the advantage of reducing a firing unit's threat level:
If the basic swarm units focus whilst howlrunner evades, it becomes increasingly tempting for an attacker to take the easier shot; howlrunner is harder to hit and her attacks are only 2/3 as effective.....but howlrunner's bonus.....but she'll be a bugger to hit....ah damnnit, I don't know what to do.....
Equally, I've sometimes said "I'm not going to hit you this round" - if the opening engagement is at range 3 against autothruster-equipped, evading Aggressors, then your odds of hitting IG-88, regardless of how many TIEs there are in your swarm, is essentially zero. But you have relatively limited fire coming back at you (lethal as it is). There is an argument for going evasive for a turn to try and make sure as many of your boys survive to get into range as possible.
On a related note, I have always struggled with low PS ships using the target lock action. They are out of range on the initial engagement and I am never sure if they will still be in arc on the next round. I end up taking focus again and basically only take a target lock if I know I don't have a shot and will be out of arc. Should I just go for it after the initial engagement? Or am I screwing up my initial approach somehow?
On a related note, I have always struggled with low PS ships using the target lock action. They are out of range on the initial engagement and I am never sure if they will still be in arc on the next round. I end up taking focus again and basically only take a target lock if I know I don't have a shot and will be out of arc. Should I just go for it after the initial engagement? Or am I screwing up my initial approach somehow?
Target Lock with lower PS ships is not as useful on the initial approach for exactly the reason you mention.
However, once the scrim starts, it can actually be better than on higher PS ships, as you TL before your opponent moves out of arc or out of range.
FOCUS think about it. You have 3 green dice, and 2-3 red dice depending on your attack range. FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS
Would 4 AT alpha's plus Howl be a decent list?
Never used it, but I don't see why not.
Target Lock with lower PS ships is not as useful on the initial approach for exactly the reason you mention.
However, once the scrim starts, it can actually be better than on higher PS ships, as you TL before your opponent moves out of arc or out of range.
It's one reason why I like Cluster Missiles on lower PS pilots - range 1-2 is a more forgiving range band than 2-3 - you can find higher skill enemies move into range after your opportunity to lock them, then close either to range 1 or out of your arc by the following turn... With clusters you can aim for the opening shots to be range 2 and if you overshoot it's no biggie.