So guys, I understand that a few of you are upset about the article. The article was a filler, there is no big base conspiracy, I wrote it because I absolutely love interceptors. I used different builds that are outside the norm because one thing I feel articles are supposed to do is get your brain working again. Something of a kickstart to help you look into new ideas and combinations that may be more effective than what is currently out there.

As for being upset about the raider, well I have no connection with raider production and this didn't affect my personal time at all. I'm thankful FFG allowed me to release an article!

Great article, man. You're still my hero, just like I told you at Store Championships a few months back.

I just need to figure out how to beat Soontir & Chiraneau builds (or "Whisper & Chiraneau) with my Soontir/Carnor/Yorr squad. I love it. It's strong against a lot of things. But I choke when I see Vader crew and Gunner across the table from me. I think I lose mentally before I even set the first dial.

if it helps, I keep two things in mind when facing a decivader

1.) it's a turret, so you can't outplay it. There's literally nothing you can do and it's not your fault (blame the sh*tty pwt mechanics).

2.) the silver-lining is that the decivader is going to be significantly more expensive than even soontir (The most expensive interceptor) and it kills itself for you. This means that, if you trade soontir for it, then it's a trade in your favor

as such, the best you can really do is to be suicidally aggressive. Unless the enemy soontir just sort of feeds itself to you, concentrate your fire on the Decimator (including yorr) and keep firing until it's dead. 0 agility falls quickly, 0 agility -2 or 4 health a turn falls quickly

note that you still have to concentrate your aggression. Don't throw soontir at it by himself just because he'd get a shot, for example. You really want all your guns on it, and then you want to go h.a.m

also, if you don't have it already, shield upgrade should buy you 2 more damage on the decivader

Give me my K-wings already damnit!!!!

Or tell me what those Twin lasercannon turrets do!!! Or how Bossk launches his pup fighter!!

Pretty pelase let the Raider be here in time for our next bi-monthly EPIC, I want to build an Ionvette!!

We've seen a tremendous amount of squad-building diversity throughout our ongoing 2015 Regional Championships season

We have?

We've seen a tremendous amount of squad-building diversity throughout our ongoing 2015 Regional Championships season

We have?

they never said "successful"

the top eights in certain areas have been pretty fun to see, even the top spot is almost universally reserved for turret de-jour or IG-88's big band of "**** your turrets"

The best part about autothrusters, is everyone thought they would finally be fanboying interceptors all over the place post wave 6. Yes soontir is around, but he hardly counts (he would show up on occassion WITHOUT them before). But, Carnor and company still haven't seen the rise in popularity that everyone was expecting. They do see more play than before, but more than virtually zero is still not alot. Triple interceptor was supposed to be more of a thing.

The problem is IGs being able to use them. And now they've been easily the dominant force through regionals to date. It's not uncommon to see about a dozen dual ig lists and 1-2 3x ints at a regional. Dual IG would have likely been competitve (as in not completely dominant) without them, but non-soontir interceptors (and maybe even him) NEED them. They likely should've been interceptor only, but of course that would be dumb in a starviper pack. And a-wings/starvipers with them are not overpowered. Maybe design them small ship only knowing the igs were coming?

I'm not saying Igs are unbeatable, let's not start that nonsense. But you can go look at the results and see, 9-0 regional win in roseville, regional win in kansas city, 3 of the top 4 in atlanta, 2-3 in just about every top 8 anywhere in the u.s. etc. The consistency of them is ahead of the other big boys for sure right now, and it feels like that level of it is a direct result of them "stealing" another ship's "fix card".

The IGs are winning because they're good against what's being played, not because they're good against everything.

The best part about autothrusters, is everyone thought they would finally be fanboying interceptors all over the place post wave 6. Yes soontir is around, but he hardly counts (he would show up on occassion WITHOUT them before). But, Carnor and company still haven't seen the rise in popularity that everyone was expecting. They do see more play than before, but more than virtually zero is still not alot. Triple interceptor was supposed to be more of a thing.

The problem is IGs being able to use them. And now they've been easily the dominant force through regionals to date. It's not uncommon to see about a dozen dual ig lists and 1-2 3x ints at a regional. Dual IG would have likely been competitve (as in not completely dominant) without them, but non-soontir interceptors (and maybe even him) NEED them. They likely should've been interceptor only, but of course that would be dumb in a starviper pack. And a-wings/starvipers with them are not overpowered. Maybe design them small ship only knowing the igs were coming?

I'm not saying Igs are unbeatable, let's not start that nonsense. But you can go look at the results and see, 9-0 regional win in roseville, regional win in kansas city, 3 of the top 4 in atlanta, 2-3 in just about every top 8 anywhere in the u.s. etc. The consistency of them is ahead of the other big boys for sure right now, and it feels like that level of it is a direct result of them "stealing" another ship's "fix card".

Dual ig just wrecks turret lists, and auto thrusters assists with this even more. If a big chunk of the meta was bbbbz then dual igs would be more saddened.

So guys, I understand that a few of you are upset about the article. The article was a filler, there is no big base conspiracy, I wrote it because I absolutely love interceptors. I used different builds that are outside the norm because one thing I feel articles are supposed to do is get your brain working again. Something of a kickstart to help you look into new ideas and combinations that may be more effective than what is currently out there.

As for being upset about the raider, well I have no connection with raider production and this didn't affect my personal time at all. I'm thankful FFG allowed me to release an article!

I enjoyed your article...sadly the people on this forum usually won't discuss past what will work at the highest levels of play. Even though very few of them play anywhere near that level.

Hope the next one you pump out is of similar quality.

I think interceptors are going to be just fine.

"All is proceeding as I have foreseen..."

Your afraid of IGs? Seriously play 7 scum Z's with feedback. IGs go down fast.... Really fun to take em out in 2nd round with bug zappers.

So guys, I understand that a few of you are upset about the article. The article was a filler, there is no big base conspiracy, I wrote it because I absolutely love interceptors. I used different builds that are outside the norm because one thing I feel articles are supposed to do is get your brain working again. Something of a kickstart to help you look into new ideas and combinations that may be more effective than what is currently out there.

As for being upset about the raider, well I have no connection with raider production and this didn't affect my personal time at all. I'm thankful FFG allowed me to release an article!

Haha, I didn't associate the name with your screen name, but I knew I got my ass kicked once by that Kath list. Still not sure about that Black squadron though...

I like the article for the level of players who haven't thought about it much - the statements made aren't false, especially compared to the Whisper Supremacy prior to this wave. Heck, we're seeing all three factions gunning for the top tier - even if two of these are 'fat turret with ace escort', that's still an improvement over Fat Han vs Whisper, eh?

That Kath build does look fun. I can't help but think I'd trade the BSP+DTF for Backstabber, though, so you've got more dice capitalising on the Carnor rounds - and a lower priority flanker could wreak chaos when Carnor is the must-deal-with ship in the squad, too.

So one says the Chiraneau is awful and another says it is a potent list?

Yeah but at least we do not have all of the stupid-ass-list post cloggin up everything on our main page anymore.

I like the article for the level of players who haven't thought about it much - the statements made aren't false, especially compared to the Whisper Supremacy prior to this wave. Heck, we're seeing all three factions gunning for the top tier - even if two of these are 'fat turret with ace escort', that's still an improvement over Fat Han vs Whisper, eh?

it's exactly the same as Fat Han vs Chiraneau only we replaced Whisper with Soontir and kept the Decimator; also added Igs

given the limited time between Wave 6's release and regionals, more time will be needed to see if this is just people sticking to old guns (or still getting used to new ones) or if we're just doomed to endlessly repeat Wave 5 in slight variation

People won't give up turrets by choice they obviously offer way more than a phantom deterrent, either the points scoring needs to be changed or turrets need readjustment.

People won't give up turrets by choice they obviously offer way more than a phantom deterrent, either the points scoring needs to be changed or turrets need readjustment.

Actually I think choice is the exact reason they will give up turrets, choosing to run something against the current. We have seen a ton of lists so far that are great even if they don't make the top cut. I'd say with more practice turrets will be less of an issue because of "tech" and combos that make non-turreted lists great.

Well I liked the article!

And if you haven't tried that, or similar RAC builds (I flew one alongside Whisper), then you don't know what you're missing! Obviously it blows to face enemy stress mechanics, but it DOES throw spit tons of dice, and Weapon's Engineer adds some action economy to help minimize the use of EI.

spit tons of dice?

that motherfluffing baddie chiraneau is a witch to fly against as is, we don't need him throwing spittons of dice

The best part about autothrusters, is everyone thought they would finally be fanboying interceptors all over the place post wave 6. Yes soontir is around, but he hardly counts (he would show up on occassion WITHOUT them before). But, Carnor and company still haven't seen the rise in popularity that everyone was expecting. They do see more play than before, but more than virtually zero is still not alot. Triple interceptor was supposed to be more of a thing.

The problem is IGs being able to use them. And now they've been easily the dominant force through regionals to date. It's not uncommon to see about a dozen dual ig lists and 1-2 3x ints at a regional. Dual IG would have likely been competitve (as in not completely dominant) without them, but non-soontir interceptors (and maybe even him) NEED them. They likely should've been interceptor only, but of course that would be dumb in a starviper pack. And a-wings/starvipers with them are not overpowered. Maybe design them small ship only knowing the igs were coming?

I'm not saying Igs are unbeatable, let's not start that nonsense. But you can go look at the results and see, 9-0 regional win in roseville, regional win in kansas city, 3 of the top 4 in atlanta, 2-3 in just about every top 8 anywhere in the u.s. etc. The consistency of them is ahead of the other big boys for sure right now, and it feels like that level of it is a direct result of them "stealing" another ship's "fix card".

Dual ig just wrecks turret lists, and auto thrusters assists with this even more. If a big chunk of the meta was bbbbz then dual igs would be more saddened.

Dual ig flown well does just fine against bbbbz/ z feedback swarm etc. They can dodge enough arcs, and still have so many dice on offense + defense that they muscle their way through. Autothrusters working on range 3 shots as well as turrets is kinda overkill.

I like the article for the level of players who haven't thought about it much - the statements made aren't false, especially compared to the Whisper Supremacy prior to this wave. Heck, we're seeing all three factions gunning for the top tier - even if two of these are 'fat turret with ace escort', that's still an improvement over Fat Han vs Whisper, eh?

it's exactly the same as Fat Han vs Chiraneau only we replaced Whisper with Soontir and kept the Decimator; also added Igs

given the limited time between Wave 6's release and regionals, more time will be needed to see if this is just people sticking to old guns (or still getting used to new ones) or if we're just doomed to endlessly repeat Wave 5 in slight variation

Honestly, Wave 6 didn't have the impact that the change to Decloak did. That happened just as Regionals started. Which is why I advocate patience. People have to get familiar with the squads that Phantoms used to dominate again.

For strategy and tips I always found that community sources usually have more thorough information than official sources. Official sources are really only trustworthy on spoilers (with the exception of release dates).

But speaking of community sources anyone noticed that the podcasts are not as frequent as they used to be? It seems to be a long time between podcasts. Regionals might have something to do with it.

Really ffg? Four months scums been out every boy and his dog knows how autoceptors perform.

What does the tie only mod do? How's the Conner net work, what's the tie interdictors dial? Those thing we want to know not how to use a mod that was leaked nearly a year ago.

I agree totally. This is not news. But should be placed somewhere else. They should have s separate section called strategy rather then claim it is news.

Your afraid of IGs? Seriously play 7 scum Z's with feedback. IGs go down fast.... Really fun to take em out in 2nd round with bug zappers.

One store champ I decided to take 5-6 ships with feedback array and autoblaster turrets (Thugzapper). Played 3 dual IG lists out of 6 matches, and each of them ended the same way. The IG's inevitably got caught and melted by the FBA or ABT. The funny thing is, before I caught the IG, I shot all 5-6 ships' 2-attack dice at the IGs and 1 damage in the entire game. It was FBA/ABT that saved the day!

Next week's article: Red dice.