When the Imperial Raider finally releases, each faction will have its own 5-ship swarm that is roughly equivalent in brute force statline power:

Rebels - "BBBBZ" or "4BZ": 4x Blue Squadron Pilots; Bandit Squadron Pilot

Scum - "5K"^*: 5x Cartel Maurauder

Imperial - "AC/DC": 4x Tempest Squadron Pilot + TIE/x1 title + Accuracy Corrector; Dark Curse

* There might be a better name for this squad, as it is potentially ambiguous with K-wings, although you won't be able to field 5 K-wings in a 100 point squad.

So, the purpose of this thread is two-fold.

1) Discuss / vote on what a good name would be. nikk whyte has a fantastic suggestion here:

2) Discuss any strategy or experiences that you have with the squad. The cards aren't legal yet, but it is easy enough to proxy - you just need to be crazy enough to have 4 TIE Advanced.

To kick things off, I'll note that Dark Curse is a better choice than Backstabber in this squad, as the Tempests are all very tanky with Accuracy Corrector, so you want to pair an equally tanky 5th ship with them - otherwise you simply make target priority very easy for your opponent.

Secondly, if you compare each of the three squads' jousting figure of merit, they are all very similar. You do this by multiplying the total attack power by the total durability. 2 base attack dice and x/3/3/0 durability are both 1.0 as a reference point.

Here are some examples:

8 TIE Swarm: 64

BBBBZ: 53.9

5x Kihraxz: 51.7

AC/DC^*: 51.1 - 55.6

* Note: this does NOT take into account Dark Curse's extra durability or that he is PS6 - it just treats him as a standard TIE Fighter!

The TIE Advanced durability is tricky to calculate with Accuracy Corrector since the action economy will be significantly better. The two numbers here are: first assuming the same action economy as a prebuff TIE Advanced (very conservative), and then a 2nd estimate with having focus available for defense 2/3 of the time instead of 1/2 of the time (more realistic).

In real-world play, the decisions become more complex.

• You can target lock on the first attack round in the hopes of getting TL+F later at range 1 (not included in my expected damage numbers for accuracy corrector)
• You can evade instead of focusing, which is still slightly better for defense even with a 3 AGI ship
• You can barrel roll instead of focusing

So, what does everyone think -- does "AC/DC" stick?

Have you had any experiences flying it yet?

Will Ron Brannon take AC/DC to Worlds instead of BBBBZ and then win with it?

Do you plan on buying enough TIE Advanced once the Raider comes out to fly this squad?

Discuss!

I'm not certain I prefer Dark Curse over 4x Cluster Missiles.

While the former choice turns your fleet into a more survivable BBBBZ, albiet one with less expected damage, the latter completely destroys the Fat Pancake fleets.

I'm a bigger fan of Tempest+AC+Clusters. That's an auto-dead Decimator if you can manage to get all 4 to have arc in the same turn.

Ninja'd. **** you!

Well people have been itching to try the new and improved Advanced, so I think this will be quite popular. Except that everyone from the Wave One days probably sold their multiple advanced ships and now have to buy them back.

I love AC/DC good squad name. **** FFG... looks like I'm going to get at minimum 4 Khrazz's and 2 more advanceds along with the Raider.

I like 4 x Khrazz's + Glittserstim with a Binarye Pirate.

I feel like KKKKZ would give you a huge advantage in the initial joust as every Marauder can be TL + Focus, with a focus for every defensive roll. Only downside would be the stress. You'd want to make sure you are far enough away that your opponent can't K-turn in behind you.

While "AC/DC" makes sense as a name with Dark Curse...and he really *is* a pain in the ass to kill, let me tell you...

I'm also more a fan of the 4x Cluster Missiles, instead.

Or, another option, a BSP with Intimidation in place of Dark Curse. Helps those guaranteed-two-hits get through a lot easier when that Fat Han rolls *no* evade dice (bye-bye 3PO)

AC/DC is taken already, sorry.

Tempest Curse ?

Team Pests ?

^^

The 5K build I vote to officially name it 5KFC for 5 Kentucky Fried Chicken, I mean 5 Kihraxz Fighter Cartel.

I bought two more Advanced (had one already) in preparation for this list.

I agree that I'm liking the Cluster Missiles over Dark Curse, but its the same concept as running 4BZ or 4B with upgrades. Both are effective.

Only play testing will tell, but I'm excited to try this list once the Raider is out!

And yes, no better name than AC/DC The TIE/x1 upgrade could just be dubbed "Back in Black" lol

I like AC/DC. How is it "taken"?

The 5K build I vote to officially name it 5KFC for 5 Kentucky Fried Chicken, I mean 5 Kihraxz Fighter Cartel.

Or just "KFC".

I wish I had thought of AC/DC, it's so perfect... Accuracy Corrector/ Dark Curse

I bought 2 more advanceds recently, bringing me up to 3, but I don't feel the need to buy the fourth since its coming in my raider. I haven't proxied it yet, but I think the list is going to rock (pun intended) anyway, as it's tankier than bbbz taking an evade each turn while still doing the same/more damage at most ranges.

I also move we call accuracy corrector tempests 'bulldogs' since they're meaty and mean and are shaped in the same sort of stocky oval way.

4 Tempests for Darky

...

like

3 Angels for Charlie

There are going to be a lot of fun variants of the 4x Tempest list.

• Add a TIE.
• Swap 1 Tempest for Colzet (a favorite of mine).
• Mix in ordnance to taste.
• Some mash-up of the above.

They are fun ships to fly.

Two hits...two hits...two hits...two hits...

You get the idea. =)

I like AC/DC. How is it "taken"?

I think there was a METAL BAND with this name. So a X-Wing squadron is not exactly what I had in my mind when I hear or read AC/DC ...

4 Tempests for Darky

So, what does everyone think -- does "AC/DC" stick?

Have you had any experiences flying it yet?

Will Ron Brannon take AC/DC to Worlds instead of BBBBZ and then win with it?

Do you plan on buying enough TIE Advanced once the Raider comes out to fly this squad?

1) Yes!

2) No.

3) I don't know.

4) Yes; have 2 now, 1 more from Raider, still need to buy 1.

I have yet to find a reason to run Dark Curse over Backstabber.

5 kfc it is then.

How much worse is the cluster missile version in numbers.

I like AC/DC. How is it "taken"?

I think there was a METAL BAND with this name. So a X-Wing squadron is not exactly what I had in my mind when I hear or read AC/DC ...

That's why it's perfect, it's the name of a rock band. I don't think I'll be confused when people say "I'm flying AC/DC" and suddenly think they're the pilot for a rock band.

Dark Curse is sigificantly better than Backstabber in most matchups.

Clusters is a pretty good option. Has anyone tried yet?

4 Tempests for Darky

And Dark Curse isn't?

I like AC/DC. How is it "taken"?

I think there was a METAL BAND with this name. So a X-Wing squadron is not exactly what I had in my mind when I hear or read AC/DC ...

That's why it's perfect, it's the name of a rock band. I don't think I'll be confused when people say "I'm flying AC/DC" and suddenly think they're the pilot for a rock band.

That's offensive to the pilots that have had to fly the band. Apologize.

I like AC/DC. How is it "taken"?

I think there was a METAL BAND with this name. So a X-Wing squadron is not exactly what I had in my mind when I hear or read AC/DC ...

There was a song in "Starlight Express" by the same name. It doesn't prevent other people from using it.

You guys do whatever, I'm gonna use it. =)