Title says it all. I've been trying different builds for my fleet, and finding my current strategy (Of have 3-4 X-Wings to tie up bombers) isn't really great. Most of the time I'm just handing free victory point to my opponent to hold back the rush for a turn or three.

So I'm wondering: With enough Anti-Squadron firepower from AF2's and Escort Frigates...could you feasibly run with no fighters? My gut says no. That the Rhymer medium range bombs and the Rebel plethora of bombers would just ruin you.

There are builds out there with no squadron support, but they tend to be fast moving gimmicks like 3 tricked out Gladiators or a corvette swarm.

A fellow put up a three vic list without fighters. I believe its in the builds subforum. It was intriguing.

I have yet to try a squadronless build though I do have some lying around in my phone.

Yes, I have seen some no squadron builds fare pretty well against their opponents. A lot depends on the composition of the enemy fleet. A friend of mine fielded a squadron-free rebel force against me the other day. I had gone with a squadron heavy build for the empire. I had two TIE fighter squadron's, a TIE Advanced, Soonter Fel, Admiral Chiraneau and Flight Controllers that were essentially useless wastes of points against the fleet he fielded. My 4 TIE Bombers were only semi-effective since he had nothing but fast moving Nebulon-Bs and Corvettes which were hard to keep pace with.

anti-squadron barrages are magnificent for supporting your squadrons (especially B-wings) by shredding enemy ties

they're not something I'd ever rely on to take on the entire enemy squadron component on their own

There's a guy in our local league who has been doing very will with two VSD1s and a Gladiator led by screed, no squadrons. He said that against bomber heavy builds the bombers usually take down one of his ships, but not fast enough to stop him from doing a lot more damage against the enemy ships.

Yes!

No!

Maybe.

Can you repeat the question?

Well, if your running, then yes. But no water breaks at the orbital station, you hear!

Yes, you certainly can.

Should you when utilizing certain ships, like a VSD? No I don't think so. But I absolutely do believe there to be successful builds that do not run Squadrons, and are valid in not doing so.

I'm very surprised to hear of a VSD heavy build going squadron light successfully. If I was against that, I'd rush with squadrons (or at least some of them to not clump all my squads in anti fighter range, and keep some back in case the VSD get past) and hold back the capitals for as many turns as possible.

I play rebels and every time I've reduced my fighter support I've lost. With decent fighter support (AF2 and/or Neb B Yavaris) I win most of the time. If I could field a Corvette swarm I'd consider having no squadrons, but that's the only situation I would.

I made this as an experiment:

REBEL FLEET (296 points)
1 • Objectives - Opening Salvo - Contested Outpost - Minefields (0)
2 • Assault Frigate Mark II A - General Dodonna (101)
3 • Assault Frigate Mark II A (81)
4 • Nebulon-B Escort Frigate (57)
5 • Nebulon-B Escort Frigate (57)
http://armada.fabpsb.net/permalink.php?sq=r0a4a5a11r7c2r7r3r3

It plays well enough, even against fleets with squadrons.

All 4 ships have 2 blue AAA dice, so basic TIEs and INTs get killed fairly quickly. Against other fighters, especially Rebel ones, it takes some effort to kill them.

If my opponent lets me go first I have 4 ships, which means I'm super-likely to get double moves. But there are some Objectives I struggle with - Superior Positions comes to mind for example, so I'd rather go second.

My only regret is that Garm costs 1 point too many to have in this fleet - would have been fun just to try him out.

Sounds like not a lot of fun!

Every game I've played so far with friends, we've taken TONS of fighters, even ignoring the 1/3 rule. The little fighters are just SO cool looking!

No, I really don't think so! I honestly cannot see how these would operate in space...

5 Vic1 @ 400 points anybody? ^^

No need for Fighter coverage.

Just move them in Fortress Formation

At 400 pts I would consider that even more vulnerable.

I got 2nd in a tournament with a squadronless build! http://www.outpostzero.net/2015/06/star-wars-armada-300-point-spring.html

At 400 pts I would consider that even more vulnerable.

As for the question. I take 1 maybe 2 X-Wings to tie up fighters. I like to send in 1 let them waste the command then send in the second. It gives me time to handle things

It's not that I think the Squadrons will destroy a ship on thier own. Though yes enough Bombers will absolutely do that if unopposed. It is that they will be able to weaken a VSD enough that your opponent will me able to easily destroy it in a single round of Ship on Ship engagement.

Title says it all. I've been trying different builds for my fleet, and finding my current strategy (Of have 3-4 X-Wings to tie up bombers) isn't really great. Most of the time I'm just handing free victory point to my opponent to hold back the rush for a turn or three.

So I'm wondering: With enough Anti-Squadron firepower from AF2's and Escort Frigates...could you feasibly run with no fighters? My gut says no. That the Rhymer medium range bombs and the Rebel plethora of bombers would just ruin you.

I prefer minimal fighter support, generally 3 A-wings. I wouldn't go zero. The engagements rules basically mean even one fighter stand can hold up anything and everything. On top of that the 6 turn limit means stopping the enemy fighters for 3 turns means they are going to be incredibly hard pressed to do anything meaningful to your ships. So I just feed the enemy fighter cloud an A-Wing per turn. You may feel like you wasted points but looking at it from your opponents perspective he just spent up to a third of his points just to kill 3 fighters, not a great return.

You mentioned you were using 3-4 X-wings for this. I'd suggest switching to A-Wings. It's tougher to pull the stall tactic with slower fighters (speed 5 Tie Bombers can give slow X-Wings fits) and if they are probably going to die anyway you might as well make them cheaper anyway and take advantage of counter. This will free up your commands and points to make your ships more effective.

If you really want to go no fighter, then I'd suggest you stick to Assault Frigates and Corvettes. The Assault Frigate gives you something more beefy with good all around shield coverage and maneuverability. The corvette gives you incredibly speed and efficient firepower, and you can always just get out of dodge if you are about to get swarmed by bombers. I'd stay away from the Neb. Even though it brings good AS dice it's flanks and lack of redirect make it incredibly vulnerable to bombing runs.

As to the fighters I'd worry about, the biggest concern would be a Rhymer swarm. Fast and can lob dice at longer ranges. Playing Rebels I've found you can just generally outrun them. Stick to speed three and they are going to have think pretty far ahead to catch you with any of their bombers if you move correctly. The exception is getting swarmed by A-Wings. Black dice hurt, even without the criticals.

5 Vic1 @ 400 points anybody? ^^

No need for Fighter coverage.

Just move them in Fortress Formation

...And, it would look BLOODY AWESOME!

Dah, Dah, Dah

Dah, Dee, Dah

Dah, Dee, Dah!

No, I really don't think so! I honestly cannot see how these would operate in space...

Well played sir.

5 Vic1 @ 400 points anybody? ^^

No need for Fighter coverage.

Just move them in Fortress Formation

...And, it would look BLOODY AWESOME!

Dah, Dah, Dah

Dah, Dee, Dah

Dah, Dee, Dah!

Actually I'd love to try this ...

Yeah you cannot really fly them in a fortress formation because there is no height, but I think they could withstand squadrons ... and with Motti you had 10 HP more in sum ... thats even more then if you had 6 Victories without Motti.

No, I really don't think so! I honestly cannot see how these would operate in space...

Well played sir.

But actually there is a Zero Space Fighter