Hi all,
So I’m still pretty new to X-Wing and I’m still learning. I’m playing both Rebels and Imperials to try to figure out how the various ships work etc.
One thing I’ve struggled with is formation flying, but I think I’ve finally cracked it, and last night my TIE swarm worked like a dream.
Unfortunately I forgot my camera so no pictures I’m afraid (boo!), but I’ll run through what happened.
Imperials (me)
Howlrunner + swarm tactics
4x Obsidian TIEs
Omicron Lambda shuttle + heavy laser cannon
Rebels (my opponent)
Millennium Falcon (Han) + Chewie, push the limit, and...something else but I forget what.
2x Red X-Wings
My opponent and I played previously, and I took a Firespray build, playing it poorly. http://luddite1811.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/x-wing-trellix-takes-on-fat-han.html
I think that game gave my opponent over-confidence in the Falcon, and I intended to get the swarm right this battle.
Set up
(I’ll use the cardinal points to orient the action – I set up on the south edge and the Rebels on the north edge)
We opted for no asteroids.
I set up the shuttle in the east corner.
My swarm set up in formation in the centre, ready to go in either direction.
The Rebels set up in formation just east of centre.
My plan was from the outset to separate the shuttle and TIEs to make my opponent split his force or go for one of my divisions, and risk being flanked by the other...
Turn 1
My swarm made a fast 3-bank west, out into the centre west area of the battle space.
My shuttle crept forwards, trying to keep the HLC arc on target.
The Rebels split their force!
The Falcon turned west to head out towards my swarm, confident of destroying it.
The X-Wings charged east, looking to skip out of the shuttle’s arc.
We exchanged fire here, and knocked shields off of each other.
Turn 2
My TIE swarm cut back in, with a tight turn towards the advancing Falcon.
We exchanged fore, and my jinking meant the Falcon missed. My swarm was all on target, stripped all the Flacon’s shields off and caused a Hit. Chewie saved it and restored a shield.
The shuttle, not wanting to dogfight with the X-Wings powered up and charged over to help the TIE swarm with the Flacon.
The X-Wings banked in and were out the fight for turn 2.
Turn 3
The TIE swarm closed in for the kill and I got 4 of the 5 TIEs on target at range 1.
Han opened fire at point blank range, but even with rerolls, the TIE he targeted still only took 1 Hit! Gotta love jink actions!
12 dice from the swarm with 4 Howlrunner rerolls took out the Falcon in a single turn!! I didn’t even need the shuttle’s HLC.
The X-Wings turned in on the shuttle and took it down to 1 remaining Hit.
Turn 4
The TIE swarm k-turned to get back in on the X-Wings.
The X-wings destroyed the shuttle.
Turn 5
The TIE swarm and the X-wings met head on, and in a turn of shooting, both X-wings were destroyed.
Conclusion
A brutal game that left my opponent shell-shocked!
This is the first time I’ve really got my act together on the swarm manoeuvring. Getting all the TIEs to fly in formation, and stay on target without bumping into each other has been something I struggled with. It worked perfectly last night and the TIE swarm tactic seems highly effective. I expect the Rebels will come up with something to counter it!
