Hello guys !

I've added an Assault Frigate to my Rebel fleet and played it for a couple of games, really enjoying the boat so far. The main build I've used was : Mark B, Gallant Heaven, Adar Tallon, Expanded Hangar Bay and ECM, because it felt like the obvious build to maximize any squadron-based support.

However, I've noticed in games that very often my fighters would be either out of the action if I kept them at the 1 range or would be out of the 1 range of the ship if I wanted to play it a bit safer.

So, the question was, wouldn't it be more interesting to throw the Gallant Heaven on a Mark 2 with Expanded Hangar Bay, losing 1 squadron to activate per activation, but being more effective at close range due to the extra blue dice in the front and rear arcs, while offering a good anti-fighter barrage, further improving fighter superiority ? Due to the short range of the fighters, I'd imagine the Gallant Heaven would want to be up close and personal.

On the other hand, for Paragon, since you can add a black die at any distance, wouldn't a Mark B be more interesting ? Staying at long range blasting the enemy boat from two arcs while sending 3 squadrons as a fighter screen to intercept both incoming fighters and incoming ships.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on that

Mark A + Hangars is 14 points for an extra anti-squadron die + blue on butt and front

I wouldn't bother trying to gear fatties for close range. You don't have to milk Haven every turn (even the mark A doesn't like getting close). As long as she delivers your slower squadrons into the enemy's face, it's done its job even if it never triggers.

that is, unless you're running double frigates. If so, then Haven's job is just to circle the table with her buddy, chucking dice at the enemy and being a massive nuisance. The caveat is that she runs the inside lap of the circle, surrounded by some very mean and difficult to kill squadrons which'll turn her into a big wall of "nope." The combination of Fattie maneuverability (not shown on the nav chart, but greatly emphasized by their powerful, long range side arcs) and long range firepower should force the opponent to you.

personally, I just run mark Bs for both. Not enough points @300 to throw all the fun toys on Mark As while having enough squadrons

Paragon Mark A is ideal because really any range that triggers paragon is fine, because paragon is a boss monster. The question is whether or not those blue dice are worth almost an entire EA (imo, not really; Paragon's pretty dang difficult to trigger and I'll take my big, long range side arc shots for the sake of reliability)

Haven Mark B is ideal because Haven's going to get her face kicked in ASAP and you want her to be as "cheap" (massive finger quotes after loading a fattie w/title, ECM, and EA/squadron-support) as possible. Having the extra Squadron also helps out.

The anti-squadron on the Mark A is fine, but seeing as how Haven has been the deciding factor in every single squadron engagement in m games--easily beating out 6 dice interceptors with X-wings on a regular basis (my experience, anyway) because it cancels something absurd like 8 damage (attacks and counters)--I don't think you really need it

By "mark", I assume you mean A or B variant. In general, I prefer the B variant to save points unless I really think that I will need the extra front/rear die or if it will be operating completely on its own without fighter cover and will want the extra anti-squadron die. I don't think either of the titles really change that. If I have one of each, I would put the Paragon on the A.

Yes indeed, sorry about that, I meant variant A or B

You guys do make some good points about the cost, the fact that the MK2 A can operate better on her own without much titles, while do seem synchronize better with a cheaper variant. Fickle, you made a good point about the Gallant Delivering the squadron rather than brawling with them and I can totally see how useful it can be against a fighter screen that will try to tie them up. They'll stick with the Haven while the enemy spreads out his screen to intercept them in order to withstand the attack longer and ensure fighter superiority, then move on to attack the capital ships.