ok so i will be playing in only my second escalation tournament, now the last time i took Empire and it didn't go so well. This time i was thinking about using Scum. Now originally i thought about using either Boba/Kath with a swarm of Z-95's but then i got the idea of using multiple IG-88's.What do you guys think ?

Round 1

IG-88 A +Adrenaline Rush +Fletchette Cannon =39

Binayre Pirate =12

total =51 points

(the Fletchette is so if i can get behind someone after a joust i can stay there and i chose A because i expect many ships so why not)

Round 2

IG-88A +Adrenaline Rush+Fletchette Cannon+IG2000 =39

IG-88B or D +Adrenaline Rush+Fletchette Cannon+IG2000 =39

Binayre Pirate =12

total=90 pts.

Round 3

IG-88A +Adrenaline Rush+Fletchette Cannon+IG2000+Advanced Sensors+Proximity mine+Inertial Dampeners =46

IG-88B or D +Adrenaline Rush+Fletchette Cannon+IG2000+Advanced Sensors+Proximity mine+Inertial Dampeners =46

Binayre Pirate+Feedback Array =14

Binayre Pirate+Feedback Array =14

total=120

Round 4

IG-88A +Adrenaline Rush+Fletchette Cannon+IG2000+Advanced Sensors+Proximity mine =45

IG-88B or D +Adrenaline Rush+Fletchette Cannon+IG2000+Advanced Sensors+Proximity mine =45

Binayre Pirate+Feedback Array =14

Binayre Pirate+Feedback Array =14

with the amount of Feedbacks i can set up enemy ships for easy kills by my IG-88's and play havoc with things like Soontir and hopefully whisper

Well that didn't go well at all, Flechette cannon has to be the worst cannon in the game, the limitation of the target not being stressed really only allowed me to use them like twice , and Z-95's only used Feedback maybe 3 times in total so again not worth it. i don't really like Escalation much either , i was expecting to see less PWT's but there where more than usual but they ended up being Tanky Chewies or Fringers with HLC's

Well that didn't go well at all, Flechette cannon has to be the worst cannon in the game, the limitation of the target not being stressed really only allowed me to use them like twice , and Z-95's only used Feedback maybe 3 times in total so again not worth it. i don't really like Escalation much either , i was expecting to see less PWT's but there where more than usual but they ended up being Tanky Chewies or Fringers with HLC's

I'm sorry you had a bad experience with the format, and I wish I had gotten to critique your list earlier.

First, let's critique your Round 4, then your Round 1, and build 2 and 3 to fit your goods.

Round 4

IG-88A +Adrenaline Rush+Fletchette Cannon+IG2000+Advanced Sensors+Proximity mine =45

IG-88B or D +Adrenaline Rush+Fletchette Cannon+IG2000+Advanced Sensors+Proximity mine =45

Binayre Pirate+Feedback Array =14

Binayre Pirate+Feedback Array =14

Black sun soldier +Feedback Array =15

Black sun soldier +Feedback Array =15

=150

88A's ability is an interesting inclusion, as in the 100 point world he's currently considered to be unplayable.

In Escalation-ville, where the Large Ships in Round 1 still have at least one 12 point craft flying with them, Swarms are suddenly more viable. Therefore, 88A's ability is as well.

However, he's best included later in the game, when more fleets have more ships. I'd like to see him come out Wave 3 at the earliest, unless your metagame is ultra-swarmy.

B or D? No contest. B. Every day of the week, and twice on sundays.

A free gunner is amazing. A free gunner driving your CANNON is borderline overpowered.

Binayres vs Black Suns, + Feedback Arrays

You want all of your feedbacks on the same Pilot Skill, so you can choose which feedback to use.

You also want more Feedback, if you can fit it, but you might do more elsewhere.

Upgrades on IG-88s

AD rush should be useful very rarely, but there are far better options for Elite Talents on these boys.

Flechette Cannon is Autoblaster-tier. That is to say, unplayable.

Advanced Sensors is actually really good, but we might find better elsewhere.

Proximity Mines play against yourself, rather than for you. Go elsewhere.

So, that's 14 points of "Get outta here", between faulty IG-88 upgrades and the PS bid on your Z-95s.

My version of a Round 4 list with the same ships, and different upgrades?

IG-88A

+ Title + Autothrusters + Fire-Control Systems + Heavy Laser Cannons

-=^_[{(47)}]=-

IG-88B

+ Title + Autothrusters + Fire-Control Systems + Heavy Laser Cannons

-=^_[{(47)}]=-

4x Binyare Pirates

+ Feedback Array

-=^{_{[{(14 Each)}]}}=-

150 Total

Now, onto a Round 1 start: What is the most threatening version of this list we can run, so that you have at least 2 ships, curve well into Rounds 3 and 4, and only have 60 points?

We want to start with 88B and a Z-95. B will have an HLC.

Can't fit both B and A into round one, and A's ability is a non-factor if you run into anything other than a Swarm in Round 1.

You also want at least ONE of the two Aggressors in Round 1, if for no other reason than they don't curve well elsewhere.

So far, that puts us at 55/60. Decent, though it does mean we can't have 88A in Round 2.

What CAN we do in Round 2?

+2 Z95s puts us at 11 points under: which isn't great, but we can look at upgrades and/or the addition of 88A the following round, which doesn't work if you include the HLC at the time.

So that's +1 Z-95 and a bunch of upgrades, then.

Maxing out our builds on the 3 ships leaves us 15 points under-whelming. Which is almost a guaranteed loss for the round

Maybe we should switch HLC to Mangler? That affords us 3 points more per IG-88...

This is the kind of thinking I do when prepping an Escalation fleet. I can continue with you, if you like.

Thanks for the advice, i have played in 2 escalation tournaments in 1 year, las time i was full of Imps with Firesprays and tie fighters with the occasional Shuttle. This time we where 2 Imp,2 Scum and 6 Rebels. I've been playing with Dual IG's since they where released and i knew i was taking a risk bringing bad cannons and not taking Autothrusters, they would have saved me many times. The mines where an attempt to use the bomb slot on IG because i have found that the other bombs are hard to use and High PS ships like to come up behind them so i wanted to leave them little treats, but in 4 games the combined 4 mines did 2 dmg, i won't be taking the bombs anymore thats for sure, in fact when the Tractor beam comes out i will probably be auto include.