COMMENT:

I`m going to change Jake Farrell and replace the veteran instincts with a "crack shot" ability when i get it in the mail.

Han needs to go slow the first round, in order to get kyle katarn stress bonus working. I always position myself so that i have the free "focus" when the fighting commences.

That way i get 3 actions per round. It requires some thinking since you need to avoid cheap ships blocking your path and you need to stick with green maneuvers.

CONCEPT:

Typically i decide on a primary target at the offset and try to get an initial attack at range 3. At his point i launch my homing missiles on a single elite target or two cheap targets (if it`s a swarm).

2x Homing Missiles are the perfect opening move. They ignore evade tokens and with "focus" + "TL", you typically get a lot of hits. Defenders don`t get agility bonus, but my own ships typically get a defensive bonus when they take return fire.

Last game I had Soontir Fel went down in the first round of combat, after a well positioned focus fire took him out. In other games against TIE swarms, i frequently critically damage two TIEs while taking no damage to myself and in the next round I mop up those damaged TIEs and greatly reduce incoming damage.

Jake Farrell is super mobile and can skip around the map, dictating range and angle to targets. Once i get crack shot on him, his opening missile move is going to be pure death. It`s pure joy to boost around asteroids and firing arcs to get those 3 dice in the back of a target- modified with TL + Focus, that tends to get alot damage on target. And he`s a pain to hit. Even for turrets.

Han is incredibly flexible. I tend to move around with 1x Focus and 1x Evade. For the "PTL" action I tend to switch between "TL" and "Boost" depending on whether i need to dodge an arc, get into range 1 in order to exploit and existing TL or i need a TL to finnish off a target.

If i`m in a bad situation and i`m going to take a lot of fire, i tend to turtle up and go with 2x Evade + 1x Focus, while Jake exploits and goes for the range 1 flank.

The 2x Homing missile set up is expensive, but I feel that most of the time it`s worth it. Even with focus + TL you can have a crap result and the defender can roll triple evade, but most of the time I find they do their job.

And they are amazing at softening up both swarms and hostile ships with lots of HP- from a safe distance.

I can totally see double homing missiles at PS9 being effective. However, I don't think crack shot is a good alternative for Jake in this case. You won't get it off against Soontir (or other PS8+ agile ships) if Jake is trying to grab a TL at PS7. At least not on the initial engagement turn. You might be able to get off later, depending on how things go, and to be honest, its still not a bad thing because Jake looming around with a TL and those homing missiles still in the tubes is going to draw attention, taking pressure off of Han (which can only help you in the end game).

So those are the good points of the list. The bad part is Han w/ Push the Limit. I get the interaction with Kyle there, its nice to have an extra focus for your attack, but I think Nien Numb would be more helpful in the long run. Being stuck on 1/2 straight and 1 banks to clear stress makes Han extremely predictible. A smart player will ruin Han's day, especially if you face a swarm where they can really punish Han for limited movement. Of course, you don't have to use push the limit all the time, and that will certainly help, but then your damage output becomes meh and you could lose from a string of bad attack rolls.

Anyway, I agree that Han + Jake is 'a thing'. I've seen it used effectively with a different loadout, but regardless what you put on them, they can be a good pair because neither is an easy kill.

I can totally see double homing missiles at PS9 being effective. However, I don't think crack shot is a good alternative for Jake in this case. You won't get it off against Soontir (or other PS8+ agile ships) if Jake is trying to grab a TL at PS7. At least not on the initial engagement turn. You might be able to get off later, depending on how things go, and to be honest, its still not a bad thing because Jake looming around with a TL and those homing missiles still in the tubes is going to draw attention, taking pressure off of Han (which can only help you in the end game).

So those are the good points of the list. The bad part is Han w/ Push the Limit. I get the interaction with Kyle there, its nice to have an extra focus for your attack, but I think Nien Numb would be more helpful in the long run. Being stuck on 1/2 straight and 1 banks to clear stress makes Han extremely predictible. A smart player will ruin Han's day, especially if you face a swarm where they can really punish Han for limited movement. Of course, you don't have to use push the limit all the time, and that will certainly help, but then your damage output becomes meh and you could lose from a string of bad attack rolls.

Anyway, I agree that Han + Jake is 'a thing'. I've seen it used effectively with a different loadout, but regardless what you put on them, they can be a good pair because neither is an easy kill.

I agree there is a danger of getting predictable.

Because of this I try to use asteroids tactically during engagements. I never engage out in the open if i can avoid it.

My thought is to move for a good initial position and stick close to asteroids so i can break the engagement and reposition under cover of the asteroid.

Somehow it`s been working out. I started off crashing alot into asteroids or allowing myself to get blocked by TIEs because i tried to maintain the green movements. Then i learned to not care and also learned how not to keep crashing on the asteroids.

I can usually keep Han out of trouble and if he lands in the thick of it, he can load up on evade tokens. It obviously helps having Jake blasting across the field and he can circle asteroids like none other. Most players loose focus after a few rounds and keep switching targets which helps out a great deal.

It`s not every time I`ve been able to get the Homing Missiles off in the initial engagement, but as you say- that can sometimes be a good thing.

My current strategy now, is to position for the initial engagement and then either go for the kill at range 1 with both ships or split up, break off with Han for asteroid cover or range 3 while Jake goes off trying to split up the hostile ships. IF the opponent turns for jake, he can always catch up with han using his bonuses.

Interesting concept, thanks for sharing. I'm not entirely sold on PTL+Kyle on Han either, Predator + Gunner is usually such a good buy on him especially with the meta switching back to low ps. The only real upside i see here is shaving 2 points off Han so you can fit in those 2 Homing missiles.

Maybe you can convince me: How did this list do against Brobots? Is Han able to hit them without Gunner?

I wonder - have you faced 4Y with TLT yet? (or other mass-TLT builds). Han usually has a very hard time with those if they spread out, 1agi just doesnt last long against 4TLT. Any experience so far?

I`ve used this set-up in my last 6 games and in those I have not faced any scum players.

Not faced any TLT builds either, since K-Wings are still not on sale in Norway. I ordered a couple from Amazon.co.uk when they went on sale on the 27th, but i don`t get them until the end of next week.

I`ve tried the predator + gunner build and it`s nice and aggressive, but less flexible.

PTL + Kyle + C3PO has more flexibility and can be very aggressive when you need to. TL + Focus tends to give me whatever hits I need and lets me maximize hits more often than re-rolling ALL dice. I only rarely use Hans re-roll ability and would have been using lando instead if his skill wasn`t so mediocre.

Current experience with my build is to NOT get stuck on the green maneuvers. I tend to position myself with max actions when the fighting starts and then maybe i do one or two more rounds (depending on targets and positions on the map), then I do a long maneuver without PTL in order to get range 3 and reposition while jake does harassment. Then I start slow-boating again for a couple of turns while hostiles try to catch up or get in my way. When it gets hot i go long and reposition again- either by circling asteroids or by K-turns.

Positioning, timing and maneuvering is only important at the start. Once the other player only has 1 or 2 ships left I can slow-boat as much as I want a keep kyle going.

With 3 actions there is alot of flexibility.

I am however considering a change to Jake.

I am considering changing veteran instincts for "Lone Wofl". I`d have to replace homing missile wih concussion missile, but since Jake already operates on his own most of time and "lone wolf" works both on offense and defense, i think it might work.

I`m very concerned about the 4x Y-wing with TLT- looking forwad to facing it, because it will be interesting to see how to powerfull missile strikes will perform. Think asteroids will be very important in these games. Knock one out early and use asteroids to splt up the rest. Will have to see..

Here is a picture from my last fight- creamed soontir with Homing Missile double tap..

http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/BaudolinoX/media/X-Wing/20150822_210549.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1