So I plan on running this tomorrow against a friend of mine who normally runs Imperials.
Guri (30)
Expert Handling (2)
Advanced Proton Torpedoes (6)
Autothrusters (2)
Talonbane Cobra (28)
Squad Leader (2)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Black Sun Soldier (13)
Black Sun Soldier (13)
Total: 100
What are your thoughts on it?
Personally, I don't really like Squad Leader in that list. You've given Talonbane an action in Engine Upgrade, so if you use Squad Leader, you lose the ability to boost during that round. I'd actually rather see Lightning Reflexes + Inertial Dampeners on Talonbane, than Squad Leader. But even further, I haven't felt the need for Engine Upgrade on Talonbane. He's a pretty maneuverable ship as he is. Granted, he's no arc dodger, but I don't think he was meant to be. I usually put Predator+Glitterstim on him, but I think if you want to go with EU, Lightning Reflexes + Inertial Dampeners makes him really slippery.
For Guri, I've never seen Expert Handling on her before, but it certainly has potential. You just need to hope that you're going to have higher PS than her targets so she can re-position out of arc and get into Range 1 to get the focus token. That could be neat.
Also, I usually see Deadeye on Guri when she has the Advanced Proton Torpedoes so she can hit someone higher PS than her even if she can't get the Target Lock when she moves, but that is probably a suboptimal list. Yours gives you some flexibility. If you get the TL in one round, the next round you can barrel roll into position and fire it with your focus for being at range 1 of an enemy. Or, if you happen to be in range 1 after your maneuver, you can just Target Lock and then get the focus for being at range 1 before firing your torpedoes. It's pretty innovative and definitely worth a spin.
I'm curious to see how this list does.
Squad Leader, eh? It's some interesting tech.
It looks like your list is exactly designed to throw down with the APTs, as you've included just about every possible thing to get them to activate. Guri's got two methods to get into position, and will get the focus token from her pilot ability, and that positing happens from Talonbane's SL so you get the TL from her action to enact it....
Believe it or not, though, I still think that the APT are a mistake. Yes, it's got a whopping 63/64 chance of producing 5 damage in a single attack. However...
You're spending 8 points, 3 actions across 2 ships, and 1 attack to pull it off. Once.
Yes, 8 points. Once the APT are up, there is almost no utility left in Squad Leader.
Its more useful to get 2x Advanced Homing Missiles on your Z-95s, methinks.
I am intrigued by the potential of EH on Guri. I tend to run Predator on her in my attempt at "Scum Aces". Freeing up 1 point for LR on Talonbane could be worth testing though. I do agree with Budger though, I'm not a fan of Squad Leader here. I'd much rather have Glitterstim on Talonbane.
Guri (30)
Talonbane Cobra (28)
Kavil (24)
Obviously Kavil instead of the Black Sun Soldiers is the biggest difference. I just seem to get more mileage out of him in my relatively small ship heavy local meta. The 2 Black Suns would definitely be better if your friend runs out a decimator though.
If you fly Cobra with the Black Sun Soldier, I'd swap Squad Leader for Swarm Tactics so they are both shooting nines.
Guri is a dream - I use her often. I most obsessively pair her with Virago, Autothrusters, Advanced Sensors, and Push the Limit. I recommend that configuration. She gets 2 actions before she reveals her dial, then reveals a green to clear the stress. That, or she takes a single action, reveals dial, s-loops for stress. If you are flying her correctly, she's actually getting 3 or 2 actions because she'll be range 1 and pickup a focus.
How about this one of these two instead?
Talonbane Cobra (28)
Swarm Tactics (2)
Glitterstim (2)
Guri (30)
Marksmanship (3)
Advanced Proton Torpedoes (6)
Autothrusters (2)
Black Sun Soldier (13)
Black Sun Soldier (13)
Total: 99
or
Talonbane Cobra (28)
Swarm Tactics (2)
Glitterstim (2)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Guri (30)
Push the Limit (3)
Advanced Proton Torpedoes (6)
Advanced Sensors (3)
Glitterstim (2)
Autothrusters (2)
Virago (1)
Black Sun Soldier (13)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Total: 100
Glitterstim is bonkers its so fun - I love crackshot as well.
The former list is my preference, as it adds another Black Sun soldier. The loadout for Guri is superior on the latter.
In either case, Adv Proton Torpedoes is a big point investment that could be removed.
ARe you able to configure Guri to be a bit leaner on the upgrades but get your extra Black Sun Soldier in?
I don't think I could. I should probably throw a bit of info in but the guy I plan on playing against runs Decimators and Phantoms most of the time. I have had really good runs with APT on Guri. She was able to cripple a Raider in epic with one shot of the APT.
One must always fly what they enjoy.
As aforementioned, I have been a fan recently of crackshot and glitterstim - perhaps with APT you'd be packing a very painful punch. Alternatively, you could use Outmaneuver instead of Marksmanship or PtL on Guri so you are reducing y our opponents agility by 1 - not relevant vs. a Decimator of course.
If you fly Cobra with the Black Sun Soldier, I'd swap Squad Leader for Swarm Tactics so they are both shooting nines.
Guri is a dream - I use her often. I most obsessively pair her with Virago, Autothrusters, Advanced Sensors, and Push the Limit. I recommend that configuration. She gets 2 actions before she reveals her dial, then reveals a green to clear the stress. That, or she takes a single action, reveals dial, s-loops for stress. If you are flying her correctly, she's actually getting 3 or 2 actions because she'll be range 1 and pickup a focus.
Pretty sure you don't actually need Virago in that Guri setup. Pilot talent(PTL), system upgrade(Adv Sensors), and a modification(AT). You're not actually gaining anything from the Virago so you can free up a point for initiative at the very least.
Virago unlocks the system slot
Oops, must've been a glitch in the builder.co.uk It was letting me include a system upgrade without Virago. My mistake