So recently I have been considering the Raider (mainly because I have one now. . . joy. . .) and a thought popped into my head when going over Tarkin and a thought popped into my head. One that surprised me because I had not seen it on the forums.

The thought:

Raider 1 is 44 points

Expanded Hanger Bay is 5 points.

a VSD 1 is 73 points.

So 3 Raiders which are faster, can damage enemy squadrons better and increases your activation count is 147 points while 2 VSD 1's is 146.

I present the Pocket Carrier.

Discuss, though I feel I will hear much dissent over this.

I guess the reverse of it is how much of a Combat Loss Grouping you'll get with Raiders vs. Victories when the enemy starts throwing Red Dice at you.

Hmmm, a CVE? Combustible Vulnerable Expendable? (Nevemind that things can't combust in space)

You may be on to something here....never thought about it.

You can have an additional ship for activation, each raider can activate up to 2 squadrons (when using hanger bays), and if you want, for an additional 6 points per raider you can add flight controllers.

Raider swarm + squadrons.....gonna have to toy around with this idea

It presents an interesting choice. I don't know about going with three but two running the hangar bays along with fast squadrons would give a nice bit of flexibility.

You may be on to something here....never thought about it.

You can have an additional ship for activation, each raider can activate up to 2 squadrons (when using hanger bays), and if you want, for an additional 6 points per raider you can add flight controllers.

Raider swarm + squadrons.....gonna have to toy around with this idea

Add Tarkin and you can get 3 every turn.

It presents an interesting choice. I don't know about going with three but two running the hangar bays along with fast squadrons would give a nice bit of flexibility.

You mean all of the Imperial squadrons?

It also has access to Flight Controllers.

(400 of 400 pts)
Flagship: (92 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Grand Moff Tarkin (38 pts)
• Admiral Montferrat (5 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Fleet Ship 1: (49 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Fleet Ship 2: (49 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Fleet Ship 3: (49 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Fleet Ship 4: (49 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Squadrons (112 of 134 pts):

• 1x Howlrunner Tie Fighter Squadron (16 pts)
• 12x Tie Fighter Squadron (96 pts)

ALL THE TIES!

This would be pretty funny though, just overwhelm them with squadrons.

(400 of 400 pts)

Flagship: (92 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Grand Moff Tarkin (38 pts)
• Admiral Montferrat (5 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Fleet Ship 1: (49 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Fleet Ship 2: (49 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Fleet Ship 3: (49 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Fleet Ship 4: (49 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Squadrons (112 of 134 pts):

• 1x Howlrunner Tie Fighter Squadron (16 pts)
• 12x Tie Fighter Squadron (96 pts)

ALL THE TIES!

This would be pretty funny though, just overwhelm them with squadrons.

I would throw Rhymer in there somewhere and call it great!

It is also something to note that while the Raider can not swarm as effectively as the CR90 swarm can, it is a better carrier. . . I like the distinction.

The one issue I saw when I contemplated this was that raiders need their speed and commanding squadrons will slow them and crimp their movement. If I did it, I'd want 4 Raiders and a balance of fighters and Rogue enabled squads maxing at 134 pts for squadrons.

I would just run bombers, and count on the raiders for anti squadron support.

(400 of 400 pts)

Flagship: (92 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Grand Moff Tarkin (38 pts)
• Admiral Montferrat (5 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Fleet Ship 1: (49 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Fleet Ship 2: (49 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Fleet Ship 3: (49 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Fleet Ship 4: (49 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Squadrons (112 of 134 pts):

• 1x Howlrunner Tie Fighter Squadron (16 pts)
• 12x Tie Fighter Squadron (96 pts)

ALL THE TIES!

This would be pretty funny though, just overwhelm them with squadrons.

I may be stealing this list... Just saying. I love it and agree, Fit Rhymer in and I am a huge fan.

With Tarkin you can give back a couple of those hangar bays for a bid or to get Rhymer or other ace in there.

The one issue I saw when I contemplated this was that raiders need their speed and commanding squadrons will slow them and crimp their movement. If I did it, I'd want 4 Raiders and a balance of fighters and Rogue enabled squads maxing at 134 pts for squadrons.

Yes and no. With Rhymer you have a combat platform that the raiders can move around.

With their speed they don't have a ton of yaw in their chart so it is not as jarring as one might think.

With Tarkin you can give back a couple of those hangar bays for a bid or to get Rhymer or other ace in there.

Rhymer, 2 Firesprays, and I think they are good. Ozzel could also work instead of Tarkin to save points. Maybe even Motti.

I bring you: the Gladiator carrier fleet, aka. Tarkin's revenge:

I like the idea of a flankng Pocket Carrier.

Its just that we currently don't have a proper fighter/bomber to go with the raider.

Not yet. I hope the Tie Defender will be speed 5 and have some staying power as well as the Bomber keyword to accompany Raider Pocket Carriers.

If you replace Tarkin I'd use Screed and find 6 more points for Torpedoes on 4 of the raiders.

With Tarkin you can give back a couple of those hangar bays for a bid or to get Rhymer or other ace in there.

Rhymer, 2 Firesprays, and I think they are good. Ozzel could also work instead of Tarkin to save points. Maybe even Motti.

With Tarkin they don't necessarily need the Hangar Bays. That's five ships each getting one squadron activation regardless of their dial. Keep maybe two bays and spread that fifteen points around a bit for more. It doesn't seem efficient to spend points on firespray/rogue when you're going to be going with squadron commands. Spend the points on bays or on rogue.

I bring you: the Gladiator carrier fleet, aka. Tarkin's revenge:

[ EMPIRE FLEET (400 points)

1 • Gladiator I-class Star Destroyer - Grand Moff Tarkin (94)

2 • Gladiator I-class Star Destroyer - Engine Techs - Demolisher (74)

3 • Gladiator I-class Star Destroyer - Flight Controllers (62)

4 • Gladiator I-class Star Destroyer - Flight Controllers (62)

5 • Major Rhymer TIE Bomber Squadron (16)

6 • TIE Advanced Squadron (12)

7 • TIE Advanced Squadron (12)

8 • JumpMaster 5000 (12)

9 • Howlrunner'' TIE Fighter Squadron (16)

10 • TIE Fighter Squadron (8)

11 • TIE Fighter Squadron (8)

12 • TIE Fighter Squadron (8)

13 • TIE Fighter Squadron (8)

14 • TIE Fighter Squadron (8)

http://armada.fabpsb.net/permalink.php?sq=e5c1e5s3f12e5w2e5w2e8e12e12e23e3e4e4e4e4e4 ]

I've done the Gladiator mini-carrier thing, shielding my bombers from engagement by running them physically behind the Glad (Like german soldiers behind a Panzer)

It's certainly interesting, but not particularly effective in my experience, since for this to work you need multiple ships that want navigation commands to be issuing Squadron commands over and over again.

Bigger carriers require fewer dials, and are thus almost universally preferable IMO.

(400 of 400 pts)

Flagship: (92 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Grand Moff Tarkin (38 pts)
• Admiral Montferrat (5 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Fleet Ship 1: (49 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Fleet Ship 2: (49 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Fleet Ship 3: (49 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Fleet Ship 4: (49 pts)

• Raider I-Class Corvette(44 pts)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5 pts)

Squadrons (112 of 134 pts):

• 1x Howlrunner Tie Fighter Squadron (16 pts)
• 12x Tie Fighter Squadron (96 pts)

ALL THE TIES!

This would be pretty funny though, just overwhelm them with squadrons.

I may be stealing this list... Just saying. I love it and agree, Fit Rhymer in and I am a huge fan.

By all means

I made the list in about 2 min, so nothing special lol

Id argue that you have 13 stands of fighters and 15 available due to commands/tarkin. You could cut 2 expanded hangar bays to trim 10pts and either upgrade a squadron(s) or add some other upgrade (boosted comms.....) I don't have the new upgrade cards committed to memory yet.

Id argue that you have 13 stands of fighters and 15 available due to commands/tarkin. You could cut 2 expanded hangar bays to trim 10pts and either upgrade a squadron(s) or add some other upgrade (boosted comms.....) I don't have the new upgrade cards committed to memory yet.

Boosted Comms is an offensive retrofit, and so would replace the hangars on a Raider, leaving it able to activate one squadron at long range. Not very inspiring.

EDIT: Pardon, I misread your post for some reason, and see that you wrote exactly what I did.

Still, for one activation that seems like a real waste.

Exactly when is ONE TIE fighter squadron activation going to be worth a whole dial? I just don't see it.