I know that everybody seems to have something against Xizor instead leaning on his gal Friday, Guri, but I'm sick of everyone and their chimp extolling the virtues of Y-wings and the TLTs. So after seeing what a TIE Interceptor trio could do against a quadruple Y-wing list, I'm looking to try something in the same vein. Thoughts?

Prince Xizor (31)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Fire-Control System (2)
Autothrusters (2)
Virago (1)
Guri (30)
Bodyguard (2)
Autothrusters (2)
Talonbane Cobra (28)
Crack Shot (1)
Total: 100

Multiple vipers aren't very good. How many K-fighters do you own? A single viper and 3 cartel marauders might work much better.

that an bodyguard is perhaps the single worst EPT in the history of ever

pay points to cripple the bearer by spending a focus to do nothing

I'm not convinced that double Vipers is inherently terrible.

I've used them a number of times to surpising effect. I'm willing to concede that Bodyguard may be a bit too context reliant, even if I've used it on Guri as a screener for Xizor who then annihilated Corran without much fuss...

Having said all that, I'm determined to find a solution that integrates the abilites of two piliots who were clearly designed fromo the get go to synergize with each other. Given how many lists are centered around a single large ship to do most of the heavy lifting, is it really so crazy to build one around pair of ships (who have the same dial and thus make keeping them close enough to each other that they might act for all intents and purposes like a single force)?

Let's work this problem! Keep both Vipers and attack the set up with some new ideas. Someone has to have something that works and hasn't just given in to the meta trends!

Talonbane was slotted in to keep the firing priority fluid. No one takes him lightly and gets away with it. I'm keen to keep the third ship as an actual weight carrying option, and Y-wings are fast becoming the next compulsory choice, so common that you almost expect to see them with anyone who's got 25 points to fill.

Xizor and Guri have anti-synergy with each-other. It's not as bad as taking 3 wild space firngers but it's bad.

Yea... The Cobra will melt to TLT or Super Dash or Brobot. Talon doesn't get his range 3 effect from Cannons and getting in range 1 without Engine Upgrade will be hard for him. Xizor and Guri will slap Dash silly if played properly, but TLT also are hard to stay completely unaffected by, they'll sneak 1 or 2 dmg in pre turn. Which at 5 Health, isn't many turns.

Solution? Remove the green dice's ability to fail. Throw in serissu, or a sensor jammer to save your skin!

I ran 3 vipers last wave with high success rates, but the list I was running Found TLT swarms hard. I hope that with tweaking and possibly Xizor passing off the end dmg instead of the accuracy, it could soar again.

I think you're onto something CheapCreep. I hadn't considered Serissu and/or Sensor Jammer. As for the EU on Talon, it's workable insofar as that the Vipers then suffer from possible loss of Autothrusters...

We're getting closer here.

The real rub I'm finding is either, ignoring Xizor's ability and just taking him for higher PS since, aside from Guri and VI there is no way to bump up the base pilots. My own experience has told me the Vipers have to have get off their shots first on the chance that they go head-to-head against a B-wing/X-Wing/BTL-A4 etc...

Xizor and Guri have anti-synergy with each-other. It's not as bad as taking 3 wild space firngers but it's bad.

to elaborate,

while Guri is Xizor's bodyguard in fluff, her in-game incarnation is actually more of a self-sufficient badass. Xizor, meanwhile, makes his own bodyguards (whether they want to be or not )

Guri's + focus ability is action independent and can leave her with two focus + predator/fcs re-roll. This makes her a brutish sledgehammer with modified attack and defense + the solid maneuverability of the Viper's dial coupled with, imo most importantly, its ability to not give a ****

compare: blocked soontir (actionless tie fighter) to blocked Guri (focus, predator re-rolls; ready to savage something)

Xizor, meanwhile, just doesn't give a ****. His always-on, action-independent, round-independent ability is basically a free better-than-evade against every attack made against him (minus TLTs and ions etc). As long as he has fodder to spread damage to, the dude is so durable that many opponents simply choose not to shoot him (making him, essentially, immortal).

the reason they don't do so well together is because Guri is just as valuable as Xizor and just as fragile as your average Viper. Passing damage off to her is not a great use of Xizor's ability (compare to Z-95s or Y-wings).

On the other hand, it doesn't need to be super efficient as long as Xizor has a good target. Guri is basically fine with any list on her own, and if you can spare two pirates or so for Xizor's sake you're solid.

but Guri and Cobra? I'm hard pressed to find less attractive meatshields, apart from possibly Palob

Thanks ficklegreendice! Lots to consider. You maybe right about dropping in some mulch in place of Talon (though I am loathe to do so, becuase it's a lineup that psychologically may give some one a stroke).

This is all constructive feedback here and I'm loving it!

Taking into account, theday's feedback, let's see what you all make of this: (Black sun Soldiers were taken over Binayres because getting swamped by low end swarms is something that's avoidable provided you shoot first)

Prince Xizor (31)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Fire-Control System (2)
Glitterstim (2)
Autothrusters (2)
Virago (1)
Guri (30)
Predator (3)
Autothrusters (2)
Black Sun Soldier (13)
Black Sun Soldier (13)
Total: 100

Can't complain with that line up

...well Xizor doesn't realllly need stims (yes, his ability is just that good)

Might be wise to just leave the bid open v other PS 9s ala soonts und Vader

Can't complain with that line up

...well Xizor doesn't realllly need stims (yes, his ability is just that good)

Might be wise to just leave the bid open v other PS 9s ala soonts und Vader

The stims are there for when the soldiers die. Which WILL happen...

As long as Guri doesn't die, then you don't need initiative vs other PS 9 necessarily. 1 Viper blocks the other kills...

First off, I love the Star Viper and speak of its virtues to anyone who will listen. Kudos for trying to make two work! I haven't tried yet, I need to buy a second one.

Others have already said, consider switching out FCS for Sensor Jammer. It is sooo good. I run a list with Palob(HWK that steals tokens) and Guri and even when Palob is dead Sensor Jammer is still there negating hits/crits. You could pull the 2 points from Glitterstim, on Xizor you probably won't miss it much since most people wait to shoot at him until last because of his durability.

What if, just spit-ballin' here, you put Virago on Guri with Sensor Jammer and Body Guard. People in the know won't shoot at Xizor at the beginning of the match anyway because of his ability and especially so if he has an extra green die from Body Guard. Why not make Guri, who is an obvious target because of how dangerous she is in a knife fight, the additional defense?

If you were dead set on using a Khiraxz fighter(I really like them as well) Consider Graz the Hunter over Talonbane. The extra defense die from his ability makes him a good jouster at any range and he is cheap. Honestly the Headhunters are probably a better fit though. Being damage sponges for Xizor and generic annoying blockers.

One more thing, maybe go for 99 points for the initiative bid. You probably need Xizor moving last in the end game to deal with VI Whisper, Soontir, VI Jake, insert PS9 ace with post movement abilities here.

It's a shame that the Vigos didn't get an EPT slot. Autothrusters and a 3 point EPT would put them at 32 points. A pair of them would leave you with 36 points to add some beef to the list.

Love the name "Snake Pit" for mixing these two fighters, so I threw something together that appealed to me a little more. Guri tanks TLT's, Talonbane provides some hits for relatively cheap, and the Enforcer can be an annoying blocker.

Guri (30)

+ Virago (1)

+ Sensor Jammer (4) (super against TLT's)

+ Predator (3) (also usually good against TLT's)

+ Autothrusters (2) (did someone say "**** TLT's"?)

+ Glitterstim (2)

Talonbane Cobra (28)

+ Glitterstim (3)

+ Crack Shot (1)

Black Sun Enforcer (25)

+ Autothrusters (2)