So I've never been much for ordinance, so I haven't tried out deathrain yet. A buddy of me who I'm trying to get to play seems to like the idea, and is trying to make a decimator/deathrain list for an upcoming tournament. I had a few ideas but I don't really know the load outs for deathrain.
What's the best list you can come up with using those two ships, and do you think it could hold its own in a relatively casual meta?
deathrain isn't ordnance, he's all about bombs
don't waste your time with missiles/torps on him; only Redline makes decent use of them
Deathrain's rough because he's expensive, but he sets up for kills on elite pilots like nothing else in the empire. Conners are your friends 
then it's a choice between moar Conners, Prox Mines, or Seismics
then, you get a choice of system slot. Scopes and Sensors lend themselves to great mine laying shenanigans, and Accuracy Correctors makes deathrain not worthless offensively but makes him vulnerable to blocks (and unable to do some sick sensor shenanigans)
You don't need thrusters like you do with Redline. This is because Redline flies like a tank made of bricks, while Deathrain has a combination of control (conners) and free-roll that help keep him out of trouble
I don't think Decimators are the way to go, they're completely redundant with Deathrain's primary target of high value targets.
Not entirely sure what you put him with, but I'd guess Phantoms for something with high damage potential that also does well against swarms. Problem with Phantoms is that it and Deathrain aren't terribly fond of r3-a2
I'd guess crackswarm wouldn't be a bad idea
Echo
VI
Int Agent
FCS
ACD
Death Train
Enhanced Scopes
EM
Connor Net
Pron mine
AT
Tempest
title
AC
Block, Control, Information, Damage, 3 point Init Bid this list has it all.
Pron mine?
How lewd
Pron mine?
How lewd
obvious typo, but its obviously the sexiest mine as it can do the most damage (considering Clusters as individual mines)
Echo
VI
Int Agent
FCS
ACD
Death Train
Enhanced Scopes
EM
Connor Net
Pron mine
AT
Tempest
title
AC
Block, Control, Information, Damage, 3 point Init Bid this list has it all.
So my cousin played this in a game vs me, and I can definately see its merits. A slight mistake on not using a conner net on a crucial turn was about the only downfall. I do think I'll find 2 points to add somewhere, as I don't really see the need for a 3 point init bid at PS8, as the only time I've seen init bids have been ps9 lists. Perhaps it's a meta thing, but definately not needed where I play.
Echo
VI
Int Agent
FCS
ACD
Death Train
Enhanced Scopes
EM
Connor Net
Pron mine
AT
Tempest
title
AC
Block, Control, Information, Damage, 3 point Init Bid this list has it all.
So my cousin played this in a game vs me, and I can definately see its merits. A slight mistake on not using a conner net on a crucial turn was about the only downfall. I do think I'll find 2 points to add somewhere, as I don't really see the need for a 3 point init bid at PS8, as the only time I've seen init bids have been ps9 lists. Perhaps it's a meta thing, but definately not needed where I play.
can just up Echo to Whisper for 2 points.
Deathrain + Prox mine x2 + extra munitions. System slot depends on what the rest of your list does; advanced sensors if the rest of your list is hard hitting or AC if Deathrain needs to carry some of the load post mines.
Add royal guard pilot + PTL + thrusters+ hull
ZAce + PTL (or accuracy corrector tempest)
Academy tie
Or just 3x accuracy corrector tempest
Gives you 2 in your face ships and 2 dancers.
Swap VI on Echo for Outmaneuver. You're welcome.
I played against a 200-point build this weekend that included Deathrain w/Sensors, backed up by Howlrunner using Squad Leader and Experimental Interface. Absolutely brutal results. Next time I get a chance, I'm thinking about running this...
“Deathrain" (26)
Advanced Sensors (3)
Extra Munitions (2)
Proximity Mines (3)
Cluster Mines (4)
Ship Total: 38
Darth Vader (29)
Squad Leader(2)
Experimental Interface (3)
TIE/x1 (0)
Advanced Targeting Computer(1)
Ship Total: 35
Commander Alozen (25)
Crack Shot (1) (or Veteran Instincts (1))
TIE/x1 (0)
Advanced Targeting Computer(1)
Ship Total: 27
back from more deathrain
gotta say, you need to try AC on the guy. It makes him an actual presence when the bombs inevitably run out, and seismics give him sensor-tier shenanigans without needing to take the **** things
he's going to run you in the high 30s no matter how you outfit him, so you might as well make sure he can contribute
combined with seismic shenanigans and the power of conners (+ dat free roll), he becomes a surprisingly potent force
