So even though I can't claim to have anything other than theory to back this up, not a SINGLE wave 2 kit yet making it to Australia....

I think Wave 2 will have two levels of impact. At the lower level will be all the new ships, upgrades and combination available.

At the higher level of impact, I think there will now be enough diversity in potential fleet builds and tactical approaches, that a number of builds are likely to be "meta" at any one time.

Mucking around with fleet builder, sure its easy to build a 5 or 6 ship list, but I think this may be very vulnerable to Ackbar and his gunnery team assault frigates, as well as Worlds style fighter screens that can do a lot of damage as you try to close.

So what fleet configurations are going to be a feature?

I reckon Two ISDs with upgrades and fighter support (including rogues). - I think this will potentially be good, as each ISD can basically operate independently, in fact, with the expectation of Ackbar gunnery teams, would benefit from attacking from completely separate angles. They have the speed to do it, and the hitting power to rapidly destroy any small or medium ships as they go. I see this as a potential counter to the ackbar gunline. It also as room for multi firesprays or your other preferred fighter screen.

What other builds are likely to work?

I think we'll see a big breakthrough of list diversity actually.

We will see..

Rebel or Imperial small ship swarms

2x ISD + filler (fighters, Firesprays, Rhymerballs)

Gecon Special + fighters
Ackbar MKIIs congo lines

Ackbar M80, double MKIIs
Rebel MKIIs, heavy squadrons A-Wings (imagine a fatter version of worlds)

And a TON of "balanced" lists that has a little bit of big ships, a little bit of small, and a good amount of squadrons.

The appearance of big ships opens up an even new list type: Big ships and support only. 2-3 ISDs and 2+ MC80s will definitely be played with, and reported on based on how big of a splash they make in the Meta.

For Empire specifically we get even tankier ships and their own version of the flying knife-in-the-back CR-90. But it's created with the Star Destroyer mindset of a heavy front arc at the expense of side shooting and no re-directs. I'm interested to see people's thoughts on how resilient the Raider turns out to be, because I'm not sure the trade from redirect to half damage is worth it. Especially with no defensive slot to take ECMs.

You guys are missing the greatest upgrade ever! The imperial dude that lets you swap for an evade token at the beginning of game imperial star destroyers drifting through ackbar laser fire.

But in all seriousness I see a 1 isd, 1 demolisher, 1 raider with screed and a few firesprays to cover him

With the excitement over ISDs I am planning to go for rebel small ship swarms with 8-12-point initiative bids. I'm going to run rings around those fatties.

The appearance of big ships opens up an even new list type: Big ships and support only. 2-3 ISDs and 2+ MC80s will definitely be played with, and reported on based on how big of a splash they make in the Meta.

For Empire specifically we get even tankier ships and their own version of the flying knife-in-the-back CR-90. But it's created with the Star Destroyer mindset of a heavy front arc at the expense of side shooting and no re-directs. I'm interested to see people's thoughts on how resilient the Raider turns out to be, because I'm not sure the trade from redirect to half damage is worth it. Especially with no defensive slot to take ECMs.

Yeah I think raider has some capacity to survive the "one big shot" - if it can still use its brace, which is problematic. But a couple of separate volleys (ironically, including from fighters) will bring it down very quickly.

You guys are missing the greatest upgrade ever! The imperial dude that lets you swap for an evade token at the beginning of game imperial star destroyers drifting through ackbar laser fire.

But in all seriousness I see a 1 isd, 1 demolisher, 1 raider with screed and a few firesprays to cover him

This is the thing, I can see a lot of three ship lists that use up all the points but would have less staying power than wave 1 lists. What would it do against two mon cals? or three ackbar assault frigates.

With the excitement over ISDs I am planning to go for rebel small ship swarms with 8-12-point initiative bids. I'm going to run rings around those fatties.

With or without fighter cover? without and I would like to introduce you to a rhymerball featuring a ton of bombers and firesprays pushed by 2 ISD Is using boosted comms and hangars. Long range activation with medium range anti-ship.

My current squad setup, includes 5 tie bombers plus rhymer, 3 tie advanced, a firespray, and soontir. thats 9 black dice, 3 blue with 6 black 2 blue as bomber dice. max damage potential of 17 at medium range. A CR90 at medium range can take 8 before going poof and a MC30 13. So activating both ISD as squads is a very reasonable shot at destroying a CR90 and a solid shot at crippling a MC30 (outside shot at a kill).

With the excitement over ISDs I am planning to go for rebel small ship swarms with 8-12-point initiative bids. I'm going to run rings around those fatties.

With or without fighter cover? without and I would like to introduce you to a rhymerball featuring a ton of bombers and firesprays pushed by 2 ISD Is using boosted comms and hangars. Long range activation with medium range anti-ship.

My current squad setup, includes 5 tie bombers plus rhymer, 3 tie advanced, a firespray, and soontir. thats 9 black dice, 3 blue with 6 black 2 blue as bomber dice. max damage potential of 17 at medium range. A CR90 at medium range can take 8 before going poof and a MC30 13. So activating both ISD as squads is a very reasonable shot at destroying a CR90 and a solid shot at crippling a MC30 (outside shot at a kill).

Of course with fighter cover! Otherwise it wouldn't be X-wing vs TIE fighter 'the tabletop game'.