On the subject of the Defender + Miniswarm combo, what about this one?

Onyx Squadron Pilot with Defender/D + Tractor Beam (33)

Delta Squadron Pilot with Defender/D + Tractor Beam (31)

3x Academy Pilots (36)

100 points even

The two Defenders can burn tokens and potentially drop the agility of the targets, setting things up nicely for the Academies to shred them.

Very similar to my old PS1 list:

2 deltas w/ flechette cannons + 3 academy pilots

Tractor Beam is not a bad idea here, because it helps the academies actually hit stuff. I guess the alternative is 2 deltas with TIE mk2 engines. Keeps PS the same, but I've never been sold on the TIE mk2 being necessary for defenders, so maybe not...

Another variant option would be to use one Onyx with Tractor Beam and Mk II engines, and team it with five Obsidian Squadron Pilots. Comes to 99 points and everyone's shooting at PS3.

The only problem with 5 obsidians + 1 tractor beam is if your beam misses, the obsidians are just....2 attack dice joes.

After thinking about it, I think your original idea is better.

1 onyx + 1 delta, both with tractor beam will allow the 3 academies to do something, provided they don't die first, of course!

The "DVD".

Trust me. :-)

Vessery, TIE/D, Tractor Beam, Ruthlessness

Delta, TIE/D, Ion Cannon

Delta, TIE/x7

Delta 2 goes in hard, grabs the target lock with an evade to protect itself. When shooting starts, Vessery hits like a ton of bricks and does Tractor Beam shenanigans, and Delta 1 hits the (hopefully lower Ag) target for control and more damage, and Delta 2 follows with a short range primary shot.

Lots of damage output, lots of control, lots of action economy. There really isn't much lacking here, it's only real issue will be if your opponent can focus Delta 2 down hard enough and fast enough to slow Vessery's roll.

Nice. I was thinking that Vessery is a great way to enable tractor beam. You just need some shots coming in after to make it worthwhile. Too bad there isn't room for a hull upgrade on Delta 2

For what its worth I cant wait to run

Colonel Vessary with Tie/D and your choice of 2 pnts in cannon/epts/mods (Tractor+Vi seems good to me although flechette might be nice for control)

3x Storm (or is it Tempest, the Advanced worth 21 pnts) with X1, AC - 63

Have the storm's pick up target locks on all of the opponent's ships during the first pass, locks they should never have to spend, and then watch as Vessary picks them apart

I think I'd rather have 4 Tie FO's instead of the Scimitar bus and 3 Obsidians.

Certainly. Do you play a lot of 102 point games?

Haven't seen anybody specifically mention Marksmanship with Maarek. Maybe not the absolute gold standard but with Ion Cannon and Tie/D, it ain't nothing. Maarek wants that extra crit more than most.

Well sure, and its not a bad idea because the defender is tough, but no focus for defense has always been a problem with Marksmanship, and with Predator available (action free re-rolls), Marksmanship becomes even less attractive...

Might be ok, especially to shore up the TIE/D title, but there's really no reason you can't just run a Mangler + Predator or some such on him.

Calculation is also a really good option, just like on the x1

The "DVD".

Trust me. :-)

Vessery, TIE/D, Tractor Beam, Ruthlessness

Delta, TIE/D, Ion Cannon

Delta, TIE/x7

Delta 2 goes in hard, grabs the target lock with an evade to protect itself. When shooting starts, Vessery hits like a ton of bricks and does Tractor Beam shenanigans, and Delta 1 hits the (hopefully lower Ag) target for control and more damage, and Delta 2 follows with a short range primary shot.

Lots of damage output, lots of control, lots of action economy. There really isn't much lacking here, it's only real issue will be if your opponent can focus Delta 2 down hard enough and fast enough to slow Vessery's roll.

Now I want to put together a similar list using Rexlar, just so I can call it the RVD.

Love the new options and all the wild set ups, but I have to ask have I missed something? Large ships still require 2 ion tokens to be ironed right? To have a control aspect on them gonna have to run 2 D,s with ions and ships like dash and bro bots will still move after the the generics so keeping both in arc could still be a problem. Not trying to rain on the parade just being insightful

Well, they're trying to make it so you play something other than a brobot-style 2 HLC list. I think that was the goal of the fixes, really, to make the defender builds more interesting than buffing just one archetype. The advantage of the ion cannon is more doing the extra damage than anything else, and there's still a lot of the field that is, in fact, ioned after one hit.

This discussion is fantastic!!! Lots of awesome lists posted. Currently I've been running the following list (which I'm 18-6 with):

Darth Vader w/ ATC, TIE X/1 and Engine upgrade

Colonel Vessery w/ TWI MK2

2x Epsilon squadron pilots

100 pts

I really like the synergy of the list. In particular it has my Meat and potatoes Vessery and Epsilons with a flanking ace killer being vader. But recently after most games I just wish I had a couple more points to play with to give Vessery my favourite EPT, Wired and also give Vader VI (But unfortunately no initiative bid.....Not sure I'd need it in this case)

But after yesterday morning I've been overcome with joy with the upcoming defender fix (the only ship I've been flying for 18 months- 2 years straight). Biophysical mentioned a couple pages back the 'Meteor' Vessery, and that's the way I like to fly him- especially with Wired. Now clocking at 35 points, Colonel Vessery is now an unpredictable force to be reckoned with: TIE X/7, Wired and TWI MK2. Most people hate the fact the defender has 1 / 2 hard red turns and immediately shy away from it, but I'm sure myself and the defender lovers have come to embrace it. I believe that the defender now is one of the most unpredictable ships in the game- bearing moreso w/ TIE X/7.

In every activation phase I have three fantastic subsets of options for my opponent to guess:

1.) I can go very fast with vessery, gain a free evade, taget lock and may perform a barrel roll or a focus.

2.) I can slow roll and be thankful for a free target lock and peform a B-roll or focus

3.) Or I can turn sharply trigger wired to gain a suitable defensive buff and a free target lock. And I have a potential position advantage for next turn - with the possible selection of 10 green manuvres to destress myself.

So I'm going to run:

Darth Vader w/ VI, TIE X/1, ATC, EU

Vessery w/ Wired, TIE X/7, TWI MK2

2x Epsilon Squadron pilots.

I'm going to have so much fun with this next year. Defenders 2016!!!!

Well, they're trying to make it so you play something other than a brobot-style 2 HLC list. I think that was the goal of the fixes, really, to make the defender builds more interesting than buffing just one archetype. The advantage of the ion cannon is more doing the extra damage than anything else, and there's still a lot of the field that is, in fact, ioned after one hit.

Exactly this - the one point of damage is the critical part in upping the damage output to roughly-HLC-levels for 3 points less. Against big ships, you won't be ionising them every turn - but once you've landed an ion token, they start having to fly very carefully indeed for fear of that second one...

And small ships remain as vulnerable as ever. Especially stresshogs, who might just have met their first really hard counter. "You shoot twice and add stress? Cute. I shoot twice and add ion. From Range 1-3. And rarely miss. And then K-turn behind you..."

I'm iching to try the Fat Rex+ 3 Ω list. Three crack shots and Rex double tap with ion sounds like it could nuke a YW just enough. Also, I now want to run a Ves or Rex/Fel/FO list just to see how it performs. Well....the real reason I wanna try that list is:

Man, FO interceptors are so sexy. Please be in the movies some day....

Love the new options and all the wild set ups, but I have to ask have I missed something? Large ships still require 2 ion tokens to be ironed right? To have a control aspect on them gonna have to run 2 D,s with ions and ships like dash and bro bots will still move after the the generics so keeping both in arc could still be a problem. Not trying to rain on the parade just being insightful

Ion tokens don't go away every turn on large ships, so you can add one, then another. Big ships also displace much more space with their 1-straight that the possibility of going off the board or landing on a rock is higher. One turn of a big, important ship not firing and being positionally predictable can be a game winner. Hopefully you'll get more than one. If you happen to be packing 2 Ion Cannons, it's that much easier.

Yeah, I painted my vess up in fo colours - I think it really suits the defender...

Okay, I was actually too excited to wait for the pack to come out and asked a friend if he was willing to do a test drive tonight and he said yes. So here's what I played:

Vessery + Ruthlessness + Ion Cannon + Tie/D + Hull Upgrade

Delta + Tie/X7

Delta + Tie/X7

It was crazy fun! Vessery performed as expected, deadly and looking for blood. Ruthlessness was useful and funny as hell! I did damaged one of my Delta 2 times, since I had a good opportunity to block and one other turn, I could get into range 1 of the Ion+stress target. Some times I decided to only shoot with one weapon so that I would not damage my own ship too much. I would take it again, but not in this current build. For the same point, well 1 less actually, I think I would favor Veteran Instinct and Engine Upgrade, so that I can counter Brobots or KananDash. But either way, Vessery with title and Ion Cannon is a beast! That's some sick control that is deadly at the same time. Worths every points!

But my best surprise was the Delta with Tie/X7! Wow. Just, wow! First, they are wonderful tagger for Vessery. Come in fast, get an Evade to help defend then get the TL to boost Vessery attack on the target of choice. Then just move fast and do Focus+Evade every turn. Use your TL when you get in range 1 (easy to do once it is Ionized) to finish the target. Have fun blocking, because that free evade token actually allows you to take risk with your 28pts ship. In both game I played, I never lost a ship, and dice were not particularily favorable, rolled a lot of blank in defense. But the best part, I found the title VERY thematic. I felt that the ship was best when I flew fast. There was situation when I could do a 1 bank or 2 straight, but I felt the need to do a 3-4 or 5 speed maneuver. The ship is best flown fast in a hit and run tactic, and you are rewarded for playing this way.

So to me, although on Vessery Tie/D is the clear winner for both modified attack, I think that overall, the Tie/X7 title will be the better choice most of the time. That Evade token, it's just wonderful. I was playing with PS1 so I didn't have to worry about being blocked, but I remember the old tactic of going for the block of the white k-turn against high PS Defenders, but now, even if you get block, you still get an evade token to protect you, and odds are that you will be able to pull your K next turn.

I'll definetly go with the X7 title on Rexlar.

Tie/D on Vessery.

X7 on Generics, unless I feel like going for a control list.

Maarek... not sure yet... X7 with Calculation or Marksmanship, I guess... or just no title and take a Mangler...

Still need to know the ability of the Countess.

So verdict. As an old Defender lover, definetly approve all those good things coming our way! So much fun to fly! And both title bring something totally different to the table; there's two distinct way of flying a Defender.

EDIT: Forgot to say but, in Epic, Defenders with Tie/D title and Ion Cannon will be the bane of Huge ship. 2 attack each and consume that precious energy with those Ion token. Deadly. 3 Delta with title and Ion token will be a good 99pts to counter Huge ship.

Depends on how hard you can convince your opponent that you have a system slot?

Jedi Mind Trick

Obi-wan crew card only. Not usable in Epic Play. Modification.

At the beginning of the combat phase, you may discard this card to receive one stress token. Roll an attack die. On a hit or a critical, your opponent must believe everything you tell them until the end of the combat phase. Suggesting that your opponent is not really playing the game, and is in fact at home going over potential gameplay in his/her mind is considered to be an instant-win condition.

99 Points.

Okay, I was actually too excited to wait for the pack to come out and asked a friend if he was willing to do a test drive tonight and he said yes. So here's what I played:

Vessery + Ruthlessness + Ion Cannon + Tie/D + Hull Upgrade

Delta + Tie/X7

Delta + Tie/X7

It was crazy fun! Vessery performed as expected, deadly and looking for blood. Ruthlessness was useful and funny as hell! I did damaged one of my Delta 2 times, since I had a good opportunity to block and one other turn, I could get into range 1 of the Ion+stress target. Some times I decided to only shoot with one weapon so that I would not damage my own ship too much. I would take it again, but not in this current build. For the same point, well 1 less actually, I think I would favor Veteran Instinct and Engine Upgrade, so that I can counter Brobots or KananDash. But either way, Vessery with title and Ion Cannon is a beast! That's some sick control that is deadly at the same time. Worths every points!

But my best surprise was the Delta with Tie/X7! Wow. Just, wow! First, they are wonderful tagger for Vessery. Come in fast, get an Evade to help defend then get the TL to boost Vessery attack on the target of choice. Then just move fast and do Focus+Evade every turn. Use your TL when you get in range 1 (easy to do once it is Ionized) to finish the target. Have fun blocking, because that free evade token actually allows you to take risk with your 28pts ship. In both game I played, I never lost a ship, and dice were not particularily favorable, rolled a lot of blank in defense. But the best part, I found the title VERY thematic. I felt that the ship was best when I flew fast. There was situation when I could do a 1 bank or 2 straight, but I felt the need to do a 3-4 or 5 speed maneuver. The ship is best flown fast in a hit and run tactic, and you are rewarded for playing this way.

So to me, although on Vessery Tie/D is the clear winner for both modified attack, I think that overall, the Tie/X7 title will be the better choice most of the time. That Evade token, it's just wonderful. I was playing with PS1 so I didn't have to worry about being blocked, but I remember the old tactic of going for the block of the white k-turn against high PS Defenders, but now, even if you get block, you still get an evade token to protect you, and odds are that you will be able to pull your K next turn.

I'll definetly go with the X7 title on Rexlar.

Tie/D on Vessery.

X7 on Generics, unless I feel like going for a control list.

Maarek... not sure yet... X7 with Calculation or Marksmanship, I guess... or just no title and take a Mangler...

Still need to know the ability of the Countess.

So verdict. As an old Defender lover, definetly approve all those good things coming our way! So much fun to fly! And both title bring something totally different to the table; there's two distinct way of flying a Defender.

EDIT: Forgot to say but, in Epic, Defenders with Tie/D title and Ion Cannon will be the bane of Huge ship. 2 attack each and consume that precious energy with those Ion token. Deadly. 3 Delta with title and Ion token will be a good 99pts to counter Huge ship.

That sounds almost exactly what I was expecting it to sound like.

I rather suspect that PS1 w/ x7 is going to be the anchor to a lot of Aces lists that want a little more killing power than the Shuttle provides... and it pleases me hugely it's now a real option.

My only problems with this set are that the X7 doesnt seem that beneficial especially if your fighting a swarm.

The Countess should be skill level 8 or 9, she was Baron Fels rival till he killed her. Her being the skill level she is in this set doesnt look good enough to be Fels rival.

Also they should have a "Red Star 1" upgrade for her defender since it appears she did have the most advanced defender out of all the d3fenders.

Her pilot ability might take that into account.

Reminder that BKL's comically inflated views on Imperial competence have no basis in fact and less in game design, mechanics, and balance.

What we can see of her pilot ability actually makes me think of Fel. Text is:

• "When...
• man..."

It /might/ be maneuver-adjust related, but that usually takes more than two lines. My guess is "When [you perform a red/green/white] maneuver, [acquire a TL/focus/evade token], which could bump her action-efficiency way up.

I'm actually really excited for this expansion, Imperials have been lacking in variety for a bit, but this will do nicely to shake things up. I'm 99% sure the Glaive Squadron Pilot is going to be 33pts, based on all the other PS6 'ace' generics being only 1pt more than their PS4 counterparts.

This list immediately sprung to mind as a fun control list:

26 Jonus w/ TIE shuttle, Officer, DtF

74 (x2) Glaive w/ TIE/D, IonC, Crackshot

Reminder that BKL's comically inflated views on Imperial competence have no basis in fact and less in game design, mechanics, and balance.

What we can see of her pilot ability actually makes me think of Fel. Text is:

• "When...
• man..."

It /might/ be maneuver-adjust related, but that usually takes more than two lines. My guess is "When [you perform a red/green/white] maneuver, [acquire a TL/focus/evade token], which could bump her action-efficiency way up.

His views may be fantasy, but as an Imperial it's a fantasy I like to indulge myself in.

Gotta root for the home team y'know?

Reminder that BKL's comically inflated views on Imperial competence have no basis in fact and less in game design, mechanics, and balance.

You have nothing to back up your statement, i bet you never even *** heard of the Countess until this article came out.

i warned you not to follow me around with your false accusations and insulting one liners.

You'd lose that bet, and presuming that you have sole rights to a thread by virtue of posting in it once is hilariously fallacious. Tamp that ego.

Reminder that BKL's comically inflated views on Imperial competence have no basis in fact and less in game design, mechanics, and balance.

What we can see of her pilot ability actually makes me think of Fel. Text is:

• "When...
• man..."

It /might/ be maneuver-adjust related, but that usually takes more than two lines. My guess is "When [you perform a red/green/white] maneuver, [acquire a TL/focus/evade token], which could bump her action-efficiency way up.

His views may be fantasy, but as an Imperial it's a fantasy I like to indulge myself in.

Gotta root for the home team y'know?

I wouldnt listen to his ***. He just likes to insult people his master doesnt like.

Anyway you have to take into consideration she has a TIE Defender, a rare fighter few are allowed to fly, that should tell you something about her skill. She being a rival of Baron Fel is another. Its a title not to be taken kikely. If it was so easy to be a "rival" of fels probably every TIE Defender pilot would be considered Baron Fels rival. Lastly the Empire sent Baron Fel himself to kill her, not Stele, or Turr or any other ace and their flight, squadron, wing, group.

The imperials are not going to send baron fel to personally kill a mediocre pilot like tippy is making her out to be lore wise.

You'd lose that bet, and presuming that you have sole rights to a thread by virtue of posting in it once is hilariously fallacious. Tamp that ego.

You have no facts or even a hypothesis your post boy. You clearly are following me around, and you made it a point 5o attack me the first chance you got with a false accusation. 2lwhats wrong tippy people picking on you in person now you feel you got to take it out on posters on line the first chance you get?