Imperial Assault skirmish is starting to get some momentum at my LGS, which is even having its first tournament on Jan. 30. The list I've been using for casual play has done really well so far, but it might be time to re-tune it now that Hoth is out and my first mildly competitive event is coming up. Here is the list I have been using:

• C-3PO (2 points)
• Diala Passil (7 points)
• Gaarkhan (8 points)
• Gideon Argus (3 points)
• Jyn Odan (5 points)
• elite Rebel Saboteurs (7 points)
• regular Wookiee Warriors (8 points)

Gaarkhan and Jyn are the main things I'm considering replacing. Neither of them has been bad so far, but I suspect I could get more out of something else. If I took out Gaarkhan, I could make a direct 1:1 switch for another group of regular Wookiee Warriors or a group of elite Echo Base Troopers. Alternatively, I could field another group of elite Saboteurs and have a point to spare, either to replace C-3PO with R2-D2 (C-3PO has been underwhelming for me so far, but maybe I've been using him wrong), add a Targeting Computer to one of the Saboteur groups, or add another 1-point skirmish upgrade (On a Diplomatic Mission for Gideon, most likely). If I replace Jyn, it would almost certainly be with a group of regular Saboteurs.

Gideon is just plain great. Diala's ability to remove a defense die is really useful. And I like having at least one group of Wookiee Warriors because they're the perfect figures to get in the middle of a scrum -- beefy and fairly hard-hitting.

What do you think?

I'm not a big competitive player, but I think it looks quite well. The one thing it seems to lack, is some synergy in the Command deck, between the groups. It's like you have one of every keyword so your deck will need to be very vanilla (which is not by default a bad thing).

The new Medic droid is insane! Ridiculously good especially combined with other characters that can recover.

I have been using :

Luke

Leia

Mhd-19

Elite Sabs

Jyn

3p0

Gideon

The other day I had Leia at 1 health and in 2 turns she recovered everything. Single purpose and Miracle worker is really good... If your opponent do not take care of M-19 early... He's going to loose. Even M-19 can recover 5 health a turn... Extremely hard to kill if not focused fired on. And if they focus fire on him... Leia, Luke and the Sabs will unleash some serious damage. I have not yet lost with this list... The recover power is too much! Lol

Make all the changes you talked about.

Gideon, Elite Saboteurs and Regular Wookies are all great. Gaarkhan and Jyn are not. Diala is OK, but nothing more.

Other Rebel Players take Luke for the reroll for the Saboteurs. Considering Target Computers for the Rebel Saboteurs should be good. But I haven't been able to test that yet.

I played also the same list but with Han instead of Jyn and Sabs and surprisingly, with command cards like Take Initiative, Make my own luck, Devotion and Son of Skywalker combined with the focus of 3p0 and Gideon without forgeting the combine fire of Leia. There was a game, that I have the initiative for 3 turns in a row... It was a massacre... Not even funny and Han next 3p0 he's pretty hard to kill and surprisingly good!

For the time being I'll replace Gaarkhan with a pair of elite Echo Base Troopers. I need another set of Saboteurs to replace Jyn before the tournament, but in the meantime I can proxy figures from my old Star Wars Miniatures collection for casual play. I'll see how that goes, and I can make more changes as they're needed (eventually I'll want to double up on either Wookiees or Troopers for command card synergy).

I saw you say your store is having their first tourney on the 30th and thought, "hey that's neat I'm planning to go to one on the 30th. There's no way this guy is close to me though." I looked at your profile and turns out you are. That's crazy! I'm from Salina and plan on going to McPherson to play on the 30th. It'll be my first tourney too and hopefully bringing some students to play as well. Could be a good turnout

I also like Diala, especially with Luke since then you can use all those cool force user cards.

Looks cool, let us know how the both of you get along, would be cool to hear som tournament reports.

I'm from Salina and plan on going to McPherson to play on the 30th. It'll be my first tourney too and hopefully bringing some students to play as well. Could be a good turnout

Great, I was afraid the crowd for the tournament would be really small. Do you know, does the Arena (is that the name of it?) get much Imperial Assault play?

Edit: The Village Geek also is having a "learn to play" event for Imperial Assault at 7 p.m. Jan. 18 (that's a Monday). I'll be running skirmish demos if there are people who want to learn the game, or practicing for the tournament if everyone already knows the game.

I don't get to play games at the Arena very much, just don't have the time with a family. Last I knew they aren't really stocking FFG Star Wars stuff. I tried to get some people interested in X-Wing a few years ago and couldn't there - mainly because of my time limits and they're really big into Magic and I didn't quite break into the community enough to introduce it all. If someone had time to consistently get it before people they probably could get something going. I know people go there a lot. And I love the store when they have stuff in stock that I'm looking for - I've been buying all my paint there

My revised list with the regular Saboteurs and elite Echo Base Troopers turned out really well in its first trial run. I tabled my friend's mercenary brawler list on the Data Heist mission. Part of that was due to him making some poor movement choices with his figures, especially the Nexus and Wampa, though.

OK, I have another iteration of the list, with another question. Right now I'm looking at:

• C-3PO (2 points)
• Diala Passil (7 points)
• Gideon Argus (3 points)
• Rebel Saboteurs (5 points)
• Elite Rebel Saboteurs (7 points)
• Wookiee Warriors (8 points)
• Wookiee Warriors (8 points)

Everything except Gideon and 3PO has some real offensive punch with red dice. The Wookiees are good at contesting objectives that require control of a spot, and the Saboteurs are good at grabbing objectives. Diala is good at finishing off targets with shattering blow. I get some command card synergy with the more tightly focused traits.

Would be better off replacing 3PO with On a Diplomatic Mission on Gideon and Targeting Computer on the elite Saboteurs? On a Diplomatic Mission is good at helping Gideon keep up with the action early on and provides other utility in the late game. Targeting Computer ought to be great on the elite Saboteurs, too.

OK, I have another iteration of the list, with another question. Right now I'm looking at:

• C-3PO (2 points)
• Diala Passil (7 points)
• Gideon Argus (3 points)
• Rebel Saboteurs (5 points)
• Elite Rebel Saboteurs (7 points)
• Wookiee Warriors (8 points)
• Wookiee Warriors (8 points)

Everything except Gideon and 3PO has some real offensive punch with red dice. The Wookiees are good at contesting objectives that require control of a spot, and the Saboteurs are good at grabbing objectives. Diala is good at finishing off targets with shattering blow. I get some command card synergy with the more tightly focused traits.

Would be better off replacing 3PO with On a Diplomatic Mission on Gideon and Targeting Computer on the elite Saboteurs? On a Diplomatic Mission is good at helping Gideon keep up with the action early on and provides other utility in the late game. Targeting Computer ought to be great on the elite Saboteurs, too.

I think you should definitely find a way to get On a Diplomatic Mission strapped onto Gideon, but I'd keep Threepio.

What about replacing a set of Wookie Warrors (8) for Echo Base Troopers (6)? You get range, and up close you still get the red die.

Or, replace Diala and 1 set of Wookies (15) for On a Diplomatic Mission, Echo Base Troopers, and Leia (15).

If I replaced one group of Wookiees with regular Echo Base Troopers, I'd probably want to replace the other group with elite Troopers. But I don't have a second group of Troopers at this point.

I might swap Diala for a group of Troopers (Rebel or Echo Base) plus Diplomatic Mission. But I haven't been impressed with C-3PO in the games I've used him. In an ideal game, he gives maybe 2-3 focus to allies and gets exhausted for Take Initiative. He's definitely worth 2 points, but I don't know if he's better than Diplomatic Mission and Targeting Computer.

And I like Leia, but I don't think she fits well with the list I have in mind. I don't have any attackers with 3 dice who would maximize the extra attacks she grants.

I guess I'll just try it with 3PO and without him.

If I replaced one group of Wookiees with regular Echo Base Troopers, I'd probably want to replace the other group with elite Troopers. But I don't have a second group of Troopers at this point.

I might swap Diala for a group of Troopers (Rebel or Echo Base) plus Diplomatic Mission. But I haven't been impressed with C-3PO in the games I've used him. In an ideal game, he gives maybe 2-3 focus to allies and gets exhausted for Take Initiative. He's definitely worth 2 points, but I don't know if he's better than Diplomatic Mission and Targeting Computer.

And I like Leia, but I don't think she fits well with the list I have in mind. I don't have any attackers with 3 dice who would maximize the extra attacks she grants.

I guess I'll just try it with 3PO and without him.

Remember, skirmish games are pretty much decided by Round 4. If C-3P0 is giving out three Focus tokens in a game, he's done his job. Being able to exhaust him for Take Initiative is even better.

If you're looking to squeeze in On a Diplomatic Mission and Targeting Computer, Diala is where you cut.

If you're looking to squeeze in On a Diplomatic Mission and Targeting Computer, Diala is where you cut.

Upgrade the Regular Saboteurs to Elite in the same process.

• C-3PO (2 points)
• Gideon Argus (3 points)
• On A Mission (1 point)
• Elite Rebel Saboteurs (7 points)
• Targeting Computer (1 Point)
• Elite Rebel Saboteurs (7 points)
• Targeting Computer (1 point)
• Wookiee Warriors (8 points)
• Wookiee Warriors (8 Points)
• Rebel High Command

I know, you don't have the figures, but I would prefer:

• C-3PO (2 points)
• Gideon Argus (3 points)
• On A Mission (1 point)
• Elite Rebel Saboteurs (7 points)
• Targeting Computer (1 Point)
• Elite Rebel Saboteurs (7 points)
• Targeting Computer (1 point)
• Elite Echo Base Troopers (8 points)
• Elite Echo Base Troopers (8 Points)
• Rebel High Command

I know, you don't have the figures, but I would prefer:

• C-3PO (2 points)
• Gideon Argus (3 points)
• On A Mission (1 point)
• Elite Rebel Saboteurs (7 points)
• Targeting Computer (1 Point)
• Elite Rebel Saboteurs (7 points)
• Targeting Computer (1 point)
• Elite Echo Base Troopers (8 points)
• Elite Echo Base Troopers (8 Points)
• Rebel High Command

I'm running pretty much this list that subs out an Elite Echo Base Troopers and Rebel High Command for Luke Skywalker.

I did well at my first Store Championship. I'll be updating with results in the thread I started shortly.

EDIT: Here's the link to my trip report: https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/197831-competitive-rebels/?p=1989658