Newbie ship builder asking for opinions.

By tsuruki, in X-Wing Squad Lists

Hello everyone!

I'm a new recruit hailing your from inside a snowstorm in Iceland and I would greatly like to fill the snowy void with starship fantasies!

Ive gathered a rather impressive collection via my own collector tendencies and christmas spirit. here´s what i´ve got to work with (and i'm allergic to repping).

Rebel: Falcon. Both core´s. A-B-E-Y wings +T-70. Rebel Ace's.

Imperial: Both core´s. Punisher. Defender. Tie/Fo.

Scum: Kihraxz fighter. (Hope to buy Two Starvipers as soon as they´re in stock locally).

So, if you had the opportunity to pick my next purchases like some weird- well informed -nerdy mom, what would you buy? I'm partial to every faction.

Also, do you have any good ideas/Strategies for using the E-Wing, Tie Defender and Tie Punisher in particular?

I have an E Wing myself and also a new player. The only two games I played had Coran Horn in the E Wing and Poe in the X wing with a blocker A wing.

One thing I've noticed this that Coran needs Fire Control. Also, I'm not sure having a "Blocker" is a good strategy for a new player to have before getting the dials and maneuvers down really well.

I'm new myself. Love the E Wing with Coran. Definitely missing some cards that could make him great. That being said, I'm really new and my idea of great may be totally wrong

I think Imperial Aces look cool. Not sure how good they are but they look awesome.

I think Imperial Aces look cool. Not sure how good they are but they look awesome.

For sure if you like inteceptors which who doesn't.

Also your scum faction is suffering brother. Most wanted, starviper, yv 666 (I don't have this yet either) and firespray all would be welcome additions. You could also pre-order the jumpmaster and g1a starfighter.. thermal detonator, boba fett crew and more! They should be out soon (I hope mine have been pre-ordered for a month!!!!!!)

Boba crew? I did'nt know that, cool.

Finally I will be able to have a character who nod's at my enemies while he strikes a menacing pose.

I set up this list trying to make the most of my Defender with the upcoming upgrade cards:

Colonel Vessery, Tie defender: 35.

Marksmanship: 3

Ion cannon: 3

Twin ion engine: 1

Tie/D: 0

= 42.

Zeta Squadron pilot, Tie/Fo: 16.

Zeta Squadron pilot, Tie/Fo: 16.

Omega leader, tie/Fo: 21.

Juke: 2.

Comms relay: 3

=26.

===100 points.

The idea is to gain locks with the Fo's and just holding onto them when appropriate, the Omega Leader swings in late to try and catch an enemy ace in his Target lock, after gaining locks the tie´s will focus on evading while Vessery mops up, if vessery gets shot down then the Omega leader might be able to close the game out, him using juke to turn successful evades into unmodifiable (Focus) is priceless. I prefer the Zetas in this list so they can more easily catch PS 1 and 2 in their target lock´s.

Does this look like a silly plan to you guys?

Not silly at all.

I don't feel marksmanship is necessary on Vessery though. As your most dangerous ship, he will be targeted first, so you want him as survivable as possible. Using up your action purely for offense (with marksmanship) means he has no defensive token for return shots. I would switch his elite for Crack Shot. Also, he doesn't really need TIE mk 2 engine. Its nice to have, but of all TIE defender pilots, Vessery can get by without it. I would suggest hull upgrade for keeping him alive that extra bit longer. I wouldn't change anything else though.

I flew the list today with dramatically great effect!

I managed to set Vessery up facing the flank of an imperial Firespray quite exactly in the center with the Firespray with two ion tokens. Over the next two rounds the Defender K-turned and barrel rolled and ate the Firespray like a rampaging piranha, completely outside the ships firing arcs. Target lock on every attack was extremely powerful.

The plan with the tie´s also worked! The Omega leader did literally nothing but catch the target lock on the Firespray and run away with it like a thief, A couple of heavily modified Royal guard interceptors couldn't get close enough to destroy the Tie fighter tanked up with Evade and focus tokens.

You were right Blade Mercurial about the Marksmanship talent though, between barrel rolling, focusing for defense and making hard red 1's he never got off a marksmanship shot.

Vessery doesn't seem to suffer under stress too much, i've got to try Lightning reflexes or Elusiveness on him. Perhaps veteran instincts would help the most to allow him some chance at keeping up with enemy Aces, My friend really likes Tie interceptors and I cant blame him, Soontir fel is like spaceship James bond.

Edited by tsuruki

What about instead of Hull Upgrade Vessery would get Ruthlessness? The Colonel shoots twice every round and with so many swarm builds these days would this be a good counter?

Edited by mitrandil

Next purchase with what you've already got...

If it were me I'd get a Z95 for the Rebels, and the most wanted pack for scum.

The z95 is a nice little ship that will give you a fair bit of flexibility in building 100 point lists; it does very well as something to spend the last few points on. You may find you want more than 1, but you do get two to get two more in most wanted...

And most wanted is probably the most efficient way to expand your options for scum & villainy. Actually a prerequisite for using slave 1 as a scum ship.

I flew the list today with dramatically great effect!

I managed to set Vessery up facing the flank of an imperial Firespray quite exactly in the center with the Firespray with two ion tokens. Over the next two rounds the Defender K-turned and barrel rolled and ate the Firespray like a rampaging piranha, completely outside the ships firing arcs. Target lock on every attack was extremely powerful.

The plan with the tie´s also worked! The Omega leader did literally nothing but catch the target lock on the Firespray and run away with it like a thief, A couple of heavily modified Royal guard interceptors couldn't get close enough to destroy the Tie fighter tanked up with Evade and focus tokens.

You were right Blade Mercurial about the Marksmanship talent though, between barrel rolling, focusing for defense and making hard red 1's he never got off a marksmanship shot.

Vessery doesn't seem to suffer under stress too much, i've got to try Lightning reflexes or Elusiveness on him. Perhaps veteran instincts would help the most to allow him some chance at keeping up with enemy Aces, My friend really likes Tie interceptors and I cant blame him, Soontir fel is like spaceship James bond.

Nice!

I will save you some trouble though: do NOT bother with Elusiveness. Its really not worth it, especially on Vessery. Lightning Reflexes might be cool, but what really work well on Vessery are things like crack shot and outmanoeuvre---they push his damage output to the obscene (when they apply). Veteran instincts is also a solid choice.

Next purchase with what you've already got...

If it were me I'd get a Z95 for the Rebels, and the most wanted pack for scum.

The z95 is a nice little ship that will give you a fair bit of flexibility in building 100 point lists; it does very well as something to spend the last few points on. You may find you want more than 1, but you do get two to get two more in most wanted...

And most wanted is probably the most efficient way to expand your options for scum & villainy. Actually a prerequisite for using slave 1 as a scum ship.

This. Definitely this.

More than Once i've planned a newbie game and found myself roughly 13-14 points too rich as a rebel player.