Ok im going to a store championship in two weeks and I am having a hard time deciding between two lists. Both imperial lists because we'll I want to fly them this year.

One is

Sootier fel PTL title stealth at

Carnor jax PTL title stealth at

Palpmobile

The other

fel built the same way

RAC predator vader Isard Rebel captive engine

Now I realize the palpmobile list is overall the better list for the meta, but I keep fearing one mistake and I can straight lose an ace, or the challenge that can be the mirror match. Good or not it's a I concentration list which does make me nervous

On the other side, I like rac, and my version kills things very fast and efficiently, but against 4 tlt I'm probably doomed. That said, against everything else I should be able to melt some ships. And I feel like this list is less stressful to flu which may help me

So, any advice, I'm practicing both a lot so I should be able to fly either one well

I think out of those two lists I'm always voting for palp aces. The shuttle is actually quite an aggressive ship so use it as a damage dealer and blocker and it will contribute. If you make a mistake with the decimator list and lose soontir you've probably lost the game regardless because a ship that can evade 1 die per round is not survivable.

I also personally would (and do) build palp aces differently, but that's just a decision of what aces you like best.

The first is more popular but I'd go with 'the other', partially for that reason. People are expecting it, and its harder to fly in many respects.

Anyway heres some other ideas, take or leave:

Put the empra on your deci. Yea its not done very often due to what he displaces but it can be a very solid build especially on kenkirk, and its less expected. I see variations of that build pretty commonly, sometimes with VI carnor who I'm starting to think is better than PtL carnor honestly.

Emp on the deci (shrimp on the barbi?) has the same role as the palpmobile but his inclusion also allows the deci to flip crippling damage cards like damaged sensor array face down (if your roll fails) and ignore debris damage if necessary while acting as a pseudo predator when you want. Things the palpmobile really doesn't care to do.

And he makes the deci much more durable in the end game especially if combined with kenkirk where he becomes c3p0.

Now I realize isard does this too but only if your not stressed which IME anyway is pretty common meaning at the least she shoe horns you into predictable maneuvers to clear it and if double stressed forget it.

Lastly a pbomb on the deci is worth considering either way. It controls movement quite well and does dirty things to 2 hull ships or wounded ships. Anyway just some friendly ideas..

Has anyone actually done a match-up of Imp Ace + Decimator vs Palp + Aces? I think I've only done it once.

It has always been my thought that having a Turret > No Turret in terms of ease to win. Decimator + Fel just always seems hard to LOSE with, as you are unlikely to lose that Decimator gun for the majority of the match. A Dual Ace + Shuttle list might lose an ace early, then be left with one Ace + Easily Outplayed Shuttle vs possibly a lot of list.

I could be wrong though, I haven't played enough Palp + Aces to really deep dive its good and bad match-ups.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I think out of those two lists I'm always voting for palp aces. The shuttle is actually quite an aggressive ship so use it as a damage dealer and blocker and it will contribute. If you make a mistake with the decimator list and lose soontir you've probably lost the game regardless because a ship that can evade 1 die per round is not survivable.

I also personally would (and do) build palp aces differently, but that's just a decision of what aces you like best.

Yeah I am just trying PTL Carnor jax with stealth. I tried him with vi and hull but against y wings without title he needs more tokens, maybe I'm just not good enough but it's way too risky for me. I might run vader, but auto thrusters just helps so much in keeping these aces alive. It's a good list but if I lose one ace, and haven't lost a quarter or third of their build, I'm done. With my rac build, I know they are losing something.

The way I use the decimator comes with accepting the fact that he will probably die no matter what. That's why I have vader and captive and not palp on kenkirk, I want to get the most out of him before death. Still undecided on what to pick but your advice really helps.