So along with everyone else on here, the first thing I thought of when the TIE/D title was spoilt was Vessery with an Ion cannon.

Then (along with everyone else) the full implications of the Tractor beam sunk in, so the second thing I thought of was Vessery with a Tractor beam.

But Vessery, while awesome, is still expensive, and really requires the rest of the list to be built around him to supply him with TLs to feed on.

So the third thing I thought of was running a 3 Delta list. Now most people seem to consider that the TIE/x7 title is better for the Delta, but I was considering the following for maximum annoyance:

Delta Control Freaks: 99pts

Delta Squadron Pilot

TIE/D, TIE Mk2, Ion Cannon

Delta Squadron Pilot

TIE/D, TIE Mk2, Flechette Cannon

Delta Squadron Pilot

TIE/D, TIE Mk2, Tractor Beam

The TIE/D is by far the more powerful of the two new defender titles if you are running an all-defender list. The x-7 is good and will have its place, but the TIE/D turns any defender into a potent threat, even the lowly deltas.

Your list is good. Personally, I feel 3 ion cannon deltas will be stronger simply because it threatens all enemy ship types pretty much equally (tractor beam is less effective against large-based ships and having only 1 ion means it takes longer to ionize big ships or high agility ships).

I liked having all three control elements in the one list as it gives you more flexibility and frees up the points for the Mk2 engines.

I think a lot of people focus on the maneuvering aspect of the TB, and that it doesn't effect large ships, but forget about the drop in agility that it gives which is just as powerful and really helps the rest of the list land its shots.

Oh I'm well aware of the power of the tractor beam. I've been playing with Defenders a lot on VASSAL (against anyone willing to go up against the spoiled stuff). I've had at least a dozen games against various people with various defender builds and so far 3 ion deltas have been the most effective.

Again, I'm not knocking your build. Its a good one and I think you should run it. I'm just letting you know the tractor beam is not good against certain matchups (particularly the Ghost & decimator, but to a lesser extent high agility enemies with tokens will shrug it off---although you hope to burn a defensive token in doing so, but that won't always happen). The flechette cannon also has its limitations, although it does work quite well against all Large Base ships, so that in a way helps to make up for the tractor's deficiency there (it is quite crappy against push the limit ships though).