My original thought with this list was "How many TIE Bombers can I field and activate in the Ship Phase?" I've since scaled it back a little for some utility. But here's what I'm pondering:
Busta Rhymerball - 392/400
- Grand Moff Tarkin
- Most Wanted
- Contested Outpost
- Superior Positions
Lady Tremaine - Victory I-class Star Destroyer
- Ruthless Strategists
- Boosted Comms
Madam Mim - Victory I-class Star Destroyer
- Ruthless Strategists
- Boosted Comms
Maleficent - Victory I-class Star Destroyer (Flagship)
- Grand Moff Tarkin
- Ruthless Strategists
- Boosted Comms
Fighter Escort
- TIE Bombers x 7
- Major Rhymer
- Dengar
- TIE Advanced
Originally I added Expanded Hangars to everyone, then I realized that Tarkin could get the same effect, plus have the added utility of switching to Repair later if needed. I could always drop to Motti or Screed and switch back to EH, but I'd lose the range of Boosted Comms and them Vics be slow.
It's a pretty straightforward build - the Vics can activate the entire fighter group in the Ship Phase up to Long range, which combined with the Bomber's speed and Rhymer gives them an insane threat range. If my opponent is bringing a Rhymer/Fireball or heavy fighter contingent, I can always keep them a little closer to unleash Ruthless Strategist with those five hull Bombers. Combined with a blue Counter from Dengar, they should make short work of almost anything. And after the Vics plod across the battlefield, they can start chucking their black dice into the fray.
From a strategy perspective, all three of mine will be bad news for my opponent. Most Wanted increases those bombers from eight black dice to sixteen, and I can just choose my flagship and keep it back out of range. Contested Outpost and Maleficent parks right next to it to collect 120 points without losing much effectiveness thanks to Boosted Comms. And Superior Positions would be incredibly bad news for my opponent, because that's an almost guaranteed 105 points per turn that I can get my bombers into a rear arc, which they could reach by turn two even against a Rebel toilet bowl.
It's also the lowest bid I've ever thrown out there. I would love to see this with Fleet Ambush. Eight bombers on top of an enemy ship in turn one just makes me happy.
Thoughts? I've debated dropping Dengar down to a regular Jumpmaster to fit in another Escort or Bomber, but I like the synergy between Counter and Ruthless Strategists.
Edited by reegsk