StarVipers can be competitive! (Knoxville-Hobbytown SC Report Jan 30, 2016)

By drdoom28704, in X-Wing Battle Reports

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Awesome report. I had read that you had won via the Asheville FB page. It's good to read the report. Thanks for typing it.

I do like the Starviper and took it to a tournament last year at the Wyvern's Tale. That's where my list got named Prince and the New Power Generation.

I hope to make some Store Champs and seeing you Asheville guys again.

Indeed! I recall your list, and look forward to playing it should you bring it. 8) I'm always happy to see great competition in Asheville!

I've been using my Tie Bomber list and was on the fence about going to any Store Champ when I heard that all the local ones might be filled up anways. So...might have my mind made up for me. :P

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Nice to see another Starviper pilot doing well with them! Congratulations!

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Battle Report: Asheville (Wyvern's Tale) SC


Great shop, hosting a great game! Today I went into the event feeling good about my chances. I only made one change to my list in that I dropped Wired and ID for Lone Wolf. Felt it might over the long haul provide me some better use. Ultimately 21 people showed up, a lot of faces from Knoxville, Greenville, and our champ from Charleston, SC! Without futher ado, the matches...


Round 1- AJ B.: Poe (VI, AT), Gold (TLT), Gold (TLT, BTL, R3A2), Bandit.

I deployed in my standard formation (Xizor on the left, Palob in the middle, Guri on the right) but with Xizor at center line. AJ deployed on the right side, opposite Guri. I slow walked Palob and Guri forward, and Xizor moved forward at about twice that speed. Initial Joust went decently enough for AJ. Guri got some stress and lost a shield, Xizor did minor damage but got a target lock, and Palob got a hit in. In the following turns it all fell apart. Xizor and Guri got the drop on Poe, and lit him up, effectively ending him. From there Palob bought the farm, and AJ's force was picked apart by solid dice. In his defense, his splashing of Palob was the only ship I lost in all four rounds of swiss. 1-0 (100-28)


Round 2: Cody H.: Kavil (TLT, Predator, Unhinged), N'Dru (Crackshot), Black Sun Ace (Crackshot) x2.

I deployed in my standard formation. My opponent setting up with N'Dru set up along the back of the board headed left, Black Sun Aces in the Center-right, and Kavil on the right. I moved at a medium pace with both Palob and Guri. Xizor sped around the flank. N'Dur starts with a K-turn, and the rest of the ships travel as speed 2 forward. Xizor and Palob started to whittle down a BS Ace. It did not get to return fire. The next turn, Xizor finished it off before it fired. Kavil and the remaining Black Sun Ace laid a hurting on Guri, and had it not been for a missed opportunity to trigger crackshot Guri would have been lost. N'Dru attempted to engage Xizor, and did some damage. Palob and Guri finished off the remaining Black Sun Ace. Palob finished off N'Dru, and Guri and Xizor did everything the could to give Kavil no shots and finish him off. I lost all but one hit point on both my StarVipers. 2-0 (100-0)


Round 3: Preston B.: Poe (VI, R2D2, AT), Ello (PtL, BB-8, AT), Gemmer (Test Pilot, Chardon, PtL, AT).

I deployed as usual, with my opponent deploying Ello and Poe to the far right with Gemmer leading. Big take away from this game, Guri took shots from all three ships, and got away with very little damage. From there it went downhill for him. I combined fire on every ship I could. Poe never got an opportunity to regen more than one Shield. Gemmer and Palob had a duel going on in the middle of the field neither could land hits. In the end, the StarVipers got the drop on the T70s and out maneuvered them. He went on the win our event, so I am glad he was able to recover from losing to me. 3-0 (100-0)


Round 4: Will H.: Rookie pilot (R4-D6, IA), Rookie Pilot (R2, IA)x3, Bandit.

I saw this list in Knoxville, and was happy to see it again. This time in the hands of the original designer. He deployed in a block on my right, and I deployed in my standard formation. Will kept them together to fight, and cover each other. This game became one of arcs and millimeters. Guri and Xizor did their best to avoid facing all of the ships at once. His formation broke, and he maneuvered well trying to get shots. Guri and Xizor took a few shots throughout. Palob really stayed out of the way most of the game, and his few shots were crucial to finish off a ship before firing. 4-0 (100-0)


Semi-finals: Bobby R.: Omicron Pilot (Palp, Hull Upgrade), Turr (HU, PtL, AT, RGP), Soontir (HU, PtL, AT, RGP).

Last time I faced this list, I got lucky. This time I doubted I would get lucky a second time. My opponent set up with the shuttle on the left. Turr and Soontir at mid field. I flipped my deployment this time, to try to pressure the shuttle and draw fire. Palob and Xizor set the flank. Turr and Soontir tore into Guri, who survived, but was hurting. Palob and Xizor managed to take out Turr, and the Shuttle blocked Guri. Palob was a bit of a non-factor in this game. It became a duel between Soontir and Xizor. Soontir moved and shot first, but had a maneuver advantage on Xizor. (I don't say that very often!) Xizor ignored the shuttle that flew around the board away from the fight. Soontir only got to shoot every other turn at best. Xizor was consistently getting shots with TL, only about two hits each but none sticking. When Xizor had to defend he was getting poor defense. In the end time expired. Xizor was alive with 1hp, and so was Soontir and the shuttle was into hull. 63-31


Another solid performance, but a disappointing finish. Bobby did what he needed to do. I would have appreciated some better rolls, but everyone says that. I am not sure what else I could have done better. Twice now I've struggled against a list. Everything else I have handled and never felt like I was at a lost for answers. I need to shore up my game vs Emperor Aces.

Edited by drdoom28704
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Ill steal this list for tonight with some local people. Ill use intelligence agent and determination on the hwk, unless better options are well argued.

I love the star vipers.

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Let me know how it goes GeneticDrift, I am currently seeking a way to improve my game vs Emperor Aces lists.

My thoughts currently run to swapping out Palob entirely for a Torkhil with TLT and an optional 1pt upgrade (or even a Syndicate Thug with TLT & R4) and adding a Flechette Torp to Xizor. Basic idea being, that that one turn of extra stress on an interceptor combined with focused fire and TLT that can hit reliably the following turn should eliminate one of the aces quickly, freeing up Guri to chase down the shuttle. Xizor and the TLT carrier then continue to duel with Soontir/Vader.

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It went well. I played two games. Game 1 was vs brobots and I had more firepower. Never stole focus or an evade, but int agent helped a lot on a key turn, allowing guri to tear into IG-88 C range 1, out of arc.

Game 2 was not vs a competitive player or list and I won.

Determination did nothing, having the PS bit might be better. I am not sold on intelligence agent, maybe greedo, bosk, or one of the new crew comming out.

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Had some more fun with a similar list against 3 defenders using the new titles. If i recall correctly, I wont one and lost the other.

I flew, palob: crack shot (forgot i had it at key moment), intelegence agent, TLT, Xizor: title, FCS, VI, AT, Guri: predator, AT

Game 1

Vessery, ion, ruthlessness, title for cannon/primary

2 deltas with title for free evade

Game 2

Was against Vessery, tractorbeam, title, ?ept

2 deltas with stealth device and title for evades

Intel agent helped some more in these games as well, keeping an eye on their ace. Crack shot was useful even with its arc requirement. Fast flanking and tight turns are good against defenders, but i could not evade that ion cannon and 3 defenders joust real well, luckily Ves never had focus thanks to palob.

Edited by GeneticDrift
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I love the StarVipers, but I somehow haven't tried to fly them under 35 points... Apparently this is plenty effective, I will give it a try :)

So I crunched some numbers and this Palob costs exactly the same as a Black Sun Enforcer w/ Autothrusters, so that's my next list just for the Viper-yness

-100pts Xizor (VI, AT, Virago, FCS), Guri (Predator, AT), BSE (AT)

Palob is surely a more effective use of points since he can steal a token at range instead of needing to block to deny a token, plus deal damage regardless of arc, and equal toughness so... the question is really: what is going to be more effective than Palob for 26-28 points? I'll start with that switch to Lone Wolf instead of Wired+ID. Some form of Kavil w/Auto-Turret maybe, but that's only 2 points left for his upgrades...

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Round 3: Ryan S. [3x Rookie Xwing Pilots (R2, IA), Z-95 Bandit Sqd, Rookie Pilot (different droid, IA)

That bandit shouldn't have had that IA, assuming it's an integrated astromech.

But good write up! Nice work with the vipers!

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My friend Lee had painted up a beautiful "Dr Doom" theme'd StarViper

Is there a pic of this SV anywhere?

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Congratulations on your win, I have been trying to make Starviper lists tournament viable for a while now, and your success gives me hope.

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Chippy Tea, not yet. I haven't quite mastered how to post photos here yet.

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Wave 8 List updates:

I have started flying major change in the list based on ships available for Wave 8.

Xizor (VI, Virago, AT, FCS)

Black Sun Enforcer (AT)

Contracted Scout (Deadeye, Proton Torp, EM, R4, GC)

Basically I had always wanted a large base blocker and none seemed to make sense or were cheap enough to really fit. Enter the Jumpmaster 5k. The Scout gives you a blocker when you want it, solid firepower when you want it, and 360 fire when you need it. I downgraded Guri mostly because given the 'rise' of 3x Uboats, it seemed wise to have something below their PS to block them more effectively. I also noticed that outside of Xizor having all high PS wasn't helping me all that much.

I had toyed with Cloaking Device on Xizor, mostly as a 'oh sh!t, I'm about to take it on the nose!" option, but rarely if ever used it. It also encouraged poor flying cause I had it there. It did nothing vs Imp Aces that was worth mentioning. The BSE is upgradable as now the list is only 98 points. Which I decided (for the moment) was better to choose Init vs some lists. I am seriously considering adding a Feedback array to the Scout for Aces lists that are difficult to hit with two dice attacks. So far I've tested it vs 3x Uboats (which I beat, only losing the BSE), and two Scum mixed lists (both of which I won, with light losses). I need to find a solid Imp Aces player to test against, since it's running rampant here in the Southeast area.

Imperial Veterans will be a very difficult expansion to play against, esp with Tractor Beams on Defenders. The biggest draw to this list, is the combination of high firepower, high AGI, and AT. Tractor Beams will cut into some of that should they land. Vassery will be a nightmare, but not what I'd call a 'hard' counter.

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Looks very interesting. I'm trying to figure out a second faction list to play* - I'm a dyed-in-the-wool TIE swarm player and my Imperial squad is a given, but something new would be nice. I've always aesthetically liked the Starviper, and getting some use out of it would be nice. I don't own one, but since everyone in my area essentially just buys them for autothrusters, getting hold of some shouldn't be hard.

I get that the low PS makes Imperial Aces the key foe you've gotta plan for; even upgraded, Prince Xizor only ties with Soontir Fel, and he can't catch Vader no matter what he does. I'm wondering if massed flechette torpedoes might be a possible answer.

  • Prince Xizor - Virago, Veteran Instincts, Fire Control System, Flechette Torpedoes, Autothrusters
  • Black Sun Enforcer - Flechette Torpedoes, Autothrusters
  • Black Sun Enforcer - Flechette Torpedoes, Autothrusters

Leaves 2 points, either for Glitterstim or Inertial Dampeners on the Virago, or else to give up on Xizor winning a pilot skill war and give him something else - maybe Lone Wolf? It sounds a bit counter-intuitive, but with Xizor's ability people will probably try to take out his wingmen first - so Lone Wolf can come into play and punish them for doing so. You could take Sensor Jammer, but as you noted earlier, Sensor Jammer doesn't really work against Emperor Palpatine, Poe Dameron or Guidance Chip Torpedoes, which represent probably the most common Imperial, Rebel and Scum threats respectively. It's amazing against Twin Laser Turrets but then Twin Laser Turrets aren't exactly top of the threat list for an autothruster-equipped Starviper.

Torpedo boat lists aren't too bad - provided you can make the initial exchange of shots at range 3, two plasma torpedoes and a proton torpedo are survivable - especially for Xizor, who can shove damage off onto his wingmen. Once you get in amongst them, 2-dice turret fire is a bit of a joke; even damaged quite badly, it's like trying to kill a TIE interceptor.

* Because I'm going to a systems open and am of course confident of qualifying for the Hangar Bay tournament**
** i.e. getting the ever-loving @!~!@!!? kicked out of me on day one.