I am relatively new to the game, so I don't have access to autothrusters, stealth device, or even royal guard. Can a naked or differently loaded interceptor still be competitive?
Thrusterless Interceptors?
they do just fine with push the limit alone. Autothrusters are just a real boon when facing turrets.
Naked, no, but 4x PtL Sabers is not a bad squad for them en masse.
I'm really enjoying this 4x Interceptor list:
http://geordanr.gith...nnamed Squadron
I will say this... I have no doubt I could compete without Auto-Thrusters, but a lot of tactical decisions would be required. For what A/T really does it help my dice, nothing more. If I'm flying well, and reading my opponent well, he/she shouldn't be chucking red dice in the first place. Granted, there is no way to avoid ALL red dice, but there is one very specific way to fly A/T Interceptors and that is to dance around the Range 3 band (even with Turrets)... This gives you 4 green dice and A/T. That said, without A/T, you no longer need worry about getting to Range 3, instead, you'll want to do a [stick and move] type of Range 4 dance, only coming into Range 2-3 if it's a no-trade. This is the gameplan for pre-A/T arc-dodgers, and it's only 100% successful in a vacuum (read: solo practice).
TL;DR
With or Without Auto-Thrusters, you must still read your opponent well; avoid Range 1 trades; and most importantly known when to disengage. Never Joust with your Interceptor(s).
EDIT: hit quote instead of edit. Long day.
Edited by lazycometin casual games, go for it. In tournaments you will go down against all those turrets around these days (too many TLT on the tables).
I am relatively new to the game, so I don't have access to autothrusters, stealth device, or even royal guard. Can a naked or differently loaded interceptor still be competitive?
As long as it's not a tournament, go ahead and proxy it. Most people don't care.
Auto Thrusters is usually best against turrets, as has been said. If you face a lot of them in your area, then you might need them. TLT's are running rampant at the moment and what they are usually needed against these days.
If you aren't facing TLT's or fat turrets, then you should be fine.
Edited by heychadwickI'm playing with interceptors and phantoms, and by now, push the limit works really fine to approach, kill, and run. Autothrusters let you stay at Range 3 always facing the objective, knowing that if you are being shot, you can survive with no problems at all. But try to stay only in 1 arc at a time.
My only advice on flying Interceptors is: stay out of range and arcs, move, and move, and move, let the other players get a mess between asteroids, and find the right moment to face them all at a time, shoot, and run again. And of course, if you are facing a Twin Laser Turret, try to burn it down the first.
Good hunting!