List for my first tournament

By Heilbuth, in X-Wing Squad Lists

What do you think:

Bounty hunter (33)

- Gunner (5)

Omicron Group Pilot (21)

- Fire-control system (2)

- Gunner (5)

Vader (29)

- TIE/x1 (0)

- Advanced Targeting Computer (1)

- Engine Upgrade (4)

Total 100

My plan was to start out with the Firespray and Lambda together. Then have the Firespray get into the fight, using both arcs, and have the Lambda hang back a bit more. Let Vader hang around at range waiting for a good shot.

Im not expecting to run into any 4xY TLT lists, but of course I cant be sure.

How will this work against different list types?

Am I stupid for wanting to use the Firespray?

Will the lambdas limited movement be a problem?

Its probably not the strongest list in the world, but it could work.

I would go with the 'classic' buzzsaw shuttle however, because without engine, its not going to contribute as much as you'd like:

Vader w/ VI, x-1, ATC & engine = 35

Bounty hunter = 33

Omicron Pilot w/ FCS, gunner & engine = 32

100

If you're intent on flying a list using these three ships you may wish to consider (still not the strongest list in the world, but maybe a little stronger...):

Maarek Steel

Veteran Instincts

TIE/x1 Title

Adv. Targeting Computer

(33 points)

Omicron Group Pilot

Darth Vader

(24 points)

Kath Scarlet

Calculation

Recon Specialist

(42 points)

Total: 99 points

If you're going to fly a Lambda-Class Shuttle it's not a bad idea to go doom-shuttle because, let's face it, that puppy is going to die anyway.

Thanks for the input guys.

I was kind of suspecting that the shuttle would benefit from an engine upgrade, but the naked bounty hunter might be a waste of points.

I like the idea of a doom shuttle, which I actually went with from the start, but I was thinking that I would benefit more from Vader in his TIE Advanced.

Maybe I should reconsider the Firespray for my tournament list!

So if I go Vader + Doom shuttle, what ship(s) would you fit into the remaining 43 points?

the naked bounty hunter isn't a waste. I used it with a sabre squadron escort and really pulled its weight. 10/10 would again

I hate to say it BUT, you can't have Vader in his ship PLUS as a crew on the shuttle. You'll have to decide which one would work best for your build.

I hate to say it BUT, you can't have Vader in his ship PLUS as a crew on the shuttle. You'll have to decide which one would work best for your build.

I know that. What I said was, that I had to drop the doom shuttle because I think Vader as a pilot benefits my list more!

the naked bounty hunter isn't a waste. I used it with a sabre squadron escort and really pulled its weight. 10/10 would again

Interesting!

I might try to get a test match with blade_mercurials suggestion before the tounament:

Vader w/ VI, x-1, ATC & engine = 35

Bounty hunter = 33

Omicron Pilot w/ FCS, gunner & engine = 32

100

the naked bounty hunter isn't a waste. I used it with a sabre squadron escort and really pulled its weight. 10/10 would again

Interesting!

I might try to get a test match with blade_mercurials suggestion before the tounament:

Vader w/ VI, x-1, ATC & engine = 35

Bounty hunter = 33

Omicron Pilot w/ FCS, gunner & engine = 32

100

I think this is a good list. One tip though, run the shuttle on the edge of the board. It keeps it in play for MUCH longer, especially because it has such a hard turning radius. Its pretty deadly with fcs and gunner though. I have killed Poe on the first turn with this shuttle and soontir!

If you want to win based on attrition (too much health to chew through) we have seen some success with 3 Omicron Group Pilots, 1 Bounty Hunter, and 4 points to spend as you please...

The new partial scoring for large ships makes this attrition build less appealing, you could have all 4 ships on the board and still lose the match :huh:

I like bounty hunters, but with the shuttle, I would personally prefer to have a few more ships. The BH + Gunner points could go towards 3x Academy Pilots with a few points left over to put on Vader. IT's not the standard 2x2 box formation with Howlrunner and firepower, but 3x APs still have to be dealt with or they can get a lot of damage and blocks in over time.

Ok, I practically didnt get any opportunities to test out the build before the tournament. If I had, I would probably have changed it up a bit.

I ended up flying:

Vader w/ VI, x-1, ATC & engine = 35

Bounty hunter = 33

Omicron Pilot w/ FCS, gunner & engine = 32

100

I always knew that this was not the strongest list, but I really wanted to try it out anyway.
First match:
Faced Wedge, Biggs, Stress hog and a Bandit.
I really blew it. Sacreficed the bounty hunter without getting shuttle and vader in firing range, bumped vader a few times (on the shuttle). Vader only got 1 shot in. Took down Biggs, but after 30 minutes it was over.
Second match:
Faced Miranda, Poe and Jake.
Implemented lessons learned from first match. All 3 ships did their share of the work. Took down Miranda, then lost the shuttle. Didnt look too good, but opponent drowe Jake off the board in a wild pursuat of the bounty hunter. Ended up with Vader chasing a regenerating Poe around the asteroids. Could have gone on forever. Lost by 3 points when time ran out.
Third match:
Faced a mixed swarm of Wampa, Chaser, Epsilon Leader, Omega Ace and 2 Black Squadron with Crack shot.
Crazy match. TIEs were all over the board, bumping each other and my ships. I was INCREDIBLE lucky with the green dice. He got a lot more shots in than I did, as I couldnt focus fire and he evaded. At the start of the last round we both had all of our ships on the board. During the last round I took out 1 TIE and he took out the shuttle. Of course I lost by quite a bit, as I lost the entire shuttle + half the points of the bounty hunter.
Conclusion
I kind of like the way I can play this list. I like to have a big mass of meatshields in the middle and then have Vader find a way to get on the chase.
In a tournament it isnt really competitive with the large ship rules, but I will certainly fly it again.
My expirences from this tournament is that the engine upgrade on the shuttle is a waste of points. I didnt use it even once. With a different placement of the shuttle and bounty hunter I might find a use for it, but my overall tactic is to let the shuttle hang back and stay in front of the enemy as long as possible, so I realised that I dont really want the EU on it. Would move it to the bounty hunter, as he could use the extra maneuverability in a lot of situations.
The FCS was not as good as I thought, as I was finding myself attacking different targets because the shuttle was hanging back and being very predictable. So after attacking one target, gaining a target lock, that target would be out of arc next round.
I didnt use Gunner either (might have forgot to use it once or twice), so that was a lot of points going into an upgrade that had limited use. I thinking that Recon specialist is more useful, as it will also give a bit of defence.
When I get the opportunity I will try this:

Vader w/ VI, x-1, ATC & engine = 35

Bounty hunter w/ Recon Specialist & engine = 40

Omicron Pilot w/ Recon Specialist = 24

99

Thanks for the input guys

Well, I don't understand how you could not get good use out of Gunner + FCS. I think the only possibility is that you were forgetting to make your 2nd gunner attack? Because you don't care if the original target gets out of arc (although having engine upgrade is meant to help with that problem too...)

Especially in the games where you say you were having trouble hitting? Gunner + FCS is designed specifically for that problem! So, you shoot at a ship and roll whatever. Your opponent rolls green dice and either stops the shot or takes damage. Either way, you apply a target lock immediately. If you missed, you now immediately attack again thanks to gunner and you have a TL to modify the shot (so more likely to hit!). You then get another TL regardless of the result.

Anyway, as to your newest list, I would not bother with Recon Spec on the shuttle. It only has 1 agility so it won't make good use of the extra focus token on defense. Much better to take Rebel Captive for the same cost, and punish your opponent for targeting the shuttle...

I didnt say the combo didnt work. I might have forgot to use Gunner a few times (maybe more, not sure). I just said that FCS on its was not much use, as enemy would get out of arc next turn so I couldnt use TL.

You might be right about Recon Spec not being useful on the shuttle, but next time I fly this list I will certainly move EU from the shuttle to the Firespray.

I dont believe that using boost on the shuttle to chase enemies is the right tactic, as the rest of the enemies would get behind it. Besides, it moves first almost always, so hard to predict were to boost to.

I didnt say the combo didnt work. I might have forgot to use Gunner a few times (maybe more, not sure). I just said that FCS on its was not much use, as enemy would get out of arc next turn so I couldnt use TL.

I dont believe that using boost on the shuttle to chase enemies is the right tactic, as the rest of the enemies would get behind it. Besides, it moves first almost always, so hard to predict were to boost to.

It doesn't matter if a ship gets out of the shuttle's arc later on----you have gunner + FCS! You don't care, because you can just shoot something else and get the same benefit all over again. So I don't think you understand why its effective. Its basically action independent consistent damage against pretty much anything. This frees up your action to be whatever you need (or even if you don't get an action because of a red move or a bump, you don't care).

As for engine on the shuttle, it has plenty of uses----primarily, it allows the shuttle to turn around faster to get shots on enemies that have gotten behind it sooner rather than later. But in addition, it can be used to increase your 'block radius'. The most powerful thing the shuttle has going for it is the ability to get in the way of the enemy and muck up their movement. If you are not using it for this purpose, then maybe its not the ship for you.

At this point, I suggest dropping the shuttle altogether and flying something in its place. It certainly doesn't suit everyone's playstyle and there's nothing wrong with that! ;)