Great show. Looking forward to the Bossk review. I think adding Fett as a crew member for Bossk is a mistake. Their abilities work against each other. I'm not saying it's the worst combo, just that there are better options. I would love to hear what you think of this build...

Bossk- Calculation- 4-Lom - Zuckuss- Outlaw tech

Xizor - Predator

Pirates x 2

I really think those two crew members are being overlooked. Fett as a crew member might not be used during a game but the Mist hunter crew members will likely be used every time and it's easier to trigger their abilities. I might switch some crew out to allow Dengar a boarding ticket.

So, I think it's interesting that the show keeps falling back on Fel as the go-to for the imperials, but I think he's been notably absent from Store Championship wins (outside of a couple smaller SCs). Whisper seems to be making a pretty decent comeback by comparison. I haven't tallied them up so I could be wrong, but he doesn't seem anywhere near an "auto-include" in Imperial lists.

So, I think it's interesting that the show keeps falling back on Fel as the go-to for the imperials, but I think he's been notably absent from Store Championship wins (outside of a couple smaller SCs). Whisper seems to be making a pretty decent comeback by comparison. I haven't tallied them up so I could be wrong, but he doesn't seem anywhere near an "auto-include" in Imperial lists.

To hazard a guess, I'd say it's a combination of the Stresshog, time limits, and offense. Stress mechanics can keep him at less than 100% for a good portion of the game, and his offense isn't anything to write home about on the best of days. Whisper is also stress susceptible, but puts out massive offense, and can attack from more angles, faster.

So, I think it's interesting that the show keeps falling back on Fel as the go-to for the imperials, but I think he's been notably absent from Store Championship wins (outside of a couple smaller SCs). Whisper seems to be making a pretty decent comeback by comparison. I haven't tallied them up so I could be wrong, but he doesn't seem anywhere near an "auto-include" in Imperial lists.

Well, someone on the show (me) just won a store championship with Fel.

That being said, I do agree that the meta is really leaning more towards anti-Fel so it is getting increasingly more difficult to fly it well.

So, I think it's interesting that the show keeps falling back on Fel as the go-to for the imperials, but I think he's been notably absent from Store Championship wins (outside of a couple smaller SCs). Whisper seems to be making a pretty decent comeback by comparison. I haven't tallied them up so I could be wrong, but he doesn't seem anywhere near an "auto-include" in Imperial lists.

Well, someone on the show (me) just won a store championship with Fel.

That being said, I do agree that the meta is really leaning more towards anti-Fel so it is getting increasingly more difficult to fly it well.

He's obviously not a bad choice or anything. The one SC I've been in this year was won by a list with Fel as well. I just dont think he's quite as easy as choice as he has been in different metas past. He's got a lot of pretty hard counters right now, and that can both prey on the unprepared and make some players a little nervous.

Heck, maybe this is all statistical aberration and he'll show up in the rest of the Imperial lists that win SCs all season.

So, I think it's interesting that the show keeps falling back on Fel as the go-to for the imperials, but I think he's been notably absent from Store Championship wins (outside of a couple smaller SCs). Whisper seems to be making a pretty decent comeback by comparison. I haven't tallied them up so I could be wrong, but he doesn't seem anywhere near an "auto-include" in Imperial lists.

Well, someone on the show (me) just won a store championship with Fel.

That being said, I do agree that the meta is really leaning more towards anti-Fel so it is getting increasingly more difficult to fly it well.

He's obviously not a bad choice or anything. The one SC I've been in this year was won by a list with Fel as well. I just dont think he's quite as easy as choice as he has been in different metas past. He's got a lot of pretty hard counters right now, and that can both prey on the unprepared and make some players a little nervous.

Heck, maybe this is all statistical aberration and he'll show up in the rest of the Imperial lists that win SCs all season.

This is exactly what I was getting at, thanks. I think there's a lot of room between "auto-include" and a very good choice. There are plenty of imperial lists that are winning without him.

The best part about this episode was I could just take out an earbud and mute Ed!

The best part about this episode was I could just take out an earbud and mute Ed!

LOL!

If Paul Made money from all the podcasts he's in, he would be rich!

Auto-include is hyperbole wrt Fel for one reason:

Play style.

For the life of me, I can not do a good job of flying Soontir Fel. I die a horrible death every time. Not because he's a bad pilot (he's awesome!), not because I'm bad at the game (I like to think I'm pretty good), but because it takes a specific skill set to fly him well.

It takes a different skill set to fly phantoms well. A different skill set to fly a swarm well etc. Certain players just don't do well with particular ships and lists.

Don't just listen to what the podcasts and forums say.

Auto-include is hyperbole wrt Fel for one reason:

Play style.

For the life of me, I can not do a good job of flying Soontir Fel. I die a horrible death every time. Not because he's a bad pilot (he's awesome!), not because I'm bad at the game (I like to think I'm pretty good), but because it takes a specific skill set to fly him well.

It takes a different skill set to fly phantoms well. A different skill set to fly a swarm well etc. Certain players just don't do well with particular ships and lists.

Don't just listen to what the podcasts and forums say.

I agree 100%. I see people taking Paul Heavers worlds list a failing with it. I've always said play what you are good at not what others are good at.

Auto-include is hyperbole wrt Fel for one reason:

Play style.

For the life of me, I can not do a good job of flying Soontir Fel. I die a horrible death every time. Not because he's a bad pilot (he's awesome!), not because I'm bad at the game (I like to think I'm pretty good), but because it takes a specific skill set to fly him well.

It takes a different skill set to fly phantoms well. A different skill set to fly a swarm well etc. Certain players just don't do well with particular ships and lists.

Don't just listen to what the podcasts and forums say.

I agree 100%. I see people taking Paul Heavers worlds list a failing with it. I've always said play what you are good at what others are good at.

Oh, I agree. I originally brought it up because I wanted to continue the discussion and point out exactly this kind of thing.

Auto-include is hyperbole wrt Fel for one reason:

Play style.

For the life of me, I can not do a good job of flying Soontir Fel. I die a horrible death every time. Not because he's a bad pilot (he's awesome!), not because I'm bad at the game (I like to think I'm pretty good), but because it takes a specific skill set to fly him well.

It takes a different skill set to fly phantoms well. A different skill set to fly a swarm well etc. Certain players just don't do well with particular ships and lists.

Don't just listen to what the podcasts and forums say.

I agree 100%. I see people taking Paul Heavers worlds list a failing with it. I've always said play what you are good at what others are good at.

Oh, I agree. I originally brought it up because I wanted to continue the discussion and point out exactly this kind of thing.

I absolutely agree with all of this, with one addition: Flying a list yourself will show you what its strengths and weaknesses are. Moreso than looking at a list on paper and some maneuver dials. While I love a Phantom and like to think I fly them well, I also fly all these other "top lists" as an exercise in getting experience in what my opponent is trying to do with the list. And I lose horribly with them!

I tend to think some (much?) of the Fel reduction is due to Lockdown (aka Omega Leader) being available. You now have the option, particularly in Palpmobile lists, to go with Lockdown at 26-29 points vs. roughly 35 for Fel or Vader. Replace a Fel/Vader with Lockdown and you free up points to bump the other up from 35 pts to a Whisper in the 41-44 point range.

OL can cause a fair bit of headache for Fel from a matchup standpoint as well. Practically every single one of its abilities is bad for Fel.

I tend to think some (much?) of the Fel reduction is due to Lockdown (aka Omega Leader) being available. You now have the option, particularly in Palpmobile lists, to go with Lockdown at 26-29 points vs. roughly 35 for Fel or Vader. Replace a Fel/Vader with Lockdown and you free up points to bump the other up from 35 pts to a Whisper in the 41-44 point range.

Plus there's Wampa as cheap filler. Once the Inquisitor and x7/TIE-D Vessery are out I think we will start seeing a lot more variations in Palp Aces. The constant, however, is that only the most cost efficient aces will be consistently placing well.

I tend to think some (much?) of the Fel reduction is due to Lockdown (aka Omega Leader) being available. You now have the option, particularly in Palpmobile lists, to go with Lockdown at 26-29 points vs. roughly 35 for Fel or Vader. Replace a Fel/Vader with Lockdown and you free up points to bump the other up from 35 pts to a Whisper in the 41-44 point range.

Plus there's Wampa as cheap filler. Once the Inquisitor and x7/TIE-D Vessery are out I think we will start seeing a lot more variations in Palp Aces. The constant, however, is that only the most cost efficient aces will be consistently placing well.

I tend to think some (much?) of the Fel reduction is due to Lockdown (aka Omega Leader) being available. You now have the option, particularly in Palpmobile lists, to go with Lockdown at 26-29 points vs. roughly 35 for Fel or Vader. Replace a Fel/Vader with Lockdown and you free up points to bump the other up from 35 pts to a Whisper in the 41-44 point range.

Plus there's Wampa as cheap filler. Once the Inquisitor and x7/TIE-D Vessery are out I think we will start seeing a lot more variations in Palp Aces. The constant, however, is that only the most cost efficient aces will be consistently placing well.

Palp Aces is a bit of a weird duck. There's only room for 2 Aces no matter how cost efficient they are.

There are a couple of winning lists that have had Vader, Wampa, and Omega Leader.

I tend to think some (much?) of the Fel reduction is due to Lockdown (aka Omega Leader) being available. You now have the option, particularly in Palpmobile lists, to go with Lockdown at 26-29 points vs. roughly 35 for Fel or Vader. Replace a Fel/Vader with Lockdown and you free up points to bump the other up from 35 pts to a Whisper in the 41-44 point range.

Plus there's Wampa as cheap filler. Once the Inquisitor and x7/TIE-D Vessery are out I think we will start seeing a lot more variations in Palp Aces. The constant, however, is that only the most cost efficient aces will be consistently placing well.

Palp Aces is a bit of a weird duck. There's only room for 2 Aces no matter how cost efficient they are.

There are a couple of winning lists that have had Vader, Wampa, and Omega Leader.

Something like this? Seems the only passable way to fit all. Honestly hadn't even tried to fit them all. VI feels mandatory on Vader due to lack of initiative bid.

Aces (100)

"Wampa" (14) - TIE Fighter

Darth Vader (31) - TIE Advanced

Veteran Instincts (1), TIE/x1 (0), Advanced Targeting Computer (5)

"Omega Leader" (26) - TIE/FO Fighter

Juke (2), Comm Relay (3)

Omnicron Group Pilot (29) - Lambda-Class Shuttle

Emperor Palpatine (8), Emperor Palpatine (8)

Jax is the real monster under the bed in palp aces, IMO. Even OL doesn't want any of that.

So, I think it's interesting that the show keeps falling back on Fel as the go-to for the imperials, but I think he's been notably absent from Store Championship wins (outside of a couple smaller SCs). Whisper seems to be making a pretty decent comeback by comparison. I haven't tallied them up so I could be wrong, but he doesn't seem anywhere near an "auto-include" in Imperial lists.

The thing about soontir is almost everyone is packing an answer to him now, one of the first things I ask myself when I build a list is how do I handle fel. I suppose it's like one of those yogi berisms, "nobody plays him, he's too popular "

Jax is the real monster under the bed in palp aces, IMO. Even OL doesn't want any of that.

Poe Killer.

Jax is the real monster under the bed in palp aces, IMO. Even OL doesn't want any of that.

Jax does not like Omega Leader. He's rolling naked dice (outside of the Emperor's mod) and Omega Leader is probably holding onto an evade so Juke is still active. I know because I love Jax and have played that matchup and it does not go well

There are a couple of winning lists that have had Vader, Wampa, and Omega Leader.

Something like this? Seems the only passable way to fit all. Honestly hadn't even tried to fit them all. VI feels mandatory on Vader due to lack of initiative bid.

Aces (100)

"Wampa" (14) - TIE Fighter

Darth Vader (31) - TIE Advanced

Veteran Instincts (1), TIE/x1 (0), Advanced Targeting Computer (5)

"Omega Leader" (26) - TIE/FO Fighter

Juke (2), Comm Relay (3)

Omnicron Group Pilot (29) - Lambda-Class Shuttle

Emperor Palpatine (8), Emperor Palpatine (8)

Yep, that's it, but if you scroll through the SC lists, you'll see it!