I've been looking forward to the Gamma Squadron Veteran since Imperial Vets was announced. A cheap, moderate PS ordnance carrier with an EPT has a lot of options in this Crack Shot/Deadeye/Guidance Chip world.

Embarrassingly, I only recently realized that we have such a ship right now: the Baron of the Empire. It's one lower PS, one more AGI, only one warhead slot, boost, and an extraordinarily good dial. So obviously, it's not as strong as a pure ordnance carrier, but it's just about as good as a deliverer of warheads in an alpha strike. You can do Crack Shot/Guidance Chips /Missile for max damage vs lower PS, or you can go for Deadeye for maximum flexibility. It's a strong opening punch for about 25 points. The interesting thing, to me, is that once the payload is away, it flexes to a completely different role. Against lower PS ships, it can arc dodge and eat away hit points while being modestly tanky due to the v1 title. Against higher PS stuff, it becomes a profoundly good blocker.

The argument against the Baron is that it rather inefficiently accomplishes all of these roles, but if you are the sort of player that likes a lot of options for how you employ your ships, there might be something here.

Yea, I'm not completely sold on the Baron yet.

I haven't been able to find a build where I'm not content to either (A) save a few points and go with a Sienar or (B) spend a few points and go with Omega Leader.

I do like how it can prey on low PS ships like the Royal Guard Interceptor does, but even then it's just a high-PS TIE fighter if it doesn't have PTL/title.

I'm pretty bullish on the Barons. They are the perfect price to fit in your list on the cheap, and like Bio said fit any role you have in mind.

Prockets seem like a good choice, but maybe a deadeyed/chipped concussion missile might be just what the doctor ordered for snuffing a contracted scout in one turn.

Woah, just had a thought. Missiles have three options that don't require surrendering the target lock:

Ion Pulse

Homing

Advanced Homing

You could go nuts with Opportunist and swing at range 3 with five dice! Not as crazy as it sounds if the Baron fires last in your squad. It's reasonable to expect the target would be out of tokens by then. Plus, you still have an EPT you can use the whole game. Missile shots really jumped up in the new age of munitions.

Juke/title/AT is pretty good.

Not sure about deadeye and chips. It would all come down to how well it can block after the ordnance is gone.

I enjoy running four of them with ptl, the title and thrusters. It's a really fun list.

I think as an ordnance boat I'd probably take a Scimitar over a Baron.

I think the juke variety is a good idea, juke can be taxing when stacked because at some point someone will need to spend a focus when taking concentrated fire. And against a contract scout? They will never spend their focus.

Baron of the Empire — TIE Advanced Prototype 19

Juke 2

Cluster Missiles 4

Guidance chip 0

TIE/v1 1

Ship Total: 26

Pretty strong when you get to double up on your juke!

I think people underestimate the Juke + v1 combination. I like it better than omega Squadron Pilot + Juke + Comms Relay, for a couple of reasons: the dial is a lot better for knife-fighting, and you get Juke and dice modification each round even if you're spending your evade token under fire. It makes them durable little nettles for an opponent to deal with, and 22 (24, with AT) is a bargain price.

Even if they do spend a Focus, that's pretty okay.

I run three of them and a Rudor with Juke, the title, and AT. They are very fun to fly. Their action efficiency is amazing and juke quickly wares a target down.

I think the juke variety is a good idea, juke can be taxing when stacked because at some point someone will need to spend a focus when taking concentrated fire. And against a contract scout? They will never spend their focus.

Baron of the Empire — TIE Advanced Prototype 19

Juke 2

Cluster Missiles 4

Guidance chip 0

TIE/v1 1

Ship Total: 26

Pretty strong when you get to double up on your juke!

I like this. You can give them AT instead and add two Omega Squadron TIE/FO with Juke/Comm Relay into the same squadron for four PS4's with Juke.

For a second, I thought the thread title said "bacon of the empire"

Sigh

I love barons with Concussion Missiles + PTL + AT + TITLE. Two of them for 58pts, then you have 42pts for anything else. Those two can deliver a mean opening hit, then become great blockers with PTL. Then with TL can just peck away at HP.

Woah, just had a thought. Missiles have three options that don't require surrendering the target lock:

Ion Pulse

Homing

Advanced Homing

You could go nuts with Opportunist and swing at range 3 with five dice! Not as crazy as it sounds if the Baron fires last in your squad. It's reasonable to expect the target would be out of tokens by then. Plus, you still have an EPT you can use the whole game. Missile shots really jumped up in the new age of munitions.

I'm thinking Juke + v1 is only 3 points in comparison. Too bad the Baron wasn't 18 points, would have made it amazing.

Juke+v1 is the same points as Accuracy Corrector Tempest. I think they're both solid.

Juke and TAP is undeniably great. It stacks nice with munitions, and makes it even more tempting for a contracted scout to spend his focus once we've juked his one evade.

I'm actually of the mind that Prockets aren't the prime missile for the TAP. Maybe on Rudor...

2x Baron of the Empire — TIE Advanced Prototype 19

Juke 2

Cluster Missiles 4

Guidance Chips 0

TIE/v1 1

Ship Total: 26

2x Baron of the Empire — TIE Advanced Prototype 19

Juke 2

Autothrusters 2

TIE/v1 1

Ship Total: 24

I really like the idea of juke Cluster missiles, because they double up on the chance to cause hits to get through. When the Tie shuttle comes out, I might find a way to get a fleet officer in instead.

After playing in the Hoth open, I'm thinking this would of done well.

Baron of the Empire (19)

Push the Limit (3)

Proton Rockets (3)

Autothrusters (2)

TIE/v1 (1)

Baron of the Empire (19)

Push the Limit (3)

Proton Rockets (3)

Autothrusters (2)

TIE/v1 (1)

Colonel Vessery (35)

Crack Shot (1)

Heavy Laser Cannon (7)

Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

I've been looking at a similar squad with Homing Missiles and Chip instead of Prockets and ATs.

Glad to see this topic Bio, as I've been really trying to make them work with Concussion, crackshot, GC & title for 25pts, in pairs, to complement a decivader or homing fettigator.

They work great against lower ps targets, but do have the familiar TL problem, especially against aces - hence vader. TBH I've had mixed results, but with crackshot, even when you can't get your concussions away, you can threaten quite nicely.

I've also been trying Soontir with 3 Sienars, loaded with title, concussion and chimps. Done very nicely so far, but yet to face the wolfpack. Three feels right for an alpha strike. :/

I enjoy running four of them with ptl, the title and thrusters. It's a really fun list.

This is what I took to the Hoth Open, and made it to the second day. I love the maneuverability they have. All my opponents commented that they are hard to pin down and put damage on.

Glad to see this topic Bio, as I've been really trying to make them work with Concussion, crackshot, GC & title for 25pts, in pairs, to complement a decivader or homing fettigator.

They work great against lower ps targets, but do have the familiar TL problem, especially against aces - hence vader. TBH I've had mixed results, but with crackshot, even when you can't get your concussions away, you can threaten quite nicely.

I've also been trying Soontir with 3 Sienars, loaded with title, concussion and chimps. Done very nicely so far, but yet to face the wolfpack. Three feels right for an alpha strike. :/

Like you, this is sort of the context I've been thinking of them in: 1 heavy hitter with 2 harrasser/blockers that are first turn heavy hitters. It's not full alpha strike, but it fakes it just enough to scare a lot of ships, and it's pretty capable once missiles are away.

I enjoy running four of them with ptl, the title and thrusters. It's a really fun list.

Heh, you can drop the title on one of them and upgrade the other to Omega Leader + Juke + Relay (100).

I enjoy running four of them with ptl, the title and thrusters. It's a really fun list.

This is what I took to the Hoth Open, and made it to the second day. I love the maneuverability they have. All my opponents commented that they are hard to pin down and put damage on.

How did you find the damage? 4 2-dice ships is just not a lot of offense. Definitely a durable list, though.

I enjoy running four of them with ptl, the title and thrusters. It's a really fun list.

This. You get a 4 precision blockers or 4 tanky arc dodgers.