I'm thinking about running this at my next store championship.

Kihraxz Fighter: · Graz the Hunter (25)

Engine Upgrade (4)

StarViper: · Guri (30)

Autothrusters (2)

· Virago (1)

· Cloaking Device (2)

Z-95 Headhunter: Binayre Pirate (12)

Z-95 Headhunter: Binayre Pirate (12)

Z-95 Headhunter: Binayre Pirate (12)

-- TOTAL ------- 100/100p. --

I'm also toying with an 8-zed scum swarm.

Or

Kihraxz Fighter: Cartel Marauder (20)

Kihraxz Fighter: Cartel Marauder (20)

Kihraxz Fighter: Cartel Marauder (20)

M3-A Interceptor: Cartel Spacer (14)

"Heavy Scyk" Interceptor (2)

"Mangler" Cannon (4)

M3-A Interceptor: Cartel Spacer (14)

"Heavy Scyk" Interceptor (2)

"Mangler" Cannon (4)

-- TOTAL ------- 100/100p. --

The cartel list I ran at the last store championship and went 500 with it, got 14th.

I have experience playing the second and third lists. None with the first, though I use to fly Guri all the time when Scum first launched.

2nd list is ok.

1st is begging for Xizor. Lose EU on Graz, pimp the Prince up and go for it.

An alternative would be to replace the Zs for a Bumpmaster with painbot and Gonk. Amazing bodyguard.

So, like this?

Kihraxz Fighter: · Graz the Hunter (25)

Engine Upgrade (4)

StarViper: · Prince Xizor (31)

Outmaneuver (3)

Autothrusters (2)

· Virago (1)

Fire Control System (2)

· Cloaking Device (2)

JumpMaster 5000: Contracted Scout (25)

· "Gonk" (2)

· R5-P8 (3)

You could try that route, but the Bumpmaster should be beefed up. I'd do it like this:

Prince Xizor (31):

Veteran instincts (1)

Autothrusters (2)

Virago (1)

Fire-Control System (2)

Total: 37 pts

Graz The Hunter (25)

Contracted Scout (25)

Intimidation (2)

Anti-Pursuit Lasers (2)

"Gonk" (2)

R5-P8 (3)

Feedback Array (2)

Total: 36 pts

2pt initiative bid for Xizor and against UBoats. Graz as 3-dice support attacker and escort, Bumpmaster as primary bodyguard and blocker. I actually flew this squad a couple of times and it's crazy fun.

Keep them in formation, plan your moves ahead, block as hard as you can and leave Xizor standing. That's pretty much it.

Thank you for the feedback.

I've never flown a big ship before. JumpMaster is the first big ship I've wanted to own. As such, what would be the base formation for this three ship list?

And you think initiative bid us better than cloaking device?

Could you elaborate on what you mean by "base formation"? You mean deployment disposition?

If that's the case, it depends on a lot of factors. But as a general rule of thumb, Graz and Scout should be kept apart with Xizor fitting in, so he can reach either for defense as seen fit.

And yes, if you're artificially bumping your PS to 9, then you should have a minimum of 2 pts for the bid. Vipers don't need the cloak as much as other ships. If you choose not to run VI on Xizor for any reason, then you could find room for it, I guess.

P.S.: If you're uncomfortable with the JM5K or do not have all the pieces to make it effective, you can run 3 Z-95s for the same price (more health, more bodies to spread damage and block, less damage reliability, loss of regen).

Yes, Deployment disposition. You're suggesting having Xizor always in the middle.

Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it.

No problem. Let me know how it goes for you.

And you can spread Xizor as you see fit. Just maintain one of the wingmen around at all times.

Ran a test run. Got creamed and crammed. I didn't set up well. I never successfully achieved any blocking with the Scout and Graz did not earn his points. Xizor was amazing late game. I'm toying with what to put in in replace of Graz.

Very sorry to hear that. Blocking does take practice and planning, so I'd encourage you to not stop trying. It's an essential skill to polish at all times. You can try Intelligence Agent on the JM5K instead of Gonk for practice.

To replace Graz at 25 pts, you could add 2 Z-95s or a TLT Y-Wing. I'd say give it another try, though. It's not an easy list to fly but a very rewarding one.

I ran it in the tournament, got four games in, including a rematch from the guy who I play tested against yesterday.

I should've taken to binayers. Instead, I took Laetin with a mangler. I don't know that he earned his points in any given match during the tournament.

I never did any serious blocking with my Scout. I kept trying, and occasionally would get some. I know I forgot intimidate in my first game, but remembered it the other times. Gonk is completely with two points. Generally speaking I could gonk 2 to 5 extra shields. Revenge bot left me wanting. I think it successfully went off two or three times during the entire game. Same with the anti-persuit lasers, though that had more to do with my inability to successfully block often and regularly. I imagine this would be great against swarms and mini swarms, but only successfully blocked two, three, four list ships a hand full of times. It feels like, though I'm speaking from limited experience, that it would only really be able to trigger all the bumping strategies once or twice a game.

Xizor needs predator and/or fire control system. I ran him with sensor jammers and VI.

The weakness I found in the list, excluding the stupidity of running Laetin, was lack of fire power without any modifier abilities. Gonking turn in and turn out prohibited me from taking a target kick or focus. I'm not yet particularly clever at running Xizor, either.

I'm definitely wanting to continue with a jumpmaster and starviper list, but I'm going to revisit the drawing board.

With Guri I think the cloak is fun. I think she really needs PTL. There's something fun you can do with that. Take the Stygium Particle Accelerator. When you cloak or uncloak, you take an evade action. Since it's an action, you can trigger PTL. Potentially you can decloak and then boost or barrel roll, take a stress, then take a green, clear the stress and still get your action later. Not sure if it works out as all that awesome but there's some potential for some crazy re-positioning at the start of the turn.

Considering PS7, it's really between VI and Predator for Xizor. On Predator's case, Adv. Sensors makes Xizor extremely slippery (but more expensive).

Some take PtL, but it takes a lot of familiarity with the Viper in general.

Other than that, you don't HAVE to block all the time. Use the JM5K to keep your opponent guessing and work for the better position, whatever that may be at the time. Force mistakes, lead your target around. Intimidation and APL are there to make those blocks count, sure. But don't get caught depending on it entirely.

Also, R5-P8 is always a coin toss (like APL). It's there to pressure your opponent. Especially against ImpAces.

Most people ignored the Scout and focused on Laetin first then Xizor second. Which worked great for longevity. My one win was a situation in which he could barely put hurry on Xizor, and he just kept dumping the damage off on the Scout, and the Scout would gonk. We went to time and I had destroyed more points than him.

People didn't want to shoot the Scout because of pistol Pete. I think there is good synergy there between gonk and Xizor. Just haven't found the build that works for me yet.