Within a couple of weeks, I will be waking up at to early in the morning to drive roughly 3 hours to an awesome game store called Atomic Empire for the NC Regionals. However, I am still unsure at what will get brought and what will be left at home. I have been theory crafting allot and while 4x Dagger Squadron with Tractor Beam sounds fun, I don't think I'm going to get very far up the ladder with that list. I know the meta favors U-boats and Palp aces right now, But I don't want to just go along with crowd (at least not fully. Also btw, I hate interceptors. Not because there bad ships, but because I can't fly them.) So without further ado, Here is what I'm considering taking to Regionals:

Colonel Vessery (35) 44 points

VI (1)

HLC (7)

TIE mk 2 (1)

Darth Vader (29) 33 points

Wingman (2)

TIE X/1 (0)

TIE mk 2 (1)

ATC (1)

Omicron Group Pilot (21) 23 points

Anit-Pursuit Lasers (2)

Total = 100 points

Using the fantastic little simulator found here: https://xws-bench.github.io/bench/#

I have had some success bringing down palp-aces and U-boats, but "Good against remotes is one thing. Good against the living, that's something else."

Thoughts?

What's Wingman doing on Vader? Is it permanent Shuttle stop moves? That's probably not worth it over a better EPT. Adaptability is free and decent. Against lower PS stuff, take -1 so Vessery can strip shields before Vader gets crits in. Against higher PS stuff, go to 10. VI, Lone Wolf, and Predator are always good potentially on him as well.

The Shuttle isn't too convincing either. Find a point to put Electronic Baffles on it, at least. Maybe if our can explain a little more how you expect the squad to work.

What's Wingman doing on Vader? Is it permanent Shuttle stop moves? That's probably not worth it over a better EPT. Adaptability is free and decent. Against lower PS stuff, take -1 so Vessery can strip shields before Vader gets crits in. Against higher PS stuff, go to 10. VI, Lone Wolf, and Predator are always good potentially on him as well.

The Shuttle isn't too convincing either. Find a point to put Electronic Baffles on it, at least. Maybe if our can explain a little more how you expect the squad to work.

How I would like the squad to work is have the shuttle rush in as a doomed ship, Basically a really big blocker, asking to be shot at. Meanwhile the aces flank out. Vader TL's to proc ATC, and the Vessery follows up with his ability. I like Wingman for the fact that it's basically a stresshog counter, but stresshogs are so rare nowadays I think your point about dropping it for lone wolf or Predator would work better. The shuttle is basically filler points. I could throw anything in for the shuttle. TIE F/O, TIE Bomber, TAP, I was even considering Howlrunner as a variation, but in the end I settled on the shuttle because It's a big, and Beefy. Although I am open to suggestions. (I'd be willing to drop the shuttle and HLC if needed.)

I would like you to not bring this to a regionals. You have a lot of disparate parts here. Your Vessery is 45 points, and in a squad that doesn't maximize any of his positives. Two shuttles and a hull upgrade could really sell Vessery's survivability, if you can figure out how to avoid 3 torps in a round on one shuttle. I think change of list build directio. Would make a lot more sense.

You say you don't want to follow the meta, and I can respect that. But you need to ask yourself how much efficiency you are willing to sacrifice to make your list unique.

What you have posted above is neither good nor bad. It's a pretty mediocre list with lots of room for improvement. I could post suggestions that would move your list in the direction of the meta, but since that's not what you want to bring I don't know what to tell you. The meta is meta for a reason.

Try this

Rear Admiral Chiraneau

-Predator

-Vader

-Engine Upgrade

Omega Leader

-Juke

-Comms Relay

Scourge

99pts

Not current Palp aces or U boat Meta but will bring the heat, just keep scourge out of the fight until damage has been dealt.

I'd recommend trying to work Autothrusters into your list in some way, just for added survivability. Feel free to use an uncommon pilot, if that fits your style better, though I'd hardly say Vader is OUT of the meta, just on the fringe.

If you replace Vader w/ an AT equipped pilot (the Inquisitor is a good option,as he feels somewhat similar to Vader, especially w/ Prockets), you can now find room for Vader on the shuttle - Doomshuttles are an entirely different beast, and not something you're likely to see (not since TLTs were announced, really).

Don't change a thing. I'll be a the NC regionals and your list is one I can beat...

Perhaps try something like this;

https://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Galactic%20Empire&d=v4!s!22:170,-1:23:3:U.124;70:27,-1,-1:-1:17:;187:152,153:-1:-1:&sn=Unnamed%20Squadron

Darth Vader — TIE Advanced 29

Adaptability 0

Advanced Targeting Computer 1

Engine Upgrade 4

TIE/x1 0

Ship Total: 34

Colonel Vessery — TIE Defender 35

Veteran Instincts 1

Twin Ion Engine Mk. II 1

Ship Total: 37

"Omega Leader" — TIE/fo Fighter 21

Juke 2

Comm Relay 3

Ship Total: 26

You have 3 more points to play with, else leave for a bid.

Vessery works great with both of the support ships as they will want to have target locks on the enemy.

Also fader can go up to Ps 10 or down to Ps 8, thus being able to shoot after the others and get his crits where they count.

Perhaps try something like this;

https://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Galactic%20Empire&d=v4!s!22:170,-1:23:3:U.124;70:27,-1,-1:-1:17:;187:152,153:-1:-1:&sn=Unnamed%20Squadron

Darth Vader — TIE Advanced 29

Adaptability 0

Advanced Targeting Computer 1

Engine Upgrade 4

TIE/x1 0

Ship Total: 34

Colonel Vessery — TIE Defender 35

Veteran Instincts 1

Twin Ion Engine Mk. II 1

Ship Total: 37

"Omega Leader" — TIE/fo Fighter 21

Juke 2

Comm Relay 3

Ship Total: 26

You have 3 more points to play with, else leave for a bid.

Vessery works great with both of the support ships as they will want to have target locks on the enemy.

Also fader can go up to Ps 10 or down to Ps 8, thus being able to shoot after the others and get his crits where they count.

I agree with this post. It contains most of your original build and gives you a fighting chance to get some good finishes + plus looks a lot of fun to play. I'd be tempted to spend the 3pts on a stealth device for OL, or prockets on Vader. Let us know how you get on, and good luck

^Strongly recommend the Prockets on Vader. Without Palp, SD on OL isn't going to be worth the points. And you really don't need an init bid with this list.

I want to recommend predator on Vader. You need all the consistency you can get out of 7 red dice.

I want to recommend predator on Vader. You need all the consistency you can get out of 7 red dice.

In the triple ace list above, Adaptability is a more important upgrade.

If you're going against PS 9 ships, or lose initiative against PS8, Vader can boost his PS up.

BUT, ideally, you're facing one of the myriad of low PS lists out there, or get your way with initiative vs other 8s. When this happens, all of your ships are firing at the same time, meaning Vessery will always get his TL rolls, and he + OL can strip shields for Vader's auto-crit to slide through.

The only real downside to the list is that it requires being able to fly each ship in such a way that your opponent can't focus them down -- without Autothrusters or Palp, it relies far too much on green dice.

EDIT: Until Veterans comes out, though, I think I'd personally sub the Inquisitor for Vessery, and make sure he's carrying Prockets. That gives you the points for an SD on OL (meh) or Prockets on Vader (better, but a bit meh w/out Palp backing the shot up), AND a one point init bid (not awful in current meta, imo).