Yes, yet another defender topic post....

I see them floating around on the forum, but now we know pretty much everything and people are playing on Vassal. what are your favourite builds so far?

I have:

Colonel Vessery (35)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Tractor Beam (1)
Hull Upgrade (3)
TIE/D (0)

The Inquisitor (25)
Push the Limit (3)
Autothrusters (2)
TIE/v1 (1)

"Omega Leader" (21)
Juke (2)
Comm Relay (3)
Stealth Device (3)

Total: 100

&

Glaive Squadron Pilot (34)
Juke (2)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
TIE/x7 (-2)

Glaive Squadron Pilot (34)
Juke (2)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
TIE/x7 (-2)

"Omega Leader" (21)
Juke (2)
Comm Relay (3)
Stealth Device (3)

Total: 99

(One Glaive could be replaced by a PTL Countess, but as I don't play Vassal I have no idea if she is as good as she seems)

anymore for anymore?

any good triple defender lists? Triple Crack Glaives seem to be an obviously good build?

The first list looks really strong. The only problem I foresee is that Vessery will be a huge target, and since he can't really dodge arcs or token up I fear he will go down too easily for such an expensive ship.

Anything with the /D title, an extra canno and Ruthlessness will hit like a ton of bricks. Vessery with Ion Cannon or Brath with Tractor beam seem like promising candidates.

Glaive with /x7 title and Juke looks promising.

Ryad with /x7, PTL and Mk2 engines should be fun and slippery as heck.

Even the generics might see some mileage. /D with Ion for a lot of firepower or /x7 for tanky blockers.

The new titles will certainly give these old dogs some new tricks and make them worth fielding, at least in fun games. Whether they are good enough to become competitive in the tournament setting remains to be seen.

I'm thinking, "I'm glad I bought a Defender."

The first list looks really strong. The only problem I foresee is that Vessery will be a huge target, and since he can't really dodge arcs or token up I fear he will go down too easily for such an expensive ship.

40pts for a double tapping, always TL'd, 7 health monster is about as cheap as it can get!

I played against this exact list a couple of times, and Vessery is indeed the No.1 target, but it leaves a hell of a job left to do with the Inq and Leader left to put down...

You need three for regular games, six for epic.

The first list looks really strong. The only problem I foresee is that Vessery will be a huge target, and since he can't really dodge arcs or token up I fear he will go down too easily for such an expensive ship.

40pts for a double tapping, always TL'd, 7 health monster is about as cheap as it can get!

I played against this exact list a couple of times, and Vessery is indeed the No.1 target, but it leaves a hell of a job left to do with the Inq and Leader left to put down...

Exactly my thinking, If you can get three good double taps where he gets the TB off for the other two, that's pure gold.

The trick I feel is to save a focus for defence when you know you will get return shots and hit and run, spread the damage out across all three ships.

If you have PTL and x7 Countess, Mk. II engines are a must. Eventually, you will have to turn, and those engines help you clear the stress from PTL. Countess with that build has the same action-economy as Inquisitor when going at speeds 3 or faster (which is not that hard to do), minus AT. She will almost always have focus + TL + Evade. And she has an additional shield and hull on the Inquisitor. However, she is not an arc-dodger. She is a blunt force instrument that hammers opponents and can take a hammering in return, then k-turns behind them while keeping the same action-economy. Been proxying her a good bit, and she is my favorite Defender so far. Up there with Juke/x7 Vessery.

Stay on Target will have an episode up soon and we spotlight the defender. You better believe I have a list in mind for when the Vets drop and it DOES have the Countess involved.

I like to keep mine very basic and with all the uboats about, I still need to try my go to list but with the tie/D upgrade.

Mauler

Backstabber

Delta - tie/D - Ion cannon

Delta - tie/D - Ion cannon

I have yet to try out the other lists, I'm a huge fan of 4 ship lists. *shrug*

As a fan of the mini-swarm, I hate to see 3 ship lists....unless they are all Tie Defenders.

Ryad is suprisingly friendly with Soontir: Murdering generics, and leaving ace-hunting up to her buddies.

Maarek Stele might have a place alongside him in an Aces build, depending on how you wanted to fly it.

Vessery is obvious provided you have enough target locks.

The rest are more nuanced.

Any defender with Ion cannon and /d is going to be deadly. My favorite use for a defender has always been an ion hit with a k turn behind the defenseless ship. Now with tie /d its immensely better. I foresee running ships off the board unless you shred them so fast they don't make it.

Colonel Vessery (35)
Outmaneuver (3)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
TIE/x7 (-2)

Darth Vader (29)
Predator (3)
Advanced Targeting Computer (1)
Engine Upgrade (4)
TIE/x1 (0)

"Omega Leader" (21)
Juke (2)
Comm Relay (3)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Vader and Omega leader are pretty much the best support you can get for Vessery as they can both grab high PS target locks and they don't usually spend them before Vessery gets a chance to attack. Outmaneuver has been my go-to EPT on Vessery since day 1 as it takes advantage of the defender's ability to repeatedly K-turn behind other ships and gives him something to keep using if his wingmen go down, but the EPTs on both him and Vader can certainly be adjusted for your needs.

Countess Ryad (34)
Crack Shot (1)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
TIE/x7 (-2)

Colonel Vessery (35)
Crack Shot (1)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
TIE/x7 (-2)

Darth Vader (29)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Advanced Targeting Computer (1)
TIE/x1 (0)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

A slightly gimped Vader stands in for a third TIE Defender. At 31 points you can also substitute the Inquisitor or an Onyx squadron pilot, or drop down to a shuttle with Palapatine. Vader is the best for getting target locks for Vessery but Ryad is a lower PS so she at least won't spend hers before he gets to shoot, but will have more trouble knowing who she needs to TL in the first place.

34 Point glaives makes it hard for me to come up with triple defender lists I like. I've played against enough decimators with rebel captive to never want to run a defender without mk 2 engines, which makes triple crack shot defenders not fit.

Im def looking forward to trying the Countess out! K turning madness everywhere with tokens stacked on a defender

anyone liking the Onyx's? or just in too much of a weird spot?

anyone liking the Onyx's? or just in too much of a weird spot?

Last week, I went to what I thought would be a casual Spring Kit event, so I brought:

TIE Inquisitor: Push the Limit, Autothrusters & Title
Omega Leader: Juke and Comm Relay
Colonial Vessery with Veteran Instincts and Heavy Laser Cannon.

3 wins and a disgusting loss later (I blanked out on Inquisitor, only needing a single damage to be rolled and I didn't see, at the time of the attack, that I was target locked onto my enemy, costing me the game).

Vessery was amazing at chewing through Jumpmasters shields, enabling Omega Leader and Inquisitor to punch through actual crits, this order of firing also meant that there was always TL available for this ability. All that being said, I really, REALLY missed the X7 title. . I tracked how many single hits that sneaked through throughout the day and it was 12. 12!! 12 times I would of avoided that damage if I had an evade token.

I think I will be using this list again, with the x7 title, Maarek and Predator. Going to be fun.

A thing that no one has mentioned (to my knowledge) so far is that there is a distinct downside to using x7.

First, it makes it harder for you to focus-fire when you zip around. This is important when you play 75 minutes. Even more so at 60.

Granted, the white K-turn does help, but a smart player can (and should) place obstacles + plan her/his approach so that the K-Turn shenanigans are impaired.

During play-testing we found that it only really pays to have one x7 Defender in your list, more than one and you run into weird almost forced target swaps/unpredictable/swingy games. YMMV.

Personally I think it is because the Defenders NEED that Defensive token (or added damage and control from TIE/D) to be viable, so; you either go super fast/self-bump or go nuts with low cost cannons.

One more thing, Ruthless Tractor Vesper will ruin so many games for your opponents to the point of being a NPE.

So it is a GOOD thing he is natively "only" at PS 6.

Not to take away from the awesomeness of Defenders, becuase i really dont want to spoil the new coolness that we finally are aboutto recieve, but....

just be wary about running into Black 1 under Poe (or whoever else) if you run both Vessery and Omega Leader together the Black 1 title may shut down your list completely....though hey we got til agusut if not more like december before we have to worry about that.

I'm currently trying to think of cool ideas themed along Onyx Squadron pilots (Onyx pilots, Rexler Brath, Jendon and Yorr-since both those shuttles are pilotedby Onyx members). anyone got any ideas?

A thing that no one has mentioned (to my knowledge) so far is that there is a distinct downside to using x7.

First, it makes it harder for you to focus-fire when you zip around. This is important when you play 75 minutes. Even more so at 60.

Granted, the white K-turn does help, but a smart player can (and should) place obstacles + plan her/his approach so that the K-Turn shenanigans are impaired.

During play-testing we found that it only really pays to have one x7 Defender in your list, more than one and you run into weird almost forced target swaps/unpredictable/swingy games. YMMV.

Personally I think it is because the Defenders NEED that Defensive token (or added damage and control from TIE/D) to be viable, so; you either go super fast/self-bump or go nuts with low cost cannons.

One more thing, Ruthless Tractor Vesper will ruin so many games for your opponents to the point of being a NPE.

So it is a GOOD thing he is natively "only" at PS 6.

This was one of the reasons I wanted to run a Defender in the first place, to see when I would acquire that token. So here is what happened.

Triple U boats:

Opening move was a three forwards from both Omega and Inquisitor, moving up towards the opponents board edge. The Defender, facing right, performed a white, speed three turn to get into formation. (one token, pointless, but still, I got a "token")

Second turn, all ships slowed down, speed two straights. Just waiting for the U boats to pull their sorry butts through the asteroid field. .

Third turn, they took the bait and now in the asteroid field!, all my ships pulled a hard three left into the centre of the board. (another "token"). ALL of my ships were staring at a single U boat, focussed, target locked and with an "evade" token. It was glorious.

Nine red dice later and it beautiful. Target priority was easy because I didn't actually have an evade token so naturally they fired their protons at Vessery, who only took a single hit, one which would of been avoided if I had my token!!

After that, Vessery disengaged with a three bank (another token).

Next turn, four K, another token.

Re-engage, five straight, token.

one bank for the kill shot.

So in reality, it is actually quite easy to pull of consistently when you need to, just need a bit more forward thinking.

anyone liking the Onyx's? or just in too much of a weird spot?

Yup.

Triple Onyx w/X7 and Hull will be pretty beefy to chew through.

I also like

Triple Deltasw/D and Ion Cannons

Triple Glaives w/X7 and Crackshot

Devil's Trio

Maarek Stele

Adaptabilty

X7

Countess Ryad

Adaptability

X7

Colonel Vessery

Juke

X7

6-6-6

Survivable, destructive, Hard to pin down.

Any defender with Ion cannon and /d is going to be deadly. My favorite use for a defender has always been an ion hit with a k turn behind the defenseless ship. Now with tie /d its immensely better. I foresee running ships off the board unless you shred them so fast they don't make it.

I think shredding is actually going to be a lot more common than walking off the board.

anyone liking the Onyx's? or just in too much of a weird spot?

Not sure. The Contract Scout has suddenly put PS3 in an important place, otherwise I would go with Deltas every time.

I don't really like the Onyx right now, it it's because I think the PS is in a weird spot. The Scout, for me, actually pushes other ships out of PS3. It's not low enough to block them and it's not high enough to PS kill them. The worst of both worlds. The x7 Delta is fast and has PS1. It will reliably block both Scouts and Crackswarms, and it's so tough that it makes a bad target for the enemy ships that can shoot it in close range. They probably won't PS kill it the first round, and the rest of your squad will enjoy the lack of attention. For 28 points I'm pretty sweet on the Delta. I feel like the Onyx is actually paying to lose utility. If quad TLTs were a thing, the Onyx would be pretty interesting, but they were the only PS2 ship of any note we've had in a while.

A thing that no one has mentioned (to my knowledge) so far is that there is a distinct downside to using x7.

First, it makes it harder for you to focus-fire when you zip around. This is important when you play 75 minutes. Even more so at 60.

Granted, the white K-turn does help, but a smart player can (and should) place obstacles + plan her/his approach so that the K-Turn shenanigans are impaired.

During play-testing we found that it only really pays to have one x7 Defender in your list, more than one and you run into weird almost forced target swaps/unpredictable/swingy games. YMMV.

Personally I think it is because the Defenders NEED that Defensive token (or added damage and control from TIE/D) to be viable, so; you either go super fast/self-bump or go nuts with low cost cannons.

One more thing, Ruthless Tractor Vesper will ruin so many games for your opponents to the point of being a NPE.

So it is a GOOD thing he is natively "only" at PS 6.

So in reality, it is actually quite easy to pull of consistently when you need to, just need a bit more forward thinking.

I wouldn't call it quite easy, but it does get easier vs 3 Large Ships.