In my toughest games even one ship not firing for a single round can mean an increase in likelkhood of losing by say 5%. Or basically that if you do it twice versus me you're likely to never win that game. The games I've seen are that tightly played.
I don't comprehend what you are saying. It does not seem logical that ships require 100% uptime on shooting in every game.
I will note, people always talk about the 4k being predictable and easy to block by experienced players, but then forget that a solid majority of the time that happens it barely matters to the defender. If you are in a place that they block the 4k and you get mega punished then completing the 4k likely wasn't going to be that much better. If you aren't mega punished then you just 4k again next turn or do something else, it's a white maneuver after all. The 4k in my experience is usually not a surprise to anyone but that also doesn't matter because the ship just did a white 4k, that's (still) nuts.
True! Even predictable white 4k's are great tools. The defender is one of the easiest ships to get an arc on the opponent. I didn't say on the ship you always want but getting AN arc is usually no problem. Few wasted turns.
its not that they require 100% uptime its that the slightest drop in uptime can cost the game.
Ive won games purely because my opponent didnt have arc for 1 round. Ran rebels once with the Z-95 guy that gives another friendly ship a free action after he attacks. Went against a PS9 vader that was trying to land an attack on my B-wing. Barrelrolled out of the way, vader lost his shot and ended up being tailed/forcebly reaquire a target. Bwing did a lot of damage to him because of that, and didnt die because of it either (Bwing was down to 2hp already).
Ive also lost games because of a botched arc. Singular, botched arc. Vessery does a 4K and his intended target ends up squeaking just out of arc, nothing else in arc either. Said target then ravaged the palpmobile >.<
Seriously...when are they going to ship Imperial veterans? Sorry, I'm just getting impatient for this expansion.
This Wednesday marks 8 weeks exactly. I know they feel late but it's really just because we can't wait to get 'um in our hands. I preordered 2 boxes at my FLGS.
I will note, people always talk about the 4k being predictable and easy to block by experienced players, but then forget that a solid majority of the time that happens it barely matters to the defender. If you are in a place that they block the 4k and you get mega punished then completing the 4k likely wasn't going to be that much better. If you aren't mega punished then you just 4k again next turn or do something else, it's a white maneuver after all. The 4k in my experience is usually not a surprise to anyone but that also doesn't matter because the ship just did a white 4k, that's (still) nuts.
I'm a fan of saying "knowing something is coming and being able to do something about it are two different things". This goes double for the Defender.
I've been flying Bath with x7/LW/Stealth Device. It's fun, and he's a big pain to kill, but I'm still so stuck on what to pair him with.
I've been flying Bath with x7/LW/Stealth Device. It's fun, and he's a big pain to kill, but I'm still so stuck on what to pair him with.
I'm up to 5-0 with vessery/ryad/delta now, all with x7. Several of those have been 100-0 too. In one of em my delta soloed a full health manaroo after the rest of both lists died (2 dice primary is REALLY bad for hitting something with 3 agility, focus and evade every round...)
Nice write up thanks Bio!
its not that they require 100% uptime its that the slightest drop in uptime can cost the game.
Ive won games purely because my opponent didnt have arc for 1 round. Ran rebels once with the Z-95 guy that gives another friendly ship a free action after he attacks. Went against a PS9 vader that was trying to land an attack on my B-wing. Barrelrolled out of the way, vader lost his shot and ended up being tailed/forcebly reaquire a target. Bwing did a lot of damage to him because of that, and didnt die because of it either (Bwing was down to 2hp already).
Ive also lost games because of a botched arc. Singular, botched arc. Vessery does a 4K and his intended target ends up squeaking just out of arc, nothing else in arc either. Said target then ravaged the palpmobile >.<
I should have been more specific then:
You losing an arc for a turn or two, and your opponent NOT losing an arc.
I disengage fairly often where if im not being tailed directly i'll just blast off at max speed and regroup. When you try to do that, or botch a maneuver, and you dont get out of an arc then it cripples games. If neither attack, then its just a stalemate turn and goes down to "who has the high ground for the next round now?!" rather than whos dead.
flying Bath
Great. Now I feel like my favorite squad needs to be called "Brath Salts". Because it goes crazy and eats people right up.
Great. Now I feel like my favorite squad needs to be called "Brath Salts". Because it goes crazy and eats people right up.flying Bath
Trust your instincts and go with brath salts.
Rexler is criminally underrated he's been my favourite defender ace since wave 4 came out, nothing wrecks your day like x7 brath with mk.ii and PTL.
Great. Now I feel like my favorite squad needs to be called "Brath Salts". Because it goes crazy and eats people right up.flying Bath
Trust your instincts and go with brath salts.
Rexler is criminally underrated he's been my favourite defender ace since wave 4 came out, nothing wrecks your day like x7 brath with mk.ii and PTL.
Hahaha dude, you don't have to sell me on Brath. I took him to the Store Championships, remember?
i ran Rex when i first got the defender box several times, both because at that point i was on this "8 or better PS or nothing!" kick and i thought his ability was insane.
10 games, never once got his ability off. I always either killed the target, only hit shields, or only damage i did was already a crit.
I might try him again once i get the TIE Shuttle around to throw targetlocks onto him. That coupled with a tractor shot to reduce agility would improve the amount of damage he can potentially flip faceup.
Hahaha dude, you don't have to sell me on Brath. I took him to the Store Championships, remember?Great. Now I feel like my favorite squad needs to be called "Brath Salts". Because it goes crazy and eats people right up.flying Bath
Trust your instincts and go with brath salts.
Rexler is criminally underrated he's been my favourite defender ace since wave 4 came out, nothing wrecks your day like x7 brath with mk.ii and PTL.
That's more for the benefit of everyone else 
So uh this is a thing I'm going to do all the time
So uh this is a thing I'm going to do all the time
The Inquisitor (25)
Push the Limit (3)
Proton Rockets (3)
Autothrusters (2)
TIE/v1 (1)
Colonel Vessery (35)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Tractor Beam (1)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
TIE/D (0)
Delta Squadron Pilot (30)
TIE/x7 (-2)
Total: 100
I'd recommend at least considering dropping mk2 and turning the delta into palp shuttle.
So what are peoples thoughts about Ruthlessness on a couple of tie/d With either double tractor beam or tractor and ion. 4 free* damage to another ship that you didn't even shoot at.
*still need to hit of course
Edited by OberronThat was actually my goto card with tie/d
Would rack up the damage so **** fast.
So what are peoples thoughts about Ruthlessness on a couple of tie/d With either double tractor beam or tractor and ion. 4 free* damage to another ship that you didn't even shoot at.
*still need to hit of course
I think one rarely wants to take more than one ship with Ruthlessness. It's useful (and probably predominantly useful on Vessery, who actually stands a good chance of hitting with both attacks), but with two, I think the list becomes too focused on swarm-killing. Now, if you could attack your own ships...
wouldnt really say its swarm killing. Even aces tend to stick near each other so they can alpha strike something. It forces every list to stay away from each other or suffer a ton of damage.
Double large ships probably wouldnt care since theyre usually off doing their own thing, especially the ones with turret weapons anyway. Thats kinda rare though. Unless its double turret large ship i rarely face someone who keeps his ships further than 1 range apart.
Relentless only hits 1 other ship anyway. Massing Assault Missiles would be anti-swarm
Ruthlessness is great against 3+ but against two ships is more dangerous to you than the other guy.
I have literally never seen nor heard of anyone ever taking self damage from Ruthlessness. Its possible, since only the attacking ship is protected from the extra damage, but thats so easy to avoid when you know your own moves. If you dont think you can do it, disengage. Oh wait i just said a word most people never knew existed in this game lol
I have literally never seen nor heard of anyone ever taking self damage from Ruthlessness. Its possible, since only the attacking ship is protected from the extra damage, but thats so easy to avoid when you know your own moves. If you dont think you can do it, disengage. Oh wait i just said a word most people never knew existed in this game lol
So uh this is a thing I'm going to do all the time
The Inquisitor (25)Push the Limit (3)Proton Rockets (3)Autothrusters (2)TIE/v1 (1)
Colonel Vessery (35)Veteran Instincts (1)Tractor Beam (1)Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)TIE/D (0)
Delta Squadron Pilot (30)TIE/x7 (-2)
Total: 100
I'd recommend at least considering dropping mk2 and turning the delta into palp shuttle.
Well the idea would be to not run a PalpShuttle. I don't find them worth the points, and I feel the flexibility of the x7 Delta is worth the investment. Plus, Defender fanboy. So there's that.
Plus the Delta can solo a PalpShuttle in case of that matchup, as well as offer better support to Vessery; instead of just Target Locks, the Delta can also potentially line up shots from Vessery's Tractor Beam. The Shuttle would have a hard time staying relevant after first engagement.