Was thinking about trying this duo out once IV hits shelves.

R&R

100 points

Rear Admiral Chiraneau (61)

VT-49 Decimator (46), Squad Leader (2), Ysanne Isard (4), Darth Vader (3), Rebel Captive (3), Experimental Interface (3)

Countess Ryad (39)
TIE Defender (34), Expose (4), TIE/x7 (-2), Stealth Device (3)

My "strategy" here is that I want Ryad to be my heavy. Her stealth device and title make her more slippery than a cloaked Phantom, but without having to deal with cloak/uncloak actions. RAC gets to tote around Vader and Isard, ruining things for aces and glass cannons.

So in theory, I do a 3-5 speed maneuver w/ Ryad, and focus or BR for her action. That gives her a focus and an evade, for argument sake. Then RAC moves, TL's or Focuses. Combat phase. Isard gets the free evade action, which lets me proc the EI, which lets me proc the squad leader, which gives Ryad an extra action. Since this is now after everyone else has moved, I can BR to get in/out of arc, if I need do, or take a TL (or whatever I didn't do in her activation phase).

What I like about this is that it gives me the effect of five actions (Ryad's action, free evade, and SL proc from RAC, RAC's TL, and Isard's evade) spread over two ships, for the cost of one stress. Both ships should be relatively long lived, I think. Rebel Captive helps apply stress to anyone shooting at RAC. The Decimator's dial is red-free, and has 2-3 straight green and 2-bank greens, to shed the stress. Since he's a turret, all I have to worry about is not landing on rocks. With stealth device, Ryad is rolling 4 greens minimum, plus an evade token and probably a focus token. (I know, never trust the green dice). It helps that Ryad's straight 4 is basically the same as RAC's straight 2 (If I'm mathing things right). In theory, with relatively "green and white" dials for both, I should be able to maintain formation. Expose is on Ryad to pump her damage output when she isn't in too much danger of getting shot to pieces. It would, when possible, be the go-to free action from the IE-SL combo on RAC.

Downsides is that I need to keep them tidy to make use of Squad leader, which means Ryad can't stray too far from RAC. Also, if Ryad gets blocked, I'm not sure if that allows the title to proc the free evade. Does getting blocked from fully completing the maneuver prevent "executing" a 3-5 speed maneuver?

Thoughts?

Blocking only takes away your action in the normal steps of the game. You would still get an evade token, and if you SL later, you would still get that action too.

Pretty interesting! I'd like to know how it goes if you try it out.

I'd really like to hear how this goes. Still not sure about the expose though. It's great synergy in theory until RAC goes down, but in all likelihood people will target Ryad first. Maybe? Try it out!

Not sure if people will go after Ryad or RAC, honestly. Both represent a ton of single attack firepowers. I'd like to put it up against palp aces tomorrow, we'll see how that goes. I think it would eat it for lunch. Not sure how it would do against Wolfpack. Ryad has fewer HP, but is harder to hit. RAC is easier to hit, but has all the HP, and stresses. Also, if you're close enough to shoot RAC, he's close enough to shoot you. Which means, if you're an ace, that Vader is going to tantrum you to death, if possible. Especially early game. Ryad's slipperyness also doesn't depend on being at R3 or out of arc. It is merely Agi 4 + free evade (until she gets hit once, somehow, which means that you're going to have to focus her, hard).

I like the Ryad-RAC squad leader combo here. I'd be looking for an extra point somewhere to trade Stealth Device for Engine Upgrade (already my favorite Rexler upgrade) for the very valuable post-K reposition, not getting shot at is always favorable. Boosting could also help keep the two in proximity since you can use it to change Ryad's facing after a green straight/k.

Maybe drop Rebel Captive for Systems Officer, or Kallus, or even Moff Jerjerrod. Then you can fit the Engine Upgrade on.

Jerjerrod would actually go well with Vader, as Vader quickly becomes obsolete after doing what he does, and that would give you 2 extra health on RAC essentially. Kallus does what he does, nothing new there, though with RAC, I don't think he would be as beneficial. Systems Officer could net you some free target locks in the match. Could be useful, but you already have great action economy. Overall I think Jerjerrod would be a fantastic replacement for Rebel Captive and your best bet for finding that one extra point for engine upgrade.

Maybe drop Rebel Captive for Systems Officer, or Kallus, or even Moff Jerjerrod. Then you can fit the Engine Upgrade on.

Jerjerrod would actually go well with Vader, as Vader quickly becomes obsolete after doing what he does, and that would give you 2 extra health on RAC essentially. Kallus does what he does, nothing new there, though with RAC, I don't think he would be as beneficial. Systems Officer could net you some free target locks in the match. Could be useful, but you already have great action economy. Overall I think Jerjerrod would be a fantastic replacement for Rebel Captive and your best bet for finding that one extra point for engine upgrade.

??? Vader is good for more than one shot/game...

??? Vader is good for more than one shot/game...

Yes, but once RAC drops below a certain amount of health, it's either dangerous or reckless to use Vader. I'd say at like 5 health, I'm done using Vader unless there's an ace that I HAVE to take out. At that point, Moff can ditch Vader so you survive a little longer in the fight.

??? Vader is good for more than one shot/game...

Yes, but once RAC drops below a certain amount of health, it's either dangerous or reckless to use Vader. I'd say at like 5 health, I'm done using Vader unless there's an ace that I HAVE to take out. At that point, Moff can ditch Vader so you survive a little longer in the fight.

Even if you just waited until the last health, I think that's a decent idea. Captive punishes your opponent for doing what they have to do anyways, but if they're flying a tank that's just doing slow greens anyways (or just don't care about stress) then Captive does you no good and I would rather have the two (or three) extra pseudo-shields granted by Jerjerrod. If, on the other hand, the opponent is a fast ship that self stresses and dies to lost actions (like Soontir) then Rebel Captive forces then to plan their maneuvers way out to compensate for the extra stress.

then the extra point can get me Engine Upgrade on the Countess Ryad