I am starting to consider counter measures for backup against multiple ship lists like swarms. Increasing agility can save lives. I assume the biggest problem with CM is that the modification slot of big ships is occupied most of the time.

Aggressors: Autothrusters

Jumpmaster: Guidance chips

YT-1300/YT-2400/Decimator/Firespray/JM+title: Engine Upgrade

Shuttle: No target priority

Slaver: Probably best canditate

Ghost: ?

Experiences?

An ig88 is asking for help with swarms? Hmm

I think it's a combination of the opportunity cost and the cost in squad points. 3 points is a lot to pay for Countermeasures as a one shot effect. If it was an Action:Header card or was a single point, it would probably see a lot more use.

Ships that can combo Glitterstim+Countermeasures can probably get some decent use out of it. Rey and Scum Fett are probably decent candidates for it as well. A ship with Lone Wolf+Recon Specialist can probably get decent results from it.

A chap called Andy Brazier placed very well in the Yavin Open, using Countermeasures on Bossk. He used it to tank pretty much everything anyone could throw at him. See the list below.

http://www.186th.org/news/top-32-squad-lists-yavin-open-2016

I ran an adapted list using Dengar/Manaroo like this:

Dengar-

Lone Wolf

Punishing One

Zuckuss

R5-P8

Glitterstim

Countermeasures

Manaroo-

PTL

Unhinged

Plasma Torps

EM

Gonk

Feedback Array

GC

I love this build. It is sometimes tough to know when to use it but the combo of CM and GS with Lone Wolf makes Degar phenomenally tanky for 1 turn. Plus with his ability and R5-P8 it hurts. Just make sure Dengar is taking all the shots that round. It worked really well for me. The TL removal is also super helpful vs OL, Advanced with ATC and any ship with FCS.

Scum Firesprays - especially Scum Boba Fett - love the thing. It can make a Firespray next to untouchable for a turn.

Captain Kagi loves Countermeasures, especially if you put Sensor Jammer on him, but that gets really expensive. Doesn't mean it's not effective, though.

EDIT: I should add that I have tried this in a couple of epic games, and it is just so pleasant to watch your opponent helplessly turn their fire on that shuttle because all the ordnance they paid for is useless until Kagi is gone because they have to target lock him. With Deadeye seeing more play, however, Kagi's usefulness might be somewhat questionable. Depends on the match up.

Ghost: ?

I am starting to consider counter measures for backup against multiple ship lists like swarms. Increasing agility can save lives.

...hah

I've been watching lots of swarm piloting because I can't yet get it right but I really like it when others do. I see great swarms seems like they throw thousands of red and green die and can take down myriads of oppositional squad designs, but the swarms that are flown by anyone below expert are very vulnerable to lots of lists; it's a knife edge kind of squad.

I agree, swarm lists are very strong if played well. However I took a swarm apart with a casual list a couple of months ago simply because my opponent was still learning how to fly it.

I agree, swarm lists are very strong if played well. However I took a swarm apart with a casual list a couple of months ago simply because my opponent was still learning how to fly it.

....you would certainly take mine apart right now; I'm still trying to keep from bumping each other and having to roll damage from asteroids, ugggg!

Counter Measures do have a high opportunity cost, but they're far from worthless. Especially with Omega Leader out there, and more ordnance builds around (long range scanners incoming) things that let you shed target locks will be pretty useful.

Counter Measures and Expert Handling might see more use, or at least might not be considered so overlookable.

i do think CM + Glitterstim is a great way to survive and even thrive off that opening engagement. ships such as the trandoshan slaver (Party Bus) do particularly well from it because they can then really screw up the swarm next round by simply being in the way, and they don't have another obvious use for their mod or illicit slot. i do think it is a corner case, but its nice that such an underused card has a use at all.

Counter Measures do have a high opportunity cost, but they're far from worthless. Especially with Omega Leader out there, and more ordnance builds around (long range scanners incoming) things that let you shed target locks will be pretty useful.

The problem is that the ordnance builds that look likely to be dangerous going forward tend to use Deadeye meaning there is no TL to remove. U-boats fall into this category and Gamma Squadron Veterans probably will too. Long Range Scanners may reverse this trend but otherwise, low PS ordnance carriers will always struggle against aces if the ordnance requires a TL.

I think FFG didn't think ordnance through properly when they introduced it and have spent the last 8 waves trying to make it viable which has resulted in it now threatening to distort the meta. I have found a problem with many wargames is that the rules tend to favour spamming over bring a balanced all-comers list.

If you are playing rock-paper-scissors, make sure you bring the biggest rock!