Trying to come up with an Imperial list that uses some of their new toys to give Munitions some sharp teeth. I haven't tested this list, but wanted a place to start:

TIE Punisher: Black Eight Squadron Pilot (23)

Extra Munitions (2)

Plasma Torpedoes (3)

Cluster Missiles (4)

Fire Control System (2)

Guidance Chips (0)

TIE Punisher: Black Eight Squadron Pilot (23)

Extra Munitions (2)

Proton Torpedoes (4)

Cluster Missiles (4)

Fire Control System (2)

Guidance Chips (0)

TIE Bomber: · Captain Jonus (22)

Draw Their Fire (1)

Hull Upgrade (3)

TIE Shuttle (0)

Fleet Officer (3)

Systems officer (2)

Obviously Jonus is the support craft, handing out TLs and focus so the others can concentrate on boosting into range. PS4 makes it so they go before Scouts, but unless I get an awfully lucky amount of red in conjunction with an awfully unlucky amount of green on their part, I don't think I can burn one prior to them returning fire. 25 HP is respectable, but easily overcome with almost no defense to speak of. I just don't know how to mod the list to increase damage/decrease enemy damage to the point where it can make it. I suppose I could throw some Gamma Squad Vets on instead, but not sure that will solve the issue. Any thoughts and suggestions welcome.

Jonus is not offering a ton for the list and is partially redundant with FCS on the Punishers.

Frankly, I would not bother with punishers. Imp Vets is just around the corner and the new ordnance options offer much more capability to TIE bombers than to punishers. The punisher is basically relegated to the shelf after Imp Vets, with perhaps the exception of Redline (although more for fun since competitively speaking, the TIE bomber has better pilots that are cheaper).

Gamma w/ homing missile + Long-range Scanners = 23 points. Remember that homing missile w/ Focus + TL = damage output of just TL OR focus + guidance chips.

This is THE imperial ordnance monster once Imp Vets comes out. Throw in extra munitions for an even 25 if you like. But regardless, its a completely self-sufficient missile delivery system just like a Torpedo Scout (except cheaper and slightly higher PS).

3 of those guys leaves just enough room for the Inquisitor (PTL, title + autos = 31).

4 of those guys all with extra munitions is a bit one-dimensional, but scary enough.

They're cheap enough that you could also throw on a bomb (on some or all of them).

But yeah, they give you a much harder hitting ordnance strike than you can get with TIE punishers, and you don't even need the support shuttle...

have to be on board with mercurial here

FFG designed the punisher to not replace the bomber. Fortunately, they did that a bit TOO well and there's literally no reason to use the punisher outside the named pilots (even then, bloody expensive)

not that you'd EVER need a support shuttle, or jonus for that matter.

Jonus is not offering a ton for the list and is partially redundant with FCS on the Punishers.

Frankly, I would not bother with punishers. Imp Vets is just around the corner and the new ordnance options offer much more capability to TIE bombers than to punishers. The punisher is basically relegated to the shelf after Imp Vets, with perhaps the exception of Redline (although more for fun since competitively speaking, the TIE bomber has better pilots that are cheaper).

Gamma w/ homing missile + Long-range Scanners = 23 points. Remember that homing missile w/ Focus + TL = damage output of just TL OR focus + guidance chips.

This is THE imperial ordnance monster once Imp Vets comes out. Throw in extra munitions for an even 25 if you like. But regardless, its a completely self-sufficient missile delivery system just like a Torpedo Scout (except cheaper and slightly higher PS).

3 of those guys leaves just enough room for the Inquisitor (PTL, title + autos = 31).

4 of those guys all with extra munitions is a bit one-dimensional, but scary enough.

They're cheap enough that you could also throw on a bomb (on some or all of them).

But yeah, they give you a much harder hitting ordnance strike than you can get with TIE punishers, and you don't even need the support shuttle...

You can use Crack Shot, LRS, Homing Missile for a gigantic knockout blow. I wonder if the Black One Title is going to become pravailant enough to hurt our bombers.

Yeah, that's what I was leaning towards. Generic punishers look to be a thing of the past, unless you absolutely need the 3hp and boost for some reason. I think you may actually see Jonus supporting cannons more now. Something like this:

TIE Bomber: · Captain Jonus (22)

Lightning Reflexes (1)

TIE Shuttle (0)

Fleet Officer (3)

TIE Defender: Glaive Squadron Pilot (34)

Ion Cannon (3)

TIE/D (0)

TIE Defender: Glaive Squadron Pilot (34)

Ion Cannon (3)

TIE/D (0)

Reflexes to keep up with white K turns once. Our you could use some sort of Tactician-esque build to spread stress on top of the Ion. I suppose you could drop the Ion from one to Flechette Cannon, drop Reflexes and get a Systems Officer for TLs to help primary weapons out if you wanted to, but I think this flavor of build is the support you'll see Jonus doing for a while.

As for the initial build, I'd go with the 4 generics personally. Switch up Munitions for some flavor maybe, but same general concept.

TIE Bomber: Gamma Squadron Pilot (18)

Extra Munitions (2)

Homing Missiles (5)

Long-Range Scanners (0)

TIE Bomber: Gamma Squadron Pilot (18)

Extra Munitions (2)

Homing Missiles (5)

Long-Range Scanners (0)

TIE Bomber: Gamma Squadron Pilot (18)

Extra Munitions (2)

Homing Missiles (5)

Long-Range Scanners (0)

TIE Bomber: Gamma Squadron Veteran (19)

Deadeye (1)

Extra Munitions (2)

Plasma Torpedoes (3)

Guidance Chips (0)

This way you can drop shields for harder hits from the Homing Missiles. You could swap one down to Protorps, but you lose some offense without the Focus + TL combo for mods.

EDITS: Added mod to original list. Spacing.

Yeah, that's what I was leaning towards. Generic punishers look to be a thing of the past, unless you absolutely need the 3hp and boost for some reason. I think you may actually see Jonus supporting cannons more now. Something like this:

TIE Bomber: · Captain Jonus (22)

Lightning Reflexes (1)

TIE Shuttle (0)

Fleet Officer (3)

TIE Defender: Glaive Squadron Pilot (34)

Ion Cannon (3)

TIE/D (0)

TIE Defender: Glaive Squadron Pilot (34)

Ion Cannon (3)

TIE/D (0)

Again, I don't see the point of Jonus here when you can take completely self-sufficient Glaives:

Glaive w/ predator, TIE/D + ion cannon = 40

Two of those and if you want the fleet officer, a Scimitar can carry it for 19 points and you're at 99 total, although mk 2 engines are nice to have with fleet officer and that puts you at 100.

Its better because predator provides its re-roll on both primary and secondary and your defenders aren't 'tied' to their support. I've run those glaives with a Seinar Test Pilot as blocker and they hit sufficiently hard. Its a solid list although I don't like it as much as triple glaives w/ X-7 and crack shot. I think the fleet officer adds a tiny bit of durability to help against the crack swarm matchup, but it doesn't do anything useful against imperial aces and I'd rather have the Test Pilot against torpedo scouts.

For the most part, Jonus is pretty much redundant once Imp Vets hits. There might be a few odd-ball cases where he could be useful, but for the most part, his ability is superfluous now...

Curious as to what people think of this list

Deathrain 38pts

FCS, Ex Mun, Pro Torp, Conner Net, GC

Bren 34pts

Crack, Ex Mun, Hom Mis, Seismic charge, LRS

Deathfire 28 pts

Ex Mun, Hom Mis, Conner Net, LRS

Trying to make the most of the conner net here with some hard hits. Now the problem is can they survive being blown up long enough to get a couple shots off?

Also looking at this squad and would appreciate any thoughts:

Vessery 44pts

Ruthlessness, Tie/D, Ion Cannon, Hull upgrade

Gamma Squad 29pts

crack, Ex Mun, Hom Mis, Seismic charge, LRS

Deathfire 27pts

Ex Mun, conner net, Proton torps, GC

You can use Crack Shot, LRS, Homing Missile for a gigantic knockout blow. I wonder if the Black One Title is going to become pravailant enough to hurt our bombers.

If it does we always have the option of switching to Gamma Vets with Deadeye and Chips. Slightly pricier but more flexible and easier to get the second volley away.

Bren 34pts

Crack, Ex Mun, Hom Mis, Seismic charge, LRS

With PS8, I wonder if Bren can get away without the LRS and take chips instead. While this upgrade is a boon to low PS bombers, it also telegraphs your intentions a turn in advance and makes it harder to get off a second shot.