Ryad and Vess couple with Bren

By SaszaPL, in X-Wing Squad Lists

Posted at

I am trying to build something interesting, using mostly the Vets box. I went through some threads here in the forums and point heavy Bren seems not the best idea, though his 2 dice attacks with Crack Shot seems fair when paired with some munitions and a decent wingmen. Please, help me with the 5 points I am left with...

Tomax Bren (24)
Crack Shot (1)
Extra Munitions (2)
Plasma Torpedoes (3)
Guidance Chips (0)
Countess Ryad (34)
TIE/x7 (-2)
Colonel Vessery (35)
Adaptability (0)
TIE/x7 (-2)
Total: 95
Bren should be able to strip down some shields, especially effective against large, low agility ships. I hope that 4-dice Plasma, supported by chips and crack shot will push through a good opening for the Defenders. Because he is not a "first target" ship (low points, two dice attack, pretty bad maneuvers, etc.) he may surprise opponents with his red Crack shots going through or at least will make them lose their tokens.
Now the 5 points:
1. Ryad PtL, both Defs Twin Mk II.
Defenders would normally fly together, getting their evades and TL+Focus every other round (PtL Ryad + pilot skill Vess). This two are the target, as potentially bigger threat for the opponent. Either is a good end game ship to finish off enemies. Probably Ryad goes down first as her TL grants a TL for Vess, who additionally has no PtL and costs less points.
2. Bren with Ion Bombs, Ryad with PtL.
Ryad & Vess gets evade, TL and Focus/Barrel roll on most of the turns. Additionally in key phases I am able to drop the ion bombs, which may get enemies sihps out of board or become a nice target for defenders (he moves last of mine ships which is helpful not to bomb my own mates). The problem is that Ryad has not enough green maneuvers...
3. Bren with Ion Bombs, Defs with Twin Mk II.
She does not need all of that green maneuvers if there is no PtL, though Defs are more unpredictable for enemies.. On the other hand I do not want to use 1 or 2 speed maneuvers that much as I am not going to get the evade...
4. Bren with Ion Bombs, Ryad with Adaptability, Vess with Juke and a point for initiative (important when facing other PS 6 lists).
Kind of a Crack shot but different ;)
What do you think about those? Is the first one the only and true playable choice?
Posted at

Option 1 for me. PTL and Mk2 on Ryad is just too juicy to pass up. However rather than giving Vess a Mk2 Engine, I would spend the last point to give him VI. PS8 is important as it means he is the same as Bren and you can choose to fire the Colonel first before Bren fires (and probably spends his TL).

If you have other PS8 pilots, I think VI > Mk2 on Vess.

Edited by Karhedron
Posted at

If you wish to hit hard, and hit consistently, this is what I would do:

1. Do away with EM on Tomax. Even at PS8 there are to many arc dodgers out there and to many "closer" style ships that you won't get more than 1 shot no matter what, and with only 6 hull,Bombers are to easy to destroy in the first round of combat. Especially if you have to take a Target Lock action and not have a Focus Token to spend.

2. I would upgrade to Proton Torps as Vessery would be shooting first, you want more damage anyway and Protons do that better. Or, if you feel that your dice usually fail you, I would use Concussion Missiles instead. (Protons change a FOCUS to a CRIT, Concussions change a BLANK to a HIT) Same odds of getting 4 damage with Guidance Chips, but the choice is yours. And they cost the same.

3. Add Juke and x7 to Ryad. It gives her many options to deal more damage consistently.

4. Add VI to Vessery, /D Title, Tractor Beam. This keeps him at PS8, allows him to shoot first, hopefully get a Tractor Beam off on an opponent to help your ships in the long run, and also allows him to use Tomax's Target Locked opponent.

Tomax (29)

-Crack Shot

-Proton Torps

-Guidance Chips

Colonel Vessery (37)

-Tractor Beam

-VI

-/D Title

Countess Ryad (34)

-Juke

-x7 Title

(100 points)

Posted at

Ryad, x7, Mk. 2, and Expert Handling works nicely. EH vs. PtL would just depend on if you want to avoid managing stress (plus shake off target locks) or have a little more flexibility when it comes to free actions. The next time I fly the countess I'll use PtL to see which I prefer.