Got an Escalation Tournament coming up this Saturday and I was thinking of going for a simple/annoying list:

60 points:

Black Squadron Pilot (14)

Crack Shot (1)

Black Squadron Pilot (14)

Crack Shot (1)

Black Squadron Pilot (14)

Crack Shot (1)

Black Squadron Pilot (14)

Crack Shot (1)

90 points:

Black Squadron Pilot (14)

Crack Shot (1)

Black Squadron Pilot (14)

Crack Shot (1)

120 points:

Black Squadron Pilot (14)

Crack Shot (1)

Black Squadron Pilot (14)

Crack Shot (1)

150 points:

????????

I'm stumped at the last 30 points. I would just cram another pair of Crack Squadron Pilots, but per the rules of Escalation, I cannot. I could always cram a PtL-AT-Inquisitor or PtL-Fel, or even Omega Leader's "Lockdown" setup, but it just wouldn't feel right. Any other alternatives for my last 30 points? Maybe Vader with ATC-Adaptability...?

I like Omega Leader in Escalation Tournaments, but if you're gonna use him, you start with him. He's most annoying in the 60pt and 90pt rounds, as the enemy has fewer ships. That in mind, it's not a terrible idea to start with Omega Leader and 2 Blackshots then just keep filling up with Blackshots, as you'd intended.

If you start with a 26pt Omega Leader and 2x Blackshots, then you'll have 4 points leftover. A great use of this four points would be to upgrade one of your Blackshots to a Howlrunner with Crackshot for 19pts. That's 26/19/15 then just keep filling up at 15pts per ship.

Early aces get eatin' by Omega Leader, big pile of Howlrunner Crackswarm Ties eat up everything else in later rounds. Do it.

If you're not a huge fan of that plan, then just go with your original plan, than add a PS5 Deadeye Bomber for your last 30 points and have him equipped with Ion Torpedoes and Assault Missiles (Ion, EM, Assault Missiles, G-Chips & Deadeye = 30pts) and it'll give you something fun for tagging large ships (so your swarm can block them and eat them) and Assault Missiles for other enemy swarms, who will have to scramble to not have their 150pts all get tagged in one shot.

I like Omega Leader in Escalation Tournaments, but if you're gonna use him, you start with him. He's most annoying in the 60pt and 90pt rounds, as the enemy has fewer ships. That in mind, it's not a terrible idea to start with Omega Leader and 2 Blackshots then just keep filling up with Blackshots, as you'd intended.

If you start with a 26pt Omega Leader and 2x Blackshots, then you'll have 4 points leftover. A great use of this four points would be to upgrade one of your Blackshots to a Howlrunner with Crackshot for 19pts. That's 26/19/15 then just keep filling up at 15pts per ship.

Early aces get eatin' by Omega Leader, big pile of Howlrunner Crackswarm Ties eat up everything else in later rounds. Do it.

If you're not a huge fan of that plan, then just go with your original plan, than add a PS5 Deadeye Bomber for your last 30 points and have him equipped with Ion Torpedoes and Assault Missiles (Ion, EM, Assault Missiles, G-Chips & Deadeye = 30pts) and it'll give you something fun for tagging large ships (so your swarm can block them and eat them) and Assault Missiles for other enemy swarms, who will have to scramble to not have their 150pts all get tagged in one shot.

I really like that idea. Having Omega L's restrictor ability on top of an already restrictive format would be nuts. The point distribution will also give me access to Howlrunner off the get-go and I build up her swarm-ball as the tourney progresses. Thanks for the input!