As is fairly obvious per the title, I've recently started a love affair with the Countess in the red defender. I mean, she spins me right round (I'll get my coat). Really though here is the list I've taken to flying with her, and I'm keeping my eye on that scoundrel Vessery who finds his way into every list I put Ryad in.

Countess Ryad (36)

-Push The Limit

-TIE/X7

-Twin Ion Engines Mk.II

Col. Vessery (41)

-Ruthlessness

-TIE/D

-Ion Cannon

Deathfire (23)

-Conner Net

-Extra Munitions

-Long Range Scanners

Pretty simple really, Ion control between Deathfire and Vess. Ryad makes target priority a nightmare. Deathfire can either set the first target turn one or fake your opponent out on who your priority target really is. After the set up Ryad provides the rest of Vessery's target lock support, and a conner net or two spells doom for the recipients. Huge amounts of fun to fly.

Yeah, I just played a game with Ryad and Deathfire. He connered OL and she 5K in his face and took him out.

I wouldn't if I were you

I know what she can do

She's deadly man

And she could really rip your world apart

Mind over matter

Ooh, the beauty is there

But a beast is in the heart

(Oh-oh, here she comes)

Watch out boy

She'll chew you up

(Oh-oh, here she comes)

She's a maneater

(Oh-oh, here she comes)

Watch out boy

She'll chew you up

(Oh-oh, here she comes)

She's a maneater

Nah, I would totally ignore Deathfire until at least one Defender is down. Probably I won't be able to avoid those 2 nets to be put down anyway and his defense is quite weak, hence he will go down "by the way" when I won't have shots on defenders or something.

I like the list, but I really wish Deathfire had some teeth (i.e. - missiles or torps). Tastes vary, but I'd be very tempted to trim out a few points elsewhere to give him some ordnance to fire and this would solve the problem of him being ignorable.

I might actually consider dropping Ion Cannon to Tractor Beam on Vessery if you want the extra two points somewhere else - Ion Cannon can be brutal, but Tractor Beam plays really well with Ruthlessness and also helps the rest of the squad's damage output. That gives you the points to put Flechette Torps on Deathfire just to give him a little more punch (Plasmas would be even better, but you'd have to cut Ruthlessness to do that and Ruthlessness is entirely too much fun).

I'll second the recommendation to drop something for some cheap torps on Deathfire. It makes him dual purpose for a very slight increase in points.

I'll second the recommendation to drop something for some cheap torps on Deathfire. It makes him dual purpose for a very slight increase in points.

Ion Pulse Missiles are hilarious against big ships, and Flechettes are great against aces. You just pick the one that helps the most against the ring you have the most trouble fighting.

Funny thing: I put together a very similar squad a few days ago, and today, have seen similar squads twice in the squad building forum. New archetype?

Well, seems alot of people are at least interested in the trio of pilots. I get that deathfire is nearly dead weight after he uses his conner nets, but I hoped with the kind of performance titles defenders have been giving me so far that by the time the second conner is used the game would be decided. I like the idea of adding stress mechanics to the squad as well though so you may have sold me on an idea.

Edit: here's a changed list with the suggestions:

Col. Vess (38)

-tie/d

-flechette cannon

-crack shot (I think this will be more useful than extra ps here)

Countess Ryad (36)

-tie/x7

-tie mk2

-push the limit

Deathfire (26)

-conner net

-extra munitions

-ion pulse missiles

-long range scanners

I like extra Ion here over flechette torpedoes so that his job stays the same, ion targets. However now he can do it on the approach and then on the pass as well.

The great thing about Deathfire in this list (especially with some torpedoes/missiles) is that he complements the other pilots so well. The Flechette/Net combo, for example, plays hell on the high PS ace-type ships which have a maneuvering advantage on the Defenders. On top of that, with LRS he is a first-turn spotter for Vessery, making that all-important first round of firing that much more powerful even against high PS opponents that Ryad can't reliably lock. Remember, even without nets he's a blocker and he's got a gun that's probably firing against stuff without tokens.

Don't think about the torpedoes as something to use after Deathfire drops the net. Think of them as something to keep the opposing squad off balance while they're also thinking about Deathfire dropping the net.

Between two torps/missiles and two nets, you're basically never going to reach the point where D-fire is alive AND spent unless

A) something went horribly wrong

B) something went horribly right

Not sure how I'd feel about control based ordnance. After running homing missiles (x7 juke vess and x7 ptl tie mk 2 ryad) I've just come to love how this unassuming little ps 3 bomber can fart out super dash levels of fully modified damage

You get some scary damage output out of these three fully modified ships

But if saving points for Tie/Ds, plasma isn't horrible. It's four dice plus focus minus range 3 bonus out of a Biggs priced ship

My recommendation is to go with ion cannon on Vessery. I've used all 3 cannons quite a bit with the TIE/D titles, and flechette cannon is by far the least effective. 1 extra point for an ion cannon is totally worth it.

Alright then, another minor tweak to the list given more opinions:

Col. Vess (39)

-tie/d

-ion cannon

-crack shot

Countess Ryad (36)

-tie/x7

-tie mk2

-push the limit

Deathfire (25)

-flechette torpedoes

-conner net

-extra munitions

-long range scanners

I agree that the best cannon option is ion. I think the control job for deathfire works. If there were the points a homing missile on dfire would be awesome but since I want tie/d vessery, oh well. Any thoughts on this variation?

Between two torps/missiles and two nets, you're basically never going to reach the point where D-fire is alive AND spent unless

A) something went horribly wrong

B) something went horribly right

Not sure how I'd feel about control based ordnance. After running homing missiles (x7 juke vess and x7 ptl tie mk 2 ryad) I've just come to love how this unassuming little ps 3 bomber can fart out super dash levels of fully modified damage

You get some scary damage output out of these three fully modified ships

But if saving points for Tie/Ds, plasma isn't horrible. It's four dice plus focus minus range 3 bonus out of a Biggs priced ship

Sorry for the horrible off topic post,

But you about:

OGP Palpatine

Fel PTL AT TC RGT

Wampa

Deathfire Net EM LRS

We could also downgrade Fel for the Inquisitor and give Ion Pulse Missiles no Dfire.

Alright then, another minor tweak to the list given more opinions:

Col. Vess (39)

-tie/d

-ion cannon

-crack shot

Countess Ryad (36)

-tie/x7

-tie mk2

-push the limit

Deathfire (25)

-flechette torpedoes

-conner net

-extra munitions

-long range scanners

I agree that the best cannon option is ion. I think the control job for deathfire works. If there were the points a homing missile on dfire would be awesome but since I want tie/d vessery, oh well. Any thoughts on this variation?

Having flown a Vess & Ryad list without Vess using VI you really run a risk of not only not having initiative, but him being focused on by everyone above PS 6 and blitzed off the board. Just a personal observation. People are not going to be caught off guard or unaware anymore by Vessery with how much he is showing up in List for Defenders because his skill is so solid.