So with the desire to shake things up a bit (and with a newfound love for the TIE Defender), I've been brainstorming new ideas for Palp Aces, a build that, for all the hate it gets, is equal parts fun and viable. Keep in mind I just wanted to share some of the ideas I've come up with; I'm not saying they're all great. But I would love to get everyone's opinions on the lists, and hope I can generate some spirited (positive) conversation. So without further ado...

-PALP ACES. MK. II (PALP DEFENDERS)

100 points

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Omicron Group Pilot (29)
Lambda-Class Shuttle (21), Emperor Palpatine (8)

Countess Ryad (35)
TIE Defender (34), Juke (2), TIE/x7 (-2), Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

Colonel Vessery (36)
TIE Defender (35), Juke (2), TIE/x7 (-2), Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

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This Is the only list I can make that incorporates Palpatine AND two Defenders. The argument could be made that Ryad may fare better with PTL or Outmanuever, while Vessery Takes VI or Adaptability to improve his Pilot Skill. This list as it is now will usually fire last, and that's less than ideal.

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-PALP ACES MK. III (Vessery, Inc.)

100 points

Omicron Group Pilot (29)
Lambda-Class Shuttle (21), Emperor Palpatine (8)

Colonel Vessery (37)
TIE Defender (35), Veteran Instincts (1), TIE/x7 (-2), Stealth Device (3)

The Inquisitor (34)
TIE Advanced Prototype (25), Push the Limit (3), Proton Rockets (3), TIE/v1 (1), Autothrusters (2)

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This list is probably my favorite, as it's the one I've put the most work into, along with some brainstorming with some fine people on Reddit. Vessery ditches Juke for VI, allowing him to attack before The Inquisitor so as to take advantage of his Target Lock. With SD and the title (in combination with Palp) Vessery becomes incredibly hard to hit, and The Inquisitor can just fly around and snipe, as he is wont to do. Prockets allow him to have an answer for ships who try to foolishly engage at range one. This is an incredibly fun list to fly, and I've had quite a bit of success with it as of late.

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-Palp Aces Mk. IV (Insert Clever Play On Words Here)

100 points

Countess Ryad (36)
TIE Defender (34), Outmaneuver (3), TIE/x7 (-2), Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

Soontir Fel (35)
TIE Interceptor (27), Royal Guard TIE (0), Push the Limit (3), Autothrusters (2), Stealth Device (3)

Omicron Group Pilot (29)
Lambda-Class Shuttle (21), Emperor Palpatine (8)

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This is the most experimental list of the bunch. Originally I had PTL on Ryad, but as she'll be moving first in most situations, flying more aggressively and being able to perform a green 5-kturn means she'll be more likely to make use of the Outmaneuver skill, which is pretty good for her. I also like having a list that can afford a Defender AND Soontir. This is the list I've run the least, but it shows promise.

Anywho, there you have it: Three new lists I've labored over so we can all argue for a few hours before getting back to complaining about Waves IX and X. Enjoy!

I don't see Ryad's ability being particularly useful without PTL

but I do know for certain that using her with Steele instead of two juke glaives made me sorely miss the PS overlap that allowed me to decide which order they activated in

so I'd use a glaive, instead

That Inq./Vessery combination is legit - although, you'd have a lot your opponents' lists flanking your Lambda and killing it because your guns have to stick together, point and shoot.

But it looks like a blast to beat Poe with. Would play, would enjoy.

Hey there !

Fun little lists you have there. I am going to the french national championship at the end of the month and i came up with a build kinf of similar to yours in idea.

The build is :

Omicron Pilot - lambda class shuttle

Emperor palpatine

Electronic baffle

The inquisitor

Push the limit

Autothrusters

Tie v1

Rexler Brath

Juke

Tie X7

Twin engine Mk II

Same idea as you but i find the lack of mobility and the loss of actions after a red manoeuvre really punishing with the svuttle that's why i came up with the baffle and it worked wonders (love me a good old aggressive shuttle but that's just me xD)

The twin engine on rexler is really to get rid of stress without beeing easy to read (a stressed defender withour it is so predictable

That still gives you a 1 point bid (not that much but still can be useful)

Won a small store tourney 3/0 with this and i won twice against double scouts variants. Rexler might seem overpriced but his ability won me 2 games out of the 4 i played this comp. He tends to be left alone in favour of the inquisitor and just melts people when the shields are down (especially on large ships like ghost/deci/shuttle and even a scout that have to decide if he spends his focus due to juke or not)

I originally had prockets on the inquisitor and had not the baffle/twin engine

What do you guys think ?

I don't see Ryad's ability being particularly useful without PTL

but I do know for certain that using her with Steele instead of two juke glaives made me sorely miss the PS overlap that allowed me to decide which order they activated in

so I'd use a glaive, instead

How so? I'm a bit daft today, so a little further explanation would be very much appreciated.

EIDT: I have seen the light! Thanks, FGD!

That Inq./Vessery combination is legit - although, you'd have a lot your opponents' lists flanking your Lambda and killing it because your guns have to stick together, point and shoot.

But it looks like a blast to beat Poe with. Would play, would enjoy.

This comment is what got me to use that list this weekend at the Summer 2016 Tourney in Bozeman; I went undefeated.

Thanks, Rinzler!

That Inq./Vessery combination is legit - although, you'd have a lot your opponents' lists flanking your Lambda and killing it because your guns have to stick together, point and shoot.

But it looks like a blast to beat Poe with. Would play, would enjoy.

This comment is what got me to use that list this weekend at the Summer 2016 Tourney in Bozeman; I went undefeated.

Thanks, Rinzler!

Awesome! Glad to hear it!

Hopefully you can muster up a bit of a battle report for us:

- How did you fly your Aces? Did you find you had to keep them together or could you reliably push damage through when they were apart?

- How long did your stealth device on Vessery last, on average?

- What was the list's top strenths and weaknesses?

- How did you beat Dengaroo?

That Inq./Vessery combination is legit - although, you'd have a lot your opponents' lists flanking your Lambda and killing it because your guns have to stick together, point and shoot.

But it looks like a blast to beat Poe with. Would play, would enjoy.

This comment is what got me to use that list this weekend at the Summer 2016 Tourney in Bozeman; I went undefeated.

Thanks, Rinzler!

Awesome! Glad to hear it!

Hopefully you can muster up a bit of a battle report for us:

- How did you fly your Aces? Did you find you had to keep them together or could you reliably push damage through when they were apart?

- How long did your stealth device on Vessery last, on average?

- What was the list's top strenths and weaknesses?

- How did you beat Dengaroo?

Depending on my enemy's list, on my second or third turn I bring about the Lambda to take potshots at stragglers or flankers. I'm not afraid to get aggressive with it while punishing greediness with the fighters.

-Vessery only got hit once in three matches, and only took one damage.

-Dengaroo was weird. It was Dengar and Tel, with feedback array, plasma torps, guidance chimps, etc.

So I focused down Tel with the aforementioned pincer maneuver. Dengar's intended 3-turn somehow was revealed as a 4-straight, so he very nearly flew off the map. In the turn it took to get him flipped around, I focused down Tel, who used his last health to strip the Inquisitor's last shield.

Dengar didn't last long after that. A three-hit two-crit procket finished him off but good.

-This list's biggest weakness? Probably swarms. When Inq and Vess work together, they can burn down a ship pretty quickly, so large ships really don't give them much trouble.

Interesting. I like the tactic. I've always surprised my opponent by throwing a Mangler Cannon on the Shuttle. Those turns where you didn't use Palp really make a good turn better when you hit something for one hit and two crits at range 3.

Aside from some good luck and a not-so-Dengaroo Dengaroo list, looks like you were flying really well.

I'm building a list right now that focuses on the PS-8 sweet spot and this is very encouraging.

Keep it up.