This is the latest list I've been brainstorming to help in my /x7-Defender-heavy environment:

100 pts

Trandoshan Slaver

- Dengar

- 4-Lom

- Zuckuss

- Inertial Dampers

Manaroo

- Attanni Mindlink

- Proton Torpedoes

- Boba Fett

- Guidance Chips

Kavil

- Attanni Mindlink

- Autoblaster Turret

- Unhinged Astromech

- Engine Upgrade

Questions!

1. Basically, is this general approach workable at all?

More specifically...

2. My current limited experience with the list is that boosting is bad at getting Kavil into good Autoblaster Turret positions. Is this me flying poorly, or should I swap EU for Vectored Thrusters once it's out (and maybe substitute Expert Handling in the meantime)?

3. Manaroo: Two torps? One torp? No torps and figure out a way to put the title on her? (FWIW, I have horrible luck getting off any ordnance shots when I only have one Jumpmaster. It's too easy for the enemy to zoom directly from out-of-range to Range 1 or to out-of-arc, and unlike 2xScout lists, I don't have the luxury of running one of my other ships ahead as a blocker.)

Seems legit to me.

Mana: no torps. Give her K4, Unhinged, FA. She won't fire those torps on anything higher than her PS.

Slaver: lose ID to make room for the above changes

Kavil: probably it's bad flying on your part. EU is kinda necessary for ABT, but I think VT might be enough. Try it and give Kavil R5-P8 (or R4 Agro, if you don't feel like dropping ID from Slaver)

For Kavil, I would drop the engine for TLT and just fly to cover the butt of the Slaver. The enemy will come to you.

Kavil: probably it's bad flying on your part. EU is kinda necessary for ABT

Basically, if I'm approaching a TIE Defender with a lower PS, either it comes right at me and blocks or it comes in offset and fast and barrel rolls away to get out of R1. A boost from me doesn't close the distance because now I'm swinging behind.

Kavil: probably it's bad flying on your part. EU is kinda necessary for ABT

In general, yes, but specifically vs. /x7 Defenders. (If I wasn't so concerned with Defenders I'd have a TLT on him.)

Basically, if I'm approaching a TIE Defender with a lower PS, either it comes right at me and blocks or it comes in offset and fast and barrel rolls away to get out of R1. A boost from me doesn't close the distance because now I'm swinging behind.

Yeah, that's a problem ABT has. Keeping up with fast ships that decide to not engage is troublesome.

In this scenario, VT should help more than EU, but still...