Inspired by this thread (https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/229402-uses-for-an-imperial-i-over-an-imperial-ii/) and this one (https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/229545-a-challenge-to-all-imperial-players/), I decided to build an Imperial fleet including a ISD-1 and without a Demolisher and Rhymer. After a couple of idea and testing, here's what I came up with:

Faction: Galactic Empire
Points: 393/400

Commander: Darth Vader

Assault Objective: Most Wanted
Defense Objective: Contested Outpost
Navigation Objective: Dangerous Territory

Imperial II-Class Star Destroyer (120 points)
- Captain Needa ( 2 points)
- Gunnery Team ( 7 points)
- Electronic Countermeasures ( 7 points)
- X17 Turbolasers ( 6 points)
= 142 total ship cost

[ flagship ] Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 points)
- Darth Vader ( 36 points)
- Boosted Comms ( 4 points)
- Comms Net ( 2 points)
= 65 total ship cost

Imperial I-Class Star Destroyer (110 points)
- Relentless ( 3 points)
- Skilled First Officer ( 1 points)
- Gunnery Team ( 7 points)
- X17 Turbolasers ( 6 points)
= 127 total ship cost

1 Dengar ( 20 points)
1 "Mauler" Mithel ( 15 points)
2 TIE Advanced Squadrons ( 24 points)

The idea is to have the ISD-1 take the enemy by the front by moving slowly at first and preparing to accelarate at the right moment while the ISD-2 attack by the side. The Gozanti stay away at first to give token to both ISD as needed and then come in later to order the squadrons left if needed. The squadrons are there to keep the enemy bombers at bay, supported by both ISD AA.

What I'm still not sure about is if I should take a Intel Officer on the ISD-2 instead of Needa and the X17, or if I should take a Spinal Armament on the ISD-1 instead of the X17. Problem is, I would like to go first if possible but I'm already not sure if 393 will be enough (certainly not to guarantee it) so raising the fleet points is not something I would like to do. I played a similar list 2 times now and both times Gunnery Team have been useful on both ISD so I don't want to remove it on either ship. Same for Boosted Comms on the Gozanti; Both time I made a squadron command with both ISD turn 2 and 3 (turn 2 with the ISD 1 and turn 3 with the ISD-2) then started to order the squadrons with the Gozanti.

I know a lot of people like to put their admiral on a smaller ship, but a few lucky hits on your Gozanti and Vader would be gone. I like Vader on the ISD-II. In this case you want weaker ships (which is practically everything) coming to your ISD-II, and Vader makes good bait.

Also, Assault Gozantis are very good with Vader.

If you are using needa why are you not using Turbolasers reroute circuits?

I know a lot of people like to put their admiral on a smaller ship, but a few lucky hits on your Gozanti and Vader would be gone. I like Vader on the ISD-II. In this case you want weaker ships (which is practically everything) coming to your ISD-II, and Vader makes good bait.

That's actually something I considered. But the way I play the Gozanti, I keep it behind both SD, so if they are coming for it, they need to go through the SDs first. But, that's still something I'm considering... there's a reason the ISD-2 is built more defensively, he was meant to hold Vader. I decided later to put him in the Gozanti. In both games I played with this fleet, it served me well.

Also, Assault Gozantis are very good with Vader.

True, but I lack the points to upgrade it to a Assault Gozanti. I would like to stay around 390 pts.

If you are using needa why are you not using Turbolasers reroute circuits?

Normally I would agree, and in one of the first version of this fleet I gave it a TRC, with Tagge as Admiral to regain the token. But with Vader already spending tokens, I don't need a turbolaser doing it too. The X17 will give me the help needed to push the damage through combined with Vader rerolls. To be honest, I'm even thinking about getting rid of Needa, I'm not sure how useful he will be. That would also drop the fleet to 391 pts.

True, but I lack the points to upgrade it to a Assault Gozanti. I would like to stay around 390 pts.

True, but I lack the points to upgrade it to a Assault Gozanti. I would like to stay around 390 pts.

IMO you are overspending on squadrons. I would also do spinal over XI7 points permitting.

Do you have another suggestion regarding Squadrons? I used this setting and it did a wonderful job against my opponents' squadrons, helped me do enough damage to the enemy bombers so that they were crippled when came the time to attack my ship; it allowed my Star Destroyers to easily get rid of them without suffering too much fire . But if there's a way to cut there without losing efficiency, I'm all ears. I used a Spinal on the ISD-1 in a previous game and I really liked it.

True, but I lack the points to upgrade it to a Assault Gozanti. I would like to stay around 390 pts.

IMO you are overspending on squadrons. I would also do spinal over XI7 points permitting.

Do you have another suggestion regarding Squadrons? I used this setting and it did a wonderful job against my opponents' squadrons, helped me do enough damage to the enemy bombers so that they were crippled when came the time to attack my ship; it allowed my Star Destroyers to easily get rid of them without suffering too much fire . But if there's a way to cut there without losing efficiency, I'm all ears. I used a Spinal on the ISD-1 in a previous game and I really liked it.

Faction: Galactic Empire
Points: 389/400

Commander: Darth Vader

Assault Objective: Most Wanted
Defense Objective: Contested Outpost
Navigation Objective: Dangerous Territory

Imperial I-Class Star Destroyer (110 points)
- Gunnery Team ( 7 points)
- Spinal Armament ( 9 points)
= 126 total ship cost

Imperial I-Class Star Destroyer (110 points)
- Gunnery Team ( 7 points)
- Spinal Armament ( 9 points)
= 126 total ship cost

[ flagship ] Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 points)
- Darth Vader ( 36 points)
- Comms Net ( 2 points)
= 61 total ship cost

Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 points)
- Comms Net ( 2 points)
= 25 total ship cost

1 "Mauler" Mithel ( 15 points)
2 TIE Advanced Squadrons ( 24 points)
1 JumpMaster 5000 ( 12 points)

Here's a new version. I dropped the ISD-2 to a a ISD-1. Gave both ISD a Spinal Armament instead of a X17 and downgraded Dengar for a generic Jumpmaster. One thing that I could do is change both Mithel and the Jumpmaster for 2 Interceptors, the points saved there would allow me to upgrade the Gozanti without Vader to an Assault version. But I love the automatic damage from Mithel, so I'm not sure about this one.

I like your idea from the first list of having a potential Command-1 ISD...Relentless with a skilled FO...now that's sinister. And it wouldn't just be for 1 turn either, because then you'd get to reset both dials on the next round. That's 2 rounds of a command-1 ISD.

I ran a similar list today, just without the Gozantii. It works like a charm against heavy bomber lists (but I still think Motti is the better choice with these). The idea is that your carrier ISD-1 uses interceptors to make quick work of the biggest bomber threat in your opponent's arsenal, and you pound ships with Devastator. I'd add the FO to Relentless, as in your first list.

397/400

Advanced Gunnery

Fire Lanes

Intel Sweep

ISD II-120

Devastator-10

Needa-2

Gunnery Team-7

Spinal-9

SW7-5

=153

ISD I-110

Relentless-3

Vader-36

Flight Controllers-6

Boosted Comms-4

Expanded Bays-5

=164

Dengar-20

Howlrunner-16

Interceptor x4-44

=80

Yeah, tried the last list today but with the Relentless+Skilled Officer on one of the two ISD (don't know why I didn't included it at first, it is so good!) and it wrecked havoc again. The fourth activation is really useful and downgrading Dengar to a generic jumpmaster was not that bad.

I settled on that list for now. I really love flying 2 ISD together, I'll continue to experiment after the tournament. I'll also have to try it with Ozzel, but Vader's rerolls are so deadly...