So I've been playing with:

Rand+Juke+X7

2x Delta+Ion+D

Juke has worked very well and keeps enemy ships from having a focus to use on defense or against the Deltas. The question is, would this list be more effective if Rand was PS 7 instead of PS 5? Am I being overly optimistic when it comes to Juke? I love defenders and can easily keep to 3+ speed moves. I think I'm going to fly this list at my next tournament I attend.

I'd love to hear some thoughts from those who have tried similar lists.

Ptl

Also neither

Since the deltas are 33 each you can fit in 34 point crackshot vess x7

Vess is the most competitive defender simply due to him getting the most dice modifications and hes the first guy you should reach for

Im also very unimpressed by the Tie/Dont in general. It is a lot of dice and bare minimum mods which makes for frustrating dice decided games but if youre running em then eh

For juke in general, it is pretty nifty on any x7 (esp vess) but it wont make up for the damage you lose by not having vess rerolls

Predator is also a good option, although it won't hit nearly as hard as PTLs target lock. But it saves you a point from not taking TIE mk 2 and keeps you unstressed to help against those pesky black market slicers coming out.

The question is, would this list be more effective if Rand was PS 7 instead of PS 5? Am I being overly optimistic when it comes to Juke?

PS 7 is too low. A lot of popular ships have higher PS (soontir, whisper, Omega Leader, Carnor, Inquisitor, Vessery + VI, Dengar)

I suggest either juke+x7 or Maarek/Vessery + VI

Yeah PTL is the way, the life on ryad.

Of the two options you put forward, I'd say Juke, especially since you seem to be having some luck with it. While I'm partial to PTL or Predator on the Countess, Juke and x7 together can be a good combo.

For Ryad I would say ptl is better than juke is better than predator is better than crack shot is better than vi....

Between the two, Juke is the better choice.

VI is nice, but at pilot skill 7 you're not going to be beating the pilot skills of many of the aces that show up on the board in competitive.

I'd go with Juke if you're set on Ryad + 2 Deltas with TIE/D title and ion cannons. She's all the way better with PTL and MKII IMHO, though.

I'd go with Juke if you're set on Ryad + 2 Deltas with TIE/D title and ion cannons. She's all the way better with PTL and MKII IMHO, though.

And that's the thing... If I continue to run two Ion Deltas, there is no room for PTL and MKII.

Some of you have pointed out the reasons this list has lost a few games... cold dice. But when they are hot, wow the damage pours on!

Any other 3 Defender builds out there that have found success?

Vessery, Juke, x7 = 35

Ryad, PTL, Mk2, x7 = 36

Delta = 28

99 total

3x Glaive with Crack Shot = 99 (sub in Ryad and/or Vessery as desired)

Both of these are very strong and have been run competitively.

Simple:

Ryad with TIE/x7, PTL, and Mk2

Vessery with Tie/D, VI, Tractor, Mk2

Omega Leader with Comm Relay, and Juke

.....fun.

depends on your style of play

Vessery: x7, Adaptability

Glaive: x7, Adaptability

Maarek: x7, Juke

That's done well or me. 99% of the time, if you're running a Defender and it's not Vessery you're probably doing something wrong. He's just better with either title than any of the other options in almost all cases.

The /D title isn't really as good at damage output as it first seems. If you only have mods on one of your shots then other is often easily evaded and I find having to roll the cannon first means I'm often spending my tokens to modify the shot that does less damage and then missing out with the primary shot. Sure, the control of Ion or Tractor is good at times but the raw damage is what you really want. Also, the fact the x7 title is at least 3 points cheaper, sometimes 5, than the /D makes it so much more attractive.

Lone wolf imo. Juke has no real benefit other than it being o.k. with x7 title and vi up to ps7 is useless. Lone wolf (or ptl I guess) lets her turn into an end game powerhouse since it's hard to outmanuever someone who can just do huge k turns every turn and x7 with lone wolf is a tank.

Vessery, Juke, x7 = 35

Ryad, PTL, Mk2, x7 = 36

Delta = 28

99 total

3x Glaive with Crack Shot = 99 (sub in Ryad and/or Vessery as desired)

Both of these are very strong and have been run competitively.

I'd go with Juke if you're set on Ryad + 2 Deltas with TIE/D title and ion cannons. She's all the way better with PTL and MKII IMHO, though.

And that's the thing... If I continue to run two Ion Deltas, there is no room for PTL and MKII.

Some of you have pointed out the reasons this list has lost a few games... cold dice. But when they are hot, wow the damage pours on!

Any other 3 Defender builds out there that have found success?

TIE/D TB is so good.

May not be top tier competitive but it is still very effective.

Also when running a TIE/D tractor beam, use all your mods to try to make the tractor beam shot hit.

Seriously.

Because you'll make them either take the hit, which is great for your other TIE/D ion cannon pushing through at -1 AGI, or you'll make them spend their mods to dodge the tractor shot and then naked reds > naked greens.

Ryad doesn't need vi, because her ability plays way outside her pilot skill. She could be ps 2 and still wreck house.

On Ryad I have had success with Outmaneuver (I know crazy right?) and PTL. I keep thinking about Juke but then you always have to do 3 speed maneuvers. When you have that boost off the 2kturn and can ptl for a focus or target lock....mmm thats money!

2x Glaive, Juke and X7 (34 Ea)

Ryad, Adaptability and X7(32)

100 pts.

On Ryad I have had success with Outmaneuver (I know crazy right?) and PTL. I keep thinking about Juke but then you always have to do 3 speed maneuvers. When you have that boost off the 2kturn and can ptl for a focus or target lock....mmm thats money!

No PTL, but I put her (only equipped with Outmaneuver) with Maarek (Calculation and Mangler) and a Deathfire with Seismic and Protorps. It looks intriguing but I haven't tried them yet.

I have been playing this list against my friends, and until now it has been working very well. On sunday I will use it on a tournament:

- Marek Steele, Veteran Insticts, TIE x7 Title, Tie Engines MK II

- Countess Ryad, Push The Limit, TIE X7 Title, Tie Engines MK II

- Delta Squadron Pilot, TIE x7 Title, Tie Engines MK II

I will tell you how it works in tournament

You kind of just have to live with her crappy PS 5 :-)

Re: Juke vs PTL, PTL is great but if she gets a second stress on her, it can be painful. Plus a lot of ace stress hate is coming at us in wave 9.

Definitely put a mk II engine on her if you're doing PTL.

Ryad definitely wants PTL, Opportunist, or Experimental Interface to get stress tokens for some bonus or other, because her huge advantage is that she's the only ship in the game to get green K-turns.

You kind of just have to live with her crappy PS 5 :-)

Re: Juke vs PTL, PTL is great but if she gets a second stress on her, it can be painful. Plus a lot of ace stress hate is coming at us in wave 9.

Definitely put a mk II engine on her if you're doing PTL.