I have been running a list that's comprised of Vessery/Ryad/Palp Shuttle. And, I have the Twin Ion Engine modification on the two defenders. The list is maxed at 100 points.

I stuck the Twin Ion Engine mod on both defenders to safe-guard against opponents that might dish our stress. But, it seems like the green banks have thus far never been that critical and haven't really been needed. So I'm wondering that with the Countess' ability, white Ks on Vessery and the x7 they're both running, if I would be better off ditching the mod on one (probably Vessery) if not both in order to get an initiative bid.

Thoughts?

Do you often find yourself wishing to control the initiative at PS 8? If not, don't bother.

My meta is saturated with PS9, so an initiative bid at PS8 is useless.

What are your EPTs?

TIE mk2 I would definitely run over initiative.

What are your EPTs?

I'm running Juke, Twin Ion Engine and x7 on both Defenders. It's been awesome thus far.

Depends strongly on local meta. In general, I wouldn't run it on Vessery, but would keep it glued to a PTL Ryad.

It's a situational mod for ships that don't self-stress. For my current list, being able to maintain an initiative bid is more important.

What are your EPTs?

I'm running Juke, Twin Ion Engine and x7 on both Defenders. It's been awesome thus far.

I'd think about splitting the difference, TIE Mk2 on Vessery and not on Ryad. That way they both have good ways to clear incidental stress: straights and banks with Vessery and straights and K-turns with Ryad. It also gives you a 1 point bid, which can be useful for Brobots, other Vessery/Ryad lists, Asajj, and probably others. I'm not sure it's a huge issue, either way, though.

What are your EPTs?

I'm running Juke, Twin Ion Engine and x7 on both Defenders. It's been awesome thus far.

I'd think about splitting the difference, TIE Mk2 on Vessery and not on Ryad. That way they both have good ways to clear incidental stress: straights and banks with Vessery and straights and K-turns with Ryad. It also gives you a 1 point bid, which can be useful for Brobots, other Vessery/Ryad lists, Asajj, and probably others. I'm not sure it's a huge issue, either way, though.

Yeah, this is exactly what I'm thinking. Thus far in my local meta, there's not a lot of stress on the offense. But with the threat of Asajj giving out stress as people learn to and play her more often, stress could become more common.

I run my ryad with it. Vess can get a thousand actions with all the stress tokens, so him clearing stress is only an issue in a 1v1. I'll take my chances.

I would rather spend the 2 points on anti-pursuit lasers or ion projector on the shuttle. Those things tend to mess with people´s heads if flying fragile craft around the shuttle.

I would rather spend the 2 points on anti-pursuit lasers or ion projector on the shuttle. Those things tend to mess with people´s heads if flying fragile craft around the shuttle.

Not a bad idea at all! Now you're making me think. I tend to not let the Palp-mobile hang back too much. I think people underutilize it's 3 attack. If you have the shuttle left at the end by itself with no damage, you've left it out of the fight for too long. I try and get it involved on the turn after the Defenders engage, if not the same turn depending on the speed of the game.

initiative bid is for ships that MUST move/shoot specifically before or after something on your opponent's side or you opt out of that random missile/torp that you probably dont need anyway for the off chance you'd like to dictate initiative.

Outside the PS9 war, there isnt that much that demands initiative. Defenders dont really care, and most of them have a low enough PS where it doesnt matter either. In fact, i prefer to have ryad moving first.

Shedding a rather important upgrade as giving your ship 6 more greens for a not-that-useful-init bid isnt worth it.

Yeah, the lead being buried in this thread is that defenders don't really care. Ryad especially. What are you gonna do, accurately block a 5K? Fat chance. Even if you do, almost nothing bad happens to ryad.

Vess cares just a touch more, but even then. Nah.

Depends imo really on the list. Though PTL Ryad is a clear case for the MKII and with the new stress meta a second MkII is imho more worth than a single point initiative bid which may or may not help.

Though the current meta is clearly full of PS8 and even Ryad is super common, so I would not underrate init bids completely.