Countess - TIE X7, TIE MK II, Outmaneuver

Vessery - Crack Shot, Tractor Beam, TIE MK II, TIE/D

Omega Leader - Juke and Comm Relay

100 points.

I'm thinking of giving this a go at my next X-Wing night. I usually have Juke on Ryad but Out intrigues me since I seem to get behind people a lot with her K's.

Vessery is different too; I want to make the TB count as I've had it fail me too often.

OL I believe is a pretty standard build.

In the past I've seemingly struggled with OL's ability and not got much out of it.

Any thoughts on how to make the most of it?

Side question - Could the two points spent on TIE MKII be better spent?

Why no PTL on Ryad?

Yeah I think if you're not using PTL you could drop the mk2's for.... Something. I'd be very interested to hear how the Ryad build goes. I generally fly her with PTL, MK2 ions and the X7 title, but the Juke or outmaneuver versions look strong too.

Why no PTL on Ryad?

I've never used it on her. Seems to have worked well so far but I get what you mean.

Yeah I think if you're not using PTL you could drop the mk2's for.... Something. I'd be very interested to hear how the Ryad build goes. I generally fly her with PTL, MK2 ions and the X7 title, but the Juke or outmaneuver versions look strong too.

Juke has been really cool in the past. I just fancied trying something different. I do seem to get behind enemies with the varying K's so hopefully I can put Outmaneuver to good effect often. Plus, my red dice have not been amazing lately. Here's to a turn around whilst the enemy has less greens! I'll probably end up against a Decimator or Ghost now!

I agree, PTL on Ryad is amazing with all those Greens.

I would be tempted to swap crack shot on Vessery for VI so he can shoot before OL. I know that OL will usually want to hang onto his Target Locks but allowing Vessery to shoot first means that OL will benefit from the reduced agility of the target and can spend the TL if it is beneficial to do so. For example, if Vess shoots first and gets the target down to its last health, OL may well want to spend the TL to make sure it gets finished off.

Plus PS8 is useful as it allows you to rock the same PS as the Inquisitor and various other pocket Aces.

I agree, PTL on Ryad is amazing with all those Greens.

I would be tempted to swap crack shot on Vessery for VI so he can shoot before OL. I know that OL will usually want to hang onto his Target Locks but allowing Vessery to shoot first means that OL will benefit from the reduced agility of the target and can spend the TL if it is beneficial to do so. For example, if Vess shoots first and gets the target down to its last health, OL may well want to spend the TL to make sure it gets finished off.

Plus PS8 is useful as it allows you to rock the same PS as the Inquisitor and various other pocket Aces.

Spot on. I'd changed CS to VI at lunchtime whilst looking at the builder on my phone. We're on the same page! Good to have firing options.

I'm very torn between Out and PTL at the moment. If I get the positioning right Out could wreck face. But PTL is generally more useful.

I'm very torn between Out and PTL at the moment. If I get the positioning right Out could wreck face. But PTL is generally more useful.

I have run both and I have found I get more mileage out of PTL on Ryad. Ironically, Outmanoeuvre worked better on Vessery due to him getting the bonus twice due to his double-tap. But I realise you don't have the points for that.

I'm very torn between Out and PTL at the moment. If I get the positioning right Out could wreck face. But PTL is generally more useful.

I have run both and I have found I get more mileage out of PTL on Ryad. Ironically, Outmanoeuvre worked better on Vessery due to him getting the bonus twice due to his double-tap. But I realise you don't have the points for that.

That's it, you've convinced me. PTL on Ryad tonight! Shame on Vess as you make a good point. But I'd have to hobble OL to get it in there.

PTL Ryad could get you more easily another TL for Vessery.

Omega Leader tends to get too much agrro, so another support for Vessery is a fine idea, while the Countess has Focus for herself.

With this build, you want to focus on arc dodging, as that is what your list is built for....I would give away the twin Ion Engines as everyone else has stated.

I went through this trial and tribulation with my Vessary and Ryad, with outmaneuvering on Ryad you really want to swoop outside of an arc....The obvious already being said think more so about the big time metas you have. One could assume it's similar to their own:

-Jumpmasters

-YV-666

-Shadowcaster

-Protectorates

-Decimator

-Defenders

-Fel/Inquisitor

-Poe, Wes, Wedge

-Arc-170

Now without building a list to take down one of these specifically we can look at the use of your upgrade cards. With Comm Relay, Outmaneuver, and Juke you are looking to avoid bigs hits from your foes. Outmaneuver is obviously your preference, and it only works when outside of firing arc....so what is its point when a Shadowcaster, YV-666, Jumpmaster, or Decimator get into range? You cannot get out of there arc, it's 360/180 and if they catch you with BMST you're going to be done in three rounds.... Let's depict the use of a single PTL + Outmaneuver: your goal being to get behind or to the side of some of the most popular ships, but will cripple to the larger ship builds we see continue to grow.

PTL+Twin Ion Engines, allows you to take a token, like a focus or evade, stress yourself and take another action, providing you more action economy. If you're going to summer a large payload from one of these ships with a vast firing arc, why not limit the damage you take, go with an evade and focus. Next round you can do a left our right turn wth your twin Ions and clear the stress, and token up. The Tie Defender is a superior jousting ship, however, with this build you limit the ability you receive to joust....therefor the synergy is off.

I had two games last night and went with PTL on Ryad.

It worked an absolute treat

I won both games, one of which was against a regional champ.

Both ran Ventress, one with IGC and one with two Misthunters. Across both both games I only lost Vessery once whilst the others lost their shields.

OL got the evade early and TL'd the same time as him and Vessery came into range. Ryad went faster and got in behind. Tokens were spent avoiding the tractor beam, and then some hot reds did the rest.

OL would occasionally bug out to reposition after using it's TL/Evade. Ryad only got into a K pattern once but it worked perfectly.

Overall it just worked. Might lose TIE MK II from Vess to make 99 points and make sure I can shoot before other PS8's.

I had two games last night and went with PTL on Ryad.

It worked an absolute treat

I won both games, one of which was against a regional champ.

Both ran Ventress, one with IGC and one with two Misthunters. Across both both games I only lost Vessery once whilst the others lost their shields.

OL got the evade early and TL'd the same time as him and Vessery came into range. Ryad went faster and got in behind. Tokens were spent avoiding the tractor beam, and then some hot reds did the rest.

OL would occasionally bug out to reposition after using it's TL/Evade. Ryad only got into a K pattern once but it worked perfectly.

Overall it just worked. Might lose TIE MK II from Vess to make 99 points and make sure I can shoot before other PS8's.

Meh, even if you don't shoot before, you get the chance to barrel roll out of arcs/get better position, so it's not all bad. And, with Ventress being so big, you'll regret getting stressed and NOT having the Twin Ion Engines.

I had two games last night and went with PTL on Ryad.

It worked an absolute treat

I won both games, one of which was against a regional champ.

Both ran Ventress, one with IGC and one with two Misthunters. Across both both games I only lost Vessery once whilst the others lost their shields.

OL got the evade early and TL'd the same time as him and Vessery came into range. Ryad went faster and got in behind. Tokens were spent avoiding the tractor beam, and then some hot reds did the rest.

OL would occasionally bug out to reposition after using it's TL/Evade. Ryad only got into a K pattern once but it worked perfectly.

Overall it just worked. Might lose TIE MK II from Vess to make 99 points and make sure I can shoot before other PS8's.

Meh, even if you don't shoot before, you get the chance to barrel roll out of arcs/get better position, so it's not all bad. And, with Ventress being so big, you'll regret getting stressed and NOT having the Twin Ion Engines.

Yeah, it can work either way I guess. So maybe I won't worry about it!

TIE MK II is handy, especially with Ventress handing out stress.

I've been running OL, Vessery, and Jendon (as my Palp shuttle). We had a 6-night League, I brought the same list every time, with one small change -- I built the list as a soft counter to Dengaroo. 98 pts, no Ion on Vessery. As soon as Ventress hit, I slapped the Ion on him and have not regretted it yet. Last night, I went up against two different Ventress lists. That ship can easily do a three hard and get out of the way, leaving Vessery pretty sad that he's only able to do straight maneuvers to clear his stress.

Also, some general tips on OL, who've I've been running since s/he dropped:
1. Don't spend your Target Lock. Even if they won't be able to modify ANY dice this round, offensively or defensively. You don't want to have to take it again later, as you'd much rather Focus/Barrel Roll to make sure you're getting shots, or can spend the time to get your Evade back, in case you spent it.

CAVEAT: If they can't mod anyways, and it's the difference between life or death for the enemy, MAYBE spend it. I probably still wouldn't, as you could just as easily roll another blank.

2. Never spend your Evade token, unless:

-It prevents you from dying THAT turn.

-It prevents you from eating a crit.

-You will be able to bug out during the next round to get it back. Otherwise, take the damage and save it for offense. Being able to Juke an enemy's die AND preventing them from modifying it is too good, and you'll be able to take a better action (Focus/Barrel Roll) next turn.

3. Focus and, when possible, dodging arcs are your defensive actions, really. Take an unmodified shot over getting shot at by someone you DON'T have locked. Even if you have them locked, I'd still be very careful, as you don't have the safety net of Palp, and OL doesn't last to focus fire.

4. Don't be afraid to flee the engagement. Ideally, you want to be entering combat with an Evade and Target Lock, always. If you find yourself without, try and reset for a flank, let the Defenders do some work.

5. Omega Leader CAN die quickly. S/he could also live forever (lost mine only once over the course of the League). Since you don't have the Palp safety net, be prepared for the former -- slap PtL on Ryad so Vessery has another TL feeder. Non-PtL Ryad has to make too many hard choices with her actions, and she's a ship you WANT to spend the TL with.

My personal take on the list is that you could drop crackshot and the two MKII engines to put ruthlessness on Vessery. If you haven't tried it, you owe it to yourself to try the Ruthlessness/Tie D combo.