Dave Semons (Columbus, Ohio area) recently won a tourney in Cincinatti I was at two weeks ago with:

Manaroo - Attani Mindlink, Gonk, R5-P8, Feedback Array

Fenn Rau - Attani Mindlink, Protectorate Title, Autothrusters

Palob - Attani Mindlink, TLT, Moldy Crow, Dengar

Palob was key, usually had a stack of about ten focus tokens for most matches. Given how much I've flown Palob this past regional season, I don't have confidence I can keep that ship around long enough. So for World's, I'm going to try a variation on this list by swapping out Palob for a Party Bus instead (that will mean I also have to drop Feedback Array for BMST as well).

Is this the tournament linked below?:

Assuming yes - unfortunately Dave forgot to stress his squad after Palob got hit by Wes Jenson stress bot in round 3(?), and then slooped/tallon rolled next turn. I don't think it was intentional, but affected final big time for sure. On the other hand some quality flying there, and nice video.

Yes, that was the event.

So... I flew the Asajj, Manaroo, Fenn list yesterday which I commented on. I liked it so much I went out and bought all three ships immediately. (I normally buy whole waves online and just hadn't yet for 2 waves.) I've flown it again 3 more times. That list is the freaking truth.

So. I think mindlink is a sleeper for worlds. It is really good.

Nice to hear you enjoy it.

List definitely has huge potential to be in the Tops at Worlds, but I don't think any of good players would switch list he is practicing with one week before the tournament. Unless maybe it's solution for Triple Jumpmasters orphans to play something unique and powerful

Why on earth does my podcast app no longer connect to these? It's the only subscription that doesn't work anymore.

It's obviously personal and for some reason this podcast hates me specifically.

I pm'ed you to help with this. The feed should come from http://scumvillainy.podbean.com/feed/although some people may still get us from Team Covenant.

Kelvan for president 2016.

Where's Oicunn?

Where's Oicunn?

Better than Horton...

But he falls into a similar viability as RAC Whisper.

FYI, guys, anent your tiers, I went 3-0 today, with Brobots, against Rey-Norra, Rey-Norra, Rey-Poe. All strong local players. All the games could have easily gone the other way (MOV was 125, 150,125 ... really close games), with me winning the second on the basis of my opponent having terrible red dice. But still, victories over a very strong list archetype.

I think I agree with Sozin that they are Tier One again, now that Torp-Scouts are gone.

I flew B+C symmetrical, which is rare for me, but IMO now necessary to throw enough red dice: HLC, AdvS, AT, BMST, Wired.

That 4k gives bots fits.

... not AdvS Bots.

I've lost to Defenders, but not very often.

I agree. As long as you have sensors you can beat defenders. Especially given the way you can boost/sloop to break up angles of the 4K yoyo.

Giving away my list!!! Not that Im going to worlds . Ive been loving the fenn/manaroo/bus so far. Its been massively successful, with my only loss or two so far being due to flying issues on my part. Had some close games, but it can handle most lists ive come across pretty well.

That 4k gives bots fits.

... not AdvS Bots.

I've lost to Defenders, but not very often.

I played against some Bots recently. It wasn't pleasant for me.

FYI, guys, anent your tiers, I went 3-0 today, with Brobots, against Rey-Norra, Rey-Norra, Rey-Poe. All strong local players. All the games could have easily gone the other way (MOV was 125, 150,125 ... really close games), with me winning the second on the basis of my opponent having terrible red dice. But still, victories over a very strong list archetype.

I think I agree with Sozin that they are Tier One again, now that Torp-Scouts are gone.

I flew B+C symmetrical, which is rare for me, but IMO now necessary to throw enough red dice: HLC, AdvS, AT, BMST, Wired.

This is my favorite Bro Bots at the moment.

Kelvan, that's exactly my build yesterday, when I was built for giving Drew some practice. I actually have Crack Shot crossed out and Wired written in on my printed sheet from today.

Crack Shot is better again Aces and probably Defenders, but today I knew HotR builds would be heavy, and I'm pretty sure Wired did much more for me against those high offense, low AGI builds.

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Defenders make Brobots tier 1 by virtue of them replacing PTL interceptors. I agree that advanced sensors is what they need to give them the edge against defenders. I can't see that the FCS build has much chance (and it's a miserably dull build).

So for World's, I'm going to try a variation on this list by swapping out Palob for a Party Bus instead (that will mean I also have to drop Feedback Array for BMST as well).

I think flying Party Bus together with Fenn Rau is the correct choice. Since Bus is such a huge threat against lots of lists, this takes away a lot of pressure from Fenn and increases its survivability dramatically.

I also swapped Manaroo for standard Bump master and was loving that list. I don't miss passing the tokens from Manaroo since Fenn is usually holding back on the flank and taking very few shots anyway.

Whats the loadout for that bump master? I keep not loving what I end up with.

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It's the standard loadout with Adaptability down to 2, Feedback, Anti-pursuits and Intelligence agent.

I like having both Bump master and Bus at same PS since that opens up some nice plays.

Also unlike Manaroo the Bump master likes to get into the middle of things and contributes more direct damage, as well as draws some fire. With both Scout and Bus blocking, they can cause huge problems for the opponent to get out of the mess, which is the perfect time for Fenn to zoom in for the killing blow.

With PTL/AT/title Fenn the list is on 98 points currently, so I think there is some room for experimentation and tuning. Also the Intel agent is not strictly necessary, so that gives 3 points and potential free crew slot as well for playing with..

Those 3 points could be Dengar on the bumpmaster for some nasty R1 shots. It'd mean you'd have to change Dengar on the party bus to K4, but I think that's an acceptable change.

Is it just me or does Kelvin need a new Mic. I turn up the volume just to hear him talk, and when the other guys chime in the glass in my car windows shatters. This is two pod casts in a row and in two different cars.

Does anyone else have this issue?

Is it just me or does Kelvin need a new Mic. I turn up the volume just to hear him talk, and when the other guys chime in the glass in my car windows shatters. This is two pod casts in a row and in two different cars.

Does anyone else have this issue?

I will be addressing this before the next podcast. I'm sorry for the destruction of your vehicle.

Kelvan, that's exactly my build yesterday, when I was built for giving Drew some practice. I actually have Crack Shot crossed out and Wired written in on my printed sheet from today.

Crack Shot is better again Aces and probably Defenders, but today I knew HotR builds would be heavy, and I'm pretty sure Wired did much more for me against those high offense, low AGI builds.

I'm curious how useful you find wired. Is it basically so you have defensive rerolls? This is something I'm interested in running. Alternatively this could be crack shot/cfs on C.

IG-88B — Aggressor 36

Lone Wolf 2

Advanced Sensors 3

Heavy Laser Cannon 7

Black Market Slicer Tools 1

Autothrusters 2

Ship Total: 51

IG-88C — Aggressor 36

Predator 3

Advanced Sensors 3

"Mangler" Cannon 4

Black Market Slicer Tools 1

Autothrusters 2

Ship Total: 49

Kelvan, that's exactly my build yesterday, when I was built for giving Drew some practice. I actually have Crack Shot crossed out and Wired written in on my printed sheet from today.

Crack Shot is better again Aces and probably Defenders, but today I knew HotR builds would be heavy, and I'm pretty sure Wired did much more for me against those high offense, low AGI builds.

I'm curious how useful you find wired. Is it basically so you have defensive rerolls? This is something I'm interested in running. Alternatively this could be crack shot/cfs on C.

IG-88B — Aggressor 36

Lone Wolf 2

Advanced Sensors 3

Heavy Laser Cannon 7

Black Market Slicer Tools 1

Autothrusters 2

Ship Total: 51

IG-88C — Aggressor 36

Predator 3

Advanced Sensors 3

"Mangler" Cannon 4

Black Market Slicer Tools 1

Autothrusters 2

Ship Total: 49

To me the list is already defensive. the more damage the better.

I'm curious how useful you find wired. Is it basically so you have defensive rerolls?

I find it both useful and frustrating, but it is, IMO, necessary if you want to have two HLCs. Unless, as I mentioned, you need those Crack Shots to push through highly defensive builds. (Wired does give re-rolls on offense, too.) Basically, a Mangler cannon no longer has enough punch in the game. Both ships have to throw 4 dice. That extra 3 points has to come from somewhere.

With Segnors, Koiograns, and Stress-control builds, I spend at least half the combat phases stressed. Wired is triggered a lot. Because it's not action-triggered, it works with a pre-Evade (or pre-Boost-to-Evade) or pre-BMST and a flip-around. It gains me effective HP in multiple ways: re-rolls on defense, freeing up my action to take Evade without as much worry about sacrificing offense, or (again by freeing up my action) encouraging PTL ships to stay at Range 3, where I get an extra green and Autothrusters.

Predator and Lone Wolf would be my personal ideal choice for EPTs. (You can find my asymmetrical builds where I use exactly those.) But you're giving up a 4-dice punch on one ship to do it, and that 4-dice punch is just too necessary nowadays. If I want BMST -- and I do -- that leaves Wired or Crack Shot, and Wired is more generally valuable.

To me the list is already defensive. the more damage the better.

Well ... it used to be. But nowadays, in an X-Wing world where ships can pretty routinely throw 5 modified red dice, the Aggressor's 3 AGI and Autothrusters isn't as useful as it was. 3 AGI is the new 2 AGI. (For 35 points, one less than the base Aggressor, the Ghost has twice as many HP. HP are the new AGI ... )

I'm curious how useful you find wired. Is it basically so you have defensive rerolls?

I find it both useful and frustrating, but it is, IMO, necessary if you want to have two HLCs. Unless, as I mentioned, you need those Crack Shots to push through highly defensive builds. (Wired does give re-rolls on offense, too.) Basically, a Mangler cannon no longer has enough punch in the game. Both ships have to throw 4 dice. That extra 3 points has to come from somewhere.

With Segnors, Koiograns, and Stress-control builds, I spend at least half the combat phases stressed. Wired is triggered a lot. Because it's not action-triggered, it works with a pre-Evade (or pre-Boost-to-Evade) or pre-BMST and a flip-around. It gains me effective HP in multiple ways: re-rolls on defense, freeing up my action to take Evade without as much worry about sacrificing offense, or (again by freeing up my action) encouraging PTL ships to stay at Range 3, where I get an extra green and Autothrusters.

Predator and Lone Wolf would be my personal ideal choice for EPTs. (You can find my asymmetrical builds where I use exactly those.) But you're giving up a 4-dice punch on one ship to do it, and that 4-dice punch is just too necessary nowadays. If I want BMST -- and I do -- that leaves Wired or Crack Shot, and Wired is more generally valuable.

I appreciate the explanation. I see the utility and may give it a try. I put the bots down after 2015 regionals (ran asymmetrical builds back then w/hlc and mangler) and haven't really picked them back up. I wonder if A Debt to Pay will provide a good, cheap offensive upgrade that will allow for dual HLCs and dual Adv. Sensors. Anyway, I'll have to give the wired bots a try sometime, seems like they could be solid.

Oh, there's another possibility for the 2 points remaining for EPTs: Lone Wolf and Trick Shot. In addition to being pretty solid, this puts the ships at odd point-values, which is occasionally useful in MOV situations.

It's the standard loadout with Adaptability down to 2, Feedback, Anti-pursuits and Intelligence agent.

I like having both Bump master and Bus at same PS since that opens up some nice plays.

Also unlike Manaroo the Bump master likes to get into the middle of things and contributes more direct damage, as well as draws some fire. With both Scout and Bus blocking, they can cause huge problems for the opponent to get out of the mess, which is the perfect time for Fenn to zoom in for the killing blow.

With PTL/AT/title Fenn the list is on 98 points currently, so I think there is some room for experimentation and tuning. Also the Intel agent is not strictly necessary, so that gives 3 points and potential free crew slot as well for playing with..

Those 3 points could be Dengar on the bumpmaster for some nasty R1 shots. It'd mean you'd have to change Dengar on the party bus to K4, but I think that's an acceptable change.

I think EMP device on the bus is an interesting option.