So, in preparing for my upcoming regional, I'm thinking I should have a gameplan for likely lists. Obviously, there are a lot of different possible builds, but probably builds tend to cluster around certain archetypes.

What are these, and how do you think they might they be defined?

Here are some you have identified below, fleshed out as well as consolidated:

• Multiple Small Units (MSU)
  • Small combat units (Gladiators, MC30s)
  • Swarms (CR90s, Raiders - e.g. Clonisher)
  • Big Bad Wolf (e.g. 2015 GenCon Special)
  • FoMSU:
    • Multiple Flotilla Support
    • Multiple Flotilla carriers, w/ squadrons
• Double Big'uns (e.g. 2x Upgraded MC80s, 2x Upgraded ISDs)

• Bomber Lists
  • Carriers and Bomber Swarms (e.g. Rhymerballs)
  • Rogue Swarms (e.g. 8x YT2400, Mandalorian Police Force)

What else?

MSUs are so very hard in the paint right now, I think. But now they're also possible with big ships thanks to flotillas.

So common MSUs would be:

Multiple MC30s

Demsu

Corvette swarms

Big bad wolf (1 big super survivable ship with a bunch of smaller things)

From worlds, we saw a very high activation count, and very heavy squadrons as well. Definitely flotillas. But there were also very few w4 ships. So I think it's largely same old tricks with much more amplified effects that are harder to counter, for the most part.

So prepare for that. And flotilla scatters.

I think flotillas kind of render the traditional definition of MSU as too broad, since now you can "MSU-ify" pretty much any list with a spam of 2-3 cheap flotillas creating an almost infinite sub-types withing the MSU archetype. I think we would get a little more traction by abandoning MSU as an archetype altogether, and trying to find another defining characteristic to differentiate.

Or maybe have MSU (multiple small units), MFU (multiple flotilla support) and MFC (multiple flotilla carriers). This would give us some difference between lists with a glad and collection of offensive pawns like raiders or a TRC90 horde and fleets that use multiple naked or support (ie comms net/slicer tools) flotillas primarily as non combat vessels to increase activation count and fleets that are using flotillas to push around squadron hordes.

I think flotillas kind of render the traditional definition of MSU as too broad, since now you can "MSU-ify" pretty much any list with a spam of 2-3 cheap flotillas creating an almost infinite sub-types withing the MSU archetype. I think we would get a little more traction by abandoning MSU as an archetype altogether, and trying to find another defining characteristic to differentiate.

Or maybe have MSU (multiple small units), MFU (multiple flotilla support) and MFC (multiple flotilla carriers). This would give us some difference between lists with a glad and collection of offensive pawns like raiders or a TRC90 horde and fleets that use multiple naked or support (ie comms net/slicer tools) flotillas primarily as non combat vessels to increase activation count and fleets that are using flotillas to push around squadron hordes.

FoMSU- Flotilla MSU

In regards to the OP, I'd expect squads, squads, and more squads. I find it likely some people will copy fleets from Worlds.

I think flotillas kind of render the traditional definition of MSU as too broad, since now you can "MSU-ify" pretty much any list with a spam of 2-3 cheap flotillas creating an almost infinite sub-types withing the MSU archetype. I think we would get a little more traction by abandoning MSU as an archetype altogether, and trying to find another defining characteristic to differentiate.

Or maybe have MSU (multiple small units), MFU (multiple flotilla support) and MFC (multiple flotilla carriers). This would give us some difference between lists with a glad and collection of offensive pawns like raiders or a TRC90 horde and fleets that use multiple naked or support (ie comms net/slicer tools) flotillas primarily as non combat vessels to increase activation count and fleets that are using flotillas to push around squadron hordes.

FoMSU- Flotilla MSU

In regards to the OP, I'd expect squads, squads, and more squads. I find it likely some people will copy fleets from Worlds.

Agreed. It's what I've liked flying.

So far it sounds like people (above) are focusing on activation advantage with MSU-style lists, identifying subtypes. I'm adding Double Biguns to that, since it's something that I've seen flown, though I don't know how much a part of the meta it is these days anymore.

MUS - Multiple Units and Squadrons.

Covers the basis of what it's doing whilst making it distinct from MSU

I think flotillas kind of render the traditional definition of MSU as too broad, since now you can "MSU-ify" pretty much any list with a spam of 2-3 cheap flotillas creating an almost infinite sub-types withing the MSU archetype. I think we would get a little more traction by abandoning MSU as an archetype altogether, and trying to find another defining characteristic to differentiate.

Or maybe have MSU (multiple small units), MFU (multiple flotilla support) and MFC (multiple flotilla carriers). This would give us some difference between lists with a glad and collection of offensive pawns like raiders or a TRC90 horde and fleets that use multiple naked or support (ie comms net/slicer tools) flotillas primarily as non combat vessels to increase activation count and fleets that are using flotillas to push around squadron hordes.

FoMSU- Flotilla MSU

In regards to the OP, I'd expect squads, squads, and more squads. I find it likely some people will copy fleets from Worlds.

Agreed. It's what I've liked flying.

So far it sounds like people (above) are focusing on activation advantage with MSU-style lists, identifying subtypes. I'm adding Double Biguns to that, since it's something that I've seen flown, though I don't know how much a part of the meta it is these days anymore.

I'd avoid, "double big 'uns" Mikael. They have several glaring disadvantages against certain types of lists.

I'd avoid, "double big 'uns" Mikael. They have several glaring disadvantages against certain types of lists.

Sure, sure - I'm not compiling the list to see which are good. I'm trying to get a sense of which lists are out there. I've seen people fly 2BGs, so they're in the population. I flew against such a list on Monday. And yes, it fell victim.

I think 2015 meta is out. It seems like #of activation is having an advantage here so swarms with bomber formations tends to be in the meta.

Im expecting to see a lot of variety, so Im prepping for a bit of everything.

Expect (in general)

3-4 ships in average fleet. 2 of which won't be flotillas.

70+ in squads with a bomber emphasis.

Worlds showed flotillas are super popular, so expect flotilla busters with H9s.

Squads (bombers) were super popular. So expect lots of bombers and people more willing to use dedicated anti-squad wings. Autoball will likely be back.

Look at those daiky summaries and you can get an idea of list breakdown.

Rather than term every fleet that has at least two flotillas a "MSsomething", why don't we call a fleet that has fewer than four activations a "low activation" fleet? Four is the new two....

LA double ISD gets the point across I think....as does LA ISD/Demo.

It makes sense to label the outliers, not the norm...

Maybe "Deployment Advantage" for a fleet that has a ship that needs a strong deployment (Demo / Admonition / ISD) and takes 9+ deployments. With flotillas not only being cheep activations but also cheap deployments, we are starting to see 9 or 10 deployments being the new "high" number, and 8 being more the "standard".

High deployment count means nothing (well, maybe not nothing, but get get my point) if your list is of a kind that needs to stick together to gain max utility. For deployments to matter you need to have a fleet that's somewhat flexible.

High deployment count means nothing (well, maybe not nothing, but get get my point) if your list is of a kind that needs to stick together to gain max utility. For deployments to matter you need to have a fleet that's somewhat flexible.

Correct, hence why I included the caveat. 11 deployments means nothing at all if you have to blob all your ships and squadrons into a bubble, such that your opponent knows exactly where you are after the first ship goes down. But a heavy hitter that wants to get in on a flank / rear, it means all the difference.

I think the inability to really answer this question speaks volumes for the game.

Mikael; find a list you like to play, one that does not have any glaring disadvantages in it and is not intentionally gimped. Then practice the hell out of it. I think you'll do well.

What in the heck is a Mandalorian Police Force?

Firesprays? Aggressors?

This is something they may pop up as Regionals get going. If there are really archetypes, they should show up regularly from tournament to tournament. Just watch for patterns in fleet builds.

What in the heck is a Mandalorian Police Force?

Really just a Fireball, I guess. A friend of mine has a list in which he brings 6 or 7 of Firesprays. I called it his Mandalorian Police Force that's gonna arrest your Engine-teched Gladiators for speeding.

This is something they may pop up as Regionals get going. If there are really archetypes, they should show up regularly from tournament to tournament. Just watch for patterns in fleet builds.

Are you planning to collect lists again, this season? Is there a list of lists for Worlds, or for GenCon, for that matter?