Personally I think the Interdictor is supposed to work hand in hand with the VSD. They both have similar movements, volleys and point values. The Interdictor has its shields and volley sperad out all aroudn while the VSD has very little in the rear. If a CR-90 gets behind it it is using that doubile redirect token. Interdictor has one more hull point but double contain as well.

Another part of this main issue is that the interdictor is already a pricey gimmick in its own right, and the heavier imperial ships all clock in very high as well. Once you plan around a kitted out interdictor with some upgrades added to taste, there is not much budget left for other heavy ships. That somehow forces you to press it into a "flagship" role where it should really be a side-kick as per lore.

And which lore is that?

Because the one time I saw it in the canon, it was a Flagship, all by itself...

... Of course, it got rammed by its escorts, but anyway..

Not sure if that happened in any book that is still considered canon after all, maybe the word lore was used to lighthearted..

The only Canon source for the Interdictor we have, at the moment is SW: Rebels.

It was the Flagship of its fleet, which consisted of a small set of fighter escorts, and a number Arquitens class Light Cruisers as Picket ships...

... Which kinda sounds like an upcoming SW: Armada fleet to me

The prototype for the Immobilizer 418 appears directly in Tarkin, 14 years before Yavin. a CC-2200 and CC-7700 are also mentioned.

Rebels as we know takes place about 5 years before Yavin. Yet Titus' ship is listed as a secret prototype? Maybe Tech in the new canon develops slower than in Legends?

The only time I've used an Interdictor recently in a significant role was pairing it with two VSD-Is. The idea is that it could help support them with projection experts and targeting scramblers, while also trapping prey. The problem is it cannot shield those VSD-Is at long range, so they suffer a turn or two under a lot of fire before they can use their Expanded Launchers/APT blasts. The setup I was running was also highly vulnerable to fighter attacks.

I think INTs can still work with VSDs, but I don't know where to take that list to be more effective against the problems it was having when I ran it.

The prototype for the Immobilizer 418 appears directly in Tarkin, 14 years before Yavin. a CC-2200 and CC-7700 are also mentioned.

Rebels as we know takes place about 5 years before Yavin. Yet Titus' ship is listed as a secret prototype? Maybe Tech in the new canon develops slower than in Legends?

Presumably it's the scaling up that's the tricky part, with Titus's ship being the testbed.

Heir to the Jedi mentions that the Immobilizer is no longer in production and that the Empire has started to produce Star Destroyers with interdiction generators. Suggesting they must have worked out the bugs with Titus's ship by ANH or so (Heir is weeks after ANH).

Likely. If so, it's interesting how the LFL story group is regulating the classic Immobilizer to the pre-ANH timeline... making furhter appearances by the explicit 418 as referencing an older vessel. Though the Titus Interidctor looks virtually the same. My thought is that the Immobilizer was the original Imperial prototype, and Titus' design is a further refinement of that model.

I do recall from Tarkin I think that Interdictors are largely stationed around the core systems to control space traffic, which is why we never see them over the scope of the movies, because all the OT films never approach the core.

It will be interesting to see how the next decade shapes Star Wars Canon. Already the TIE Defender being before Yavin is something of an upset... and we all know canon will deliver "new Hotness" which may overtake some of the Legends stand-bys..

. Already the TIE Defender being before Yavin is something of an upset...

Its also not proven yet.

All we know is that plans are available.... Could be a long way between plans, production, testing and deployment - especially with the Ghost Crew still prepping to blow the crap out of that Imperial Factory...

. Already the TIE Defender being before Yavin is something of an upset...

Its also not proven yet.

All we know is that plans are available.... Could be a long way between plans, production, testing and deployment - especially with the Ghost Crew still prepping to blow the crap out of that Imperial Factory...

True, though the point of the TIE/D being developed in response to Rebel fighter supremacy is now moot. Unless the TIE/D goes through a redesign, it could be upstaged by the X-Wing, which has yet to appear in Rebels. And honestly, the easiest way to beat a new fighter is to introduce a new fighter, so...

At least with regard to the Interdictor, the Rebels had to stop it with internal sabotage. I've got the feeling now that Thrawn might call forth another one to trap the Rebels in a key climactic battle, perhaps next season, and maybe in conjunction with the TIE/D prototypes to finish off Phoenix squadron and any other cells he can catch.

True, though the point of the TIE/D being developed in response to Rebel fighter supremacy is now moot. Unless the TIE/D goes through a redesign, it could be upstaged by the X-Wing, which has yet to appear in Rebels. And honestly, the easiest way to beat a new fighter is to introduce a new fighter, so...

Personally, I think that line of thought does a disservice to just how far ahead of the thought pattern Thrawn is... It is his project (Gov. Pryce mentions so), and he's playing the long, long, long game...

But even discounting that, our view is also focused completely, at the moment, on the Phoenix Cell... We know other cells exist (General Dodonnas at the very least) - and again, with no proof of being told otherwise, there's nothing to say that X-Wings aren't already out there and being known... Hell, Dodonna's cell could already have the X-Wings and that's what Wedge and Hobbie were transferred there specifically for....

And that's why Thrawn is working on the Defender...

Again with the Long Game.

::shrug:: Impossible to know, only to Guess

There is a lot of supposition going on - and a lot of it has to still be revealed as "canon", rather than just supposition... I think the difference between myself, and a lot of people, is I don't particularily care any more or less for the Legends now than I did months ago... "Canon" is "Canon", and until such time as I become a Star Wars Writer, I will accept "Canon" as "Canon", meaning "The Truth of the Story.".... Having educated guesses and all is cool - I'm usually pretty good at them... But until its in front of me as Canon, its supposition Just because it was different in legends means a sackful of squat... I don't know exactly what squat is. Is squat edible? maybe, but I don't think you want to really know the answer that one... I don't...

It is his project (Gov. Pryce mentions so), and he's playing the long, long, long game...

Governor price can say whatever she wants, but they've been working on a "secret project" for two seasons now, and Thrawn has been out with Seventh Fleet.

Unless they plan to just hand wave away ANOTHER stupid discrepancy in reality, the best you can say is that this is Thrawn's project now.

Similarly, Thrawn is not "working on the Defender." He's hunting for the Phoenix/Ghost cell of the Rebellion.

I'm just Quotin' what's Quoted.

The "Secret Project" was originally the TAP too... We even see Rudor smile for the Explody-camera.

But anyway - yes, as you said, there's a lot of discrepencies - but that's because everything is hidden behind secrecy and misinformation.... I mean, Kallus is not even supposed to know what goes on in that section, and he's the freaking ISB Agent for Lothal who is supposed to be securing it...

The Interdictor is great at keeping a buddy alive and target scrambling/projection experts is hard to kill.

The Raider, tho? That's as bad as you think.

Seriously disagree here. The Raider is a great little ship when used properly. I've been using at least one in most Imperial lists to fantastic effect. I won a tourney here with 4 of them, and they did the majority of the donkey work in each game.

I've had good success with them alongside the Interdictor, too. Targeting Scramblers, G8, and Projection Experts conspired between them to hold an ISD in position long enough for a pair of Raiders to safely double arc it's side with ACMs for three turns, combining with a couple of turns of double arcs from the 'dictor itself.

Both ships require careful positioning and timing, but really reward the risk if you plan appropriately.

It will be interesting to see how the next decade shapes Star Wars Canon. Already the TIE Defender being before Yavin is something of an upset...

Late-period Legends (Imperial Handbook) had already shown the Tie Defender Project as underway before Yavin, even if only in prototype.

The Interdictor is great at keeping a buddy alive and target scrambling/projection experts is hard to kill.

The Raider, tho? That's as bad as you think.

Seriously disagree here. The Raider is a great little ship when used properly. I've been using at least one in most Imperial lists to fantastic effect. I won a tourney here with 4 of them, and they did the majority of the donkey work in each game.

I've had good success with them alongside the Interdictor, too. Targeting Scramblers, G8, and Projection Experts conspired between them to hold an ISD in position long enough for a pair of Raiders to safely double arc it's side with ACMs for three turns, combining with a couple of turns of double arcs from the 'dictor itself.

Both ships require careful positioning and timing, but really reward the risk if you plan appropriately.

While I applaud your defense of sanity, I want to inform you that FourDogsInaHorseSuit exists on these forums to be a troll about Raiders. We've had conversations with him numerous times. Raiders in Regionals-winning fleets? A fluke. Insufficient data. Something. Raiders used well and advice on how to do so? Clearly the opponent didn't know what they were doing. No argument will convince him. My advice is to simply ignore him and move along.

I finally tried that hyperbolic strategy where I go speed zero and then just crush the raider's when they finally cone into range and I killed all five of them in two turns. It's so nice when your opponent plays multiple copies of the worst ship in the game.

Must. Not. Bite.

...arggggghhhh

Must. Not. Bite.

...arggggghhhh

i havent had as much opportunity to play with it as i would like... its definitely good with vsd, kon, g8, slicers... i think there are likely more builds that will be good with it as well.... but opportunity cost is real... slowing your opponents is nice, blowing them up is better... can the interdictor help blow up ships? can it help out more than a bomber wing or 2 raiders? i dont know... hope to find out one day

My issue with the Interdictor is squadrons. I think I need to pair it with an ISD and tractor beams, medium VSD is not sufficient. And if you add only two Gozantis for a decent but not overwhelming 4 activations, there is not much left for squads. Yes, my ISD and Interdictor came quite well equipped, but gutting it for a couple more Ties wont help me against decent enemy (ace) squads. Getting the carrier (in case you dont face rogues) is the main goal, with speed three ISD and ET Interdictor that can be done, but then the ships would have to grind to a halt themselves, keeping the enemy pinned in place and kill it. I had fun with it, and the Interdictor did a lot of self-repair while the ISD had engineering captain. But I saw the vulnerability to bombers. Keeping the Dictor in engagement range and in scrambler range of the ISD while on the flank to avoid direct ship fire, and also far enough away from the ISD not to bump into it when the turning starts, is something I could improve upon...

Seeing the pain when I pinned enemy ships, I certainly dont want to face that myself. You need to manouver well vs an ISD and Interdictor combo.

That is, at least for the time being, my thinking and my experience.