So I'm trying hard to decide what I'd like to do with my new Decimator I recently found on sale - hopefully this isn't too off-topic.

I've gotten in a few more friendly games now with limited upgrades/cards and really liking the game as a whole - I'm still not able to buy sets for upgrade cards alone, so the key part is that I buy ships that I want to play and work on the upgrades in the future.

Following the cheap Decimator, I've been eyeing up the Imperial Veterans box with a TIE/Def expansion as a way of grabbing a competitive 'list in a box' to expand my collection (and as a list for any potential opponent). More importantly it would give me the option to run a RAC+Ryad list with plenty of ships and cards left over for a second player. I would need a few proxy cards in there (Vader/Hotshot Co-pilot, TIEMkII etc, I'd have Gunner though), but I'm leaving out any use of Palp on purpose (since I doubt I will obtain him anytime soon).

- Now to the key part - the Upsilon - it looks great and I feel that it would make a nice addition to my TFA core on the tabletop / shelf - but is it worth adding to the collection for playing purposes and what else will I need to make valid lists?

The idea of FO's, SF's or Bomber escorts all look interesting, as does running the Upsilon alongside the Decimator as per another thread. But I'm concerned that I could better use those funds to add to my desired Scum collection or create a viable Rebels list - I opted to increase my Imperial stuff as I couldn't decide between ARC-170's, Ghost, HotR or K-Wings since they need each other for all their cards!

My collection consists of the TFA Core, Biggs+R2, TIE/SF, TIE/AdvPt, Slave 1 (+scum pilots) and the Decimator. Hopefully Omega Leader will be added to that soon enough alongside the Shadow Caster (who will find a partner in Slave 1 and eventually parattanni etc).

I'd, for now, try and stick with one faction. Once you have some strong lists that you enjoy playing from there, then branch out.

As for Upsilon vs Imp Vets? I'd go for Vets any time. Upsilon is good as a support ship, and as it is right now, you don't have a lot of the ships that it does best supporting. While an UpDeci build would work, and be a beast, of you are concerned about how viable it is, then go for something else. If you are getting Imp Vets (which really just brings in some amazing ships and pilots) then I'd recommend either another tie Defender, or a TIE F/O expansion pack. Both allow you to field fun lists with what you have.

As for Upsilon vs Rebels? If you get the Ghost, you can't go wrong with it. Arc 170s and HotR are also both great, for different reasons. If you can't decide, roll some dice

But, seriously? Ghost has some amazing crew cards that are basically defining Rebels right now, HotR is basically a list in a box (and gets even better once you get the Ghost), and the Arc-170s and K-wings are both super fun to fly.

Thanks for the reply!

Sticking to one faction is never easy for someone who likes Star Wars as a whole More so when you're buying for any potential second player since there's no local store, but I appreciate your sentiment!

Ignore the Scum stuff I list, I would get those items whether I played the game or not, it's my go to personal choice being a Manda'fan, but I'm really enjoying the Imperial stuff at the moment (with the Deci being the nearest thing to a Fury Interceptor).

You've pretty much presented my Rebel's dilemma in a nutshell - Ghost is a great ship and I like it, ARC's are great and I really like them, HotR is a list in a box but isn't as appealing as the other two (not a fan of that cast), finally K-Wings are self contained and have those TLT's whilst being a bit ugly. But I can only pick one for now and each requires something the others have. A single ARC would give me a list with the two X-Wings I have and be the cheapest option - but I feel this might be far inferior to buying an Upsilon and really making my Imperials fly. Rolling a dice or flipping a coin would be great, but then I'd regret not getting the rest.

With regards to the Upsilon and Imp Vets+Def, it was never about them or that, but both. I swung towards looking at the Imperial Veterans WITH the TIE/Defender expansion as a one off purchase to create a whole list by itself for a second player (and add a lot of potential to the stuff I already have).

If the Deci and Upsilon combo is both viable and a beast, I'd not have any problems trying to learn to play it, just a case of finding out the best upgrades and partner ships for it - hence the post?

If you want to run just those two, you could do something like this:

VT-49 Decimator: · Captain Oicunn (42)

Expose (4)

Anti Pursuit Laser (2)

· Darth Vader (3)

· Dauntless (2)

Upsilon-class Shuttle: · Kylo Ren (34)

Fire Control System (2)

Systems officer (2)

· Rebel Captive (3)

· Kylo Ren's Shuttle (2)

Hyperwave Comm Scanner (1)

Pattern Analyzer (2)

Here, Kylo acts as a dangerous target, someone who needs to be dealt with, but punishes you for engaging him. On the other hand, Oicunn is a ramming machine, going full force forwards to muck up formations. If he can hit someone, he deals them a damage. If not, then he can try and set up a block, and then they hit him, maybe taking a damage. Expose can allow him to bring the pain, especially if Kylo's system officer can give him a target lock; if you don't see yourself flying the two at range one, you could always switch out Systems officer and Rebel Captive for Hux, and dish out focus and condition cards like crazy.

If you wanted to fly the Upsilon in a support role, you could do something like this:

Upsilon-class Shuttle: · Major Stridan (32)

Fire Control System (2)

Systems officer (2)

· General Hux (5)

· Kylo Ren's Shuttle (2)

Pattern Analyzer (2)

VT-49 Decimator: · Captain Oicunn (42)

Expose (4)

Anti Pursuit Laser (2)

· Darth Vader (3)

· Dauntless (2)

Here, you again rely on Oicunn to do damage and disruption with his battering ram tactics. However, Stridan now becomes a wonderful support pilot, tossing out focus tokens and condition cards and target locks every turn at range 1-3, allowing Oicunn to Expose.

Now, I do realize that both of these lists use cards you don't have. If you are getting things slowly and just playing with one or two friends, they shouldn't mind you proxying. If they do, then you might have to field a different kind of list. However, even then, you're not missing many cards, and you can easily slot in whatever you find works for you instead.

Just in case you haven't gotten it yet, a very good ship in a box addition would be the Tie/FO expansion. You will get Omega Leader, Comm Relay and Juke all in the one box. And welcome to the plastic crack club.

@Kreen That's great, thank you very much! I've taken notes and will be reading through the card combos inline with what you've written to better understand how to play them together. I definitely see myself having fun trying to bump ships in close range, so these will be great to try out. I'll check out the cards and their sources later to see just how viable these lists are for future proofing myself.

@bgrelle Thanks At least this 'club' won't require me to spend months building and painting (which never gets finished lol). The TIE/FO expansion is already right there on the top of my list and I'll grab it when it's convenient (ie an order where I need something more to hit free shipping).

From what I suggested, you'll get most of the missing cards from the Lambda, which is a fun Imperial ship, though really only sees use nowadays with Palpatine.

The only other one you'll be missing is Pattern Analyzer from HotR, but if you don't pick that one up, you can probably change it out for Weapons Guidance in both builds just fine.

Everything else you should have from what you own. The big combo it makes use of is Expose on the Decimator; it already doesn't have defense dice, so expose doesn't bother it. And if you give the condition card from Hux to the Decimator, again, it has no evade dice, so the downside of the card is moot.

Have been checking that out! Palp isn't a card I'll see so I'm hoping I can find the Lambda on special at some point in the future the same way I picked up the Deci etc. Can the Lambda be used in any other useful configuration apart from the Palpmobile to make it worth the purchase like some sort of casual ion cannon platform etc?

Apart from that, Pattern Analyzer is a cheap card by itself, but the price of Tactician and FCS makes buying the Phantom for some stealth fun seem a lot more appealing down the road.

Since I finally sold something, I popped in an order for the Shadow Caster, Imp Vets, TIE/D and decided on a single ARC-170. I've left myself a bit of wiggle room given that it's Christmas and this thread has given me the incentive to sale something else ready for the Upsilon when it starts shipping.

You will not regret the Tie Defender and Imp Vets. Some amazing builds in there (when you've got the TIE F/O, check out this build for example).

As for the Lambda? It can be a cheap bumpmaster, a decent Ion platform, and is actually pretty tanky (high hull, etc). It can be fun in a self-bump list as well, where you just keep doing Speed 0 maneuvers as often as possible and ramming your other ships into the Lambda's back. Just a grand old time.

When it comes to a cheap lambda, you can't go wrong with a Doom Shuttle.

Omicron Group Pilot 21

Darth Vader (crew) 3

For 24pts you get a beast. Full disclosure, it should blow up every game, but in the process it can cause some real havok.

Plus you can season to taste. I like it with Electric Baffle, or sometimes even tactical jammer.

When it comes to a cheap lambda, you can't go wrong with a Doom Shuttle.

Omicron Group Pilot 21

Darth Vader (crew) 3

For 24pts you get a beast. Full disclosure, it should blow up every game, but in the process it can cause some real havok.

Plus you can season to taste. I like it with Electric Baffle, or sometimes even tactical jammer.

If you have the points to spare, toss a gunner on their. Buzzsaw of doom!!