Another attempt to use the Scyk - and because Scum doesn't really have a good Crack swarm...

Baseline:

x5 Tansarii Point Veteran (17)

- Crack Shot (1)

----- 90 points -----

Alternatives:

- "Heavey Scyk" Interceptor (2) fits nicely, rounding out to 100 points. Aside from the obvious and tired limitations of the M3-A Interceptor, this build is most promising. With the latest FAQ, it's got a surprising 15 Hull and 15 Shields behind the 3 agility. The problem is that 2 attack primary... One solution is dropping the list to 4 ships and adding a cannon, but Crack Shot is one of those things that benefits from economy-of-scale, i.e. more is better. Let's suppose, though, that you intend on making that up with the cannon upgrade granted by the title:

- Mangle Cannon (4) is probably your best bet. Let's face it - you're not going to do a lot more damage with a 3-dice attack than a 2-dice attack, but being able to change a [boom] to a [kaboom] and having Crack Shot is probably the only thing going for this combo. There's simply not the points available to have HLC. But now we've lost an entire ship to fit Mangler - and four Scyks doesn't inspire fear in any list. One last chance for redemption: 1 point each for a modification! Oh that's right... none to speak of.

- Homing Missiles (5) and Guidance Chips (0) - here's our reach list! Again, losing an entire pitiful Scyk to make room for the missiles, adding GC because you have to. PS 5 ain't what it used to be - and that's good! I'm as worried about getting Target Locks as I am about losing an action that could have been a focus or evade. Pray you don't get PS-killed. Not a great alternative.

Clearly no one is impressed by these options. So I started to think about how I could incorporate 3-4 Cryks and a more intimidating leader-type. To do this, we have to first cut points while maximizing the number of Crack Shots. Back to a baseline:

x4 Tansarii Point Veteran (17)

- Crack Shot (1)

----- 72 points -----

What to do with 28 points..? Clearly we want to support our pea-shooters. Do we do that by punishing anything comes in range?

- Torkil with TLT and Operations Specialist? Dengar?

- Anything with Autoblaster Turret?

- Manaroo with ... *sigh*

Anyway, this has been another exercise futility...

Please weigh in below - fun or competitive changes welcome.

5 Kihraxz are better than 5 Scyks...

But if you really want to fly Scyks, 2 are probably the most you should fit in a list. You really need something more dangerous than the Scyks to attract attention while the Scyks use their cannons at long range.

TPVs were made for Mindlink. That's all there is to it. Crack Shot is nice, but I think you'd be better off using it on a 4 Concord Dawn Veterans or Aces with Title than on Scyks.

3x TPV, Mindlink, Mangler = 72 pts

3x TPV, Mindlink, HLC = 81 pts

So either 28 pts to fit something into, or 19 pts to fit something into. Ironically, the HLC TPV fits snugly in there at 27 pts. So 4 Scyks, 3 with Manglers, one with HLC. Could be interesting.

Crack Shot has its place, but Mindlink is what makes Scyks worth running.

EDIT:

Just saw this that fits in with the Mangler list too:

Concord Dawn Veteran — Protectorate Starfighter 22

Swarm Leader 3

Autothrusters 2

Concord Dawn Protector 1

Ship Total: 28

Could be interesting. Fly him back from the swarm (or right into the thick of it with the title on there) one Scyk focuses while the other two evade, everyone gets mods, and a protectorate gets to unleash hell afterward. Could be interesting.

"Scygar"

Dengar

Attanni Mindlink

K4 Sec.

R4-B11

Title

Tansarii P.V. x 2

Attanni Mindlink

Mangler C.

Title

100 p.