So I have been tooling around with this list, and wondering if this is PERFECTION or crap???
Deathfire and his defenders- 2 (100)
"Deathfire" (27) - TIE Bomber
Concussion Missiles (4), Conner Net (4), Extra Munitions (2), Long-Range Scanners (0)
Colonel Vessery (37) - TIE Defender
Veteran Instincts (1), TIE/D (0), Tractor Beam (1)
Countess Ryad (36) - TIE Defender
Push The Limit (3), TIE/x7 (-2), Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
Looks good, I'd prefer x7 Vessery, but it isn't the one true choice. I think x7 fits into the meta a bit better, though, just because it is guaranteed damage mitigation. Allows you to use Juke, too.
Another option I have been thinking about is Expertise x7 Rexler, he requires some cuts on Deathfire, though.
"Deathfire" (17)
Extra Munitions (2)
Flechette Torpedoes (2)
Conner Net (4)
Long-Range Scanners (0)
Rexler Brath (37)
Expertise (4)
TIE/x7 (-2)
Countess Ryad (34)
Push the Limit (3)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
TIE/x7 (-2)
Total: 100
View in Yet Another Squad Builder
Is the list I was thinking about. Rexler who doesn't need setup for his ability to work is a pretty awesome sight. He won't be as consistent as Vessery, but in turn has a higher PS to beat all those Ryads and Vesserys. Deathfire loses all damage potential, which is sad, but he gaíns an alternative control method which is not too common for imperial lists.
There have been a handful of people that have run a similar list (details vary a little), myself included. I think it's a strong squad, maybe not perfection, but closer to perfection than crap. I find it a hell of a lot of fun to fly. Deathfire supports well, and gives you a tool that'd pretty different from most other Imperial ships.
Played this in a small 7 man tourney yesterday. My first match was against Miranda, Esege, Gold squad: three TLT's and RecSpec on Esege. I made a bad K-turn (bump) and Vess was out of the fight for 3 turns. Until the bad turn I was about to trade Ryad for Miranda, but didn't have Vess turned to fire, he got an evade against Ryad's shot and Deathfire's Primary (his earlier concussion was unfortunately minimally effective) So I lost that one 0-100 (never got a good shot on Miranda again).
My second match was the exact opposite result 100-0. This match was against Maarek in an advanced with FCS and cluster, Vessx7 and Ryadx7 with adapt-up. TB didn't get used/land a hit much either in this match, but did strip an evade or focus a few times. I knocked out the advanced first before he could fire his clusters (the look on his face when I TL'ed Maarek 1st round was priceless.
Ended 4th place, the TLT's got third (just barely) I got a bye, he did not and went 2-1. I think the other lists in the tourney I would have fared well against after watching several other matches.
I deffinitely feel I was missing Homing Missile so that is back in there
So I am now debating between:
Deathfire and his defenders (100)
"Deathfire" (26) - TIE Bomber
Homing Missiles (5), Conner Net (4), Long-Range Scanners (0)
Colonel Vessery (35) - TIE Defender
Juke (2), TIE/x7 (-2)
Countess Ryad (39) - TIE Defender
Push The Limit (3), TIE/x7 (-2), Engine Upgrade (4)
I really like EU on Ryad, but she gets a lil predictable with only straights to remove stress, plus I nver seem to get much use out of juke, either Vess burns the evade before he shoots or the opponent rolls a focus and evade with a focus token, so should I swap Juke for Extra Munitions.......
OR
Deathfire and his defenders- 2 (100)
"Deathfire" (28) - TIE Bomber
Homing Missiles (5), Conner Net (4), Extra Munitions (2), Long-Range Scanners (0)
Colonel Vessery (36) - TIE Defender
Trick Shot (0), TIE/D (0), Tractor Beam (1)
Countess Ryad (36) - TIE Defender
Push The Limit (3), TIE/x7 (-2), Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
This is something I toyed with after the tourney. Gets the Homing Missile back and EM, still shoots first with Vess, buts gets an advatage around those rocks, that TB is going to enjoy. I know everyone is going to tell me I need x/7 on Vess, but I really think that if I manage early focus fire well, the TB on Vess is going to help push more damage through and occasionally should help eliminate some actions and shots from other ships if I can put them on rocks