I'll be playing in a casual CC campaign, so I designed my list more with thematic appeal more than hyper optimisation in mind. The intention was a to create a more or less canon Imperial battlegroup, loosely inspired by that Tie Fighter animation. I started with twin ISD-IIs, adding tractor beams for my upgrades and picking Konstantine for my admiral. I also wanted a full twelve squadrons, so I went with four each of Tie/Ln, Tie/In, and Tie/Sa. I had enough points left over to upgrade one interceptor to Ree and one starfighter to Rudor. I know in the old canon standard ISD complement was four Tie/LN and one each Tie/In and Tie/Sa, but since that's all obsolete anyway I thought I'd go with a more balanced composition. Howlrunner, Fel, Vader, Dengar, and Mithel are already taken by another player's ace ball.

My tactics are to use Konstantine and the tractor beams to hold slippery rebel scum in the ISD's frontal arcs. On round two, both ships use squadron commands to alpha strike with the fighters. From round three on, one ISD takes concentrated fire while the other continues using squadron commands to either make a flank attack with the bombers or help with the furball. This isn't meant to be a serious bomber list, the four are intended to be just enough of a threat that they can't be ignored, forcing the rebs to either send their fighters after them, meaning they aren't shooting the other Ties, or split their forces. If they split their fighters up, my own should win against all but the most optimised carrier lists, I think. Finally, if we have the resources to spare I'll add an Interdoctor to help keep the ISDs in the fight.

Feel free to suggest changes, point out glaring weaknesses, et cetera. I've only actually played a few times before, so I haven't mastered all the intricacies of the game. Just keep in mind I value more a fun thematic list than a perfect tournament build.

Full list:

Battlegroup Blacksword (Thematic Version)
Author: Black Sword Admiral

Faction: Galactic Empire
Points: 499/500

Commander: Admiral Konstantine

Assault Objective: Custom Objective
Defense Objective: Custom Objective
Navigation Objective: Custom Objective

[ flagship ] Imperial II-Class Star Destroyer (120 points)
- Admiral Konstantine ( 23 points)
- Phylon Q7 Tractor Beams ( 6 points)
= 149 total ship cost

Imperial II-Class Star Destroyer (120 points)
- Phylon Q7 Tractor Beams ( 6 points)
= 126 total ship cost

Interdictor-class Suppression Refit (90 points)
- Projection Experts ( 6 points)
- Targeting Scrambler ( 5 points)
= 101 total ship cost

4 TIE Bomber Squadrons ( 36 points)
1 Ciena Ree ( 17 points)
3 TIE Interceptor Squadrons ( 33 points)
3 TIE Fighter Squadrons ( 24 points)
1 Valen Rudor ( 13 points)

Your only allowed 1 upgrade to start with , your interdictor has 2.

Your only allowed 1 upgrade to start with , your interdictor has 2.

This is the potential fully kitted out list.

The ISD II is a ship that needs a way to re-roll attacks (Leading Shots, Veteran Gunners, Darth Vader, etc.). Without it the damage output is very unreliable.

I like it (I also love thematic lists which is why I run Tarkin and Vader more than I should). The only thing you really need is Leading Shots on your ISD IIs. Otherwise the only thematic thing about your list will be Rebel ships destroying your Star Destroyers without taking a scratch.

To do this I would drop the tractor beams and instead equip G-8's and the Interdictor title as I find this works better than tractor beams. I would then drop 1 TIE fighter squad (I think you have too many points in antisquad firepower) and get leading shots on you ISDs. That leaves you with 2 points for an officer like Needa or Admiral Titus (put him on the Interdictor like in Rebels if you want to be thematic) or 2 SFO for your ISDs.

OR. You could take 2 ISD Is instead and put the points somewhere else. Personally I think this may be better for your list for two reasons.

1: you aren't taking ECM which is a major reason to run the II over the I.

2: your list centres around slowing the enemy ships down and trapping them in your front arcs. So you're probably going to be shooting a lot at close range and the Is put out more damage it close range.

Only downside is you're giving up range so up to you to decide what is better for you.

EDIT: if you take ISD Is you could have Leading Shots on both AND G-8's with the Interdictor title which I think will work better because Targeting Scramblers only work at close range which is where your ISD Is want to be.

I like it (I also love thematic lists which is why I run Tarkin and Vader more than I should). The only thing you really need is Leading Shots on your ISD IIs. Otherwise the only thematic thing about your list will be Rebel ships destroying your Star Destroyers without taking a scratch.

To do this I would drop the tractor beams and instead equip G-8's and the Interdictor title as I find this works better than tractor beams. I would then drop 1 TIE fighter squad (I think you have too many points in antisquad firepower) and get leading shots on you ISDs. That leaves you with 2 points for an officer like Needa or Admiral Titus (put him on the Interdictor like in Rebels if you want to be thematic) or 2 SFO for your ISDs.

OR. You could take 2 ISD Is instead and put the points somewhere else. Personally I think this may be better for your list for two reasons.

1: you aren't taking ECM which is a major reason to run the II over the I.

2: your list centres around slowing the enemy ships down and trapping them in your front arcs. So you're probably going to be shooting a lot at close range and the Is put out more damage it close range.

Only downside is you're giving up range so up to you to decide what is better for you.

EDIT: if you take ISD Is you could have Leading Shots on both AND G-8's with the Interdictor title which I think will work better because Targeting Scramblers only work at close range which is where your ISD Is want to be.

Very helpful, thanks. I've switched to ImpStar Ones and incorporated some other changes you suggested, though I kept tractor beams, the targeting scrambler, and all the squadrons. With my range reduced I want to make sure the rebs stay up close and up front and if we're at knife fight range then targeting scramblers will definitely be useful. I also expect to face at least one, maybe two, squadron heavy lists so don't want to remove any of my own unless it's absolutely necessary.

Here's the new version:

Battlegroup Blacksword (Thematic Version, Revised)

Author: Black Sword Admiral

Faction: Galactic Empire

Points: 500/500

Commander: Admiral Konstantine

Assault Objective: Custom Objective

Defense Objective: Custom Objective

Navigation Objective: Custom Objective

[ flagship ] Imperial I-Class Star Destroyer (110 points)

- Admiral Konstantine ( 23 points)

- Skilled First Officer ( 1 points)

- Phylon Q7 Tractor Beams ( 6 points)

- Leading Shots ( 4 points)

= 144 total ship cost

Imperial I-Class Star Destroyer (110 points)

- Skilled First Officer ( 1 points)

- Phylon Q7 Tractor Beams ( 6 points)

- Leading Shots ( 4 points)

= 121 total ship cost

Interdictor-class Suppression Refit (90 points)

- Interdictor ( 3 points)

- Projection Experts ( 6 points)

- G-8 Experiemental Projector ( 8 points)

- Targeting Scrambler ( 5 points)

= 112 total ship cost

4 TIE Bomber Squadrons ( 36 points)

1 Valen Rudor ( 13 points)

3 TIE Fighter Squadrons ( 24 points)

1 Ciena Ree ( 17 points)

3 TIE Interceptor Squadrons ( 33 points)

I like it (I also love thematic lists which is why I run Tarkin and Vader more than I should). The only thing you really need is Leading Shots on your ISD IIs. Otherwise the only thematic thing about your list will be Rebel ships destroying your Star Destroyers without taking a scratch.

To do this I would drop the tractor beams and instead equip G-8's and the Interdictor title as I find this works better than tractor beams. I would then drop 1 TIE fighter squad (I think you have too many points in antisquad firepower) and get leading shots on you ISDs. That leaves you with 2 points for an officer like Needa or Admiral Titus (put him on the Interdictor like in Rebels if you want to be thematic) or 2 SFO for your ISDs.

OR. You could take 2 ISD Is instead and put the points somewhere else. Personally I think this may be better for your list for two reasons.

1: you aren't taking ECM which is a major reason to run the II over the I.

2: your list centres around slowing the enemy ships down and trapping them in your front arcs. So you're probably going to be shooting a lot at close range and the Is put out more damage it close range.

Only downside is you're giving up range so up to you to decide what is better for you.

EDIT: if you take ISD Is you could have Leading Shots on both AND G-8's with the Interdictor title which I think will work better because Targeting Scramblers only work at close range which is where your ISD Is want to be.

Very helpful, thanks. I've switched to ImpStar Ones and incorporated some other changes you suggested, though I kept tractor beams, the targeting scrambler, and all the squadrons. With my range reduced I want to make sure the rebs stay up close and up front and if we're at knife fight range then targeting scramblers will definitely be useful. I also expect to face at least one, maybe two, squadron heavy lists so don't want to remove any of my own unless it's absolutely necessary.

Here's the new version:

Battlegroup Blacksword (Thematic Version, Revised)

Author: Black Sword Admiral

Faction: Galactic Empire

Points: 500/500

Commander: Admiral Konstantine

Assault Objective: Custom Objective

Defense Objective: Custom Objective

Navigation Objective: Custom Objective

[ flagship ] Imperial I-Class Star Destroyer (110 points)

- Admiral Konstantine ( 23 points)

- Skilled First Officer ( 1 points)

- Phylon Q7 Tractor Beams ( 6 points)

- Leading Shots ( 4 points)

= 144 total ship cost

Imperial I-Class Star Destroyer (110 points)

- Skilled First Officer ( 1 points)

- Phylon Q7 Tractor Beams ( 6 points)

- Leading Shots ( 4 points)

= 121 total ship cost

Interdictor-class Suppression Refit (90 points)

- Interdictor ( 3 points)

- Projection Experts ( 6 points)

- G-8 Experiemental Projector ( 8 points)

- Targeting Scrambler ( 5 points)

= 112 total ship cost

4 TIE Bomber Squadrons ( 36 points)

1 Valen Rudor ( 13 points)

3 TIE Fighter Squadrons ( 24 points)

1 Ciena Ree ( 17 points)

3 TIE Interceptor Squadrons ( 33 points)

That's exactly the changes I would make. And I agree, with the extra points from going down to I's it's worth keeping Phylons.

You're probably going to find the most annoying thing about this list will be not being able to make the enemy ships go any slower haha!

Also I would watch Shmitty's video on the echelon formation. I flew a similar list this way and it worked pretty well.

That's exactly the changes I would make. And I agree, with the extra points from going down to I's it's worth keeping Phylons.

You're probably going to find the most annoying thing about this list will be not being able to make the enemy ships go any slower haha!

Also I would watch Shmitty's video on the echelon formation. I flew a similar list this way and it worked pretty well.

Good video, thanks for the tip. I can't wait to try this fleet out.

I like your list very much. I will run a similar list in our CC Campaign, but I want Vader as Admiral with the Devastator. I will combine an ISD I and an ISD II, just because I have made a Conversion with Mels Upgrade Kit for ISD I of one of my FFG ISD :-)

How would your starting list look like?

On ‎25‎/‎01‎/‎2017 at 7:11 AM, Darth Annatar said:

I like your list very much. I will run a similar list in our CC Campaign, but I want Vader as Admiral with the Devastator. I will combine an ISD I and an ISD II, just because I have made a Conversion with Mels Upgrade Kit for ISD I of one of my FFG ISD :-)

How would your starting list look like?

Just saw your post today, Darth Annatar. The plan was to start with leading shots on the ISDs and a G-8 on the Interdictor and Ree, Rudor, and one each Tie Fighter and Interceptor squadrons as an embryonic screen. I was concerned about how the inital screen might hold up against dedicated carrier builds, but I never actually tested it since the campaign plans fell through.

On 1/10/2017 at 6:17 AM, Democratus said:

The ISD II is a ship that needs a way to re-roll attacks (Leading Shots, Veteran Gunners, Darth Vader, etc.). Without it the damage output is very unreliable.

SW7s. At blue dice range you're damage output is never less than 4. Drastically improves dice reliability.