Experimenting with Sato. One of the challenges I’ve been encountering with Sato is that it’s great to be able to turn reds into blacks at long range, but the hit/crits often get evaded. So this list brings two reasonably hard-hitting ships (an AFmkII and Scout Frigate) with Intel Officer to start knocking out defense tokens from the beginning, hopefully helping clear flotillas’ scatters as well and enabling ships to be finished off in the later engagement.
Tactical thoughts after the list!
Sato's Bright Ideas
Faction: Rebel Alliance
Points: 385/400
Commander: Commander Sato
Assault Objective: Most Wanted
Defense Objective: Capture the VIP
Navigation Objective: Sensor Net
Assault Frigate Mark II B (72 points)
- Intel Officer ( 7 points)
- Ordnance Experts ( 4 points)
= 83 total ship cost
Solid all-rounder with Ordnance Experts and primary carrier. If it can get a double arc at any point, there's likely to be a good opportunity to use Intel Officer and strip a token. I wish OE and Flight Controllers could fit on the same ship, but no such luck.
MC30c Scout Frigate (69 points)
- Admonition ( 8 points)
- Intel Officer ( 7 points)
- Ordnance Experts ( 4 points)
- Assault Proton Torpedoes ( 5 points)
= 93 total ship cost
Ideally, the threat of APT crits at long range will also enable IO to strip a token or two, opening ships up for the 5 black dice broadside at short range.
CR90 Corvette A (44 points)
- Jainas Light ( 2 points)
= 46 total ship cost
Jaina’s Light isn’t quite as consistent a follow-up without the usual TRCs, but it still hits reasonably hard thanks to the die swap. Hopefully a helpful finisher.
[ flagship ] GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
- Commander Sato ( 32 points)
- Comms Net ( 2 points)
= 52 total ship cost
Makes sure everyone has the tokens they need. Secondary carrier when tokens aren’t needed.
GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
- Ahsoka Tano ( 2 points)
- Comms Net ( 2 points)
= 22 total ship cost
Again, helps with tokens and activation order. Ahsoka makes sure that any tokens are the right ones. Also a backup carrier.
1 Tycho Celchu ( 16 points)
1 Jan Ors ( 19 points)
3 X-Wing Squadrons (39 points)
1 VCX-100 Freighter ( 15 points)
Fighters are intended to consistently enable Sato, with two ways to get out of engagement (Tycho and Jan). The X-Wings will help against light/middling fighter complements, and the VCX is there first to ensure that anyone who needs to move a squad to trigger Sato can Relay over to them (e.g. if Admonition needs to go first and isn't anywhere near the fighter combat, it can use Ahsoka to turn a nav token into a squad token, then relay that command over to get Tycho to where he needs to be), and second because Strategic is pretty darn handy in objectives like Capture the VIP and Sensor Net (and opens up options when going first against opponents with such objectives).
Objective choices:
Most Wanted – Never a bad choice when black dice can be added.
Capture the VIP – The VCX can grab the VIP and carry him over to a lifeboat flotilla.
Sensor Net – The fleet is fairly maneuverable, and the VCX should be able to help.
Likely weaknesses/areas to test:
-Is the fighter setup in that unhappy middle ground where it’s too weak to last against dedicated squadron lists (e.g. 134 point Defender swarm or really anything with Flight Controllers + Toryn) but too expensive if there’s no fighters for the X-Wings to tangle with and no BCC to help their bombing?
-There’s really only two heavy hitters in the AFmkII and Admonition. Should Jaina’s Light and the second flotilla become Salvation or a stronger bomber wing + Bomber Command Center (or some other major threat axis)?
-385 is a decent bid for first, but going up to 390 could enable Paragon or Dual Turbolaser Turrets - worth it? Or an X-wing could become Shara Bey at 389 for a fighter who no one wants to kill.
-Does Intel Officer actually strip tokens effectively, or are those 14 points better spent elsewhere?