Targeting Synchronized?

I used the TL on turn one all the time. The mind game goes both ways, if he looks like hes about to bolt with that one i switch ... usually he cant recover enough to be a problem that round. I may not have Focus + TL but one of his ships scurried away like a pansy so im still ahead.

16 hours ago, Marinealver said:

Problem is homing missiles are just too expensive and all of a sudden your discount A-wing is priced the same as an X-wing. The only reason they work so well against Defenders is because Defenders is ridiculously expensive making the missile seem like the better trade.

Homing missiles like the rest of missiles and torpedoes were no where to be seen before Wave 8. Palp Aces was already an established build then. When 8 came around you still didn't see Homing Missiles (U-boats took that build away). It wasn't until Defenders became a thing which could withstand the alpha strike from Dengaroo.

They are only 1 pt more than other ordnance options and I think they are priced fine. The comment about the A-wing is irrelevant in a discussion about Tie Bombers. For Tie Bombers, they are great. Not too expensive.

The bit about Homing Missiles not being seen before Wave 8. Not sure what to tell you. I used them before Guidance Chip and LRS. I did well in Store Championships, but does that count? Or does it have to be super table top meta? Even then, does it have to be seen at tournament tables to be viable? I don't think so, but I know others disagree with me. Lastly, the LRS and/or Guidance Chip had to happen and then percolate through the X-wing community before people learned to accept it. There was a huge negative opinion from tournament folk about using Ordnance that had to be overcome.

On 2/7/2017 at 11:45 AM, heychadwick said:

Gamma Squadron Veteran (19)
Crack Shot (1)
Extra Munitions (2)
Homing Missiles (5)
Long-Range Scanners (0)

Total: 27

Exactly this build. I've had tremendous success with it, especially when ran in a pair. They have one-shotted Soontir Fel on more than one occasion.

There were two tie bombers in the top 8 lists at the Colorado regional. Tomax and Deathfire.

8 hours ago, Admiral Deathrain said:

On the topic of Long Range Scanners: They are extremely good. If you don't think they are good, you haven't figured them out. It took me a long while and the advantage over easier to fly ships isn't big, but it is what pushes Bombers into the usable territory. Some rules:

Never have more than 50% of you ships be LRS carriers. For most lists, one is all that will work, two usually only work in all Bomber lists, which have some achilles heels so I wouldn't take them into competition.

NEVER Target Lock on turn one unless you think your opponent will super-mindgame himself.

In my little realm --I usually play casual-- this happens a lot; it's so fun when you TL his best ship(s), because you have just upset the opponents apple cart, even though you had no idea where or when it was wanting to deliver the apples. It's one of the only low costed ship mind-games the Imps have....and it's a good one.

1 hour ago, Trespasser 989 said:

There were two tie bombers in the top 8 lists at the Colorado regional. Tomax and Deathfire.

What were their builds? If I want to take a guess I would say minelayer and shuttle.

Tomax Bren w/ Crackshot, Homing Missiles, EM, Guidance Chips (Paired with Inq. and Vessery, all PS8)

Deathfire w/ Connor Net, Concussion Missiles, EM, LRS (Paired with Vessery w/ Crackshot, Tie/D, Ion & Ryad with X7 & PTL)

I'm interested to try expertise on a gamma vet. Focus for free. It's expensive but I'm already running predator so it's just one more point. I'm gonna give it a go. another concept I wanted to explore was a "face puncher" variant. A bomber that is set up to get in close. People are used to bombers closing slow, this build would take advantage of that to close range quickly and drop the hammer at close range. How about some builds for this concept?

Scimitar with

Prockets, EM, and prox mines?

or APTs perhaps? cluster missles?

Give me some ideas for a close range can opener!

On 2/8/2017 at 10:38 AM, heychadwick said:

They are only 1 pt more than other ordnance options and I think they are priced fine. The comment about the A-wing is irrelevant in a discussion about Tie Bombers. For Tie Bombers, they are great. Not too expensive.

The bit about Homing Missiles not being seen before Wave 8. Not sure what to tell you. I used them before Guidance Chip and LRS. I did well in Store Championships, but does that count? Or does it have to be super table top meta? Even then, does it have to be seen at tournament tables to be viable? I don't think so, but I know others disagree with me. Lastly, the LRS and/or Guidance Chip had to happen and then percolate through the X-wing community before people learned to accept it. There was a huge negative opinion from tournament folk about using Ordnance that had to be overcome.

I think that EM makes homing missiles worth it. They really help with action economy. I don't think they are worth it on a ship that cannot utilize EM, but when you can get a BOGO on ordnance, and some action economy as well, homing missiles become more attractive.

If I run LRS, I like tossing on prockets for close range punch that does not require a TL, then again, it's only one more die than a primary attack at range 1.

Best face puncher variant would likely be cheap. Scimitar with prockets, EM, and detonators. 24 points. Only needs a focus, does not care about TL. It's gonna die anyway..... Cluster missles might be better, but now you want TL and focus....