Gonna give a shout out to my opponents for the tourney, Patrick, Andrew, and Jason. They brought impressive lists making use of great combos (Patrick's was especially unique), but had never quite faced a build like mine and didn't quite know how to handle it, which gave me the edge I desperately needed. I think that as a meta develops around this build, people will learn how to deal with it, as they did for Demolisher, and I won't be quite so lucky next time (paraphrased from brikhause).

So rather than typing up yet another boring round-by-round AAR, I'm going to discuss the Pelta build that I took to the SA regionals.

Pelta Command: Phoenix Home, Adar Talon, Flight Commander, Rapid Launch bays, Engine Techs, AFFM.

Gonna start the discussion by saying this is an incredibly deceptive ship. When loaded with Bs, receiving the proper support (Intel, BCC, Toryn, Relayed Yavaaris) and able to get a last/first activation against any ship (yes, even a full shields Motti ISD), that target ship will be gone before it gets to activate again.

But the Pelta is only speed 2! I think that thought is what delivered my opponent's into my hands. With engine techs and a Nav token from a comms net flotilla, I was able to close what my opponents thought was a safe distance to their ISDs and unload 3 separate BCCed bomber attacks. Those engine techs were the crux of getting to effectively use the Launch Bays.

Imagine Demolisher, but with Bs. Then Adar Talon allows me to get a Yavaaris double tap with one of those using Relay. Followed up by a first activation Yavaaris double tap of 3 Bs. That's 11 Bwing attacks, plus whatever I may have shot at it with Yavaaris or the Pelta, and plus whatever other squadron commands I have have used from a flotilla (and I used plenty of those in the tourney).

So that is with initiative and activation advantage (which I had in all 3 rounds, and the above paragraphs are basically my AAR), but what about second? Well that is what Rieekan is for. Parking a Pelta in front of the targets path, and hemmed in by a reverse flotilla cage (an area denial to keep a ship trapped or "caged" via ramming mechanisms, versus an area denial that prevents your opponent from getting to your valuable ships) is my answer. The target isn't going anywhere. It is going to die.

As far as activation advantage, it's just something else to be worked around by squadron superiority (because they probably aren't bringing enough squadrons). What I was most afraid of during this tournament was facing Ard's MC30 Mothma Spam. I probably wouldn't be able to hem those in with a cage, but that's what I had AFFM for. I'd sacrifice double taps, but I'd be chasing those shrimps down. Would it work? Haven't got a clue, but it's worth a try.

Thoughts? Counters? Anything that any opponent could do against this strategy (all 3 of my opponents had very comprehensive fighter cover, by the way)?

Park could you maybe give us a posting of the whole list? I realize you hit on the key components but I'd love to see the whole show. Also, would be interested in some specific AAR points from the regional if you could. Congrats on your awesome showing, 4 mov from first is IMO more or less the same as winning even if they dont give you the bye card.

I've experimented a little with a Pelta AFFM Yav Adar triple tapping combo and its pretty sweet. Your setup sounds different from mine though, I don't have the RLBs. I'm glad to hear you've been able to get them to work well!

Did you feel that the RLBs were necessary when you have AFFM? Since you can fly the Bs faster with AFFM, do they need to be rapid launched?

53 minutes ago, Matt Antilles said:

I've experimented a little with a Pelta AFFM Yav Adar triple tapping combo and its pretty sweet. Your setup sounds different from mine though, I don't have the RLBs. I'm glad to hear you've been able to get them to work well!

Did you feel that the RLBs were necessary when you have AFFM? Since you can fly the Bs faster with AFFM, do they need to be rapid launched?

I could see it, I built a fleet that uses transports as a bwing delivery system and Rapid Launch allowed me to keep the bwings unencumbered until the moment of maximum leverage. There was something perversely satisfying about hunting down demolisher with an unarmed transport.

Transports with RLB are very, very fun to fly. I chased down Admonition/Madine with two of them, they make fantastic blockers in a pinch too. I hope it's a combo that catches on! Aggressive transport meta.

The issue I've found is if the opponent keeps his squadrons near his ships, the distance one restriction for RLB becomes significant, often preventing your squadrons from deploying within distance one of the target.

You'll get to shoot at the defending fighters, but it will delay the destruction of the main target.

As a counter I'd keep my own fighters in tight near my ships hoping to tie up your Bwings when they deploy. I'd also be aiming to blow that Pelta up really quick as that's a lot of points invested into an unfortunately fragile ship.

Really depends on what the rest of your list is and what mine would be though

The list:

Comin in hot
Author: Parkdaddy

Faction: Rebel Alliance
Points: 396/400

Commander: General Rieekan

Assault Objective: Most Wanted
Defense Objective: Fighter Ambush
Navigation Objective: Intel Sweep

Nebulon-B Escort Frigate (57 points)
- Yavaris ( 5 points)
= 62 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
- Bright Hope ( 2 points)
- Toryn Farr ( 7 points)
- Comms Net ( 2 points )
= 29 total ship cost

[ flagship ] GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
- General Rieekan ( 30 points) - Ahsoka Tano ( 2 points)
- Comms Net ( 2 points)
= 52 total ship cost

Modified Pelta-class Command Ship (60 points)
- Phoenix Home ( 3 points)
- Flight Commander ( 3 points)
- Adar Tallon ( 10 points)
- Engine Techs ( 8 points)
- Rapid Launch Bays ( 6 points)
- All Fighters Follow Me! ( 5 points)
= 95 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
- Bomber Command Center ( 8 points )
= 26 total ship cost

1 Jan Ors ( 19 points)
1 Norra Wexley ( 17 points)
1 Green Squadron ( 12 points)
2 VCX-100 Freighters ( 30 points)
1 B-Wing Squadron ( 14 points)
1 Gold Squadron ( 12 points)
1 Dagger Squadron ( 15 points)
1 YT 1300 ( 13 points)

RLB and AFFM

So I used both RLB and AFFM with the thought that I would be able to focus down a single ship, and then my opponent would try to run away with the remainder of their fleet. This happened in matches 2 and 3, where I dropped ISD flagships at the beginning of round 3, and then their Arquittens/Demo and gozantis tried to run away. RLB with flight commander and the whole Yavaaris combo is how I was able to win. AFFM is how I was able to table them for the 10-1.

In response to Maturin.

That would have been very tricky to work around had my opponents massed their fighters in that manner. But it's hard to do that in round 2 without sacrificing an efficient activation order, exposing those squadrons first, or any other number of mistakes that I could have capitalized on.

Granted, those mistakes would not have been as costly as losing an ISD after it only got to fire a single shot at long range against a flotilla, but they had no way of knowing it would happen like that. I also made use of my non-RLB squadron compliment to severely deter any such attempts. Green Squadron with Rieekan is fantastic at screening.

The other issue they would have faced is that the Engine techs on the Pelta made it easy for me to get around a screen. Those engine techs, as stated before, were such a huge part of getting this list to work. I actually used the double tap to finish off 3-4 ships, including a Demolisher that never got to shoot.

As far as an AAR, the list worked like a charm. In my first match, I made a mistake in deployment that left my flagship completely vulnerable to a rhymerball deployed right next to it via Fighter Ambush. It died round 2, despite my efforts to stave off the bombers with squadron activations. Had I focused on wiping out my opponent's ships instead, I might have tabled him (I was 2 rams away from it). So I discovered that the list really only needs Rieekan's ability until after that initial engagement, where I use the cage to ensure my targets destruction. Thus, I don't need to worry about Rieekan so much, except for points value.

AARs for the other 2 matches are basically what I have already posted. I lost Jan and Green squadron in one, and a three squadrons in the other. But the first match was a bloodbath for both sides. Many squadron and ship casualties.

Yeah, if I did see you stuffing 2 B's and Norra into that thing, I'd be making a beeline for your Intel squadron while keeping 1 defender on each exposed corner of the target ship. I suspect that, when you're facing a significant anti-squadron screen, B/Norra/Jan might be the right loadout for the Pelta.

Or possibly B/B/Jan, if you can get Norra close enough on her own.

1 minute ago, Ardaedhel said:

Yeah, if I did see you stuffing 2 B's and Norra into that thing, I'd be making a beeline for your Intel squadron while keeping 1 defender on each exposed corner of the target ship. I suspect that, when you're facing a significant anti-squadron screen, B/Norra/Jan might be the right loadout for the Pelta.

I thought about that too, and Jan most definitely did get targeted in all three matches. But between the YT1300 and Rieekan's ability (not to mention that one of my opponents basically sacrificed 2 defenders and a couple ties by throwing them in the middle of my unactivated ships), those efforts were futile.

Have you guys played each other with your regionals lists? If so, how'd it go?

Btw Park, love that list. I would think you were fortunate to pull initiative on all three rounds with a 4 point bid, but I think that's happening with enough regularity to be a completely reasonable bid atm. How do you fare when you can't rely on the multitap, and was anyone able to lock down your relay sources/did anyone try to, before they managed to get in position? It seems like you are relying on relay to give Yavaris the long range activation ability that many of us are taking FC to provide.

It does seem like the Pelta/Yavaris/Trips GR75/Bomber Wing fleet skeleton is going to be a force going forward.

5 minutes ago, Madaghmire said:

Have you guys played each other with your regionals lists? If so, how'd it go?

No. I've gotten very little table time in Wave 5 (which is why I brought a Wave Thor list to a Wave 5 Regionals...), unfortunately, and none of it with him.

Just now, Ardaedhel said:

No. I've gotten very little table time in Wave 5 (which is why a Wave Thor list to a Wave 5 Regionals...), unfortunately, and none of it with him.

Yeah I feel you, my baby did the same thing to my table time.

Yes to Maturin, I was definitely fortunate with the initiative.

I was also very fortunate to have played Brikhause the night before, with a wave 5 variation of his worlds list. I was set on bringing a Sato list (Gallant Sato), but he curb stomped that quite handily with a Relay Yavaaris. I had experimented with a list similar to my Regionals list before against Vergilius, but I played it all wrong and thought it was trash as a result. But that game against Brikhause really showed me a better way to play it, and I improved overnight. Literally. I came up with this list the morning of, and I was sweating over whether to change lists or not. I had to ask for a new list sheet because I was that split over the decision.

I did rely on Relay for the Yavaaris synergy, and my opponents did try to use their squadrons to take those out. But it's hard when Jan is there. And a 7 hull escort. No one was able to effectively lock those down in my games (they were always in the range I needed them to be in), and I was always able to get the multitaps, except for the one time that Yavaaris got Slicered by Patrick's Tua/ECM Gozanti. That thing was annoying. I literally rolled a perfect close range front arc shot against it with the Pelta. But ECM on a Gozanti is amazing.

6 minutes ago, Parkdaddy said:

Yes to Maturin, I was definitely fortunate with the initiative.

I was also very fortunate to have played Brikhause the night before, with a wave 5 variation of his worlds list. I was set on bringing a Sato list (Gallant Sato), but he curb stomped that quite handily with a Relay Yavaaris. I had experimented with a list similar to my Regionals list before against Vergilius, but I played it all wrong and thought it was trash as a result. But that game against Brikhause really showed me a better way to play it, and I improved overnight. Literally. I came up with this list the morning of, and I was sweating over whether to change lists or not. I had to ask for a new list sheet because I was that split over the decision.

I did rely on Relay for the Yavaaris synergy, and my opponents did try to use their squadrons to take those out. But it's hard when Jan is there. And a 7 hull escort. No one was able to effectively lock those down in my games (they were always in the range I needed them to be in), and I was always able to get the multitaps, except for the one time that Yavaaris got Slicered by Patrick's Tua/ECM Gozanti. That thing was annoying. I literally rolled a perfect close range front arc shot against it with the Pelta. But ECM on a Gozanti is amazing.

I meant like when you cant rely on the multitap because you don't have initiative, but as you say you built it the day before I'm guessing you haven't played that game yet.

Jan is just too **** good.

Just now, Madaghmire said:

I meant like when you cant rely on the multitap because you don't have initiative, but as you say you built it the day before I'm guessing you haven't played that game yet.

Exactly. But the strategy I would rely on in that case is to build the cage I mentioned earlier. Sacrifice a small ship or two to keep the target in place. Then blow it up.

Overall I'm very happy you've shown that Peltas are viable! I am encouraged to experiment further with them....

1 minute ago, Maturin said:

Overall I'm very happy you've shown that Peltas are viable! I am encouraged to experiment further with them....

The Utah regional winner also used a Pelta/Yavaaris build with Bs, but it was fairly different from mine. So they are definitely viable, even if fragile.

Also as an AAR, I never lost the Pelta. It was badly injured with no shields and only a couple damage cards away from destruction at one point. Though Yavaaris and the flagship both burned in the first round, but that was it.

4 hours ago, Parkdaddy said:

Yavaaris

4 hours ago, Parkdaddy said:

Yavaaris

4 hours ago, Parkdaddy said:

Yavaaris

4 hours ago, Parkdaddy said:

Yavaaris

45 minutes ago, Parkdaddy said:

Yavaaris

Okay. You are the only person on the entire internet that spells it this way. The only other occurrence I saw was "yava aris" on what looks like a Georgian Facebook. Google Translate returns nothing, but suggests it's in Georgian.

Explain .

3 minutes ago, Ardaedhel said:

Okay. You are the only person on the entire internet that spells it this way. The only other occurrence I saw was "yava aris" on what looks like a Georgian Facebook. Google Translate returns nothing, but suggests it's in Georgian.

Explain .

Interestingly enough, I am from georgia, and I am on Facebook. We have what northerners and midwesterners may consider a funny way of talking.

3 minutes ago, Parkdaddy said:

Interestingly enough, I am from georgia.

Other Georgia .

Also, Georgia is a weird word. Georgia Georgia Georgia Georgia.

2 hours ago, Parkdaddy said:

Yes to Maturin, I was definitely fortunate with the initiative.

I was also very fortunate to have played Brikhause the night before, with a wave 5 variation of his worlds list. I was set on bringing a Sato list (Gallant Sato), but he curb stomped that quite handily with a Relay Yavaaris. I had experimented with a list similar to my Regionals list before against Vergilius, but I played it all wrong and thought it was trash as a result. But that game against Brikhause really showed me a better way to play it, and I improved overnight. Literally. I came up with this list the morning of, and I was sweating over whether to change lists or not. I had to ask for a new list sheet because I was that split over the decision.

I did rely on Relay for the Yavaaris synergy, and my opponents did try to use their squadrons to take those out. But it's hard when Jan is there. And a 7 hull escort. No one was able to effectively lock those down in my games (they were always in the range I needed them to be in), and I was always able to get the multitaps, except for the one time that Yavaaris got Slicered by Patrick's Tua/ECM Gozanti. That thing was annoying. I literally rolled a perfect close range front arc shot against it with the Pelta. But ECM on a Gozanti is amazing.

I am honored to have been a muse for your regional list. Still to come up with a list the night before last minute like that, and still place 2nd missing first by only 4 MoV was impressive.

4 minutes ago, Brikhause said:

I am honored to have been a muse for your regional list. Still to come up with a list the night before last minute like that, and still place 2nd missing first by only 4 MoV was impressive.

I was all about that Yavaaaaaris

the main issue i see with your strategy there for the pelta is for 12pts more you get to do the same thing at speed 3 on a far more durable and harder hitting ship in the form of the AFMII B. the pelta has been nothing but a dispointment for me in my playtesting, easily the worst rebel ship in their lineup

9 minutes ago, TerrorScream said:

the main issue i see with your strategy there for the pelta is for 12pts more you get to do the same thing at speed 3 on a far more durable and harder hitting ship in the form of the AFMII B. the pelta has been nothing but a dispointment for me in my playtesting, easily the worst rebel ship in their lineup

Not quite. Adar + Flight Commander is exclusive to Phoenix Home .