Because low-agility rebel ships aren't the meta right now. /D eats those ships alive, and is way better than /x7 in that matchup. I've parked Norra on a rock for three turns in a row with a TB Rexlar.
I think Hux and Stridan might be the answer. I'm going to do some more testing on that in the coming weeks.
7 hours ago, Warlon said:X7 is definitely the easier option, and the safer one, but TIE/D can really put the hurt on a ship.
One list I run a lot is;
Vessery: V.I, TIE/D, Tractor Beam
Rexlar Brath: Predator, TIE/D, Ion Cannon
Scimitar Sq. Pilot: Fleet Officer, Twin Ion Engine, TIE Shuttle
Tractor Beam scares the heck out of anything that has at least 1 evade dice. I've seen Rey MELT from combined fire from Brath an Vessery, and with F.O they can modify both shots.
I actually consider TIE/D the better title just because it's anti-everything-meta, if you're shooting at an ace with Tractor Beam they're going to spend everything to avoid that first shot, that opens them up for the second round of shooting
I used that very list when the veterans pack first came out.
Blew Poe out of the sky in one round at range 3. Was glorious.
tie/evade is technically better, but tie/blowstuffup is more fun by exactly 200%. This is math and proven.
55 minutes ago, Spider said:tie/evade is technically better, but tie/blowstuffup is more fun by exactly 200%. This is math and proven.
Agreed!
1 flew 2 x Glaives with Tractor Beams and Predator plus a doomshuttle at Yavin - not a particularly competitive squad, but oh boy is it fun to fly!
8 hours ago, Warlon said:X7 is definitely the easier option, and the safer one, but TIE/D can really put the hurt on a ship.
One list I run a lot is;
Vessery: V.I, TIE/D, Tractor Beam
Rexlar Brath: Predator, TIE/D, Ion Cannon
Scimitar Sq. Pilot: Fleet Officer, Twin Ion Engine, TIE Shuttle
Tractor Beam scares the heck out of anything that has at least 1 evade dice. I've seen Rey MELT from combined fire from Brath an Vessery, and with F.O they can modify both shots.
I actually consider TIE/D the better title just because it's anti-everything-meta, if you're shooting at an ace with Tractor Beam they're going to spend everything to avoid that first shot, that opens them up for the second round of shooting
Nice to see people using my DD: the augmentation list :D.
3 hours ago, Warlon said:Paratanni is shenanigans.
...not really, it's just three good ships with three great pilot abilities, and a good upgrade (Mindlink). There's not really much more to it than that.
Back on topic, how can you tell the difference between a bandwagon jumper and an elite pilot? Bandwagon jumpers roll with x7, elite pilots ride the D.
I'm just going to throw this put there as a completely untested idea, but I want to see what people think.
Maarek Stele, Ion Cannon, TIE/D, A Score to Settle = 38
Quickdraw, Draw Their Fire, FCS, Spec Ops Training = 32
Backdraft, Draw Their Fire, FCS, Spec Ops Training = 30
The idea is that you turn the free crit agaisnt Maarek into a feature instead of a drawback by using it to trigger Quickdraw (or at the very least use it to draw a damage away with Backdraft). Backdraft is in there with DTF because he protects Quickdraw from ISYTDS, and to a lesser degree, normal shots. All the pilots are pretty punchy, and have better PS than most x7 lists and the non-Fenn Rau component of Parattanni.
I know it's not counted much here, but the /D title is really brutal in some missions.
I've considered using general hux to get a /d fanatical devotion. Ensuring the ability of the cannon seems like a decent thing but I haven't actually tried to put the points together yet.
If the Empire had Biggs (and thank God they don't), TIE/Defender would be very popular.
14 hours ago, Darth Meanie said:I have a lot of fun with the D, but tend to put it in Ryad.
Nuff said.
(yes I went there)
Stele with /D and marksmanship is still my fav.
2 hours ago, Biophysical said:If the Empire had Biggs (and thank God they don't), TIE/Defender would be very popular.
From my experience, you can achieve the same effect by putting Wampa literally anywhere on the table.
Playing the D/Defender with tractor beam and a tie swarm won me an event . It came down to me against 3 Defenders with the other title.
Reducing their defense so the tie swarm could work their magic did it.
Of course he got a critical reducing his pilot skill to zero and that was the beginning of the end.
Ashley just gave me a severe whupping with the D.
Specifically, Rexler/D with Tractor Beam. T-70's are fragile enough as it is without having their agility reduced.
The D is just too strong. Everything fears that first salvo!
5 hours ago, Biophysical said:I'm just going to throw this put there as a completely untested idea, but I want to see what people think.
Maarek Stele, Ion Cannon, TIE/D, A Score to Settle = 38
Quickdraw, Draw Their Fire, FCS, Spec Ops Training = 32
Backdraft, Draw Their Fire, FCS, Spec Ops Training = 30
The idea is that you turn the free crit agaisnt Maarek into a feature instead of a drawback by using it to trigger Quickdraw (or at the very least use it to draw a damage away with Backdraft). Backdraft is in there with DTF because he protects Quickdraw from ISYTDS, and to a lesser degree, normal shots. All the pilots are pretty punchy, and have better PS than most x7 lists and the non-Fenn Rau component of Parattanni.
I have flown A Score to Settle Maarek with Ion cannon. It is decent, but my conclusion was that the other TIE/D builds are slightly better. Draw Their Fire on Quickdraw is excellent, but neither TIE/SF has Lightened Frame 
Vessery, Ion Cannon, TIE/D, Crackshot is still my favorite Miranda & Defender killer.
Ryad, Ion Cannon TIE/D, RAGE, Twin Ion Engine and a supporting ship with Inspired Recruit is the newest TIE/D build.
TIE/D defenders don't melt as fast as people think. The Ion cannon means less enemies shooting you, which is the best form of defense.
It's pretty janky but I flew this once:
If I flew it again, it'd look like this:
The list mulches anything that is brave enough to run into the firestorm. Epsilon Leader with PA is actually hilarious - it turns into a micro defender since it gets the action after a sloop/K-turn normally, and then self clears stress for the following round. Good? Probably not, but it is truly a meat grinder.
Some other thoughts for TIE/Ds that don't really make complete lists:
An Upsilon with Inspiring Recruit can use Coordinate to make a D with Rage use Rage, then clear 2 stress with a green move, after which the TIE/D can Focus. This gives the Defender 2 attacks with re-rolls for both attacks and 2 Focus tokens, with no stress. Focus/Focus is not as good as Focus/Evade, but it helps you hit hard. The Upsilon is good in its own right as well.
TIE/D with Flechette is also one of the few ways Imperials get stress control in a combat platform. It's potentially good for shutting down Expertise and stressing Mindlink lists without going all-in on a dedicated control ship.
One of the most hysterical uses of Tie/D is to combine it with ruthlessness. Vessery puts out an obscene amount of damage with this build. Some entertaining uses:
- Attacking the palp shuttle and daring the other aces to try and protect it without getting into R1.
- Attacking Biggs and splashing damage to other targets in the process
- tractoring your target closer to their own friendly ships in order to put them in splash damage range
Just be careful you don't splash too much damage back onto yourself in the process.
6 hours ago, NakedDex said:From my experience, you can achieve the same effect by putting Wampa literally anywhere on the table.
That's why I love to run Wampa as my third ship in a TIE/D build.
TIE Bomber: Scimitar Squadron Pilot (16)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
TIE Shuttle (0)
Fleet Officer (3)
Systems officer (2)
TIE Defender: · Colonel Vessery (35)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Tractor Beam (1)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
TIE/D (0)
TIE Striker: Scarif Defender (18)
Lightweight Frame (2)
Adaptive ailerons (0)
TIE Striker: Scarif Defender (18)
Lightweight Frame (2)
Adaptive ailerons (0)
-- TOTAL ------- 100p. --
Thar we go.
Went 4-0 with Vessery, VI, Tractor; OL and Backdraft. Tie/D is so much fun. Rolling ships onto rocks and debris or into R1 of my other ships was clutch. I've heard it before, tie/d was made for the Colonel.
Glaive Squadron Pilot (34)
Ruthlessness (3)
Tractor Beam (1)
TIE/D (0)
Glaive Squadron Pilot (34)
Ruthlessness (3)
Tractor Beam (1)
TIE/D (0)
"Pure Sabacc" (22)
Trick Shot (0)
Lightweight Frame (2)
Adaptive Ailerons (0)
Total: 100
View in Yet Another Squad Builder
Looks cute, any thoughts? Maybe swap Sabaccs mod for an EPT?
9 hours ago, Admiral Deathrain said:Glaive Squadron Pilot (34)
Ruthlessness (3)
Tractor Beam (1)
TIE/D (0)Glaive Squadron Pilot (34)
Ruthlessness (3)
Tractor Beam (1)
TIE/D (0)"Pure Sabacc" (22)
Trick Shot (0)
Lightweight Frame (2)
Adaptive Ailerons (0)Total: 100
View in Yet Another Squad Builder
Looks cute, any thoughts? Maybe swap Sabaccs mod for an EPT?
I've actually been running Sabacc the same way, but running alongside Vessery with /D and Ryad with/x7. I come from the "why not both?" camp. I figure Expertise "kind of" helps make up for not getting the evade token, because my focus token can be used strictly for defense, and I seldom will be doing any other actions with him.
RYAD/VESSERY/SABACC
100 points
PILOTS
Countess Ryad (36)
TIE Defender (34), Push the Limit (3), TIE/x7 (-2), Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
Colonel Vessery (40)
TIE Defender (35), Tractor beam (1), Expertise (4), TIE/D (0)
“Pure Sabacc” (24)
TIE Striker (22), Trick Shot (0), Adaptive Ailerons (0), Lightweight Frame (2)
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I'm usually trying to flank with Sabacc and purposely get a shot through an asteroid, sometimes even parking myself directly behind it and risking the damage with my Adaptive Ailerons move. I've worked it out a couple times to get a tractor beam from Vessery onto a rock and into range 1 through a rock with Sabacc, bringing a world of hurt. Ryad tends to be used as a blocker a pretty good bit while also providing Vessery with his target locks.
Edited by TheTechWookieeIt makes the Defender die easier and more expensive than x7.
I really wish the titles had their cost switched. X7 would still be great at 0 and /D would be seen at -2
On 3/3/2017 at 5:58 PM, RampancyTW said:Yeah, price is definitely the big obstacle here. Double Ds doesn't leave you with much leftover.
Yeah but with Double-Ds who needs more?