The Tie swarm? No, no...

At the Stele Open, a gentleman (actually) named Marek made it to top-16 with a 3 Heavy Scyk, 2 generic Protectorates list. What? So fun to watch. Please enjoy:

"Turns out Protectorates make excellent blockers"

And why shouldn't they? Scum swarms could definitely be a thing. The points are there - even more so with the Light Scyk title forth coming.

There are going to be new unique pilots for the interceptors, probably with EPTs. But, why not make your Scyk have a virtual primary attack value of 3 (Tractor Beam, Mangler), to accompany that 3 agility, with the Heavy title? Protectorates have already got those two things but with one of the best dials in the game. Also, their action bars are stuffed with options -something the Tie Fighter never had.

To boot, the Tie swarms leaned on Crack Shot because 2-dice are almost not worth rolling. 3-dice primary keep up with the curve - and with options like Mangler and Autoblaster.

Thoughts? I'm still picking a new squadron builder, since my favorite has stopped being updated, so I don't have any lists built - what's the best build you can come up with?

Side note: No one wants more Scum on the table. Jesus, FFG you really can't hide your favoritism.

Well "favouritism", it really is more of a case of "for 2 waves nothing worked to make this faction strong lets just try something a little bit more....oops Jumpmaster". It is a case of pushing just that tiny bit too far.

Aaaanyhow, not to derail this thread into another one of those , swarmy lists have some potential. I wouldn't call 5 ships a swarm, but it is as close as we get with the exception of the 7 TIEs, 4 Crackshots with Howlrunner "Pattyswarm", potentialy. Blair Bunke has popularized some rebel 5 ships variations by placing well recently, typicaly consisting of a Stresshog, 2 Tracer Missile Bandits, and 2 * 24 points of goodness, being more successful with FCS B-Wings, but also running these guys:

Gold Squadron Pilot (18)
Autoblaster Turret (2)
Bomb Loadout (0)
Plasma Torpedoes (3)
R2 Astromech (1)
Guidance Chips (0)

who are honestly one of the most beautiful things to exist in X-Wing, but not as reliable as the B-Wings as they really need the Tracer synergy to function. You tend to run into these lists a bit on VASSAL.

Snap shot is pretty good on Black Squadron TIEs and Green Squadron A-Wings (although I don't play rebels they seem good)

I quite like when I've been playing

5 x Black Squadron Pilot (16) - TIE Fighter
Snap Shot (2)

Scimitar Squadron Pilot (19) - TIE Bomber
TIE Shuttle (0), Operations Specialist (3)

Or

Major Rhymer (35) - TIE Bomber
Snap Shot (2), TIE Shuttle (0), Lightweight Frame (2), Operations Specialist (3), Tactician (2)

4 x Black Squadron Pilot (16) - TIE Fighter
Snap Shot (2)

A 64 point crack miniswarm (Howl and 3 Black) plus 36 points of Something (I use TIE/D Tractor Maarek, but Vader, a Hux Upsilon, a /x7, a /SF and a range of pocket aces also fit) is a solid list at the moment, I would contend. Enough punch and weight of fire and blocking to toast aces, enough HP and bodies on the board to fox Kylo. The real weakness is spike damage - Fenn is kind of a problem.

5 hours ago, thespaceinvader said:

A 64 point crack miniswarm (Howl and 3 Black) plus 36 points of Something (I use TIE/D Tractor Maarek, but Vader, a Hux Upsilon, a /x7, a /SF and a range of pocket aces also fit) is a solid list at the moment, I would contend. Enough punch and weight of fire and blocking to toast aces, enough HP and bodies on the board to fox Kylo. The real weakness is spike damage - Fenn is kind of a problem.

Go big or go home! I've been running 4 academies + Youngster Rage for a mini swarm along side a heavy or Ace with Swarm Leader in the same 36 point range.

17 hours ago, Rinzler in a Tie said:

The Tie swarm? No, no...

Side note: No one wants more Scum on the table. Jesus, FFG you really can't hide your favoritism.

Rinzler, you almost got me dragged in on the Thread title there sir......shame. Haha!

Yes....I have no real beef here, but why Scum, Scum, Scum????? Aren't they supposed to work in the shadows? Scum out here, Scum out there, Scum, Scum, everywhere!! Isn't this a Star Wars based game? Isn't the Empire always supposed to be outfront, overpowering in mass? ...with the Rebels getting in and out of situations taking the fight to victory only here and there where they can as the Bounty Humters skirt the fringes or work for the Empire or Rebels if the $$$ is right?

Is FFG missing some fun and iconic game-space here??

TIE Swarms should be one of the defining Meta as part of this game; sure, only paper perhaps, but always up there as one of the big boys on the mat. I'm glad some (posted here) are doing fair with them, but FFG needs to buff a squad when it's a swarm of classic TIEs.

NEEDS TOO!!!

OK....I'm off my soapbox. Sorry, Carry on.

Good work that man. Having run 5-ship Scyk and Kihraxz swarms since Wave7 dropped, I appreciate fifteen red dice on the board.

I'll watch this, love the Protectorate Starfighter in particular. Would love to think I could fly 4 of them without getting smashed into little pieces.

Yes

Run 5 of these bad boys ;/)

Scimitar Squadron Pilot (20) - TIE Bomber
Unguided Rockets (2), Seismic Charges (2), Guidance Chips (0)

With maybe 1 or 2 being ion bombs.

10 hours ago, thespaceinvader said:

A 64 point crack miniswarm (Howl and 3 Black) plus 36 points of Something (I use TIE/D Tractor Maarek, but Vader, a Hux Upsilon, a /x7, a /SF and a range of pocket aces also fit) is a solid list at the moment, I would contend.

And I would agree. I've practiced a little with Soontir on the wing and done pretty well against most comers.

TIE Swarm isn't dead. Not enough ppl with the b*lls to run them

Check it:

Howlrunner w/ VI = 19

Scimitar w/ title, ops spec & intel agent = 20

5 academies = 60

99

Its got game!

22 hours ago, thespaceinvader said:

A 64 point crack miniswarm (Howl and 3 Black) plus 36 points of Something (I use TIE/D Tractor Maarek, but Vader, a Hux Upsilon, a /x7, a /SF and a range of pocket aces also fit) is a solid list at the moment, I would contend. Enough punch and weight of fire and blocking to toast aces, enough HP and bodies on the board to fox Kylo. The real weakness is spike damage - Fenn is kind of a problem.

This. An ace swarm is hery viable. I play it all the time with good results

16 hours ago, Cubanboy said:

Run 5 of these bad boys ;/)

Scimitar Squadron Pilot (20) - TIE Bomber
Unguided Rockets (2), Seismic Charges (2), Guidance Chips (0)

With maybe 1 or 2 being ion bombs.

Uh...guidance chips don't work on unguided rockets

After listening to the latest round of podcasts, the Scyk and Tie Aggressor are going to be worth toying with.

Especially with Lightweight Frame on the Ties...

2 hours ago, DeathstarII said:

Uh...guidance chips don't work on unguided rockets

I don't care put all the zeros on it lololoooo.

brain fart