I've been trying to make some combo that hurts Mindlink lists. I've come up with a twist on the ARC stresshog that has some potentially interesting powers.

ARC-170 Shara Bey (28): Snap Shot (2), Flechette Torpedoes (2), Gunner (5), R3-A2 (2), Alliance Overhaul (0), Munitions Failsafe (1) Total: 40

This craft can stress one enemy with Snap Shot +R3-A2, then deal 2 stress to another with Flechette Torpedoes + R3-A2, then if that torpedo misses, Shara can follow up with another primary shot +R3-A2 for another stress on the same or different target.

In a Goldilocks scenario, Shara could, for example, Snap Shot Asajj for 1 stress (putting one stress on each ship in Parattanni), miss a Torpedo at Fenn Rau (putting him at 3 stress), then use Gunner to fire at Manaroo (putting her at 2 stress). Now Asajj is the only one who could take a focus action next turn, but only if she does a green maneuver - which might maker her easier to predict.

Obviously, this perfect storm is not likely to occur - but the Parattanni player will have to make absolutely sure that nothing like this could happen, and that's a form of control as well.

What would you put with this Super ARC Hog? Something with Ion Missiles/Bombs/Torpedoes/Cannons/Turret to double down on the control? Some heavy hitter(s)? How could you use the remaining 60 points to either take advantage of this stress machine or help make the stress machine do its thing?

Combine with stresshog and gunner/tactician U-wing and watch the table collapse under the weight of all those stress tokens!

*edit* oh wait you can't. You already used R3-A2. A tactician B-wing then!

I believe fletchets only deal stress if they actually hit the target, right? Also, Asaj has a full dial of green 3s, as well as a 2, 4, and 5 straight. She's not gonna be all that predictable lol. And lastly, I've flown my attani lists against friends who though stress hog builds would shut me down. It slows the list down, but don't get too confident. As long as one ship has actions, they've all got focus and it won't matter how much stress you can pile on the other ships. Leaving one ship at one stress, may as well have never bothered to begin with.

Flechettes do not need to hit, the trigger for stress is after attacking a target with 4 or less hull value. You're right about Asajj, but hey, it's a start!

Edit: I'm talking a rare setuo, of course, unlikely to happen, BUT, what if I had Lt. Blount deliver an ion missile to Asajj that round, then no green move!

...then probably get my butt kicked in future rounds.

46 minutes ago, Beard said:

I believe fletchets only deal stress if they actually hit the target, right? Also, Asaj has a full dial of green 3s, as well as a 2, 4, and 5 straight. She's not gonna be all that predictable lol. And lastly, I've flown my attani lists against friends who though stress hog builds would shut me down. It slows the list down, but don't get too confident. As long as one ship has actions, they've all got focus and it won't matter how much stress you can pile on the other ships. Leaving one ship at one stress, may as well have never bothered to begin with.

Does that actually show the "issue" with the strength of mind-link then?

It's not the mindlink ability itself imo, it's the range of greens available to large based scum ships, the lowest of which is 4 (Firespray) and the highest being 9 (aggressor), with the most common mind link large ships (Jumpmaster and Lancer) both having 6. Because of the green options available it's comparatively easy, as you say, to shed 1 stress per round.

For the OP... it's an interesting idea.. but Shara is going to pick up 3 stress herself (1 from snapshot, 1 from the torp that missed and 1 from the shot at Manaroo) in a "perfect" scenario. I don't think Shara's walking away from that quickly with 1 Agl and no tokens of her own. I'm trying to come up with some stress options myself for the rebels (even harder for the imps) that have half decent efficiency and I'm not coming up with much. So if this works for you run with it, but 40 points with 1 Agl and no tokens is sad times for me...

The only downside to the current Paratani is it's pretty fixed, Fenn needs Autothrusters, Aasaj needs Latts Razzi and they all need mindlnk, which is the 100 points. If you can somehow get 2 stress on each of them it might give you a turn to wipe someone out (Fenn?).