This is a list I kind of stumbled across messing around on YASB on my phone. It's a couple of pretty basic SF aces and Soontir Fel.

Quickdraw, Adaptability, FCS, Lightweight Frame, title

Backdraft, VI, FCS, Lightweight Frame, title

Soontir Fel, PTL, Autothrusters, Targeting Computer, title

99 points

Despite making the list 3 days ago, and having never played Fel against another player, I decided to take it to a tournament yesterday. It was good. Really good. You forgo the traditional ace maneuverability for the offense, hit points and squirrelly close in maneuverability of the SFs.

Fel still has to rely on not being shot at to live, but he does add the traditional ace element while still matching the offense of the SFs. You're not really relying on him to close out the game, though, so you can be aggressive and push your advantages.

All in all, I feel like this list combines the best of a few different things for the Imperials. Very high PS, high offense, maneuverability, and both resistance to turrets and some beefy hit point defense. The current bogeyman against Imperial aces, K-wing bombers, are not nearly as scary vs SFs because they have more hp and can just run away and fire with the rear arcs.

I'm not naive enough to think that it's perfect or anything, but it feels very, very strong against almost any squad I can think of, and I need a reality check. What are the squads that can really prey on this thing? There's a little bit of wiggle room for points, so upgrades can be tweaked a bit.

as a die hard imperial I've been struggling against support + 3 ships lately. It comes in as follows:

- Striden + AdS + Hux + title & Tie striker + LWFrame x3

- OMG + AdS + Hux & 3 named strikers + LWFrame x3 + adaptability on EPT-able carriers

Scum variant is Nanny + Attani & Protectorate + attani x3

Your squad seems better equiped (2 rear arcs) to deal with it but wondering if HU Carnor might have more impact than Soontir against this kind of squads and other common lists (Attani,TLT...)

Thanks for sharing, need to fly tie/SF more often !

edit- spelling

Carnor is definitely a solid option instead of Fel. It probably ends up being a meta decision. In my games, I really liked Fel's nutso action efficiency and Target Lock to really hammer home the damage. A Jax version is more cooperative, where the different ships have different roles. With Fel, each ship is a major damage dealer so there's more redundancy.

This is a really cool list and something similar to one I'd been trying to craft. Definitely want to get a second SF to see how far I can push it.

I think sabine bombs and TLTs will be a pain, but that's the same for most lists I suppose? Let us know how it goes if you keep flying it!

With Quickdraw already at 9 is that spot better suited for a different EPT or is the aim to best the other 9s? If you wanted to save initiative you could go with trick shot. O maybe wired for help on defense after the sloops.

2 hours ago, Goseki1 said:

This is a really cool list and something similar to one I'd been trying to craft. Definitely want to get a second SF to see how far I can push it.

I think sabine bombs and TLTs will be a pain, but that's the same for most lists I suppose? Let us know how it goes if you keep flying it!

I mean, Sabine with bombs is always a pain, but it's a lot less of a pain with SFs than the fast moving 3-4 hp ships. SFs have better fortressing options than lots of stuff if you choose to try that route. You can get Quickdraw and Backdraft nose to nose with Backdraft facing the oncoming bombers and just one-straight to hold the fortress.

1 hour ago, Rolotamasi said:

With Quickdraw already at 9 is that spot better suited for a different EPT or is the aim to best the other 9s? If you wanted to save initiative you could go with trick shot. O maybe wired for help on defense after the sloops.

I did Adaptability because I didn't think 9 was enough for a 1 point bid and I wanted someone who could handle Fenn Rau more easily. I'm contemplating dropping one Lightweight Frame for a bigger bid and then dropping Adaptability for something else.

Adaptability is my goto EPT for quickdraw when I cant get a bid. Always have to think about Fenn Rau.

I ran Quickdraw, Soontir, OL last week. First time I flew Soonts in awhile. Felt really good to have an arc dodger out there, but **** there is alot of scary stuff to kill him. Played against Ahsoka with EMP device, UGH. I got out of her range 1, but then she used her ability to barrel roll right back into range 1, then used EMP. Next round Soonts is stressed and iond, takes two damage, but lives, phew!

I would look at getting initiative with Soontir. Versus Fenn Rau, Soontirs best chance is getting that range 2 on Fenn.

Off OPs main topic but still in the main theme, I had an Imp Aces list with Soontir. Was wondering if now was the time to bring it out:

Imperial Aces (100)

Soontir Fel (35) - TIE Interceptor
Push The Limit (3), Royal Guard TIE (0), Autothrusters (2), Stealth Device (3)

"Whisper" (42) - TIE Phantom
Veteran Instincts (1), Fire Control System (2), Kylo Ren (3), Advanced Cloaking Device (4)

"Duchess" (23) - TIE Striker
Adaptability (0), Adaptive Ailerons (0)

could play with the Whisper crew to get an initiative bid in there.

2 hours ago, Rolotamasi said:

Off OPs main topic but still in the main theme, I had an Imp Aces list with Soontir. Was wondering if now was the time to bring it out:

Imperial Aces (100)

Soontir Fel (35) - TIE Interceptor
Push The Limit (3), Royal Guard TIE (0), Autothrusters (2), Stealth Device (3)

"Whisper" (42) - TIE Phantom
Veteran Instincts (1), Fire Control System (2), Kylo Ren (3), Advanced Cloaking Device (4)

"Duchess" (23) - TIE Striker
Adaptability (0), Adaptive Ailerons (0)

could play with the Whisper crew to get an initiative bid in there.

Kylo->Kallus is the obvious switch and gets you a point. Stealth to Targeting Computer is another option, but I'm not sure the bid is super important in that squad. No initiative? Fel and Duchess arc dodge like mad. Initiative? Whisper fires first and Fel and Duchess are mad blockers. Maybe Intel Agent on Whisper to make a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario for your opponent.

7 hours ago, Biophysical said:

Kylo->Kallus is the obvious switch and gets you a point. Stealth to Targeting Computer is another option, but I'm not sure the bid is super important in that squad. No initiative? Fel and Duchess arc dodge like mad. Initiative? Whisper fires first and Fel and Duchess are mad blockers. Maybe Intel Agent on Whisper to make a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario for your opponent.

I was going to go with Kallus for the "old standby" but Intel Agent is intersting. He would trigger before the decloak right? Maybe some old pre-nerf shenanigans that I missed becuase I started way after that.

Do you think targeting is the way to go? I get that bombs will ruin his day so may as well go as offensive as possible.

Is there any room for swaps on Duchess, or just keep her as cheap as possible? Thanks for the input.

On 4/30/2017 at 6:36 AM, Biophysical said:

This is a list I kind of stumbled across messing around on YASB on my phone. It's a couple of pretty basic SF aces and Soontir Fel.

Quickdraw, Adaptability, FCS, Lightweight Frame, title

Backdraft, VI, FCS, Lightweight Frame, title

Soontir Fel, PTL, Autothrusters, Targeting Computer, title

99 points

Despite making the list 3 days ago, and having never played Fel against another player, I decided to take it to a tournament yesterday. It was good. Really good. You forgo the traditional ace maneuverability for the offense, hit points and squirrelly close in maneuverability of the SFs.

Fel still has to rely on not being shot at to live, but he does add the traditional ace element while still matching the offense of the SFs. You're not really relying on him to close out the game, though, so you can be aggressive and push your advantages.

All in all, I feel like this list combines the best of a few different things for the Imperials. Very high PS, high offense, maneuverability, and both resistance to turrets and some beefy hit point defense. The current bogeyman against Imperial aces, K-wing bombers, are not nearly as scary vs SFs because they have more hp and can just run away and fire with the rear arcs.

I'm not naive enough to think that it's perfect or anything, but it feels very, very strong against almost any squad I can think of, and I need a reality check. What are the squads that can really prey on this thing? There's a little bit of wiggle room for points, so upgrades can be tweaked a bit.

Hmmm. I just got destroyed by this exact list in a tournament Saturday. I it was you, well done, if not, I can confirm it works pretty well.

1 hour ago, crossvoicing said:

Hmmm. I just got destroyed by this exact list in a tournament Saturday. I it was you, well done, if not, I can confirm it works pretty well.

It was not. But good to know ? What did you fly?

2 hours ago, crossvoicing said:

Hmmm. I just got destroyed by this exact list in a tournament Saturday. I it was you, well done, if not, I can confirm it works pretty well.

I played in St. Charles at the Fantasy Shop. Same place?

I just can't help but think TLTs would give this some trouble, especially if there are bombs or a well flown stresshog present to handle Soontir. Thoughts on that match up?

12 minutes ago, Kdubb said:

I just can't help but think TLTs would give this some trouble, especially if there are bombs or a well flown stresshog present to handle Soontir. Thoughts on that match up?

I think the simplest goal there is to basically trade the SFs for two TLTs (or stresshog and TLT), and have Fel finish off the other two. The SFs have enough punch that they shouldn't take too long to handle most problem ships while Fel sits out for a turn.

If you're looking at something like Paul's Naboo list, I think you let Fel get stressed, kill Biggs, and then go after Miranda with the SFs, who don't care a lot about getting stressed. PS9 SFs vs Miranda is a pretty okay situation, in my experience. They should be mostly healthy unless that squad just lets Fel go after he gets stressed, in which case you have Fel. A lot of ifs there, obviously, but i think there is definitely a route to victory if you outplay the opponent.

I was at the same tournament and thought for sure a list like that would have issues against a strong Scum alpha, but sounds like it worked out pretty well! Those SF's have more tank than you would think. What did people pick as their first target usually? I would guess Backdraft unless they had the initial alpha to eliminate all of Quickdraw's shields.

6 minutes ago, Pleugim said:

I was at the same tournament and thought for sure a list like that would have issues against a strong Scum alpha, but sounds like it worked out pretty well! Those SF's have more tank than you would think. What did people pick as their first target usually? I would guess Backdraft unless they had the initial alpha to eliminate all of Quickdraw's shields.

The scum alpha I played in the finals had no bid, so he couldn't grab TL early on, which helped me hugely. Dice were also screwy, and it should have been closer than it was, because I threw Fel away stupidly.

SFs can take a punch, but the most if the alpha avoidance was the PS factor. Backdraft was probably the prime target most of the time, but not by a large margin. I didn't fully understand this, because in my book Fel and Quickdraw get better in the endgame and Backdraft likes disengaging if he's taken some damage. Lots of people hate Backdraft, I guess.

Backdraft seems scariest if he survives the initial joust and become more dangerous as he runs away.

My list had issues with agile aces in the endgame so I would have probably tried to line up as many shots on Soontir early and hope for the best and rely on regen to survive the SF's. Easier said then done though, and would not have liked my chances

11 hours ago, Biophysical said:

I played in St. Charles at the Fantasy Shop. Same place?

Same. I was playing the Norra Miranda list.

49 minutes ago, crossvoicing said:

Same. I was playing the Norra Miranda list.

Ah. Well there was some bad luck involved there, no doubt.

Just now, Biophysical said:

Ah. Well there was some bad luck involved there, no doubt.

Nah, mostly it was a bad approach on my part that made me split my fire. The high PS of your aces didn't help

This is a fascinating thread. So refreshing to hear of Baron Fel being played!

This thread inspired me to brew this list:

Sienar Specialist (17)
Twin Laser Turret (6)
Lightweight Frame (2)

Soontir Fel (27)
Push the Limit (3)
Autothrusters (2)
Targeting Computer (2) or Stealth Device (3)
Royal Guard TIE (0)

"Quickdraw" (29)
Expertise (4)
Fire-Control System (2)
Sensor Cluster (2)
Lightweight Frame (2)
Special Ops Training (0)

Total: 98 or 99

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

I don't know if it would be better or worse. Knowing me, probably worse.

12 hours ago, TheHumanHydra said:

This is a fascinating thread. So refreshing to hear of Baron Fel being played!

This thread inspired me to brew this list:

Sienar Specialist (17)
Twin Laser Turret (6)
Lightweight Frame (2)

Soontir Fel (27)
Push the Limit (3)
Autothrusters (2)
Targeting Computer (2) or Stealth Device (3)
Royal Guard TIE (0)

"Quickdraw" (29)
Expertise (4)
Fire-Control System (2)
Sensor Cluster (2)
Lightweight Frame (2)
Special Ops Training (0)

Total: 98 or 99

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

I don't know if it would be better or worse. Knowing me, probably worse.

I like that. That Quickdraw is definitely tough. It will be interesting to see how the Aggressor flies.

As a sort of inside joke with a friend of mine, who has been having some good results with a Quickdraw/Sabacc/Whisper list, I had come up with a sort of mirror match of sorts, as I prefer these pilots to the ones he flies on each ship (he calls these "The Second Bests"):

"Backdraft" - TIE/sf Fighter (27)

Veteran Instincts (1)

Fire-Control System (2)

Pattern Analyzer (2)

Lightweight Frame (2)

Special Ops Training (0)

Ship Total: 34

"Echo" — TIE Phantom (30)

Veteran Instincts (1)

Fire-Control System (2)

Agent Kallus (2)

Advanced Cloaking Device (4)

Ship Total: 39

"Duchess" — TIE Striker (23)

Lone Wolf (2)

Lightweight Frame (2)

Adaptive Ailerons (0)

Ship Total: 27

Great to read up on Imperial Triple Aces by some of the great minds of the game

Bio, as much as I like your list I don't trust myself to fly Soontir, I might fly an Adaptability Vader instead.