14 hours ago, IronCondor said:

I really like to bid high on any list in which I run Raiders, so I can go first. Last/First activation advantage on a squishy ship that has high burst damage is pretty essential for a number of scenarios:

• Double tapping a dangerous enemy ship for a combined 4 black/3 blue with a CF dial and jetting the hell out of there at speed 3/4
• Flying into an activated squadron ball the last turn and opening up with Flechettes/Kallus immediately

Both of those are not possible when going second.

Yes they are potent in a last first list, the problem is with the advent of flotillas you just can't assume you will have the activation advantage. If you can go last first, that's great ( my favorite position) but if you can't then it's best to use them as ambush predators and second player gives you the edge in this. To be honest even if I got into a last/first position I would be using Demo in the last first strike position ( you sacrificing a lot to get last first so you need a ship that maximises the damage) and use my raiders back and to the sides as traps when the opposition tries to get away from a demo now parked in his backside. You have to remember the first thing any good player will do when faced with a last first situation is take away your activation advantage, best way to do that is kill an over extended raider.

I also play instigator as my primary anti squadron raider, he does not care if you go first or second.

17 hours ago, IronCondor said:

They are quire effective with just Ordnance Experts. Flechettes are nice to haves, APTs are definitely not needed.

I have come close to killing a healthly home one with nothing but one raider armed with Apts

If I can add my anecdotal opinion to the mix, I love me some raiders but would caution putting too much on them (or even, really, anything)

Naked raider 1s have served me exceedingly well as AA/flankers or even finishers. With CF dial at just the right time and a bump these guys can put out a hilarious amount of damage.

Recently I have started mixing in the odd raider 2 as a dedicated lifeboat hunter/AA.

Often, all you want is a single and preferably cheap upgrade. Most expensive thing I will put on a raider, when i'm feeling saucy, is maybe an intel officer on a lifeboat hunter. I don't often bother with APTs on them or even OEs but flechettes are cheap.