Upsilon Theory Crafting

By DarthCognis, in X-Wing Squad Lists

Okay, Ive mentioned this before, but how about "Starkiller Base"

Use Kylo Ren as a Railgun

4 FO's between 50 points kitted out at you desire

and Kylo Ren with Swarm Leader, Advanced sensors, Recon Spec, and Weapons Guidance +whatever you want to sprinke on top.

I really think that Advanced sensors is the key

After flying the Upsilon a number of times, I have concluded that you either put Electronic Baffles or Engine upgrade on it. If you lack one of those, then your Upsilon is going to get out-positioned far too frequently to make it worth its cost. If you really like advanced sensors, it can work quite well with engine, but it gets expensive fast...

I personally like to use it with Stridan pilot kitted out with electronic baffle, Hux, experimental interface, and inspiring recruit.

Electronic baffle is only there to shed the stress from maneuvering. That way you can coordinate then experimental interface to Hux your fighters. And then go for a green maneuver next round and shed both stress with inspiring recruit.

I like the basic idea of an Upsilon Railgun quite a bit, but as pointed out above, I fear the necessary manouverability could prove quite costly. It sadly also invites absolutely everything on the table to shoot the Batwing straight out of the sky because there is little else to offset target priority.

The general idea reminds me of the premise that is used when pairing an Upsilon and Omega Ace. A Starkiller Base Pilot or Stridan could use Kylo Ren's effect (crew) before Omega Ace gets to shoot with Swarm Leader, relegating the main damage output to another high value target for your opponent. The shuttle has a great baseline offense, so (inevitabely) losing Omega Ace is still probably preferrable to losing a fully kitted out shuttle and being left with only TiE/fos. Ace is brittle, but somewhat of a pawn in that game.

This would also leave a bit of room for some messing around with control effects (Kylo Ren's shuttle, rebel captive, the usual) that is not related too much to positioning, and with FCS can still push a lot of damage through during any turn it actually shoots. If you are using Stridan, you could probably justify going slow, which means Systems/ Fleet Officer could be a natural pick for synergy should Ace survive.

I've been having fun with this list, the amount of synergy makes it a bit of an alpha strike and the shuttle tends to last until the mid late game. However if Vess somehow goes down early, then you're left without a good end-game ship. (But if he does go down first, than it will take at least two rounds for that to happen, during which you can just dish out damage.)

"Upsilon Triple-Entante"

Major Stridan

-Adv. Sensors

-Systems Officer

-General Hux

-Kylo Ren's Shuttle

(44 points)

Colonel Vessery

-Vet. Instincts

-TIE x/7

(34 points)

Countdown

-Adaptive Ailerons

- LWF

(22 points)

100 total points

In theory, a typical turn looks like this: Stridan uses Adv. sensors and performs General Hux (giving fanatical devotion to whomever will get shot the least in the coming turn), then does a green maneuver (clearing the stress from Hux) and gives Countdown a target lock. Countdown and Vess are then free to utilize barrel rolls or just load up on extra focus for defense. Adv. Sensors and co-ordinate also works well on Vess by giving him a barrel roll which can set him up for another 4k!

I am currently 6 and 2 with this list. I lost to a tel and TLT y-wing list, and a whisper-quickdraw-sabaac list (which was flown expertly by and expert).

I may even consider taking it to a store champ this weekend just for the point of being original!

Edited by Maultex
Quote

It sadly also invites absolutely everything on the table to shoot the Batwing straight out of the sky because there is little else to offset target priority.

True. Kylo Ren's ability - especially if paired with a Rebel Captive - does make the shuttle an unpleasant thing to shoot at, though.

I would take Electronic Baffle + Pattern Analyser rather than Advanced Sensors. Since none of your actions are repositioning, pattern analyser gives you the same effect, but baffle gives you the option of two back-to-back red moves if you really need to.

Oh - and you'll get a max of 3 TIE/fo fighters - at 15 points for the Epsilon Squadron Pilot, even the cheapest ships are 60 points for 4.

Maxing out at 3, I'd take two Epsilon Squadron Pilots and either Epsilon Leader with Comms Relay (letting Kylo and the TIEs clear off stress easily) or Epsilon Ace with Targeting Synchroniser (because a 6 dice super-focused attack needs a target lock to add insult even more injury to injury)

Edited by Magnus Grendel