Can you help me understand the flow of Whisper + Fire Control Sys + Vet Instincts + Adv Cloaking Device through a couple of rounds?

So, Whisper starts off the game decloaked. It picks and executes a maneuver.

After the maneuver, it takes an action, Evade for example.

In the Combat Phase, it attacks a ship and hits. The attack triggers FCS and a Target Lock is acquired on the Defender. Also, the attack and hit triggers Whispers ability and a free Focus token is assigned. Finally, the attack also triggers ACD and Whisper is allowed to Cloak.

Later in the Combat Phase, Whisper is attacked a few times and gets two stress tokens hung on her. However, Whisper did not use the Focus or Evade token she had.

In the end phase, the unused Focus and Evade tokens are discarded but Whisper has two Stress tokens and is cloaked.

During the next Activation Phase before revealing a maneuver dial, Whisper does not HAVE to decloak does she? If she doesn't decloak, then she doesn't do the 2 maneuver barrel roll or straight maneuver, right? Since she's stressed, she doesn't take any actions but can preform a green maneuver per her dial to clear one stress. She's still cloaked and has 4 agility but still has one stress token and can not attack, right?

If she does choose to decloak during the Activation phase, then she would do the 2 maneuver or barrel roll then make a green maneuver to clear one stress. Since she still has one more stress token, she can't perform any actions which include cloaking, right? She is also now at an agility of 2.

So, it would be in Whispers best interest to stay cloaked until all stress is cleared?

Thanks for any help understanding the flow.

5 minutes ago, drail14me said:

Phase before revealing a maneuver dial, Whisper does not HAVE to decloak does she? If she doesn't decloak, then she doesn't do the 2 maneuver barrel roll or straight maneuver, right? Since she's stressed, she doesn't take any actions but can preform a green maneuver per her dial to clear one stress. She's still cloaked and has 4 agility but still has one stress token and can not attack, right?

If she does choose to decloak during the Activation phase, then she would do the 2 maneuver or barrel roll then make a green maneuver to clear one stress. Since she still has one more stress

That all depends. If a stresshog is the thing that initially got her, and its at 3 or fewer hull (4 if you're feeling lucky), I'd totally decloak, green (or white, doesn't matter), and get that hopefully killing shot on it. Especially if its lower PS. If she's up against Fel? I'd maneuver to block and not decloak. Miranda? Same thing. All the questions you have are correct, she can't activate ACD action because she's stressed. But a stressed Whisper with FCS is still a 4/5 die shot with a target lock. And she still gets a focus token when she hits at PS9 because its "Assign". Whether its worth it to decloak or not all depends on all those other factors.

3 minutes ago, drail14me said:

In the end phase, the unused Focus and Evade tokens are discarded but Whisper has two Stress tokens and is cloaked.

Everything so far is correct.

3 minutes ago, drail14me said:

Whisper does not HAVE to decloak does she?

No, she does not have to. Nothing in the game can ever force her to decloak.

4 minutes ago, drail14me said:

doesn't decloak, then she doesn't do the 2 maneuver barrel roll or straight maneuver, right?

Correct.

4 minutes ago, drail14me said:

Since she's stressed, she doesn't take any actions but can preform a green maneuver per her dial to clear one stress. She's still cloaked and has 4 agility but still has one stress token and can not attack, right?

Correct.

4 minutes ago, drail14me said:

If she does choose to decloak during the Activation phase, then she would do the 2 maneuver or barrel roll then make a green maneuver to clear one stress. Since she still has one more stress token, she can't perform any actions which include cloaking, right? She is also now at an agility of 2.

Correct. She can't even use Advanced Cloaking Device to cloak if she's stressed, because ACD makes you do a Cloak Action. She can, however, still use her ability if she hits with an attack to gain a Focus token.

5 minutes ago, drail14me said:

So, it would be in Whispers best interest to stay cloaked until all stress is cleared?

Maybe, maybe not. Totally depends on the positioning and ships involved. If decloaking Whisper puts her in a position where she can't get shot at or where she has a good chance of finishing off an enemy ship with her still quite powerful guns and target lock from FCS, then it might be worth decloaking.

Only other thing I would mention is that it's very common for Whisper to choose to take a Cloak action in the first round of the game or when she has no enemies to shoot at. This creates more options for her in the initial approach.

23 minutes ago, jonnyd said:

That all depends. If a stresshog is the thing that initially got her, and its at 3 or fewer hull (4 if you're feeling lucky), I'd totally decloak, green (or white, doesn't matter), and get that hopefully killing shot on it. Especially if its lower PS. If she's up against Fel? I'd maneuver to block and not decloak. Miranda? Same thing. All the questions you have are correct, she can't activate ACD action because she's stressed. But a stressed Whisper with FCS is still a 4/5 die shot with a target lock. And she still gets a focus token when she hits at PS9 because its "Assign". Whether its worth it to decloak or not all depends on all those other factors.

20 minutes ago, EdgeOfDreams said:

Everything so far is correct.

No, she does not have to. Nothing in the game can ever force her to decloak.

Correct.

Correct.

Correct. She can't even use Advanced Cloaking Device to cloak if she's stressed, because ACD makes you do a Cloak Action. She can, however, still use her ability if she hits with an attack to gain a Focus token.

Maybe, maybe not. Totally depends on the positioning and ships involved. If decloaking Whisper puts her in a position where she can't get shot at or where she has a good chance of finishing off an enemy ship with her still quite powerful guns and target lock from FCS, then it might be worth decloaking.

Only other thing I would mention is that it's very common for Whisper to choose to take a Cloak action in the first round of the game or when she has no enemies to shoot at. This creates more options for her in the initial approach.

Thanks guys! I'm trying to wrap my mind around a strategy to take down Whisper.

You need to try to close down the space she can operate in or be able to unleash some sustained ordnance attacks. Once the tokens are stripped (or denied) 2 shields and 2 hull can disappear fast. Hot tip - decloak left or right, then perform hard 1 turn is a pretty effective and frequent maneuver for a Phantom.

If you want to hard counter Whisper, just bring a PS 10 or 11 turret.

2 hours ago, DaveRob said:

You need to try to close down the space she can operate in or be able to unleash some sustained ordnance attacks. Once the tokens are stripped (or denied) 2 shields and 2 hull can disappear fast. Hot tip - decloak left or right, then perform hard 1 turn is a pretty effective and frequent maneuver for a Phantom.

Great tip!!! Thanks!!!

1 hour ago, EdgeOfDreams said:

If you want to hard counter Whisper, just bring a PS 10 or 11 turret.

Wish I could. I can't under my current league rules. Maybe soon!

Remember:

• Decloak move is compulsory - can't complete it, can't decloak.
• Since it follows the boost/barrel roll rules, if it'd collide with a ship or obstacle, it can't be executed in that direction.

As a result, you can often find at least one decloak "direction" is invalid, which helps you guess where the phantom is going.

Stress - especially high PS stress - is good. Two things Whisper hates seeing are VI/R3-A2 Corran Horn, or anything carrying a Rebel Captive.

Anything which can boost your PS above 9 (Veteran Instincts, Roark Garnet), or else hobble Whispers PS (Torkil Mux, Kylo Ren) is a nightmare for Advanced Cloak phantoms, too.

These super specific lines of questions

If I did the right thing and targeted the Stresshog then that's who my TL is on. The Stresshog is stressed and predictable too so I may risk decloaking for a kill shot.

Or, because you didn't mention crew, take Inspiring Recruit for 1 point.

Typically Whisper, or indeed any phantom, will Cloak for their first action in the game. Then every round thereafter they will be cloaking with ACD, decloaking, and then recloaking.

My typical turn with Whisper is,

Decloak>Perform maneuver>Do action, either focus or maybe a barrel roll if it gets me out of arc> Shoot+spend target lock if I have one>Recloak+Gain target lock+gain focus if I hit

I usually put a Navigator on my Phantoms. It helps you position yourself better.

30 minutes ago, BadMotivator said:

Typically Whisper, or indeed any phantom, will Cloak for their first action in the game. Then every round thereafter they will be cloaking with ACD, decloaking, and then recloaking.

My typical turn with Whisper is,

Decloak>Perform maneuver>Do action, either focus or maybe a barrel roll if it gets me out of arc> Shoot+spend target lock if I have one>Recloak+Gain target lock+gain focus if I hit

I usually put a Navigator on my Phantoms. It helps you position yourself better.

Thanks for the run down. I'm trying to figure out how to counter Whisper. My highest PS pilot I can use in this league right now is a PS6. I'm gonna have to get creative and VERY lucky with some dice to beat Whisper and Inquisitor wingman!!!

What are your league rules? It almost sounds like they were designed by a Whisper player tired of getting countered.

If ps 6 is as high as you can go, consider flooding its movement lanes with either cheap ships, bombs, or rigged cargo chutes.