So I'm really getting ito some Epic theory craft after some recent posts by other users. I'm trying to think of the Fair Ship Rebels of the epic world. So far, I've come up with the following (with the caveat that at least one huge ship must be used in each list, because it's more fun for everyone that way...):

TLT Storm

GR-75 Medium Transport (42)
GR-75 Medium Transport (30), Toryn Farr (6), Breach Specialist (1), Quick-release Cargo Locks (2), EM Emitter (3)

GR-75 Medium Transport (43)
GR-75 Medium Transport (30), Operations Specialist (3), Breach Specialist (1), Ionization Reactor (4), EM Emitter (3), Quick-release Cargo Locks (2)

Gold Squadron Pilot (25) x 8
Y-Wing (18), R2 Astromech (1), Twin Laser Turret (6)

Captain Rex (14)

Totalling 299 points.

The idea is to place the transports parallel to your setup edge with the Y-wings and Rex behind them. Then just slow-crawl along the side of the map. You get 16 TLT shots (from 8 attacks) backed up by the absurd efficiency of an Operations specialist. If your opponent brings a fully kitted out Raider or Tantive Rex lowers every. single. attack. by one die, and the EM Emitters ensure that all your ships are protected behind at least AGI4. I think it's a very obvious list, but one with enormous raw power. The GR-75 with an Ionisation Reactor runs up the rear to discourage inevitable flanking maneuvers.

Omega Strike (It's the end...)

Gamma Squadron Veteran (25) x 7
TIE Bomber (19), Deadeye (1), Extra Munitions (2), Cruise Missiles (3), Guidance Chips (0)

Captain Jonus (29)
TIE Bomber (22), Extra Munitions (2), XX-23 S-thread Tracers (1), XX-23 S-thread Tracers (1), Determination (1), Lightweight Frame (2)

Gozanti-class Cruiser (48)
Gozanti-Class Cruiser (40), Mara Jade (3), Operations Specialist (3), Docking Clamps (0), Vector (2)

Academy Pilot (12) x 4

Totalling 300 points.

So 7 cruise missiles... twice in a row. The benefit in Epic is that there are always R2-3 targets. Jonus gives full modes and target locks to TIEs until he dies. The Gozanti is an OpSpec carrier with Mara Jade for absurd R1 danger, plus TIEs to dump on your opponent at the worst time. With deadeye, I don't see any aces surviving. The only vulnerability I can see is serious blocking action from a TIE swarm to prevent the missiles going off.

Attani Overload

Concord Dawn Ace (27) x 8
Protectorate Starfighter (23), Attanni Mindlink (1), Concord Dawn Protector (1), Autothrusters (2)

Black Sun Ace (24)
Kihraxz Fighter (23), Vaksai (0), Attanni Mindlink (1), XX-23 S-thread Tracers (1), Scavenger Crane (2), Guidance Chips (0), Munitions Failsafe (1), Engine Upgrade (4)

C-ROC Cruiser (60)
C-ROC Cruiser (35), Azmorigan (2), Operations Specialist (3), Heavy Laser Turret (5), Quick-release Cargo Locks (2), Tibanna Gas Supplies (4), Ionization Reactor (4), Automated Protocols (5)

Totalling 300 points.

Attanni is the best upgrade for Epic play, easily. The sheer action economy is truly monumental. In this case, assumng the Kihraxz hits with the XX-23s, each ship will have 2 focus tokens and a target lock... The C-ROC is flexible with Azmorigan, has some okay offense, good defense and some tricks up its sleeve. Overall strong, but I could see Asajj laughing in its face.

What's your cheesed Epic list, and can I improve on these at all?

You know, it's funny. I don't really view these as cheesy squads because there's at least some variety in them. 12 TLT Y-wings is cheese in my opinion. But adding a transport and a defensive spotter type ship makes it more interesting. As such, I'm having a hard time figuring out whether my squad are cheesy or good.

Is this cheese?

Raider-Class Corvette: Raider-Class Corvette (Fore) (50)
Cluster Bombs (4)
Quad Laser Cannons (2 Energy) (6)
Raider-Class Corvette: Raider-Class Corvette (Aft) (50)
Optimized Generators (5)
· Rear Admiral Chiraneau (3)
Tactician (2)
Engineering Team (4)
Engine Booster (3)
Quad Laser Cannons (2 Energy) (6)
Quad Laser Cannons (2 Energy) (6)
TIE Fighter: Obsidian Squadron Pilot (13)
TIE Fighter: Obsidian Squadron Pilot (13)
TIE Fighter: Obsidian Squadron Pilot (13)
TIE Fighter: Obsidian Squadron Pilot (13)
TIE Fighter: Obsidian Squadron Pilot (13)
TIE Fighter: Obsidian Squadron Pilot (13)
TIE Fighter: Obsidian Squadron Pilot (13)
TIE Fighter: Obsidian Squadron Pilot (13)
TIE Fighter: Obsidian Squadron Pilot (13)
TIE Fighter: Obsidian Squadron Pilot (13)
TIE Fighter: Obsidian Squadron Pilot (13)
TIE Fighter: · "Howlrunner" (18)
-- TOTAL ------- 300p. --

Obviously you have Obsidian Squadron with Howlrunner providing support. This Raider build is a fun one that I like to call "The Dagger." Others have come up with similar builds. The main goal is to close distance quickly with Engine Booster and Rear Admiral Chiraneau, and then stress everything with Tactician and Quad Laser Turret. If you get it right, you can hand out 8 stress tokens in one round! Some people prefer Mara Jade to Rear Admiral Chiraneau to add stress to ships at range 1. If you go that route, Ionization Reactor is another excellent choice for a Raider that dives head first into the fray, but you'll need to rearrange points on the TIE fighters and drop Cluster Bombs to make it fit.

On ‎02‎/‎08‎/‎2017 at 2:39 AM, Astech said:

The only vulnerability I can see is serious blocking action from a TIE swarm to prevent the missiles going off.

Or Carnor Jax going "heheheheheheh" as he locks out a really, really annoying number of missiles from firing. But yes, that should be pretty brutal. The only problem is going to be a close-range engagement (it's unlikely your opponent can 'hide' a force at range 1, but you may have trouble concentrating fire, and range 1 engagements in epic are pretty brutal.

Still, Gamma Veterans are PS5 and should get their missiles off before any realistic massed-generic force can destroy too many of them.

1 hour ago, Parakitor said:

Raider-Class Corvette: Raider-Class Corvette (Fore) (50)
Cluster Bombs (4)
Quad Laser Cannons (2 Energy) (6)
Raider-Class Corvette: Raider-Class Corvette (Aft) (50)
Optimized Generators (5)
· Rear Admiral Chiraneau (3)
Tactician (2)
Engineering Team (4)
Engine Booster (3)
Quad Laser Cannons (2 Energy) (6)
Quad Laser Cannons (2 Energy) (6)

Massed Quad Laser/Tactician is a nasty combination. I'd suggest you really, really want tibanna gas on board, though, because that turn of fire is going to burn a LOT of energy. It's going to be impressive as **** to see, though.

Thing is....8 stress tokens sounds good, but you could have a lot of stress-armed ships for the price of the raider (A Tactician/Shuttle/Scimitar) is only 18 points, after all.

I'd definitely take Mara/Ionization with that build; locking down everything in the raider's vicinity that heavily is impressive.

I'll have to give it a try. I'd probably take Youngster/Rage and Academy Pilots - whilst low PS can hurt in epic, blocking en masse can work, and more importantly, if the Raider is plowing in first and causing that level of stress/ion chaos, you can actually afford to mass-rage your squad in a way you never could in 'normal' games to follow up.

1 hour ago, Parakitor said:

You know, it's funny. I don't really view these as cheesy squads because there's at least some variety in them. 12 TLT Y-wings is cheese in my opinion. But adding a transport and a defensive spotter type ship makes it more interesting. As such, I'm having a hard time figuring out whether my squad are cheesy or good.

I've always viewed that as 'spam', not cheese. But either is applicable, I suppose. I normally make cheesy synonymous with good, then determine which it is by my opponent's reaction when they first hear about it.

1 hour ago, Parakitor said:

Is this cheese?

It's certainly intimidating on the face of it - 12 TIEs and an enormous battering ram. Cheese is a word I'd use, for sure. However I don't think it's a great list...

Besides the obvious hard counters - (assault missiles, ion torpedoes and proton bombs being prime examples, with a bomblet generator being a close runner up), you've got a huge vulnerability to Alpha strikes. Take the "omega strike" list above - either you lose 7 TIEs in the opening engagement before they shoot, or the fore section of the Raider and at least 2 TIEs (including Howlrunner...). After the second combat round, The Raider is probably dead.

8 minutes ago, Magnus Grendel said:

Or Carnor Jax going "heheheheheheh" as he locks out a really, really annoying number of missiles from firing. But yes, that should be pretty brutal. The only problem is going to be a close-range engagement (it's unlikely your opponent can 'hide' a force at range 1, but you may have trouble concentrating fire, and range 1 engagements in epic are pretty brutal.

Still, Gamma Veterans are PS5 and should get their missiles off before any realistic massed-generic force can destroy too many of them.

Unless carnor is already at R1 to prevent me getting the token, he doesn't actually prevent them from firing, since cruise missiles don't require you to actually spend the token. Therefore, he definitely can't prevent the first salvo since the Gammas move first, and he's a very clear target at R1/2 for any leftover shots such as from the TIEs to take him out.

If I start getting worried about facing swarms, I'd swap one TIE out and give two bombers assault missiles and Ion torpedoes respectively.