I like the Punisher but I never really got it to work well. Bombs never hit my nerve instead I was always looking for some heavy hard hitting ordnance carrier.
I see that Deathrain gets some interesting toys with the bomblet generator and unguided rockets but what is with Redline?
How would you equip redline? Back in the days I used FCS and cluster rockets but that dosn't work anymore. I find that the ordnance that profites the most from his double TL usually dosn't need a TL reroll when you also have GC.

Yeah, sadly he isn't that great any more without the FCS Clusters. Homing are pointless with double TL. He's basically just over-costed now and LWF doesn't help because you will want chips.

This is how I'd run him if I had to in a list now, but still a gamma vet bomber with deadeye is preferable as a cheaper alpha striker. Maybe they will give Punishers a title with reload action some day...

TIE Punisher: · "Redline" (27)

Extra Munitions (2)

Proton Torpedoes (4)

Fire Control System (2)

Guidance Chips (0)

-- TOTAL ------- 35p. --

Redline is still pretty solid with Cluster Missiles.

My general Redline build is FCS, Proton Torpedoes, Cluster Missiles, EM, GC. It comes in at 39 points. At long range, with the second target lock for rerolls and the soft-focus of Proton Torpedoes, you've got a very high chance of 3 hits and a crit (really strong against a Protectorate starfighter if you can pull it off, but it's hard with lowish pilot skill). Cluster Missiles are still a pretty strong attack; you only can spend one target lock on the attacks, but between that, GC, and a potential focus token, your chances of double 3-hits are still pretty good.

That said, Redline is expensive, and probably not really that much better at dealing damage than a Cruise Missiles Quickdraw (who is a few points cheaper). I love the Redline, and had both games where they felt amazing, and where they fell flat. I'm sadly probably retiring the build for more standard meta choices.

The punisher is one of my favorite ships. I got top 4 recently in a store champ with the following build. Redline is expensive but most people aren't familiar with his ability. He's one of the few ships that can use lock-discarding munitions effectively.

Redline: 38

- Fire Control System

- Extra Munitions

- Plasma Torpedoes

- Cluster Missiles

- Guidance Chips

The key to this build is that you get a lot of actionless modification. It is sometimes difficult to get the initial lock but you can focus up and use your primary to get the lock for the next rounds. Though the dial is fairly restrictive you don't mind stress terribly. People also don't realize that it has boost so you can often catch people who are trying to skirt arcs.

Cluster Missiles are still a good choice. Not quite as imposing as the prefaq combo was, but between the extra target lock and the guidance chips I often get 5 to 6 hits, which is quite strong against agi1 ships.