Playing around with 3 ISDs

By ricefrisbeetreats, in Star Wars: Armada Fleet Builds

Here's my list:

Admiral Motti

ISD Cymoon 1 Reft (112)
-Admiral Motti (24)
-Wulff Yularen (7)
-Entrapment Formation (5)

ISD I
-Boarding Troopers (3)
-Leading Shots (4)
-Avenger (5)

ISD Kuat Refit (112)
-Boarding Troopers (3)
-External Racks (3)

Total: 388 points
Objectives: Most Wanted, Contested Outpost, Solar Corona

If you have to outbid people, I'd drop Wulff and then External Racks probably. Right now, 388 has been plenty to ensure I can go first.

Motti just because it adds even more beef to my ships.

Any thoughts? Did I miss anything?

Why not leading shots on the ISD Kuat that can use it in each direction? In fact, i cant help but feel you would be better off with 2 kuats with racks, troopers and leading shots and 1 with avenger.

Alos, might want to swap out most wanted with 3 large ships with no defensive retrofits or squadrons.

I started playing around with the list. I think I can survive with a 390 point bid.

Here's the updated list:

Admiral: Motti

ISD Cymoon Refit (112)
-Admiral Motti (24)
-Entrapment Formation (5)

ISD Kuat Refit (112)
-Boarding Troopers (3)
-External Racks (3)
-Leading Shots (4)

ISD Kuat Refit (112)
-Boarding Troopers (3)
-External Racks (3)
-Leading Shots (4)
-Avenger (5)

Objectives:
-Contested Outpost
-Solar Corona
-(Still thinking, kind of want to try the Blockade Run)

How's that looking?

But WHY?

Three ISD tend to get I the way of one another, why not use the pts from nonAvenger to do something useful?

I want 3 ISDs to work sooooo bad but what Green Knight said is true. They just take up so much space they can't help but get in each others way and one of those ISDs is probably going to be d*** near useless. They're also very susceptible to bomber wings.

I've flown lines of VSDs and 2 ISDs plus a VSD. I think the best bet is deploying them on one end of the map and move toward the other side of the map, hoping to catch ships in multiple front arcs. The entrapment formation allows the ships to speed up/slow down as needed to catch ships.

As for bomber wings, well, it's a risk you'd have to take. The goal would be to shred squad pushers and leave the squads behind.

2 hours ago, Green Knight said:

But WHY?

Three ISD tend to get I the way of one another, why not use the pts from nonAvenger to do something useful?

What would be useful in your mind?

Once I get my hands on the Chimaera, I'll have 3 ISDs. The list building excercise was "I have 3 ISDs. How can I get that to work as optimally as possible?"

I can build squadron pushers and worlds lists all day, but what's the point? If you aren't interested in the thought experiment, don't jump into the conversation?

2 minutes ago, ricefrisbeetreats said:

What would be useful in your mind?

Once I get my hands on the Chimaera, I'll have 3 ISDs. The list building excercise was "I have 3 ISDs. How can I get that to work as optimally as possible?"

I can build squadron pushers and worlds lists all day, but what's the point? If you aren't interested in the thought experiment, don't jump into the conversation?

I've tried to play 3 ISD and played against them. It's the same every time - the 3rd ISD is not a good investment.

This is not a good list. But if the main premise is 3 ISD, then go for it. Not a lot of variation possible.

1 minute ago, Green Knight said:

I've tried to play 3 ISD and played against them. It's the same every time - the 3rd ISD is not a good investment.

This is not a good list. But if the main premise is 3 ISD, then go for it. Not a lot of variation possible.

What was the list design? Objectives? What did the 3rd ISD do? Were they all ISD1s or ISD2s? What has been your tournament performance and how did this list do at tournaments?

13 minutes ago, ricefrisbeetreats said:

I've flown lines of VSDs and 2 ISDs plus a VSD. I think the best bet is deploying them on one end of the map and move toward the other side of the map, hoping to catch ships in multiple front arcs. The entrapment formation allows the ships to speed up/slow down as needed to catch ships.

As for bomber wings, well, it's a risk you'd have to take. The goal would be to shred squad pushers and leave the squads behind.

I am curious if Entrapment Formation will make enough of a difference to make that 3rd ISD useful. I've tried 3 ISDs with JJ and they still kept tripping over each other. Should be an interesting fleet to test out though and it's always fun to see the look on someone's face when you set up 3 Death Triangles.

1 minute ago, Megatronrex said:

I am curious if Entrapment Formation will make enough of a difference to make that 3rd ISD useful. I've tried 3 ISDs with JJ and they still kept tripping over each other. Should be an interesting fleet to test out though and it's always fun to see the look on someone's face when you set up 3 Death Triangles.

That's the hope. :) There's a lot that can be said about the intimidation factor in games. I've seen enough misplays as people try to avoid front arcs and end up having half their fleet be a non-contributor to the game.

3 minutes ago, ricefrisbeetreats said:

That's the hope. :) There's a lot that can be said about the intimidation factor in games. I've seen enough misplays as people try to avoid front arcs and end up having half their fleet be a non-contributor to the game.

I ran 3 ISDs for CC and it was so satisfying when the guy I was paired against in round 2 literally yelled "NOOOO!" Having him go into the match acting like he'd already lost gave me a huge advantage. It unfortunately didn't help me in round 3 where I lost an ISD or in round 4 where I lost 2 ISDs.

8 minutes ago, ricefrisbeetreats said:

That's the hope. :) There's a lot that can be said about the intimidation factor in games. I've seen enough misplays as people try to avoid front arcs and end up having half their fleet be a non-contributor to the game.

Now its IS a very valid factor.

Even a 2 ISD fleet can evoke this feeling of dread in an opponent that doesn't have a plan: oh no, 2x17 hull (Motti+RBD) bearing down on me, I cannot possibly repel firepower of that magnitude.

A 3 ISD feel could probably win a few games through novelty/intimidation alone.