Kagi Confusion:

Captain Kagi [Sensor Jammer, Rebel Captive] (34)

Darth Vader [TIE/x1, Predator, Engine Upgrade, Advanced Targeting Computer] (37)

"Deathfire" [Extra Munitions, Homing Missiles, Cluster Mines, Long Range Scanners] (28)

Okay, hear me out--

Yes, the Palp shuttle is great, but it does it's best work when it's not really in the game, and only ever guarantees one die result per turn. Kagi presents a problem for the current meta, which will want to put target locks on Vader and Deathfire. If your opponent goes after Kagi first, great! They will have to deal with Sensor Jammer and Rebel Captive. If they decide to go after Vader or Deathfire, they will have to do so without the help of a target lock. Kagi becomes a sort of Imperial Biggs.

Deathfire is there for some early-game damage, throwing Homing Missiles and Cluster Mines in the enemy's face, while Vader mops up the end game.

With this list you really want to keep the shuttle in the back, but still in the game. You actually have incentive to bring the shuttle's firepower into play. With Palp Aces I see a lot of imperial players only engaging two ships in combat--it's great for defense, but limiting your firing power means that the enemy stays around longer too. Kagi should do pretty well with his upgrades, and will likely stick around for some time (in part thanks to the target priority confusion, in part thanks to his upgrades). I think that Deathfire is the weak link here, but I love that little guy; if you fly him right, he really does a lot of work.

If you don't want to run Deathfire, you can always take the standard Inquisitor load-out and and drop Rebel Captive. Personally, though, I think that Rebel Captive will do some work.

You know what really screws with people's minds? Countermeasures on Captain Kagi. It's hilarious! They have to target lock him, so they might as well take him off the board with a full salvo of Cruise Missiles - but wait! Countermeasures removes one of the locks, and Sensor Jammer weakens all the other shots. It's fun, but I don't know how competitive. A lot of ordnance carriers seem to have ways to stack TL + focus in opening rounds, limiting the effectiveness of Sensor Jammer. I still like it for those times when they don't have a focus or focus-like ability.

Back to your squad, I think you may want to choose a ship that doesn't rely on target locks for damage. Right now, both Vader and "Deathfire" need target locks, and that causes problems if there is an opposing Kagi or Black One T-70. You could drop the Homing Missiles down to Unguided Rockets, freeing up points for Countermeasures, if that tickles your fancy. But Deathfire is a lot of fun, so it's probably worth it to just leave it as it is.

The problem with Corgi is that he's realllllllllly expensive. I flew him with Soonts and Carnor, and while that was fun, it just sucked to have kagi just sit there for the majority of the game and just eat bullets (or lasers in this case)

Yeah, Kagi’s price is a bit steep for a ship that really can’t move around. Whenever I take a shuttle it spends about 90% of the game running away or facing the wrong direction. Shame—I really like the Lambda.

Honestly, I am looking for any build and list that makes good use of ship. It’s tanky and has a lot of support potential that just never gets used. I’m convinced that the shuttle is of more use than just a way to field Palpatine.

On 9/28/2017 at 6:18 PM, BanthaFather said:

Yeah, Kagi’s price is a bit steep for a ship that really can’t move around. Whenever I take a shuttle it spends about 90% of the game running away or facing the wrong direction. Shame—I really like the Lambda.

Honestly, I am looking for any build and list that makes good use of ship. It’s tanky and has a lot of support potential that just never gets used. I’m convinced that the shuttle is of more use than just a way to field Palpatine.

I feel the same way. Took the upsilon out for the first time last weekend. Didn't have a shot until round 6. I messed up my opening engagement. ( the ships around me started shooting in round 2 but I was out of arc)

also I really like jendon. Just passing out target locks with the title all game. Give him HLC just for fun. I'm not any better at flying him (yet) than the upsilon but... he's fun.

Observation:

Kagi is cool - but a lot of the incoming Cruise Missiles will either have auto focus-to-hit modification (Expertise), or a Focus Token (Darth Vader, FCS/LRS-generated locks) so I'm not convinced sensor jammer will do a lot. Rebel captive should help, though!

For a point less, would Reinforced Deflectors be worth a thought? That way, even a focus/target locked missile will lose a 'hit'.

Countermeasures are a very good call, too. One use, but if it prevents a cruise missile shot, that's a very good use.

“No You Don’t” - Palp Aces with Kagi, Carnor and OL

I had a good run with it a couple years ago but I wouldn’t dare try it competitively anymore.

51 minutes ago, jmswood said:

“No You Don’t” - Palp Aces with Kagi, Carnor and OL

I had a good run with it a couple years ago but I wouldn’t dare try it competitively anymore.

Still one of my favourite X-wing lists of all time. I think you're right though, it'd struggle in today's environment.

52 minutes ago, jmswood said:

“No You Don’t” - Palp Aces with Kagi, Carnor and OL

I had a good run with it a couple years ago but I wouldn’t dare try it competitively anymore.

Carnor Jax and Sensor Jammer is a very nasty combination. But yes, that kind of 'deny everything!' list is very good fun to use (if not much fun to play against, rather like Blue decks in Magic: The Bankrupting).

Dark Curse is still fun to use for the same reason, even if he doesn't tend to do much damage in return.

Thinking about trying a loaded out Kagi this weekend just for fun. Here's what I have so far:

Captain Kagi [Sensor Jammer, Rebel Captive, Fleet Officer] (37)

Darth Vader [TIE/x1, Predator, Engine Upgrade, Advanced Targeting Computer] (37)

“Duchess” [Veteran Instincts, Adaptive Ailerons, Lightweight Frame] (26)

The idea is to keep Kagi around the center of the board, and bait with Vader. Meanwhile, Duchess is setting up a flank. The opponent will ideally be forced to focus down Kagi, but he can take a couple of hits and deal out some stress, hopefully putting the opponent out of position so that Vader and Duchess can get some free shots. If the enemy ignores Kagi, then he gets some free shots, and denies target locks.

Or....

Or I could try to slim down Kagi and run Carnor. This option is a lot riskier, I think, but could be fun if flown well:

Captain Kagi [Collision Detector, Rebel Captive] (30)

Darth Vader [TIE/x1, Predator, Engine Upgrade, Advanced Targeting Computer] (37)

Carnor Jax [Predator, Royal Guard TIE, Autothrusters, Targeting Computer] (33)

To pull this off, you have to fly Carnor in formation with the opponent, and Kagi loses some of his effectiveness and support. Mmmmmmm.....

On 7/19/2017 at 0:11 AM, Rinzler in a Tie said:

... in this target lock meta.

TIE/SF Fighter: •"Quickdraw" (35)
Lightweight Frame (2)
Special Ops Training (0)
•A Score to Settle (0)
Fire-Control System (2)
Pattern Analyzer (2)

TIE Interceptor: •Soontir Fel (34)
Autothrusters (2)
Targeting Computer (2)
Royal Guard TIE (0)
Push the Limit (3)

Lambda-Class Shuttle: •Captain Kagi (30)
Collision detector (0)
•Rebel Captive (3)

Total: 99/100

Alternatives to Fel:

TIE/SF Fighter: •"Backdraft" (34)
Lightweight Frame (2)
Special Ops Training (0)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Fire-Control System (2)
Pattern Analyzer (2)

TIE Interceptor: •Carnor Jax (34)
Autothrusters (2)
Hull Upgrade (3)
Royal Guard TIE (0)
Push the Limit (3)

TIE Defender: •Colonel Vessery (34)
TIE/x7 (-2)
Veteran Instincts (1)

14 minutes ago, Rinzler in a Tie said:

TIE/SF Fighter: •"Quickdraw" (35)
Lightweight Frame (2)
Special Ops Training (0)
•A Score to Settle (0)
Fire-Control System (2)
Pattern Analyzer (2)

TIE Interceptor: •Soontir Fel (34)
Autothrusters (2)
Targeting Computer (2)
Royal Guard TIE (0)
Push the Limit (3)

Lambda-Class Shuttle: •Captain Kagi (30)
Collision detector (0)
•Rebel Captive (3)

Total: 99/100

Alternatives to Fel:

TIE/SF Fighter: •"Backdraft" (34)
Lightweight Frame (2)
Special Ops Training (0)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Fire-Control System (2)
Pattern Analyzer (2)

TIE Interceptor: •Carnor Jax (34)
Autothrusters (2)
Hull Upgrade (3)
Royal Guard TIE (0)
Push the Limit (3)

TIE Defender: •Colonel Vessery (34)
TIE/x7 (-2)
Veteran Instincts (1)

Love these options.

Admittedly, I am a little attached to Vader, and that makes my list a bit expensive.

Fleet Officer Kagi means that Vader and Duchess can both double re-position and still get a focus token pretty consistently. I do like your Carnor build. A lot. I may give that a try and see what happens.

32 minutes ago, BanthaFather said:

Love these options.

Admittedly, I am a little attached to Vader, and that makes my list a bit expensive.

Fleet Officer Kagi means that Vader and Duchess can both double re-position and still get a focus token pretty consistently. I do like your Carnor build. A lot. I may give that a try and see what happens.

You can fit Vader with Adaptability into my list instead of Fel.

7 minutes ago, Rinzler in a Tie said:

You can fit Vader with Adaptability into my list instead of Fel.

Yeah, Vader, Fel, Kagi sounds like a good time.

I just tried out a Kagi list, flanked by TIE/D Vessery and OL. I had Reinforced Deflectors on him, and it is one point cheaper, and does a decent job keeping him alive (but not so much against a swarm, so perhaps SJ is better)

What about FCS on Kagi? Try to get some offense out of the space cow before it gets blown to bits. Idk

56 minutes ago, HanScottFirst said:

I just tried out a Kagi list, flanked by TIE/D Vessery and OL. I had Reinforced Deflectors on him, and it is one point cheaper, and does a decent job keeping him alive (but not so much against a swarm, so perhaps SJ is better)

What about FCS on Kagi? Try to get some offense out of the space cow before it gets blown to bits. Idk

Kagi is really built for one thing: Soaking up munitions. Like Biggs, his job is to die at the expense of wearing down your opponent's list so that in the late game, your real weapons can finish. Most munitions can change that focus back to a hit, but it will help against TLT and primaries (Dengar).

The problem with this archetype being played with Imperials is you really need all the points possible for your Aces..

Tldr: Minimal points on Kagi, imo.

24 minutes ago, Rinzler in a Tie said:

Tldr: Minimal points on Kagi, imo.

Good advice.