I've been thinking about this for a while, and I have come to the conclusion that I would like to use the workup to Regionals (the month and a half that I get) as an experiment. The experiment is this: I want a dual ISD fleet that is a viable tournament list. This thread exists as a measure of public accountability. For the next while I will be conducting tests, using both Vassal and Q4 tourneys, to build up a fighting machine that includes two Pizza Slices of Doom (sides of Gloom free of charge), and whatever else it takes to make this list work. As I progress, I will post thoughts and tested lists here for critique. Admiral Sloane has served me well, earning me a Store Championship and second place in the Autumn Tournament (there ain't no way in **** I'm beating Roquax, and if I somehow do, I'll eat my words), and if she works out well for the new fleet I'll take her, but I'm open-minded.
Why am I doing this? Great question. Reason number one is that I own two ISDs (soon to become three as soon as FFG's definition of Q4 arrives), and I haven't had a chance to fly them as a pair for several months. While I used it, I got a great kick out of using the old dreadnought list that ran both of them with my Interdictor as a high-hull, Come At Me, Bro type of list, and I want to find a way to rejigger the list now that I have fresh options in Star Destroyers. Unfortunately, it looks like I'll be forced to use I-1s and I-2s solely for the Regional* (FFG, please prove me wrong), without any of the new ships or upgrades coming with the Chimaera, so lists involving those units take priority for testing.
Other things to note: I have been told, most recently by @CaribbeanNinja, that I play extremely aggressively. I'm not 100% sure the "extremely" is warranted, but I do know I'm on the aggressive end of the spectrum, particularly since my instinct when faced with a choice is "**** the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" Dual ISDs should work well with this, since they are often durable enough to put up with the extra punishment my tactics inflict on them (though Lord knows I've lost more than my fair share of ships). The other big thing, I really don't care what the rest of the list looks like, just that it works well. If that means I imitate the dual ISD list that did well at Gencon, I'll do that. If it means I try something similar to my Vassal Freshman Tournament fleet from ages and ages ago (two I-1s, ASq Raider, two Gozantis), I'll use that. I'm very open to whatever ideas my fellow Imperial players have, or if Rebel scum are willing to offer up whatever they have fought that terrified them/worked well.
I'm not sure if starting with I-2s to allow myself the opportunity to remain at longer ranges for combat effectiveness is useful or if I should lean into my aggressive nature and go with I-1s for close-quarters brawling, or one of each. I'll start with some starter lists below, and I'll take suggestions/start flying from there. None have AvengerBT mostly because I haven't flown it much yet, so I'm not comfortable automatically throwing it in. I'm sure eventually I'll fly a list including it, but for now it's out.
Motti's Dreadnoughts Mark 7
Author: GiledPallaeon
Faction: Galactic Empire
Points: 400/400
Commander: Admiral Motti
Assault Objective: Station Assault
Defense Objective: Contested Outpost
Navigation Objective: Solar Corona
Interdictor-class Suppression Refit (90 points)
- Interdictor ( 3 points)
- Targeting Scrambler ( 5 points)
- Grav Shift Reroute ( 2 points)
= 100 total ship cost
[ flagship ] Imperial II-Class Star Destroyer (120 points)
- Admiral Motti ( 24 points)
- Gunnery Team ( 7 points)
- Electronic Countermeasures ( 7 points)
- Leading Shots ( 4 points)
= 162 total ship cost
Imperial II-Class Star Destroyer (120 points)
- Gunnery Team ( 7 points)
- Electronic Countermeasures ( 7 points)
- Leading Shots ( 4 points)
= 138 total ship cost
Motti's Dreadnoughts Mark 8
Author: GiledPallaeon
Faction: Galactic Empire
Points: 397/400
Commander: Admiral Motti
Assault Objective: Most Wanted
Defense Objective: Contested Outpost
Navigation Objective: Solar Corona
[ flagship ] Imperial II-Class Star Destroyer (120 points)
- Admiral Motti ( 24 points)
- Skilled First Officer ( 1 points)
- Gunnery Team ( 7 points)
- Electronic Countermeasures ( 7 points)
- X17 Turbolasers ( 6 points)
- Leading Shots ( 4 points)
= 169 total ship cost
Imperial II-Class Star Destroyer (120 points)
- Skilled First Officer ( 1 points)
- Gunnery Team ( 7 points)
- Electronic Countermeasures ( 7 points)
- X17 Turbolasers ( 6 points)
- Leading Shots ( 4 points)
= 145 total ship cost
Raider-I Class Corvette (44 points)
- Impetuous ( 4 points)
- Agent Kallus ( 3 points)
- Ordnance Experts ( 4 points)
- Flechette Torpedoes ( 3 points)
= 58 total ship cost
Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 points)
- Comms Net ( 2 points)
= 25 total ship cost
Gencon Derivative Mark 1
Author: GiledPallaeon
Faction: Galactic Empire
Points: 398/400
Commander: Admiral Motti
Assault Objective: Blockade Run
Defense Objective: Contested Outpost
Navigation Objective: Superior Positions
Imperial I-Class Star Destroyer (110 points)
- Hondo Ohnaka ( 2 points)
- Flight Controllers ( 6 points)
- Expanded Hangar Bay ( 5 points)
- Boosted Comms ( 4 points)
- X17 Turbolasers ( 6 points)
- Leading Shots ( 4 points)
= 137 total ship cost
[ flagship ] Imperial II-Class Star Destroyer (120 points)
- Admiral Motti ( 24 points)
- Relentless ( 3 points)
- Skilled First Officer ( 1 points)
- Gunnery Team ( 7 points)
- Electronic Countermeasures ( 7 points)
- X17 Turbolasers ( 6 points)
- Leading Shots ( 4 points)
= 172 total ship cost
1 Colonel Jendon ( 20 points)
1 Maarek Steele ( 21 points)
3 TIE Defender Squadrons ( 48 points)
The Sophomore Fleet**
Author: GiledPallaeon
Faction: Galactic Empire
Points: 393/400
Commander: Moff Jerjerrod
Assault Objective: Advanced Gunnery
Defense Objective: Contested Outpost
Navigation Objective: Solar Corona
Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 points)
- Comms Net ( 2 points)
= 25 total ship cost
Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 points)
- Comms Net ( 2 points)
= 25 total ship cost
Raider-I Class Corvette (44 points)
- Impetuous ( 4 points)
- Agent Kallus ( 3 points)
- Ordnance Experts ( 4 points)
- Flechette Torpedoes ( 3 points)
= 58 total ship cost
[ flagship ] Imperial I-Class Star Destroyer (110 points)
- Moff Jerjerrod ( 23 points)
- Skilled First Officer ( 1 points)
- Ordnance Experts ( 4 points)
- H9 Turbolasers ( 8 points)
- High-Capacity Ion Turbines ( 8 points)
= 154 total ship cost
Imperial I-Class Star Destroyer (110 points)
- Skilled First Officer ( 1 points)
- Ordnance Experts ( 4 points)
- H9 Turbolasers ( 8 points)
- High-Capacity Ion Turbines ( 8 points)
= 131 total ship cost
*This gives me the advantage I can use Ryan Kingston's builder for random ideas, which is nice because it is my preferred builder. If only it had a text output option...
**Credit to @Snipafist for the "Bruiser Extraordinaire" builds on the two ISDs. They may end up refit with XI7s, but that is a matter for field testing.
Edited by GiledPallaeonDon't post at 2am kids