There's a local Golden Age tournament (waves 1-3) coming up. I play only Rebels and got into the game between waves 9-10, so I don't have the personal historical perspective. I've done some research and know that imperial swarms were dominant, but I'm not sure if anyone would even bring one of those...but should probably be prepared for that possibility.
So...without going too far into list building, as a Rebel player...XXBB or BBFalcon?
Is it wave 1-3 ships only, or waves 1-3 expansions only?
9 minutes ago, jmswood said:Is it wave 1-3 ships only, or waves 1-3 expansions only?
Expansions-only, so ships, pilots and upgrades from waves 1-3 only.
I know about some XXBB variants:
I didn't see much on BBFalcon, but I'd been looking at Chewie with a couple Blues. I also know about double falcon, but figure that would definitely melt against a swarm.
Looking at this stuff as a newer player...I see the salt from folks who've been in the game a long time. This looks like such a great, simpler time where maneuvers and tactics really mattered more than the upgrades.
4x Blues w/ FCS?
Personally I would be running the 6 TIE aces.
I’ve one coming up in the new year, but they aren’t limiting upgrades and as a bonus Imperials may fly punishers and rebels may fly z-95.
I was planning on going with Han and Luke for a proper themed list. I suspect Biggs walks the dogs might be the way to go though, even with the errata.
Other thoughts that spring to mind, Jan Ors plus Wedge and a.n.other might be strong against aces. And just for fun synergy I remember a Dutch/Kyle/Garvin list that shared around target locks and focuses. I can’t remember it being good, but it was cool!
7 minutes ago, jmswood said:4x Blues w/ FCS?
Personally I would be running the 6 TIE aces.
I only have 2 B-wings, so I'd rather stick to just 2 of them. If I did have 4 (or would borrow them), I'd probably go with 4x Blue w/ AS.
If I had the imperial ships (and the experience), I'd definitely go swarm.
1 minute ago, Estarriol said:I suspect Biggs walks the dogs might be the way to go though, even with the errata.
Yeah, I agree. I'm just very resistant to netlisting...even if it's from years ago.
This isn't a wild deviate from BwtD, but I've always wanted to fly Garven...
Blue Squadron Pilot (22)
Advanced Sensors (3)
Blue Squadron Pilot (22)
Fire-Control System (2)
Garven Dreis (26)
Biggs Darklighter (25)
Total: 100
What's interesting about Biggs Walks the Dogs is that Paul Heaver changed the list as a meta call. The original list was 3x Blue with Advanced Sensors, but he guessed that the higher PS would be helpful, and knocked one down to a Rookie to get the points for the PS. With nerfed Biggs, I'm unsure. He might be good enough, though. Maybe you just need to disrupt a swarm long enough.
A cool X-Wing list is 3x Rookies and Luke with R2-D2, Draw Their Fire, and Shield Upgrade. It's a shame that SU can't be replaced with Integrated Astromech. In general, I think that'll make B-wings better than X-Wings. Likewise, without GC or other later upgrades, I wouldn't go for Assault Missiles (even though they'd be so tempting against Swarm/Biggs).
I'm torn between FCS and Advanced Sensors on B-Wings, though. FCS can provide more free actions, but it takes maintaining a single target, which can be hard on a B-Wing. AdvS provides actions when K-turning, or when you'd bump (and with Swarms, blocking will be a bigger thing).
The coolest netlist would be to borrow the original Rebel Convoy. 2x Outer Rim Smugglers, 2x ICT Gold Squadron Pilots.
//
If new upgrades are allowed, go all in on ordnance. Missiles and Torpedoes, once backed up with Guidance Chips, are pretty strong. At our local one, we could use GC, but only torps which were in the original wave ships (so just Proton Torpedos and Concussion Missiles, not Harpoon or Plasma). The lists which took best advantage of these frequently did the best. Nera Dantels and Keyan with torps and Biggs in one list, and Dutch and Horton and Biggs in another (and the Ion turrets helped, too). Being able to bend the damage curve significantly is pretty strong against low-upgrade generics. Not that folks will all fly low-upgrade generics, but that you probably can't safely do so, since Torps will be strong, and you've got to keep up.
Just thought of a hilarious list which would probably be bad. 3x Green A-Wings with PTL, [Crack Shot, VI, or Deadeye], Guidance Chips, and Harpoon Missiles, and one GSP with Autothrusters, Trick Shot, and A Score To Settle.
Back in the waves 3 People loved the fact that B-Wings came in and started to kill tie Swarms. Usually it was something like well flown 3x B wing with HLC and FCS.
Another common was throw some adv sensors on the B-wings so that bumping didn't bother you at all. I preferred the adv sensors for variety, but the HLC FCS were usually a stronger option against swarms.
BBXX ortie swarm. if vader is viable u could play him in a mini swarm? ala Hothie's world champion list
Thanks for the input thus far, everyone! This is
just
waves 1-3...nothing from any other releases (no huge ships, no veterans packs, etc).
I'm almost sure I'll be running 2 B's with Adv Sensors...I just haven't locked down which PS or their wingmen.
I think I've settled (mostly) on these two.
I've played the Chewie one a few times and really liked it. Adv Sensors on B-Wings must have been amazing back then, because it still is today. I feel like Gunner on Chewie might be just about as effective as another ship due to stripping tokens and the high percentage of eventual hits that he lands. I originally had DtF, Intelligence Agent, Gunner and the title on Chewie. I never used DtF or the title and Intelligence Agent felt like a waste, so I've tried EH and Nien. It's interesting, the barrel roll is useful, but I don't know how much I like it...it didn't feel like it did much. I've considered Recon Specialist/Gunner and no EPT on Chewie. That then makes me consider going down to a Resistance Sympathizer and doing up to Daggers on the B-Wings. Crap, at that point, I'm all over the place. I just know this list will be a Falcon with Gunner and BSPx2 w/Adv Sensors!
Chewbacca (42)
Expert Handling (2)
Nien Nunb (1)
Gunner (5)
Blue Squadron Pilot (22)
Advanced Sensors (3)
Blue Squadron Pilot (22)
Advanced Sensors (3)
Total: 100
View in Yet Another Squad Builder
I haven't run this yet, but hope to before the tournament. I'd like to at least get a decent gauge to see if it's better than the Falcon/BB list.
Dagger Squadron Pilot (24)
Advanced Sensors (3)
Dagger Squadron Pilot (24)
Advanced Sensors (3)
Red Squadron Pilot (23)
Red Squadron Pilot (23)
Total: 100
Cant do resistance sympatheizer if its wave 1-3. Would have to be ORS.
Maybe upgrade gunner to Luke?
Or go PTL Engines Nien?
6 hours ago, wurms said:Cant do resistance sympatheizer if its wave 1-3. Would have to be ORS.
Maybe upgrade gunner to Luke?
Or go PTL Engines Nien?
Oh, well crap...that's a good point and makes my choices easier!
I think Chewie absolutely needs Gunner. With only three ships, I'll need high damage output to keep up with lists with more ships.
If I use Luke in place of Gunner, where does that last point go? There really isn't a great EPT for Chewie at any cost. I guess the title? When I had it, I didn't find myself using it much.
Sad Genn is sad. Few people give a hoot about old school lists.
I'm going to tag
@MajorJuggler
in the hopes that he'll chime in, since I saw him posting on older threads I've been researching.
I've run my latest tweak a few times and really like it. I go back and forth on Marksmanship vs Recon Specialist. I get why people used it back in the day, to deliver crits against unshielded TIEs. I took Recon Spec because I figured it's bound to save Chewie a few hits throughout a game and isn't much of an offensive downgrade...it's more flexible. This might be a gameday decision. If I show up and get the vibe the players are weighted towards Imperials, I'll go Marksmanship. If it's split or heavy Rebels, I'll go Recon Spec.
Chewbacca (42)
Recon Specialist (3)
Gunner (5)
Blue Squadron Pilot (22)
Advanced Sensors (3)
Blue Squadron Pilot (22)
Advanced Sensors (3)
Total: 100
View in Yet Another Squad Builder
Just tonight I discovered the "Han Shoots First" list. It apparently usually had title, Gunner, Chewie crew with Marksmanship. I think the wave 3 version had PtL, Recon Spec and title along with Gunner. After seeing a couple Hans with Engine dance around my XXBB test list tonight, I saw the lure of dodging those arcs. Chewie crew basically saves you 2-3 hits, whereas how many could Engine save you? What I don't like about this is a significant downgrade on the wingmen. Naked Rookies can't hold a candle to Blues w/Adv Sensors.
Han Solo (46)
Recon Specialist (3)
Gunner (5)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Rookie Pilot (21)
Rookie Pilot (21)
Total: 100
I played this, a long time ago (finished 2nd at a tournament):
Chewbacca (Predator, Gunner, C-3PO, Millenium Falcon[evade])
Dagger Squadron Pilot
Blue Squadron Pilot
100 points
I went 3-1 in this format earlier this year. I ran Blue Squadron Pilots x 3 with Biggs. But now that Biggs has been nerfed, it may be better to run 4 BSP's. The only loss I had was against an Interceptor swarm.
Edited by jwilliamson12