Our local group is prepping for a CC event, of which I am the odd man out. I decided since I basically organize all our events I would act as fill in for missing players on either side an run all the logistics of organizing.

One of the players said he wanted to test an imperial fleet, and had be throw together something.

I've been playing with the idea that the VCX makes a good AA fighter. (especially with the help of FCs and Toryn). While it doesn't have any keywords to bolster it's effects against other squads, it does carry a hefty hull value and a decent AA armament. Plus being able to activate off itself is extremely handy. I put together this fleet below, and it absolutely DEVASTATED his fleet. By the end of round 2 his ISD was stripped of shields and had two face up cards. He couldn't ready defense tokens, and couldn't spend exhausted token.

By the end of round 3 I had taken out his ISD and both raiders without losing a single fighter.

Now, the VCXs didn't really get to perform as AA, since all he brought were bombers I was able to ignore them and focus on his ships, what they did do is soak a heaping pile of AA fire and deliver effective damage against the ships (with the help of toryn).

I'm starting to see the VCX as a jack of all trades.

Has anyone else used them for anything but their keywords?

Micromanagitis
Author: Darth Sanguis

Faction: Rebel Alliance
Points: 396/400

Commander: Leia Organa

Assault Objective: Precision Strike
Defense Objective: Fighter Ambush
Navigation Objective: Superior Positions

[ flagship ] Nebulon-B Escort Frigate (57 points)
- Leia Organa ( 38 points)
- Yavaris ( 5 points)
= 100 total ship cost

Assault Frigate Mark II B (72 points)
- Flight Controllers ( 6 points)
= 78 total ship cost

CR90 Corvette B (39 points)
- Toryn Farr ( 7 points)
= 46 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
- Bomber Command Center ( 8 points)
= 26 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
- Comms Net ( 2 points)
= 20 total ship cost

4 VCX-100 Freighters ( 60 points)
3 Y-Wing Squadrons ( 30 points)
1 Norra Wexley ( 17 points)
1 Jan Ors ( 19 points)

12 minutes ago, Darth Sanguis said:

Our local group is prepping for a CC event, of which I am the odd man out. I decided since I basically organize all our events I would act as fill in for missing players on either side an run all the logistics of organizing.

One of the players said he wanted to test an imperial fleet, and had be throw together something.

I've been playing with the idea that the VCX makes a good AA fighter. (especially with the help of FCs and Toryn). While it doesn't have any keywords to bolster it's effects against other squads, it does carry a hefty hull value and a decent AA armament. Plus being able to activate off itself is extremely handy. I put together this fleet below, and it absolutely DEVASTATED his fleet. By the end of round 2 his ISD was stripped of shields and had two face up cards. He couldn't ready defense tokens, and couldn't spend exhausted token.

By the end of round 3 I had taken out his ISD and both raiders without losing a single fighter.

Now, the VCXs didn't really get to perform as AA, since all he brought were bombers I was able to ignore them and focus on his ships, what they did do is soak a heaping pile of AA fire and deliver effective damage against the ships (with the help of toryn).

I'm starting to see the VCX as a jack of all trades.

Has anyone else used them for anything but their keywords?

Micromanagitis
Author: Darth Sanguis

Faction: Rebel Alliance
Points: 396/400

Commander: Leia Organa

Assault Objective: Precision Strike
Defense Objective: Fighter Ambush
Navigation Objective: Superior Positions

[ flagship ] Nebulon-B Escort Frigate (57 points)
- Leia Organa ( 38 points)
- Yavaris ( 5 points)
= 100 total ship cost

Assault Frigate Mark II B (72 points)
- Flight Controllers ( 6 points)
= 78 total ship cost

CR90 Corvette B (39 points)
- Toryn Farr ( 7 points)
= 46 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
- Bomber Command Center ( 8 points)
= 26 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
- Comms Net ( 2 points)
= 20 total ship cost

4 VCX-100 Freighters ( 60 points)
3 Y-Wing Squadrons ( 30 points)
1 Norra Wexley ( 17 points)
1 Jan Ors ( 19 points)

I've used them for anti-squadron and anti-ship support roles, and they're nice support in both roles when backing up the primaries .

They do not do well as primary squadron defense, though, for one reason: Heavy. Positioning is a really big deal in the squadron game, and if you have no say in it, you're going to have a hard time in general against well-played squadrons.

The lack of bomber also limits their effectiveness as primary anti-ship. It's not about the expected damage, exactly (though .033 damage/point is still not great return on investment), as much as it is the threat of a crippling crit that would force the spending of that crucial redirect or whatever.

What they do have is the tools to support in both roles. Relay wants to be at least relatively close to the squadron game, so they'll be in position anyway. Three blues is likely to put a damage or two on the squadrons that are probably going to be in range, or force a scatter. And a 50/50 chance to knock down a shield before the bombers get to work is always welcome.

I was really down on the VCX for quite a while until I finally bit the bullet and put a couple of them on the table, and I'm completely sold now. I wouldn't use them to form the core of a squadron component, by any means, but they definitely have a role, and are worth their points in that role.

22 minutes ago, Ardaedhel said:

I've used them for anti-squadron and anti-ship support roles, and they're nice support in both roles when backing up the primaries .

They do not do well as primary squadron defense, though, for one reason: Heavy. Positioning is a really big deal in the squadron game, and if you have no say in it, you're going to have a hard time in general against well-played squadrons.

The lack of bomber also limits their effectiveness as primary anti-ship. It's not about the expected damage, exactly (though .033 damage/point is still not great return on investment), as much as it is the threat of a crippling crit that would force the spending of that crucial redirect or whatever.

What they do have is the tools to support in both roles. Relay wants to be at least relatively close to the squadron game, so they'll be in position anyway. Three blues is likely to put a damage or two on the squadrons that are probably going to be in range, or force a scatter. And a 50/50 chance to knock down a shield before the bombers get to work is always welcome.

I was really down on the VCX for quite a while until I finally bit the bullet and put a couple of them on the table, and I'm completely sold now. I wouldn't use them to form the core of a squadron component, by any means, but they definitely have a role, and are worth their points in that role.

Yeah that's a good point, they were backing up a bunch of Norra enhanced Y-babes. I think the value of relay mixed with their ability to actually DO stuff really makes 'em worth while.

You called?

https://archiveofossus.wordpress.com/2017/09/16/uk-nationals-satos-star-destroyers/

Who said you can play Rebels?

1 minute ago, Undeadguy said:

Who said you can play Rebels?

Clearly, it was a training scenario. Valuable insights were gained for the glorious empire. Specifically, don't bank the fighter defense for the entire fleet on 2 raiders and 3 squads with with heavy.

Those raiders sounded like popcorn they were exploding so fast.

They're solid fighters. They definitely can't be ignored in a furball. The trick in my experience is keeping enough real fighters around to keep their Heavy irrelevant while still letting them run amok on objectives. That's actually challenging (for me anyway).

EDIT: basically what Ard said.

Brainwave of the day.

Sato is fleet wide Valen.

1 minute ago, Ginkapo said:

Brainwave of the day.

Sato is fleet wide Valen.

I'm going to have to ask you to expand on that. I'm lost.

1 minute ago, GiledPallaeon said:

I'm going to have to ask you to expand on that. I'm lost.

Valen grants squads at distance 1 non heavy. (Well basically)

Sato grants squads at distance 1 of enemy ships, or potential to be at distance 1, non heavy (well basically)

Ahhh that makes more sense. Because Valen is the legitimate engagement it doesn't matter whether it's a Lambda or an Advanced with him. I always thought of him as granting escort, but this thought is probably better. And now because Sato presents a threat, you can't afford to leave Heavy alone, so it's the same effect.

Just now, Ginkapo said:

Brainwave of the day.

Sato is fleet wide Valen.

Sort of, but no more so than any other offense-heavy fleet's squadrons are.

Forcing the opponent to focus attacks on your bombers/Sato activators does not negate Heavy, though: dictating positioning in the squadron ball is at least as valuable as directly preventing attacks on ships. Your opponent still has the choice between attacking ships and attacking squadrons, even though the trade-off is different; they still have the ability to reposition within the furball as they choose; there is still nothing prevent a direct bomber alpha strike on your ships.

Heavy squadrons are not good primary squadron defense because it allows your opponent to choose the target they're best-equipped to threaten, between your squadrons and your ships. Valen changes that calculus; Sato does not.

On 11/13/2017 at 1:46 PM, Ardaedhel said:

I've used them for anti-squadron and anti-ship support roles, and they're nice support in both roles when backing up the primaries .

They do not do well as primary squadron defense, though, for one reason: Heavy. Positioning is a really big deal in the squadron game, and if you have no say in it, you're going to have a hard time in general against well-played squadrons.

The lack of bomber also limits their effectiveness as primary anti-ship. It's not about the expected damage, exactly (though .033 damage/point is still not great return on investment), as much as it is the threat of a crippling crit that would force the spending of that crucial redirect or whatever.

What they do have is the tools to support in both roles. Relay wants to be at least relatively close to the squadron game, so they'll be in position anyway. Three blues is likely to put a damage or two on the squadrons that are probably going to be in range, or force a scatter. And a 50/50 chance to knock down a shield before the bombers get to work is always welcome.

I was really down on the VCX for quite a while until I finally bit the bullet and put a couple of them on the table, and I'm completely sold now. I wouldn't use them to form the core of a squadron component, by any means, but they definitely have a role, and are worth their points in that role.

Told you! But no one ever listens to me or cares!