Good evening everyone,

I was hoping to get some honest feedback regarding Captain Nym (Scum or Rebel) equipped with Expert Handling... would this be a good idea? Or is VI the only way to go? Please, I am simply asking about symmetry and if it could work well. I've read enough posts discussing how OP/broken he is but I humbly request this discussion stays honest and professional. I understand that in the PS race, VI is the only way to go but I would love to squeeze more action economy out of him. This is the build I am considering:

Captain Nym (Scum) PS8 - 30 pts

• Expert Handling (2)
• Autoblaster Turret (2)
• Bomblet Generator (3)
• Havoc (0)
• Engine Upgrade (4)
• Advanced Sensors (3)
• "Genius" (0)

Total Points: 44

Regarding my squads, I love the Scum faction. I've been playing them since they came out and they really appeal to me. I don't play competitively, mostly causal, but I would like to start very soon. I feel with Advanced Sensors, being able to perform a free Barrel Roll and still have all your remaining actions + Boost available could allow him more survivability. To drop an enemy TL, stay with the competition with the boost action, and/or potentially set up a block for his squad mates could be interesting. I am not completely sold on the build and open to suggestion. Is this a viable build for CPT Nym? If it is, would you adjust it at all? If not, what would you recommend?

Thanks in advance for any and all advice. Take care!

I'm not really into it.

On Nym, since he already has a Barrel Roll, Expert Handling isn't going to add anything except the potential to remove target locks. Ditching Target Locks isn't bad. But ditching target locks as PS 8 is less meaningful. For popular alpha strike builds out there, they might be PS 9 Kihraxz, PS 10 Rebels, or PS 11 Imperials. PS 8 Expert Handling isn't going to go a long way against that. If some folks are flying PS 5 Kihraxz, they're probably putting on Deadeye.

Where does the extra action economy come from? With Advanced Sensors, Nym still only gets one action: it's either before or after he moves. That is situational action economy, as you can take an action before a bump. Expert Handling costs the one action you could use to Boost or Focus, and uses it to do two things: [1] remove a target lock [2] perform a barrel roll.

@theBitterFig, thank you for the reply. I fully acknowledge the problem with facing a higher PS Squad which had me thinking about this card to begin with. My objective with my squads are to close the distance and destroy the enemy as fast as possible with overwhelming firepower. I've played against squads (casual games mostly) that are of lower PS and did a great job of blocking future moves and removing any option for actions. That, more or less, if my driving motivation behind Advanced Sensors. The Deadeye is always going to be a problem bc it opens up some many cards to more easily use Ordnance.

In terms of the action economy, I thought with Expert Handling, after conducting any action you have you then get a Free Barrel Roll action per the card. This would then almost guarantee two actions while removing that TL from my opponent. And with using Advanced Sensors, it could allow for more freedom of maneuver on the board so I don't get bumped or even potentially setting up the block being a lower PS level and the Bomb at Range 1. Any clarification would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

22 minutes ago, MUrunner20 said:

In terms of the action economy, I thought with Expert Handling, after conducting any action you have you then get a Free Barrel Roll action per the card. This would then almost guarantee two actions while removing that TL from my opponent. And with using Advanced Sensors, it could allow for more freedom of maneuver on the board so I don't get bumped or even potentially setting up the block being a lower PS level and the Bomb at Range 1. Any clarification would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

This is a common misconception with Expert Handling.

The 'ACTION:' header means you are using your action to trigger the following effect, not that taking any action triggers the effect.

53 minutes ago, Innese said:

This is a common misconception with Expert Handling.

The 'ACTION:' header means you are using your action to trigger the following effect, not that taking any action triggers the effect.

@Innese, thank you for your reply! I though the FAQ changed the wording to say it can now complete a FREE barrel roll action? That's why my thought would be conduct your FREE barrel roll, as I've typically done with Advanced Sensors, then that allows me (based on my build) to take either a Focus, TL, or Boost.

I fully acknowledge the 'ACTION:' stipulation for specific cards that allow you to use it as an action.

Thanks in advance for any/all clarification and help!

3 minutes ago, MUrunner20 said:

@Innese, thank you for your reply! I though the FAQ changed the wording to say it can now complete a FREE barrel roll action? That's why my thought would be conduct your FREE barrel roll, as I've typically done with Advanced Sensors, then that allows me (based on my build) to take either a Focus, TL, or Boost.

I fully acknowledge the 'ACTION:' stipulation for specific cards that allow you to use it as an action.

Thanks in advance for any/all clarification and help!

It is technically a free barrel roll, but your normal action is being used to trigger the card itself. You aren't the first and won't be the last to get tripped up by this card.

@Innese, thank you. That help. So pretty much my drive for more action economy won't really happen with this build. So is VI the only way to go with Nym? I could drop EU for Experimental Interface (drops build by 1 point) but I'm not overly fond the stressing him unnecessarily... thoughts?

32 minutes ago, MUrunner20 said:

@Innese, thank you. That help. So pretty much my drive for more action economy won't really happen with this build. So is VI the only way to go with Nym? I could drop EU for Experimental Interface (drops build by 1 point) but I'm not overly fond the stressing him unnecessarily... thoughts?

Right now VI Nym is still probably the best way to go, though this may change soon. Depending on how much Harpoon Missiles sees play, especially in mid-PS Scum lists, being able to shake the TL with Expert Handling might be valuable.

3 hours ago, Innese said:

Right now VI Nym is still probably the best way to go, though this may change soon. Depending on how much Harpoon Missiles sees play, especially in mid-PS Scum lists, being able to shake the TL with Expert Handling might be valuable.

Roger, that was one of the driving factors behind wanting to try Expert Handling. Lots of Ordnanace requires TLs (can obviously be bypassed by Deadeye) which deals lots of damage against a 1 Agility ship. Omega Leader shuts down all dice modifications and seems one of the more common ships for Imperials. And Miranda has done excellent at PS8, not withstanding some extremely potent combos. If I can find a way to make Nym more survivable against some of these lists is the end goal. Thanks for all if the advice.