7 minutes ago, jamie nasmyth said:

Taking it to regionals next week would be a great test!

No sir I'm bringing the same list I had in October. I've tweaked it slightly and hopefully I can win more than 1 game with it this time. You Atlanta guys play at too high of a level for me to test new builds at Regionals. I need every advantage I can get.

External racks on those vics...

I've been talking with one of the better players in our meta, and he pointed out VSDs don't have the firepower for heavy lifting, really (compared to Demo and your typical ISD-II). Thinking about it, I guess picking a VSD to serve that role is like grinding down the hammer you'd usually swing at high-value targets like Yavaris, QFs... the two primary candidates (Demo, ISDs) do this so much better that you're better off reverting to one of those ships for that role in your list than trying to press the Victory into becoming that.

But if that's the case I don't feel much better about the VSD's chances. The VSD at least can sink a lot of your points into something that's not going to be one-shot by anything other than a heavy, and it works as a support craft with D-Caps finishing off wounded ships or setting up a larger attack from your finisher. But I'm not certain if you could use say, two of them in a list to really succeed over a list that builds its entire strategy around Demolisher. After all, when's the last time we've seen a list headed by two VSDs place high in a prominent tournament?

Long ago, my favorite list type was an ISD flanked by two VSDs. I want to make that list work again someday, but I feel in order to do so I need to drop one of the VSDs to free up points to improve it. I suppose I could try an all-gun list going at speed 2, determined to crush every capital ship I encounter and run away from the fighters...

18 minutes ago, Norsehound said:

I've been talking with one of the better players in our meta, and he pointed out VSDs don't have the firepower for heavy lifting, really (compared to Demo and your typical ISD-II). Thinking about it, I guess picking a VSD to serve that role is like grinding down the hammer you'd usually swing at high-value targets like Yavaris, QFs... the two primary candidates (Demo, ISDs) do this so much better that you're better off reverting to one of those ships for that role in your list than trying to press the Victory into becoming that.

But if that's the case I don't feel much better about the VSD's chances. The VSD at least can sink a lot of your points into something that's not going to be one-shot by anything other than a heavy, and it works as a support craft with D-Caps finishing off wounded ships or setting up a larger attack from your finisher. But I'm not certain if you could use say, two of them in a list to really succeed over a list that builds its entire strategy around Demolisher. After all, when's the last time we've seen a list headed by two VSDs lead a tournament?

Long ago, my favorite list type was an ISD flanked by two VSDs. I want to make that list work again someday, but I feel in order to do so I need to drop one of the VSDs to free up points to improve it.

You’re absolutely right, IMO; Vics are not meant to be a quality-of-attack craft. Demo or an ISD simply hit harder. That said, 2-3 Vic-2s are great for quantity of attacks. That 5ish damage pops flotillas/corvettes outright and wears down big ships starting from long range, continuing until something dies. Usually that’s one Vic on your side and whatever big expensive thing they have; not a bad trade. GT and the second biggest front arc in the game lead to great overlapping fields of fire. As an aside, I’m pretty sure DTT has gone unmentioned so far, but it’s reliable, technically works on flak when a hit means winning or losing, and lets you skip leading shots.