Over the last year or so I've flown Han quite alot, first with a warden squadron and then with Nym. Given that both have been nerfed to varying extents and there are new shinys out tomorrow. How do you feel about the following:

Han Solo (46)
Expertise (4)
C-3PO (3)
Gunner (5)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Millennium Falcon (1)

"Crimson Specialist" (27)
Accuracy Corrector (3)
Bomblet Generator (3)
Deflective Plating (1)

Total: 97

Crimson specialist basically fills the role of fairly cheap bomber/distraction with the hope of setting up a favourble end game for Han. Accuracy corrector vs trajectory simulator is a bit of a headache but I've gone for AC because it gives consistent offence allowing me to keep a focus for defence and the loss of TS is made up for by crimsons specialist's ability to a certain extent (can do a 3 forward and drop the bomb in front of himself).

Dropping bomblet for thermals and ordnance silos is something else to consider but will mean the loss of the bid and a limit to 4 bombs (I think I'll neeed to do some testing to decide if 4 bombs is enough over the course of the game/his life).

I don't think you're making the Specialist scary enough - Bomblet Generator and Accuracy corrector means he threatens virtually no damage, even to people who stumble too close. I mean with Accuracy Corrector... you can only take Focus and TL actions anyway so your dice are going to be modded regardless.

The version I blogged as an idea was:

• Crimson Specialist - Trajectory Simulator, Proton Bombs, Ordnance Silo, Deflective Plating (36)
• Han Solo - Lone Wolf, C-3PO, Luke Skywalker, Millenium Falcon, Engine Upgrade (63)

With Proton Bombs instead of bomblets and Trajectory Simulator to threaten more of the table I think Crimson Specialist becomes a much bigger problem for the enemy!

I take the point about proton bombs, that certainly gives a bigger bomb threat than bomblet. I don't entirely agree on AC as the guaranteed 2 hits is better in most cases to a modified shot but perception is 9/10s of reality so your right in that trajectory simulator might be more effective in directing opponents target priorities towards the bomber (plus something needs to go to fit in protons).

Out of curiosity, why the lone wolf build over expertise for Han? Is it the stress threat or the appeal of defensive re-rolls?

Cheers for the input

17 minutes ago, asters89 said:

I take the point about proton bombs, that certainly gives a bigger bomb threat than bomblet. I don't entirely agree on AC as the guaranteed 2 hits is better in most cases to a modified shot but perception is 9/10s of reality so your right in that trajectory simulator might be more effective in directing opponents target priorities towards the bomber (plus something needs to go to fit in protons).

Out of curiosity, why the lone wolf build over expertise for Han? Is it the stress threat or the appeal of defensive re-rolls?

Cheers for the input

A bit of both. I feel like there's definitely going to be more stress around - Tactician Wookiees, Flechette Gunboats, Stressy Sheathipedes etc. I also think you're wanting to bank the ultimate standalone endgame Han and let him bugger off and do Han things while the Bomber sits and controls where the enemy can operate.

5pts for 1 Proton Bomb is too much. 7pts for 4 Proton Bombs? That's MUCH better value and really makes your opponent sit up and take notice of what the bomber can do.

I've played the above list 0 times, btw, but I do like that Proton Specialist build for making your opponent crap themselves, and he seemed to fit nicely with Han.

Lone wolf Han was something I put down when expertise came out and never really looked back but I do agree that it's worth a second look for this build and with an eye on the meta going forward.

Now you've planted the proton idea it's definitely starting to grow on me. If there's a chance to break out proton bombs again this is definitely it.

I'm picking up my bomber tomorrow so will give it a trial run and report back. I hope it's got some legs given how much it costs...

7 hours ago, asters89 said:

Over the last year or so I've flown Han quite alot, first with a warden squadron and then with Nym. Given that both have been nerfed to varying extents and there are new shinys out tomorrow. How do you feel about the following:

Han Solo (46)
Expertise (4)
C-3PO (3)
Gunner (5)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Millennium Falcon (1)

"Crimson Specialist" (27)
Accuracy Corrector (3)
Bomblet Generator (3)
Deflective Plating (1)

Total: 97

Crimson specialist basically fills the role of fairly cheap bomber/distraction with the hope of setting up a favourble end game for Han. Accuracy corrector vs trajectory simulator is a bit of a headache but I've gone for AC because it gives consistent offence allowing me to keep a focus for defence and the loss of TS is made up for by crimsons specialist's ability to a certain extent (can do a 3 forward and drop the bomb in front of himself).

Dropping bomblet for thermals and ordnance silos is something else to consider but will mean the loss of the bid and a limit to 4 bombs (I think I'll neeed to do some testing to decide if 4 bombs is enough over the course of the game/his life).

I feel like I really want Trajectory Simulator. Meanwhile, Weapons Guidance would boost the PWT threat of the Bomber. Not quite as much as AccC, but close.

At the same points, I think that'd make the bomber a bigger threat overall.

I have personally become less of a fan of Gunner Han as of late. I might suggest the following:

Han

Expertise

Evade Title

EU

C-3PO

R2-D2 or Chewbacca

A little more survivable, in my experience, while not really losing much of any offense.

For a B/SF with Han, you could go generic w/ Ordnance Silos, Cluster Mines, Adv. Sensors, Pattern Analyzer, Deflective Plating. This guy can drop his clusters wherever he wants, and with such a low PS, he can fairly guarantee contact. Cobalt Leader w/ Trajector Simulator and Bomblets would provide a consistent offense boost. Crimson Specialist would probably be most valid w/ Bomblets, though a strong case can be made for Silos/Protons - my main concern would be missing, because of his low PS. None of those would have much offense, however, so I wouldn't worry about that much. Though, you would have room for the corrector on the specialist, which is far from a waste.

Cobalt Leader and Bomblets is going to have a hard time triggering - Bomblets usually explode at the end of the activation phase, and Cobalt Leader won't shoot until after that.

Lol whoops, right

So a quick report on the couple of games I managed to play last night. I used this list:

Han Solo (46)
Expertise (4)
Hot-shot co-pilot(4)
Gunner (5)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Millennium Falcon (1)

"Crimson Specialist" (27)
Accuracy Corrector (3)
Bomblet Generator (3)
Deflective Plating (1)

Total: 98

I played two games against imperials, both with Blackout + 2. (Nu with HLC + TLT aggressor, Inquisitor + QD). Overall I quite enjoyed it and think it could have some potential (although lots more flying to be done with it).

Basic gameplan in both cases was to jam CS into the mix and let Han do his thing. CS' ability is brilliant, I dont think i deployed a bomb the conventional way in either game. Deflective plating failed both times on the first roll but CS had enough health to soak up bomblet hits after that (although notably in one game I rolled a double crit in to double direct hits which hurt). Accuracy corrector was surprisingly useful, pretty useless against 3AG autothruster aces but very good at plinking damage onto anything else (especially if Han has removed any focus tokens with Hotcop).

The stop manuever is very useful. A couple of times I pulled it knowing my opponent would try to move into the space vacated by my bombers move, but they ended up bumping and taking a bomblet (using it a bit like a high risk, high reward anti pursuit lasers)

I can't remember dropping more than 4 bombs, so thermals/protons + silos is definitely an option as well.

I ran my Proton Specialist squad for one game, and against a very unusual opponent that doesn't really tell you much.

I can confirm, though, that 4 Proton Bombs was very good against a squad of five Alpha Interceptors. Han didn't have to do anything, he just stood back and watched.

•Han Solo (55) - YT-1300
Adaptability (0), Rey (2), •C-3PO (3), Engine Upgrade (4)

•Captain Nym (45) - Scurrg H-6 Bomber
Veteran Instincts (1), Autoblaster Turret (2), Extra Munitions (2), Harpoon Missiles (4), •Bomblet Generator (3), •Havoc (0), Guidance Chips (0), Accuracy Corrector (3), •"Genius" (0)

53 minutes ago, ImperialEmperor said:

•Han Solo (55) - YT-1300
Adaptability (0), Rey (2), •C-3PO (3), Engine Upgrade (4)

•Captain Nym (45) - Scurrg H-6 Bomber
Veteran Instincts (1), Autoblaster Turret (2), Extra Munitions (2), Harpoon Missiles (4), •Bomblet Generator (3), •Havoc (0), Guidance Chips (0), Accuracy Corrector (3), •"Genius" (0)

See, this list you propose is Han + Skrrrrg. OP is writing about Han + B/SF. Why do people always do this on these threads?