OK, if I couldn't get you to click on THAT thread title, I don't know what else I can do. But now that I have your attention, I'm looking for some feedback on a list that I'd like to make semi-competitive. It involves two Rho GUNBOATS, which I already have some experience with. But it also involves Deathrain, missiles, and bombs, something that I don't have a lot of experience with. Here's the list:

2* Rho Squadron Veteran (21) + XG-1 (1) + LRS (0) + linked battery (2) + HLC (7) + adaptability (0). 31 pts each

"Deathrain" (26) + minefield mapper (0) + extra munitions (2) + harpoon missiles (4) + proximity mines (3) + proximity mines (3) + guidance chips (0). 38 pts

Deathrain can lay two proximity mines before the game starts, and the goal would be to use asteroid placement plus two mines to set up a choke point and funnel the enemy into what should be a pretty effective alpha strike. The Rhos do their thing (unfortunately, could not afford crack shot), and Deathrain can contribute with a chipped Harpoon on the initial pass. Then Deathrain can unload his remaining proximity mines as the enemy closes.

Here's what I need feedback on - do I have the optimal loadout here? I'd love to find two points for crack on the Rhos, but I can't figure out where to drop it from. Are proximity mines any good? I feel like I have a pretty good idea of which missiles/cannons/etc are good, but with bombs, I have no clue.

What do y'all think?

Actaully with the latest update you can only lay two of those Prox mines with minefield mapper.

with that in mind you may look into changing Deathrain's load out dropping mapper and picking up bomblet gen and LRS.....dropping both prox mines, there is the freed up points to have crack shot on each gun boat. Something like this?:

Rho Squadron Veteran (21)
Crack Shot (1)
Linked Battery (2)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
Long-Range Scanners (0)
XG-1 Assault Configuration (1)

Rho Squadron Veteran (21)
Crack Shot (1)
Linked Battery (2)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
Long-Range Scanners (0)
XG-1 Assault Configuration (1)

"Deathrain" (26)
Trajectory Simulator (1)
Extra Munitions (2)
Harpoon Missiles (4)
Bomblet Generator (3)
Long-Range Scanners (0)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Hmm. The FAQ text reads: "When Minefield Mapper is used, the player chooses a number of equipped [bomb] Upgrade cards to discard. Each card can only be chosen once, so if a ship equipped with Extra Munitions uses Minefield Mapper to discard cards, it can choose to discard the ordnance token instead of discarding the card, but cannot choose and discard the card again." I read that to mean that if I have two proximity mine cards equipped, I could play both. Has that been clarified further?

you can play the one bomb per card (ordnance token or card), which adds up to two bombs, though I personally think trajectory simulator bomblets could be really strong on deathrain with the free barrel roll

Is there any clarification yet on if Deathrain can barrel roll off a launched bomb though? I played a list the other day and since the wording is different, I only triggered my barrel rolls on actual "drops".

Also this list should just be called "Death Rho"

I don't know, the wording would seem that it only works on a drop, because the trajectory sim says "launch" however the versatility of dropping with barrel roll or using a 5 straight to launch seems like a bonus

I believe launch to be a specific subset of drop, though whenever they get around to FAQing it I may be proven wrong

TS very specifically reads “instead of dropping”. As written, I don’t think Deathrain’s ability will trigger with TS.

I like your build with prox mines & mapper better anyway. Your plan to cut off/funnel your opponents approach is valid. You could free up points for EPTs on the Rho’s by dropping linked battery. It is redundant on the Alpha, although it is useful in later rounds, I think with Slam you can get out to LRS range and have rerolls with TLs when reengaged in later rounds.

You could also just do Harpoons on the Rhos with title freeing up 1 pt each for crackshot.

How about calling the list "Here Comes the Rain Again"?

So, I like the concept. I love any love that Deathrain gets. However, I wonder, why are you using Rhos? It seems to me like, for Cannon Boats, Nus would get the job done just as well. If you really want that EPT, I have never found one really worth putting on canon Rhos. Now, if you did missile Rhos, perhaps even with the XG-1 title (crazy, I know? But it works), then I like the EPT slot, because then I like to have PTL/Adv. SLAM.

With all that in mind, here is my suggestion:

Deathrain

Minefield Mapper

EM

Prox Mines x 2

LWF

AND

Rho x 2

PTL

OS-1

Harpoons

Adv. SLAM

OR

Nu x 2

XG-1

HLC

LB

Adv. SLAM

AND add Harpoons to Deathrain.

All great suggestions, thanks guys. I'm gonna try to play a couple of games this weekend and try a few of this combos out. I saw another thread with a Deathrain loadout I liked (maybe this was yours Greebwahn? This other poster also really loved Deathrain!): collision detector, EM, harpoon, bomblet generator, and LRS. I could plug that in and have a point left over even for thread tracers. A bit of a different tack than the minefield mapper but I like it. I just picked up a Scurrg so I feel like I should get bomblet generator some play.

I'll also try out DubWing's suggestion of dropping linked battery on the Rhos to free up a few extra points. If I drop both linked batteries, I can give both Rhos crack shot and add lightweight frame to Deathrain, which could be fun.

The name Needs to be, "I wanna RHO, have you ever seen DEATHRAIN."

I think that if you want Crack Shot on your Rho's, you should drop Harpoon Missiles. I know it's the new hotness, but you've got a lot of actions to spend with Deathrain, especially if you want your action bombs to stick and you use Boost to get out of tight spots. If you drop down to Unguided Rockets, her damage output is modest. Also, without Lightweight Frame there to boost your defense, you'll want to tread very carefully. I'd even consider NOT bringing unguided rockets just to fit LWF on to better defend those 38 points you've invested.

4 hours ago, SkyCooper said:

The name Needs to be, "I wanna RHO, have you ever seen DEATHRAIN."

Dang that's good.