First Escalation event coming up, and I'm sorted for my first ship, and the last three. Where I'm undecided is what to field in the initial 60pt game for my 24pts left over from Ryad.

The list I've run was (starter game 60pts):

Countess Ryad, TIEx7, PTL, Twin Ion Engine (36)

Omega Ace, PTL, Twin Ion Engine (24)

Game 2, 3 and 4 I add one of these each time:

Nu Squadron Pilot, XG-1, HLC, Linked Battery, Advanced Slam (30)

Trial list did OK and the Star Wings are brutal, but I'm reconsidered either of these for the 24pt slot instead of Omega Ace who was underwhelming:

Pure Sabacc, title, Lightweight Frame, Trick Shot

Thoughts? What would you run for 24pts to back up Ryad from game 1 onwards?

Some ideas...

• Bare Bones Double-Tap: Zeta Specialist (TIE/sf), Spec Ops Training, Collision Detector, Primed Thrusters
• Harassment Specialist: Nu Squadron Pilot (Alpha Class Starwing), Assault Configuration, Linked Battery, Flechette Cannon (23 points)
• Classic Doomshuttle+: Omicron Group Pilot (Lambda Shuttle), Darth Vader, Courier Droid, Collision Detector
• Two-Shot Terror: Seinar Specialist (TIE Aggressor), Twin Laser Turret, Twin Ion Engine Mk II
• Wave One Wingmen: 2x Academy Pilot (TIE Fighter)

If you are not entirely sold on Ryad, Colonel vessery is always good, here is my build for what I would start with:

Colonel Vessery [35]

Tie/D [0]

Ion Cannon [3]

Expertise [4]

Twin Ion Engine Mk.II [1]

Ship Total {43}

Epsilon Ace [17]

Ship Total {17}

TOTAL (60)

For Round 2,

Sienar Specialist +TLT+TIE Mk.II

Round 3,

I like the doomshuttle idea

Round 4,

Nu Squadron Pilot+Harpoons +LRS+OS-1

I like the HLC Nu, I don't really like Advanced SLAM. It's not bad, but I don't think I'd invest 2 points in getting a defensive focus or a pre-emptive TL on turns when I'm going to be without a shot. Particularly since I think Long Range Scanners also adds a solid amount of action efficiency. By having that TL to start the match, you'll be able to spend focus more freely to defend your Nu. That'd be 6 points freed over the course of the list, which means you could fly Ryad with a bigger partner, if you do right.

Personally, I flew Defenders at a small Escalation tournament about a month back, and it went well (4-0). I started with /x7 Ryad and /x7 Delta, then added a 2nd Delta and Intensity to Ryad in round 2, Palp Omicron in round 3, and a 3rd Delta and Reinforced Deflectors to Palp in round 4.

I guess what I'm saying is Ryad doesn't need to be fully built in Round 1. If you'd be willing to give up Advanced SLAM, perhaps the strategy isn't to take a 24 point ship with Ryad. Perhaps you run Ryad with just /x7 (32 points), and you also bring a HLC Nu with LRS (28). That thing will hit hard, and Ryad will still be hard to kill. Seems like a reasonable 2-ship list. Round 2, add PTL/TIE Mk. II and a 26 point ship to the list. Possibly standard Omega Leader. Maybe that's a Nu without Linked Batteries this round, so Round 2 is a pair of HLC Nus and a PTL Ryad. Round 3 could be your 3rd Nu, adding Linked Batteries into the 2nd from round 2. So your last round is a full 30 points of anything. Maybe that's a 4th Nu. Maybe that's another Defender (although if I was going for another defender, I think I'd make my round 3 into Ryad/Nu/Nu/Delta, and have round 4 be the 3rd Nu). Maybe that's a Palp Shuttle.

• Round One: Ryad (/x7) 32; Nu (HLC, XG1, LB, LRS) 28
• Round Two: Ryad (/x7, PTL, TIE Mk. II) 36 ; Nu (HLC, XG1, LB, LRS) 28; Nu (HLC, XG1, LRS) 26
• Round Three: Ryad (/x7, PTL, TIE Mk. II) 36 ; 3x Nu (HLC, XG1, LB, LRS) 28x3=84
• Round Four: Ryad (/x7, PTL, TIE Mk. II) 36 ; 3x Nu (HLC, XG1, LB, LRS) 28x3=84 + 30 points of your choice.

You're lacking an answer to the high PS aces who also ignore missiles, like Poe, Kylo, Miranda and Nym. You also lack any kind of support ship, natural heavy hitter or control element. In essence, you've got a tank and alpha, and that's it. I'd recommend:

1. A Kylo/Palp Chiraneau - he excels at fighting small ship counts, so perfect for the first few rounds. After that, he's just as solid as a reliable PWT.
2. PTL on Ryad is kind of redundant - swap it for Juke and ditch the Twin Ion Engine to bump Omega Ace up to Omega Leader. He's infinitely better, and can guarantee a win once you reduce the enemy to one ship.
3. A Nu Squadron Pilot with Harpoons, LRS, XG-1 and Jamming beam as further missile fun, with a control element to it.