If you had to decide betwen advanced optics or lightweight frame with Would you equip

only one enters

Depends what else you're carrying.

If you've got Fire Control System, I'd take Lightweight Frame first - you can always focus for you action every turn.

I’m taking

nu squadron

lrs harpoons

vader

VI, title, engine, harpoons,targeting computer

quickdraw

VI, special force, harpoons, advanced optics and chips or lightweight frame

Hmm. If you've not got Fire Control System, then Advanced Optics is probably a better deal - Lightweight frame's extra die is nice, but not if you don't have a focus token, because you're relying on rolling a natural evade to do anything.

Just as an observation - how dead set are you on Vader having an engine upgrade?

If not, you can have both:

• Nu Squadron Pilot
  • Harpoon Missiles
  • Long Range Scanners
• Darth Vader
  • TIE/x1
  • Veteran Instincts
  • Advanced Targeting Computer
  • Harpoon Missiles
  • Guidance Chips
• Quickdraw
  • Spec Ops Training
  • Veteran Instincts
  • Fire Control System
  • Advanced Optics
  • Lightweight Frame

Sorry, I’ve got fcs in QuickDraw, I forgot XD, and I need the EU on vader, the question is that I can only fit or Avd optics with chips or lightweight frame

thank you for the feedback

Vader is a very good cruise missile carrier, especially at PS 11 and that would give you a nice bid

If you aim for the alpha strike: advanced optics. It allows you to have Guidance Chips, TL and focus for your missile on the first pass.

If you were planning for a more opportunistic missile shot (i.e. not on the first pass) Lightweight frame.

I‘ve flown that list for a long time now. I ditch FCS in favor of Optics+LWF

In my opinion it has several positive effects:

• Double mods on the first turn. This is very important, because QD has just one Harpoon. That has to hurt! Focus+TL almost guarantees 4 hits
• LWF helps a lot against TLT and other attacks. That is important because QD wants to lose the shields as slowly as possible, 1 per turn ideally. So more green dice improve her ability as it can procc more often
• The system slot has a 0pt upgrade that is at least slightly useful
• I have many turns where QD is not shot because of her ability. Keeping that focus is great. Once you‘ve kept it, it is virtually identical to having FCS. Because the result is that you end up with both. It does not matter so much whether you take a TL or a Focus. But of course it does matter once you spent both mods, and then it‘s not the same anymore. But again, QD is often not shot because her ability is threatening.
• EU on Vader is too important - especially if you use Cruise!

There are some downsides in missing FCS of course, but having a bid is more important in my experience

1 hour ago, GreenDragoon said:

• I have many turns where QD is not shot because of her ability. Keeping that focus is great. Once you‘ve kept it, it is virtually identical to having FCS. Because the result is that you end up with both. It does not matter so much whether you take a TL or a Focus. But of course it does matter once you spent both mods, and then it‘s not the same anymore. But again, QD is often not shot because her ability is threatening.

Valid points but I beg to differ on this one. As long as you are shooting at the same target, with FCS you can use you TL and do a focus on the next turn giving you both. With Advanced Optics, if you consume your focus on the first attack, you have to do a focus action on the next turn giving you only one dice modification to shoot.

If it wasn't a Harpoon Quickdraw, I'd say skip both Advanced Optics and FCS and take Accuracy Corrector. If you're using focus defensively and staying out of Range 1, it'll do as good damage as FCS alone. That's a lot of ifs. Still, I've had a lot of fun flying it. It's particularly great whenever you get front-and-back shots, which isn't too common, however. I know it's probably not the best way to fly QD, but it's interesting and I think possibly underrated.

With a Harpoon Quickdraw, I'd go for front-loading damage as much as possible. @GreenDragoon makes a lot of sense to me, with LWF/AdvO.

Lightweight frame no question.

On 19.1.2018 at 4:11 PM, Cartchan said:

Valid points but I beg to differ on this one.

I wanted to show why I disagree. But I think you slowly convince me, actually.

FCS still has the problem of a weaker alphastrike. Just TL is not enough in my experience and opinion. You want at least chips in addition, but even better is a focus. Optics gives that focus.

FCS however is better because of QDs ability. Shooting back with mods is more dangerous than shooting back without mods, so FCS will give you 1-3 additional actions in a game due to the ability. The rest is almost identical between FCS and Optics (because you take the missing action - IF you could keep the focus for some reason), but FCS is clearly better because it's free after every shot

Optics is better when you have to run away. As soon as you do not try to get someone into your arc, optics becomes much better. It now allows you to focus, not waste that focus for next turn and then roll to improve your position.

With that in mind I will keep playing Optics for now instead of FCS (unless I change to a Gunboat with cheap cannons or something as drastic). I value the stronger alpha + more defense during the game more than the higher offense with FCS. I think it might save you some MoV over the course of a tournament, which is very valuable. But I have to say that the two options are almost on par for me now. So: thanks!

The bigger problem to solve with Quickdraw in my opinion is his limited mobility.

Primed Thrusters + FCS is by far my preferred set up.

His offense usually sorts itself out.

Pattern Analyzer is a close second but for the pts I go with Primed every time.

Go with this:

Nu

LRS

Harpoons

Vader

VI

Title

EU

ATC

Harpoons

QD

VI

Title

LWF

Harpoons

FCS

Having more long-game viability trumps a mildly stronger Alpha Strike, in my mind.

3 hours ago, Greebwahn said:

Having more long-game viability trumps a mildly stronger Alpha Strike, in my mind.

Optics gives more long-game viability than FCS though?

Also, "mildly stronger Alpha" is 0.75 expected damage, and +25% chance of getting 3-4 hits (from 73% to 98%).

That one point of damage against Miranda can be very important. Stripping all her shields removes the option of rolling an additional Harpoon die, and might even force her to roll 1 fewer to regen, and switch to TLT instead of Harpoon. 2x4 damage from Harpoons on her can be enough to kill her via the condition. 2x3 damage (e.g. if she rolls evades) means the Nu can kill her off.

In that sense I really disagree on "mildly stronger Alpha". Plus, as mentioned, Optics is the more defensive option.