With each new wave of upgrades I keep on coming back to my favourite X-wing obsession , creating a Tie/Fo swarm that might be able to pull its weight (at least win a couple games in a tournament).
List 1 - 5 x Omega squadron pilots + Crack shot + Advanced optics = 100pts
List 2 - 4 x Omega squadron pilots + Intensity + Advanced optics
1 x Epsilon squadron pilot + Hyperwave comm scanner = 100pts
Any other ideas?
Crack Shot/Advanced Optics makes a lot of sense to me. I know I'd seen the suggestion of Crack Shot/Weapons Guidance a while ago, but I don't think it'd quite be as good.
I know I've seen folks discuss 5x Epsilon with Advanced Optics, 1x Epsilon naked. I don't think replacing one of those Advanced Optics with Hyperwave Comm Scanners on the other two would realistically add anything valuable. A 5-Forward rush isn't really going to work most of the time on PS 1 ships; it's too easy for folks to just Rule of 11 you, or deploy on another corner of the map.
Edited by theBitterFigSO many options
4x Epsilon Squadron Pilots
Epsilon Ace w/AO
Epsilon Leader w/AO or PA
There is:
"Quickdraw" (29)
Swarm Leader (3)
Fire-Control System (2)
Advanced Optics (2)
Lightweight Frame (2)
Special Ops Training (0)
Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15)
Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15)
Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15)
Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15)
Total: 98
View in Yet Another Squad Builder
Crack Shot TIE/fo is a nice idea.
Weapons Guidance was a nice pairing with it - I would have recommended it as a sort of 'distributed howlrunner' before Advanced Optics came out, but I think Advanced Optics trumps it - Advanced Optics still allows you to up your firepower for the opening pass by going focus/target lock, but also allows you to turtle up behind focus/evade instead against stuff like higher PS harpoon missiles. It's just much more flexible.
I think that if you don't have crack shot, you really need 6 ships, because you need to have enough attackers to deplete tokens on green dice heavy ships, or to keep Wookies in a crossfire, or to have a 'spare' warm body to block someone with.
I've played and enjoyed playing with "Epsilon Squadron":
It's a surprisingly fun squad to use. TIE/fo are tough and flexible lil' ships, and both unique pilots are entertaining to use:
Leader's Pattern Analyser allows you to Segnor's Loop, and still get your action, then clear the stress with his ability, making him a mini-defender. The reason it's not Advanced Optics is that it also lets him barrel roll - if the squad loops or turns en masse, Leader can loop, then barrel roll to 'shuffle' his range 1 stress-clearing bubble across as many of the squad as possible. If you have control of initiative, watching him 'Nope !' Assaj Ventress turn after turn is extremely satisfying.
Epsilon Ace is one of the most underappreciated pilots in the game. All right, he's just a TIE fighter, but for 19 points he's got a sort-of-free-action and he's PS12 . Watching him against the Veteran-Instincts-Is-God crowd is hilarious because so many of them forget he comes after them in the move order and bump him, or aren't used to having to predict someone instead of react. My proudest moment with him is PS-killing an (admittedly shieldless) PS11 Darth Vader in a head-on face-off without giving the Lord of the Sith chance to even shoot back.
Advanced Optics does seriously amp up the TIE/fo's potential, though, and I might well consider a 5-ship swarm if you can reliably get target lock/focus to balance out the damage output (historically the TIE/fo's weak spot).
Just because I like 'fluffy' squads, I have 3 options prepared, each with 5 ships, including the respective 'ace' and 'leader':
This is actually a 99 point squad. Personally I think the 6-ship version is better, but I haven't used an Advanced Optics swarm, so I'm not sure if I'd rather have the extra generic or the greater capability. The shield upgrades on token-laden unique pilots is probably nice (you could drop to hull upgrades and furnish the others with Twin Ion Engines MkII but the nature of Epsilon Ace's pilot ability demands a shield token not an increased hull value).
The PS3 of a Zeta Squadron is surprisingly useful at the moment - matching Wookie Liberators and beating Nu Squadron Gunboats, but still potentially moving before Contracted Scouts depending on initiative. Zeta Leader has surprising firepower for a TIE fighter, and Zeta Ace - despite a low PS - is one of the best arc dodgers in the game, with a 'before you get to shoot, regardless of your PS' speed 2 barrel roll up his sleeve.
Omega Leader is Omega Leader. There's a reason she's the most used TIE/fo pilot, but this (budget) version is a much less seen one than the juke/comms relay version. One on one, provided you tag the right ship with A Debt To Pay, she's just as lethal - delivering reliable, really hard to avoid criticals and ignoring the downside of A Score To Settle. 3 Crack Shot TIE/fo give you some nice punch for the opening dance, but Omega Ace is actually the star of the list, despite Omega Leader having the more intimidating reputation. With agility 1, lots-of-hull ships like Scurrgs, K-wings, Gunboats and so on being common, his ability combined with Advanced Optics (so he can generate Target Lock & Focus himself without needing external support) and Swarm Leader has truly terrifying potential. I've seen it used to full effect once - the rest of a squad dropped a decimator's shields, and Omega Ace dropped a range 1 shot that spawned 5 face up damage cards, two of which were direct hits and one of which was a major explosion....
4 hours ago, Magnus Grendel said:Epsilon Ace is one of the most underappreciated pilots in the game. All right, he's just a TIE fighter, but for 19 points he's got a sort-of-free-action and he's PS12 . Watching him against the Veteran-Instincts-Is-God crowd is hilarious because so many of them forget he comes after them in the move order and bump him, or aren't used to having to predict someone instead of react. My proudest moment with him is PS-killing an (admittedly shieldless) PS11 Darth Vader in a head-on face-off without giving the Lord of the Sith chance to even shoot back.
Off-topic: I keep wondering if slotting Epsilon Ace into the 3bqd archetype instead of one of the Gunboats could work. It'd open up 3 points, enough to get Quickdraw both FCS and Advanced Optics, and a 1-point bid. Or a spicy swap of VI for Decoy, to get one of your Nus to fire at PS 9, or else have QD open up at PS 12 if needed. I don't know if that's exactly good, but it's an interesting piece of Imperial jank.
//
Back on topic:
For fluffy lists, I also tend to love the concept of mixed FO/SF lists.
Quickdraw (VI, FCS, AdvO, Harpoon Missiles, title, LWF) - Quickdraw is in Omega Squadron, right?
Omega Squadron Pilot (AdvO, Crack Shot) x 3
or
Zeta Squadron Pilot (AdvO) x 4
Zeta Squadron Specialist (Accuracy Corrector, title, LWF)
30 minutes ago, theBitterFig said:Off-topic: I keep wondering if slotting Epsilon Ace into the 3bqd archetype instead of one of the Gunboats could work. It'd open up 3 points, enough to get Quickdraw both FCS and Advanced Optics, and a 1-point bid. Or a spicy swap of VI for Decoy, to get one of your Nus to fire at PS 9, or else have QD open up at PS 12 if needed. I don't know if that's exactly good, but it's an interesting piece of Imperial jank.
If you're doing that, then by all means spend an extra point; Epsilon Ace with Advanced Optics is quite good as a pocket ace, but as a 'buddy' for a missile squad Epsilon Ace with Targeting Synchroniser is superb; he can get a Target Lock at PS12 - meaning he can reliably get a lock on a PS11 Black One , and can provide a Long Range Scanners gunboat with a lock on someone up close.
I know 4 ships isn't much of a Swarm, but I rather like these guys:
Epsilon Ace
Pattern Analyzer
Epsilon Leader
Pattern Analyzer
Omega Ace
Swarm Leader
Adv. Optics
Omega Leader
Juke
Comm Relay
Stealth Device
I’ve also been considering -
Omega Ace + swarm leader + Advanced optics
3 x Omega squadron pilot + crack shot + Advanced optics
Epsilon squadron pilot
Its got one big punch, three decent stings and one little annoyance for blocking and setting up the shot. It’s just unfortunate they aren’t all Omegas...
1 hour ago, Han Silo said:I’ve also been considering -
Omega Ace + swarm leader + Advanced optics
3 x Omega squadron pilot + crack shot + Advanced optics
Epsilon squadron pilot
Its got one big punch, three decent stings and one little annoyance for blocking and setting up the shot. It’s just unfortunate they aren’t all Omegas...
Ran something really similar,
"Omega Ace" (20)
Swarm Leader (3)
Advanced Optics (2)
Stealth Device (3)
Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15)
Advanced Optics (2)
Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15)
Hyperwave Comm Scanner (1)
Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15)
Comm Relay (3)
Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15)
Comm Relay (3)
Total: 97
View in Yet Another Squad Builder
more blockers, and more ships to grab evades from, also points to fidget with as you like.
I like the idea of themed TIE F/O squadrons and used this in the past as a themed Zeta Squadron:
Zeta Leader - Wired, Weapons Guidance
Zeta Ace - Trick Shot, Primed Thrusters
2 x Zeta Squadron Pilots
Zeta Specialist - Special Ops Training, Accuracy corrector
Total = 100pts
It lost against Assaj/Ketsu in it's only run out so far, but it didn't disgrace itself so will probably see the tabletop again at some point with some minor tweaks.
More recently I have been looking at a themed Omega Squadron. My list is only 4 ships so probably doesn't quite qualify as a swarm, but I was fairly impressed with it in the one game I tried it out, beating Kylo Ren, Major Vynder and an Academy TIE, so I'm looking forward to trying it out again, possibly in one of our local non-competitive tournaments.
Omega Leader - Juke, Comm Relay
Omega Squadron Pilot - Crack Shot
2 x Omega Specialist - Trick Shot, Collision Detector, Lightweight Frame, Primed Thrusters
Total = 100pts
The Omega Specialists try to line up shots over obstacles so they can increase their attack dice, and Collision Detector and Primed Thrusters with this. If you can plan it right you could get 3 or even 4 dice shots out of both arcs. If nothing else, having 6 arcs in total to work with makes it a bit easier to catch the arc-dodgers.
Ok, one more try. Inspired by other posts here’s a fairly mean (?) Zeta squadron list -
Zeta leader + Advanced optics + adaptability = 22
Zeta specialist + Title + Advanced optics + Harpoon missiles + Lightweight frame x 2 = 62
Zeta squadron pilot = 16
Zeta leader always was my favourite Fo ace. Shame I didn’t have the extra point to give him/her VI or Wired but the theme is the important thing...right?
23 hours ago, Han Silo said:Ok, one more try. Inspired by other posts here’s a fairly mean (?) Zeta squadron list -
Zeta leader + Advanced optics + adaptability = 22
Zeta specialist + Title + Advanced optics + Harpoon missiles + Lightweight frame x 2 = 62
Zeta squadron pilot = 16
Zeta leader always was my favourite Fo ace. Shame I didn’t have the extra point to give him/her VI or Wired but the theme is the important thing...right?
You could swap one of the Harpoons for a Cruise or Ion Pulse missile in order to get the EPT on Zeta Leader.
Also, there is no reason not to take Collision Detectors on the Zeta Specialists considering they are free.
I think overall a lot of its effectiveness compared to some of the other lists in this thread will be determined by how regularly you can get the missiles off. If you can manage that then you have a strong initial attack, if not then maybe the Omega Ace Swarm Leader list would be stronger.
Hey, thanks for this thread! This is what I was looking for, when I've started with X-wing - a lots of TIEs on table! I've borrowed thematic lists from
@Magnus Grendel
and start to fly first od them - Zeta squad - and it's absolutely great, yet I have 3 victories out of 3 games
I made slight changes, though - first, on Zeta Leader, I've switched Weapons guidance for Cluster Sensors, it makes me more survivable against high PS ships. Second, I've changed Thread Tracker for Primed thrusters on Zeta Ace - I was not able to use the original upgrade, as the Ace is just PS 5. But with thrusters I'm able to do a red maneuver, do a barrell and through Intensity get a token. Thanks to this combination I'm quite frequently able to dodge enemy's arc and get myself into it....
Anyway, it brings so much fun into flying