The Rho Squadron Veteran: (Deadeye, Ion Pulse Missiles, XG-1, Flechette Cannon, Guidance Chips) 28

The Seinar-Jaemus Analyst: (Fire Control System, Advanced Optics, Autothrusters) 32

1. 60 Points: 1 Rho + 1 SJA
2. 90 Points: 2 Rho + 1 SJA
3. 120 Points: 2 Rho + 2 SJA
4. 150 Points: 3 Rho + 2 SJA

There are two wiggle points in round 4 at least. Probably throw the title on one SJA, but maybe something odd like Seismic Torpedos on a Rho.

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These SJA are wicked fun. Nimble, fairly hardy, fairly hard hitting.

These Rho I haven't tried, but the principle seems OK. Deadeye Ion Pulse + GC has a pretty good chance of three hits. Flechette isn't as strong in that regard, but can be fired when IPM is reloading. However, the first volley (starting round 2) can easily have a focused attack on the non-Missile Rho. After that, it's easy to chain: one reloads and Flechette (opponent probably lacking action, so no focus might not be too bad), one Deadeye IPM. The control from these helps the SJA really clean up. They'll be able to line up Range 1 Focus/TL shots pretty easily.

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Now I only need to convince my FLGS to run an Escalation tournament. ?

The only time I played in an escalation event, the strongest 60pt list was double defenders; the strongest 150pt list was my own 11 ship Scum swarm.

How well do you think your list would fare?

22 hours ago, Gilarius said:

The only time I played in an escalation event, the strongest 60pt list was double defenders; the strongest 150pt list was my own 11 ship Scum swarm.

How well do you think your list would fare?

When I flew Defenders (and Palp Shuttle) in an Escalation tournament, Ion/Stress control (from B-Wings, Y-Wings, and Braylen) was the only thing which really posed a challenge, although I guess I got pretty lucky with a PS 0 crit against the Ghost round 2. Anyhow, I think I'd stand a chance against Defenders. SJ Analysts are pretty solid, with a fairly comparable stat line and action efficiency. It isn't certain, it'd depend on dice and individual player skill and choices, but I think I'd have a reasonable shot at trading up my Rho for a Defender, and of having the SJA survive.

Against an 11-ship Scum Swarm ( care to post it, or at least just the pilots? sounds cool ), I'm not sure. Having only 5 ships might be weak in terms of weight of fire. That said, no one I play with tends to fly too many swarms.

My swarm was: 2 cartel marauders (Title, Contraband Cybernetics, Thread Tracers, Munitions Failsafe and Guidance Chips), Sunny Bounder and 2 cartel spacers (all with light scyk) and 6 Z95s.

I lost to the double defenders in the first round, killed another Scum swarm (1 less ship to get Capt. Jostero in), a ghost-based list, and then faced the defender squad again - where his 5 defenders died very quickly indeed.

The damage-mitigation shenanigans available now to a ghost/Low/Fenn/Ezra type of list might stop my swarm - or might not. I'd like to try it!